Isaiah 1 - Printer Friendly

What does Isaiah 1 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

Isaiah's massive book of prophecy begins with just one verse describing who he is and when he served as the Lord's messenger to Judah, the southern part of the divided kingdom of Israel. Isaiah was the son of the otherwise unknown Amoz, and he served as a prophet of the Lord God of Israel from late in the reign of King Uzziah through sometime during the reign of King Hezekiah (Isaiah 1:1).

Isaiah's book begins with the Lord making a case in a kind of lawsuit or arraignment against His people Israel. God serves as both the prosecutor and the judge. He is laying out many of the ways in which the people of Israel have violated their covenant with the Lord (Isaiah 1:2).

After calling the heavens and earth to serve as witnesses or jurors, the Lord sums up the charges: He has brought up Israel as His children, and they have rebelled against Him. Even stubborn donkeys understand who provides their food, but the people of Israel seem to lack this understanding, instead attempting to push away the One who gives them all they need to survive (Isaiah 1:3).

At this point in her history, Israel is a nation saturated with iniquity. Each generation is born from evildoers and continues their corruption. By their sinfulness, they have estranged themselves from the Holy One of Israel, despising and forsaking Him (Isaiah 1:4).

Isaiah asks why his people appear to want to be destroyed. Why else would they continue to live in rebellion? He describes the state of the nation as a kind of spiritual sickness. The head is sick, the heart faint, and the body is unsound. Even though covered with bruises, sores, and open wounds, she will not treat any of her injuries. The nation goes on as if nothing is wrong (Isaiah 1:5–6).

That spiritual sickness has the nation on the path to physical destruction. Isaiah describes a time in Israel's future as if God's judgment has already fallen. The country has been decimated, and the cities are burned to the ground. Invading foreigners have destroyed everything in their path. The once great city of Jerusalem will fall like a hut in an unprotected field (Isaiah 1:7–8).

Isaiah adds that if God had not spared a remnant of survivors, Israel would have been driven into extinction as Sodom and Gomorrah were (Isaiah 1:9–10).

Isaiah begins to quote the Lord, who is not impressed with the offerings and sacrifices of the people of Judah. Their offerings, incense, and celebrations are meaningless and a burden to the Lord because of the rebellion and sinfulness in their hearts (Isaiah 1:11-15).

The Lord tells the people to clean themselves by ending their sinful practices and beginning to do the good work of caring for the poor and the powerless among them. God promises to turn the stains of their sin as white as snow if they will repent. They will eat the "good of the land" if they obey. But If they refuse, they will become the food of the enemy's swords. (Isaiah 1:16-20)

The once faithful city of Jerusalem was known for its justice. Now it has become like a prostitute by worshiping false gods. It has become famous for its injustice. Murderers walk free. The city's leaders hang out with thieves. Everything runs on bribes and corruption, leaving no hope for orphans and widows to receive justice (Isaiah 1:21-23).

The Lord will remove the unfaithful from Israel, however. He will restore justice to Jerusalem. Those who repent will be redeemed. Those who do not will be broken and consumed (Isaiah 1:24-31).

Isaiah 1:1 introduces a massive book of prophecy with relatively few words. He mentions only that he is the son of the otherwise unknown Amoz. Isaiah describes the book as a vision: a description of revelations from God about Judah during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. This likely covers a span of around sixty years.

Isaiah 1:2–20 begins a presentation somewhat like a lawsuit against the people of Judah in Israel. The Lord will show many of the ways they have broken their covenant with Him. The people are saturated with sin. They have forsaken Him. Isaiah describes a spiritual sickness Israel refuses to treat. It will lead to their physical destruction by enemy invaders. Their offerings are meaningless because of their sinful rebellion. God calls them to stop sinning and to do good. He offers to make their sins white as snow if they repent and to consume them if they rebel.

Isaiah 1:21–31 focuses on the city of Jerusalem as representative of the people of Judah in Israel. Once faithful to God and known for justice, the city has become a prostitute and a town in which murderers walk free and leaders are friends with thieves. The Lord declares that He will purify the corruption from the city and return it to a place of justice. Those who repent will be redeemed. Those who don't will be broken and consumed. Those who have worshipped false gods will be embarrassed and then destroyed.

Chapter Summary:

After identifying himself as the son of Amoz, Isaiah begins his vision from the Lord with the introduction of God's lawsuit against the people of Israel. His children are living in rebellion against Him. They are saturated in sin and have forsaken the Lord. Their spiritual sickness will lead to their destruction, though a few will be saved. Their offerings are meaningless because of their sinful lifestyles. If they repent now, they will be redeemed. If not, they will be destroyed. The Lord will restore justice to once righteous Jerusalem. All who do not repent will be consumed.

Chapter Context:

Isaiah 1 begins Isaiah's massive book of prophecy with the Lord presenting a lawsuit against His people Israel in Judah for breach of covenant. They live in rebellion against Him and are saturated in sin. They refuse to treat their spiritual illness and will be decimated by their enemies. Their offerings are meaningless. They must stop doing evil and start doing what is good. The Lord will burn off the corrupt from Jerusalem and return it to a place of justice and righteousness. Those who refuse to repent will be broken and destroyed.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).

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