Isaiah 1:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For they shall be ashamed of the oaks that you desired; and you shall blush for the gardens that you have chosen.

NIV: You will be ashamed because of the sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be disgraced because of the gardens that you have chosen.

NASB: You certainly will be ashamed of the oaks which you have desired, And you will be embarrassed by the gardens which you have chosen.

CSB: Indeed, they will be ashamed of the sacred trees you desired, and you will be embarrassed because of the garden shrines you have chosen.

NLT: You will be ashamed of your idol worship in groves of sacred oaks. You will blush because you worshiped in gardens dedicated to idols.

KJV: For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.

NKJV: For they shall be ashamed of the terebinth trees Which you have desired; And you shall be embarrassed because of the gardens Which you have chosen.

Isaiah has warned his readers that destruction is coming for sinners and those living in rebellion against the Lord. They will be broken and consumed (Isaiah 1:28). When that time comes, Isaiah adds, they will be embarrassed by the pagan worship they participated in.

Oak trees were relatively rare in the desert region of Israel. This lead some pagans to worship them or to worship false gods among the sacred oak groves in practices that sometimes included blatant sexual immorality. Some Israelites participated in these practices while continuing to outwardly worship the God of Israel (Isaiah 1:12–23).

They should have understood that participating in these pagan worship practices would clearly demonstrate their rebellion against God. Those who did so will have every reason to be embarrassed when God's judgment falls upon them.

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.

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.

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).

Accessed 4/28/2024 5:49:51 PM