Isaiah: Reason Together

Isaiah 1

Spiritual renewal begins by addressing the sin in our lives. There is no way around it. We cannot raise one hand in worship while holding tightly to sin with the other. To truly experience God in a fresh way, we must confront the things that drive us away from him. That’s where the book of Isaiah begins.

Isaiah 1:1 (NIV)
The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Isaiah’s “vision” was a mental and spiritual message from God. God’s communication to him was clear; he not only heard, but also saw and understood it. In turn, Isaiah relayed the message to Israel in a manner they could not miss or dispute.

The vision concerned Judah and Jerusalem. At this point in Israel’s history, the nation was divided. Civil war had split Israel into two kingdoms: a northern kingdom and a southern kingdom. Both kingdoms rejected the Holy One of Israel and served other gods. Consequently, Israel, the northern kingdom, was overthrown by the Assyrians in 722 BC. Judgment upon them was imminent as Isaiah began his ministry. Judah, the southern kingdom, withstood the Assyrian assault but later succumbed to the Babylonians in 586 BC. While God spoke to Israel through Isaiah, his primary audience was Judah and its central city, Jerusalem.

Isaiah prophesied for fifty-eight years during the reigns of four kings of Judah: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. We will learn more about these kings during our study.

In God’s vision to Isaiah, he did not beat around the bush. He said, “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me” (Isa. 1:2 NIV). The Hebrew word translated “rebelled” (Heb: pasa) means to “break with or break away from,” “behave as a criminal.” Sin is much more than making a mistake; it is a revolt against God, a breaking away from his authority. This rebellion is further described in verse 4. It involves forsaking God, despising his control, and turning our backs on him.

God asked Israel, “Why do you persist in rebellion?” (Isa 1:5 NIV). He describes sin as a disease that damages the entire body. On a national level, God says, “Your country is desolate, your cities burned with fire; your fields are being stripped by foreigners right before you, laid waste as when overthrown by strangers” (1:7). Were it not for God’s grace, they would be wiped out like Sodom and Gomorrah (1:9).

God asks us the same penetrating question: “Why do you persist in rebellion?” This leads to destruction and discontent in our relationship with God. Yet, too often, we continue our spiritual uprising while worshiping. This hypocrisy is appalling to God.

Isaiah 1:11-15 (NIV)
“The multitude of your sacrifices— what are they to me?” says the Lord. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. . .Stop bringing meaningless offerings! . . . When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood!”

God declares that Israel was once faithful, but now they live like prostitutes. They once demonstrated justice; now they are as guilty as murderers. Their “rulers are rebels, partners with thieves,” taking bribes instead of caring for the poor and needy (Isa. 1:23 NIV). However, God loves his people too much to let them wallow in their sin. “The Lord, the Lord Almighty, the Mighty One of Israel” will bring renewal (Isa. 1:24-26 NIV). “Rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the Lord will perish” (Isa. 1:28 NIV).

God detests rebellion and religious hypocrisy. Jesus welcomed repentant sinners, but he described religious pretenders as “whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness” (Matt. 23:27). Integrity in our relationship with Jesus demands wholeness, not a divided life that holds one hand up in worship while holding tight to sin with the other. Let’s face it: when we honestly evaluate our hearts, we all harbor a bit of hypocrisy. While sinlessness will not characterize our lives this side of heaven, thank God, he offers grace-filled instruction.

A believer’s spiritual renewal begins with repentance—acknowledging our sins and desiring to discontinue sinful behavior. God says, “Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong” (1:16 NIV). Know this great promise—today’s Anchor Point:

Isaiah 1:18
Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:though your sins are like scarlet,they shall be as white as snow;though they are red like crimson,they shall become like wool.

What a great invitation from our heavenly Father! The word “reason” (Heb. yakah) is a legal term for “arguing, convincing, or deciding a court case.”^[1] God invites us to sit with him and learn that he is right about our condition. He says, “Let’s sit down and think through this together. Let’s consider your options. Let’s settle this matter.” Our sins stain us like the color scarlet (a red dye made from a worm). But God offers a complete cleansing. He can make our sin-stained hearts as white as snow. Though our sins are as easy to see as crimson, God can wash them away and make us white like wool. This does not mean that God will cover our sins, like putting a fresh coat of white paint on a wall covered with dark spots. The writers of the NET Bible make this clear. They write:

The point is not that the sins will be covered up, though still retained. The metaphorical language must be allowed some flexibility and should not be pressed into a rigid literalistic mold. The people’s sins will be removed and replaced by ethical purity. The sins that are now as obvious as the color red will be washed away and the ones who are sinful will be transformed.^[2]

This transformation involves repentance as we admit our sins and express remorse for them. Then, God will cleanse us and help us take the necessary steps to avoid wrongdoing. The apostle John said it this way:

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Time in the Word
Read and reflect on Isaiah 1. Focus on our Anchor Point: Isaiah 1:18.

Talking to God: Ask God to help you recognize your sin, own your sin, and ask for his cleansing. Express to God your deep desire for spiritual renewal.

Zoom Call to review Job
On Monday, May 5 at 7:00 pm, we will meet on a Zoom call to review what we learned in Job and answer questions. Information and a link to join the call will be included in the May 5 devotion email.

Have Questions?
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Outline of Isaiah

Theme: The Salvation (deliverance) of the Lord

I. Condemnation—(1–39)

1. Sermons against Judah and Israel—(1–12)
2. Burdens of Judgment against the Gentiles—(13–23)
3. Songs about Future Glory—(24–27)
4. Woes of Coming Judgment from Assyria—(28–35)
5. Historical Interlude—(36–39)

a. Hezekiah delivered from Assyria—(36–37)
b. Hezekiah deceived by Babylon—(37–38)

II. Consolation—(40–66)

1. God’s Greatness—(40–48) (The Father vs. idols)
2. God’s Grace—(49–57) (The Son, God’s Servant)
3. God’s Glory—(58–66) (The Spirit and the kingdom)^[3]