Isaiah 1
I know this is a bit in the past, but I'm going to try to sum up some of where we've been so far so that we're up to date for where we're going. Chapters 1-5 were basically an introduction to the book of Isaiah, and Dawn already posted about chapter 5, the vineyard, but I'll try to sum up briefly the first part of the introduction.
Chapters 1-4 were mostly to set the stage. We can think of Isaiah as not only a prophetic book, but also as a sort of cosmic view of reality. In that time, the judgement God to the chose people had finally come, or was close at hand. The fall of the Northern Kingdom was becoming a reality, and Judah, in the south, held the remnant of God's people. But in Judah things were far from ideal, and this is where Isaiah comes in. The introduction gives us a sort of picture of where things stand in Judah. They are at a crossroads of sorts, threatened from all sides. Will they trust in man to save them from the threats around them or in God? Will they cast off the idols and turn back to God, or go the way of Israel and too fall and be led into captivity?
The reality of the situation is summed up in 1:5-6:
Why should you be beaten anymore?
Why do you persist in rebellion?
Your whole head is injured,
your whole heart afflicted.
From the sole of your foot to the top of your head
there is no soundness—
only wounds and welts
and open sores,
not cleansed or bandaged
or soothed with olive oil
Infection and disease has infected the people of God.
But though Isaiah is a book full of prophecies of doom and destruction, always there is a glimmer of hope, wanting to save in the moment of turning. God says in 1:18-20
“Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the good things of the land;
20 but if you resist and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
But will the turning happen? The next few chapters spell out more clearly the extent of the disease in Judah: Societal breakdown, Political breakdown, and Religious breakdown.
Chapters 1-4 were mostly to set the stage. We can think of Isaiah as not only a prophetic book, but also as a sort of cosmic view of reality. In that time, the judgement God to the chose people had finally come, or was close at hand. The fall of the Northern Kingdom was becoming a reality, and Judah, in the south, held the remnant of God's people. But in Judah things were far from ideal, and this is where Isaiah comes in. The introduction gives us a sort of picture of where things stand in Judah. They are at a crossroads of sorts, threatened from all sides. Will they trust in man to save them from the threats around them or in God? Will they cast off the idols and turn back to God, or go the way of Israel and too fall and be led into captivity?
The reality of the situation is summed up in 1:5-6:
Why should you be beaten anymore?
Why do you persist in rebellion?
Your whole head is injured,
your whole heart afflicted.
From the sole of your foot to the top of your head
there is no soundness—
only wounds and welts
and open sores,
not cleansed or bandaged
or soothed with olive oil
Infection and disease has infected the people of God.
But though Isaiah is a book full of prophecies of doom and destruction, always there is a glimmer of hope, wanting to save in the moment of turning. God says in 1:18-20
“Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the good things of the land;
20 but if you resist and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
But will the turning happen? The next few chapters spell out more clearly the extent of the disease in Judah: Societal breakdown, Political breakdown, and Religious breakdown.
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