The Sins of Israel And Judah
April 29, 2021
Commentary
Isaiah was a prophet during the time when the original nation of Israel had been divided into two kingdoms – Israel in the north and Judah in the south. The northern kingdom had already sinned greatly against God and the southern kingdom was headed in the same direction. From the human point of view, the nation was prospering but, from God’s point of view, it was rotten from within.
Isaiah starts with a probing examination of Judah’s present situation and gives a passionate plea for God’s people to return to the Lord. He says the people are like rebellious children who do not have as much devotion to God as animals do for their masters (vv. 1-4). As long as the people of Judah continued to sin, they cut themselves off from God’s help and isolated themselves (vv. 5-8). He compares the rulers and people of Judah to the rulers and people of Sodom and Gomorrah (vv. 9-11).
They are placing more faith in the rituals of their religious system than they are in God (vv. 12-14). They attend the temple services and do a multitude of sacrifices to the Lord; but their hearts are far from God, and their worship is hypocritical. God was unhappy with their sacrifices because they had come to place more faith in the rituals of their religion than in the God they worshiped. Although the people did not feel sorry for their sins, they continued to offer sacrifices (vv. 15-17). Gifts and sacrifices mean nothing to God when they come from someone with a corrupt heart.
Application
When I feel lonely and separated from God I need to remember that God does not abandon me. It is my sins that cut me off from Him. The only sure cure is to confess my sin and restore a meaningful relationship with Him.
Isaiah 1:1– 17 (NET)
1 Here is the message about Judah and Jerusalem that was revealed to Isaiah son of Amoz during the time when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah reigned over Judah.
2 Listen, O heavens, pay attention, O earth! For the Lord speaks: “I raised children, I brought them up, but they have rebelled against me!
3 An ox recognizes its owner, a donkey recognizes where its owner puts its food; but Israel does not recognize me, my people do not understand.”
4 Beware sinful nation, the people weighed down by evil deeds. They are offspring who do wrong, children who do wicked things. They have abandoned the Lord, and rejected the Holy One of Israel. They are alienated from him.
5 Why do you insist on being battered? Why do you continue to rebel? Your head has a massive wound, your whole heart is sick.
6 From the soles of your feet to your head, there is no spot that is unharmed. There are only bruises, cuts, and open wounds. They have not been cleansed or bandaged, nor have they been treated with olive oil.
7 Your land is devastated, your cities burned with fire. Right before your eyes your crops are being destroyed by foreign invaders. They leave behind devastation and destruction.
8 Daughter Zion is left isolated, like a hut in a vineyard, or a shelter in a cucumber field; she is a besieged city.
9 If the Lord of Heaven’s Armies had not left us a few survivors, we would have quickly been like Sodom, we would have become like Gomorrah.
10 Listen to the Lord’s message, you leaders of Sodom! Pay attention to our God’s rebuke, people of Gomorrah!
11 “Of what importance to me are your many sacrifices?” says the Lord. “I have had my fill of burnt sacrifices, of rams and the fat from steers. The blood of bulls, lambs, and goats I do not want.
12 When you enter my presence, do you actually think I want this— animals trampling on my courtyards?
13 Do not bring any more meaningless offerings; I consider your incense detestable! You observe new moon festivals, Sabbaths, and convocations, but I cannot tolerate sin-stained celebrations!
14 I hate your new moon festivals and assemblies; they are a burden that I am tired of carrying.
15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I look the other way; when you offer your many prayers, I do not listen, because your hands are covered with blood.
16 Wash! Cleanse yourselves! Remove your sinful deeds from my sight. Stop sinning.
17 Learn to do what is right. Promote justice. Give the oppressed reason to celebrate. Take up the cause of the orphan. Defend the rights of the widow.
Illustration: Church Statistics
We need to take a look at “the church” of today. There are certainly many parallels with the “worshiping church” in the western world. According to surveys taken, 93 percent of the households in the United States have bibles and more than 60 percent of the people claim to be religious. At the same time the average church only allocates 5 percent of its budget for reaching others with the Gospel, while they spend the other 95 percent on themselves. (Lou Nicholes – Missionary/Author)