Copyright Mike Sullivan, 2018.
This study is part of a ten-week teaching series on Isaiah given at Xenos Christian Fellowship in 2017 and 2018.
Before we dive into chapter 1, let's consider who Isaiah the prophet was and the nature of his message.
If you watch the news, then you have seen the White House press secretary speak on behalf of the President. Prophets like Isaiah had a similar function. They received messages from God and passed them on to God's people.
Prophetic messages usually fell into one of two categories: FOREtelling and FORTHtelling. Foretelling involves predicting the future before it happens. That is what we typically associate with a prophet. In the 1950s and 60s many regarded Jeane Dixon as a prophet because she correctly predicted that the president elected in 1960 would be a Democrat and either be assassinated or die in office. Unfortunately she also predicted that World War III would begin in 1958, that the Vietnam War would end in 1966, and that Russia would be the first nation to put humans on the moon!
Unlike Jeane Dixon, when God's true prophets made a prediction they were never wrong. As we study this book, we will have the opportunity to carefully examine some of Isaiah's predictions. You'll see, for example, how he provided a detailed description of the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus about seven centuries before Jesus was born!
More often, Isaiah and other prophets did something called forthtelling. Whereas foretelling is predicting the future, forthtelling is applying God's truth to the present day. A prophet who forthtells speaks to the people of Israel on God's behalf about their behavior, their spiritual state, and what God wants them to do.
Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech is a good modern-day example of forthtelling. King stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and challenged the nation to uphold justice and extend equal rights to African Americans:
"Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children... we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream."
King quoted the biblical prophet Amos. He appealed to scripture and called on Americans to act in a way that was consistent with God's truth. That's forthtelling.
No speaker today has a direct line to God like the Old Testament prophets did, but King's speech gives you a taste of what prophets sounded like to ancient audiences. Some of the most moving, powerful, and convicting passages in the Bible result from prophetic forthtelling.
We can learn a little more about the nature of Isaiah's message from the very first verse in the book...
1:1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz concerning Judah and Jerusalem, which he saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
Isaiah describes his message as a "vision." When you hear that word, you naturally think of a visual experience. And prophets did see visions. Sometimes Isaiah described what he saw (e.g. chapter 6), but most of his visions were simply a message, a word from the Lord.i The book of Isaiah is a compilation of Isaiah's visions—what he heard and what he saw—over the course of his ministry.
When did Isaiah receive these messages? "During the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah." Isaiah's ministry likely continued into the reign of King Hezekiah's son, Manasseh.ii All told, he served God from about 740-681 B.C—for almost 60 years. Putting that in modern terms, Isaiah's ministry lasted from Eisenhower to Trump!
Who were these messages for? Isaiah singles out the people of "Judah and Jerusalem." Israel's twelve tribes were united under the rule of King Saul, David, and Solomon. But in 930 B.C., just after Solomon's son Rehoboam came to power, the country split. Ten tribes became the northern kingdom of Israel. The remaining tribes of Judah and Benjamin became the southern kingdom of Judah. Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were all kings of Judah, which fits with Isaiah's statement that is visions are "concerning Judah and Jerusalem."
Are you still with me? Let's move on to chapter 1. We'll learn more about the historical setting and major themes of Isaiah as we go along.
"Renewal"
Our first passage in Isaiah focuses on the theme of renewal.
Did you make a New Year's resolution this year? Did you vow to change or improve something? Renewal is something different. Renewal isn't something we vow to do in our own self-effort. It's something God does in our lives as we cooperate with him. Renewal doesn't just bring superficial change like a resolution. Renewal goes deeper and touches our heart.
It is easy to be cynical about the possibility of deep-seated heart change. Maybe you decided you wanted to be a better spouse, but you continue to sabotage your own efforts to improve. You ask yourself, "why do I say and do things like that?" Or maybe you succeeded in reigning in your temper, but just recently blew it again.
As we open the book of Isaiah, we're confronted with a God who says he can and will bring renewal, even in the lives of the most broken people, even in situations that seem beyond hope.
Isaiah reminds us of God's commitment to renewal by holding two things in tension. First, Isaiah never minimizes how bad things are in the Jerusalem of his day...
Isaiah 59:9 So there is no justice among us, and we know nothing about right living. We look for light but find only darkness. We look for bright skies but walk in gloom.
Things truly were bad. The Jews living in Jerusalem were spiritually sick—decaying morally from the inside out. Second, Isaiah never stops believing that God can bring true renewal to the people of Jerusalem.
If you have ever been in despair about the possibility of real heart change, if you've ever wondered if true renewal is possible, Isaiah's answer is a resounding YES!!
Isaiah's perspective reminds me of one of those home renovation shows where a remodeler has plans to update a shabby house. In our passage, God knows Jerusalem is in bad shape, yet he has a way forward, a vision for a renewed Jerusalem that he plans to pursue.
So, keeping the broad theme of renewal in mind, we'll look at...
The sad state of Jerusalem in Isaiah's day.
God's vision for Jerusalem's renewal.
Steps toward renewal.
And throughout, we won't just look at God's plan for Jerusalem; we'll also consider the renewal he wants to bring in each of our lives.
The state of Jerusalem in Isaiah's dayiii
Isaiah begins with God's grim assessment of the present state of Jerusalem. They are...
In revolt against God.
1:2 Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; for the LORD speaks, "sons I have reared and brought up, but they have revolted against Me... 4 Alas, sinful nation, people weighed down with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, sons who act corruptly!
They have abandoned the LORD,
they have despised the Holy One of Israel,
they have turned away from Him.
They is clearly emphatic. They are God's people. They are the ones who God delivered from slavery in Egypt. They are the ones God cared for in the wilderness. They received God's law from Moses. They were called by God to be a special, unique nation and people set apart to God—they, of all people, have abandoned the Lord.
If anyone should have known God's voice, they should have. But they despised God, and as a result of their disobedience, they were...
Suffering
1:5 Where will you be stricken again, as you continue in your rebellion? The whole head is sick and the whole heart is faint. 6 From the sole of the foot even to the head there is nothing sound in it, only bruises, welts and raw wounds, not pressed out or bandaged, nor softened with oil.
Picture a wounded man staggering down the street, bruised, slashed and bleeding. That's the picture Isaiah uses to describe the people of Judah. Enemies in surrounding nations had repeatedly beaten them down by raiding their towns and plundering their possessions.
1:7 Your land is desolate, your cities are burned with fire, your fields—strangers are devouring them in your presence; it is desolation, as overthrown by strangers.
Why are things this bad? In v. 5 God says Jerusalem is being "stricken." The implication is that God's hand is in this. He is allowing Judah to suffer defeat by her enemies because they are revolting against God.
What, specifically, were they doing wrong? They broke something called the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses is actually a collection of laws that God gave to Moses for his people to follow. These laws were the basis of an agreement, a covenant between God and the Jewish people known as the Mosaic Covenant.
Moses explained to the people how the covenant worked...
Deuteronomy 28:1 "If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the world.
But he warned them...
Deuteronomy 28:15 "But if you refuse to listen to the LORD your God and do not obey all the commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overwhelm you..."
Isaiah knows the people of Jerusalem are disobeying the Law of Moses, so here in Isaiah 1, Isaiah gives them a similar warning...
1:19 "If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land; 20 but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword."
Now notice, Isaiah isn't saying anything about how an individual becomes justified in God's eyes or how an individual makes it to heaven in the next life. This is about the nation of Judah's prosperity or destruction in this life.
The people knew in advance if they disobeyed God, they would lose God's protection, and that's exactly what happened. They revolted against God and were "devoured by the sword."
So, God's people were revolting against God and suffering for it. What else was going on?
Full of hypocrisy
1:11 "What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?" Says the LORD. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle; and I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats. 12 When you come to appear before Me, who requires of you this trampling of My courts? 13 "Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me…"
These "worthless offerings" are animal sacrifices the Jews brought to the temple in Jerusalem, and God wants them to stop! Why would God say that? Hadn't he commanded the Jews to make these offerings in the first place? The answer is the people were living double lives! They dutifully offered their sacrifices at the temple, but lived like hell during the rest of the week. Their regular trips to the temple to make offerings were an outward show, but inside their hearts were far from God.
We have a word for this: hypocrisy—keeping the outward appearance of godliness while flagrantly disregarding God's will.
God provides a specific example of hypocrisy in 1:15:
1:15 "So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
Whose blood is Isaiah talking about? Not the blood of animal sacrifices, but the blood of people who can't defend themselves—widows, orphans, and poor people. Blood that wealthy land owners and corrupt judges have extracted from their victims!
Further down, Isaiah explains,
Isaiah 1:23b "Everyone loves a bribe... they do not defend the orphan, nor does the widow's plea come before them."
Powerful people were treating the poor unjustly. Imagine a scenario like this: A wealthy landlord charges a widow double the rent she agreed to pay. The widow goes to court seeking justice. But the landlord bribes the judge to escape conviction and the widow winds up homeless. Then the landlord and the judge go to the temple later that week, lifting their hands up in prayer to God!!
God sees all this and says, "You hypocrites! Put your hands down. I'm not listening. Your hands are covered in blood!!"
God has commanded his people to make sacrifices and come to him in prayer, but he won't hear their prayers or receive their sacrifices as long as they ignore his will and mistreat the poor!
Summary
So that was the sorry state of Jerusalem in Isaiah's day: the people disregarded God's moral will, they were hypocrites, and they ripped off the defenseless. Sound familiar? These same trends are clearly present in our culture today.
E.g., Facebook videos of someone getting beaten up, beaten long after they can defend themselves, while a circle of people watch and cheer.
E.g., Pastors caught doing the very things they speak against.
E.g., Wealthy people with money and connections getting special treatment in our justice system.
Most people can easily spot these trends in the wider culture, but what about us?
Who can say they've never broken God's moral law, or at least gone against their own conscience?
Who can say they've never concealed the truth to keep up appearances?
Who can say they have never acted in their own self-interest at the expense of someone else?
Come on, we all have blood on our hands!
If you're honest, you can see the people of Jerusalem aren't the only ones who need renewal. We all do.
In the beginning of the chapter, God shouts out through Isaiah, "hear O heavens, and listen O earth..." hoping someone will respond to his message. Sadly, the people of Judah never did! They never listened and were eventually destroyed. But we can be different. Here's a key question: are you willing to hear and accept God's assessment of your present state? He says you, just like Jerusalem, are in need of renewal. But there won't be any renewal unless you let God put his finger on what's wrong.
So, that's the present state of Jerusalem. Now...
God's vision for a renewed Jerusalem (2:2-4)
If you watch home renovation shows on TV, you've probably noticed how remodelers first identify key structural features of a run-down home—maybe some pillars or a vaulted ceiling—and then build their vision around those features.
God does something similar with Jerusalem. Even as his people rebel against him, God points to a key structural feature around which he will build a bright future for Jerusalem: Messiah the King. Isaiah has a lot to say about the Messiah. In chapter 9 he describes him as a descendant of King David who one day will rule the world forever and usher in a time of peace (Isaiah 9:1-7). As the Bible unfolds, we learn that he is Jesus Christ (Christ is actually the Greek word for Messiah).
Starting in chapter 2, Isaiah looks forward to the eternal reign of King Messiah and the lasting renewal he will bring to Jerusalem.
2:2 Now it will come about that in the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains, and will be raised above the hills; and all the nations will stream to it.
Notice there has been real heart change! In Isaiah's day and in our own, many people don't want anything to do with God, but in the New Jerusalem, it'll be just the opposite. People from everywhere will go there to be with the Messiah King.
2:3 And many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us concerning His ways and that we may walk in His paths." For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
In the past the Jews dutifully went to the temple even though their hearts were far from God. But in the Messiah's kingdom, people will long to learn his ways. He will no doubt expound on many truths in the Bible (maybe we'll get to hear Jesus' series on Isaiah!), but "his ways" go beyond doctrine and touch on every aspect of the world he has made. So perhaps he will also give lectures on dark matter, genetics, coral reefs, why he made mosquitoes, how the moon was formed, and on and on. I can't wait!
2:4 And He will judge between the nations, and will render decisions for many peoples; and they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they learn war.
Here's more evidence of heart change: instead of waging war, people will live in peace. They will "hammer their swords into plowshares." Today the nations of the world allocate about $1.7 trillion a year for military spending.iv But when the Messiah rules, all of those resources will be used to enrich people instead of to destroy them! Imagine how cool that will be! At the center of it all, making it all possible, is Jesus Christ.
When will all this happen?
If you look back at v. 2, it says, "in the last days." When Jesus returns at the end of history he will set up his kingdom on earth. We will examine what Isaiah has to say about this fascinating phase of history at the end of this teaching series. For now, we have a more pressing question to answer…
How does this future renewal of Jerusalem relate to our lives today?
God promises to bring this morally bankrupt city through a transformation. But what does it mean for us? Some Christians take this as a call to renew America. But we have to keep a few things in mind.
First, God never promised that the Messiah would rule from Washington, D.C.! This promise is focused on the rule of Messiah from Jerusalem during God's kingdom. That's a totally different situation!
Second, when the New Testament talks about renewal—and it does—it focuses on God's renewing work in our individual lives, not on renewing society.
Colossians 3:10 "...[you] have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him..."
God wants to help each of us become more like Christ, and it is that renewal, not remaking America, that he wants us to focus on.v
If you don't know Christ, I realize becoming more like him may not seem very appealing. Maybe you have an image like this [painting of Jesus] in your mind of who Jesus is. Creepy. That's not Jesus. Have you ever read the gospels? They provide the best picture we have of what Jesus is really like. He's wise, loving, insightful, courageous, and willing to speak truth to powerful people. If you've been in the presence of someone who is Christ-like, they are winsome and engaging—the kind of person you would want to be like.
So, keeping the importance of personal renewal in mind, what are some...
Steps toward renewal
Before renewal can begin...
If you recognize you have problems, if you know something needs to change, God extends this invitation...
1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.
Consider what's being offered here: God is willing, if you let him, to completely wash away the stain of your sin. The scarlet die he mentions here was known for permeating every fiber of a piece of fabric. That's how it is with us—our sin is too deeply ingrained to remove on our own. We all know that deep down. God wants you to own up to the depth of the problem and let him wash you. This must come first before God can do anything else in your life.
By the way, Isaiah doesn't tell us here how God removes the stain of our sin, but he does later in the book. When we get to chapter 53 we'll see it is Jesus who makes this possible. Jesus is able to deal with the problem by taking our sin onto himself. That's how he can wash and heal us.
So I urge you to consider what Jesus is willing to do and take him up on his offer. Ask him to remove the stain of your sin. Once you've done that, God will live inside you through the Holy Spirit and begin his work of renewal in your life.
Repentance
To repent is to agree with God's assessment that your attitudes and actions are sinful. Repentance is a heart attitude that God sees, but we demonstrate the presence of repentance when we act in ways that are consistent with our change of heart.vi When compromised Christians wake up from their spiritual stupor and renew their commitment to follow Christ, repentance is always a factor.
God tells his people…
1:16b Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, 17 learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.
God isn't interested in watching the people of Judah feign obedience by going through the motions. He wants them to act in ways that are consistent with repentance.
A while back, a student stole a cell phone from another student in a high school Bible Study that I was leading. We recovered the phone, but the student denied stealing it. Over time, though, he had a heart change and admitted his guilt. That was true repentance, and we saw his repentance demonstrated when he apologized to the owner of the phone. God is calling for something similar from the people of Jerusalem.
Is God trying to address an issue in your life? Don't try to placate him by going through the motions. That won't lead to lasting change. If there is going to be renewal, there must be repentance.
Choosing hope
Over Christmas break, I watched the movie Titanic with my wife (I can hear the coins draining out of my man bank). I hate to be one of those people who give the plot away, but the boat sinks. Just an FYI.
There's a critical scene in the movie where the ship's designer gives an assessment of the damage caused by the iceberg. He explains that because five compartments have been breached, it is a mathematical certainty that the ship will go down. Someone in the room objects, "but Titanic is unsinkable." And the designer says, "this boat is made of iron, sir. I assure you, she can and will sink!"
It is a great scene and, sadly, a great picture of how some Christians see their future. They feel hopelessly given over to destructive habits and destined to sink to the bottom.
Fortunately, as long as God is part of our lives, renewal is always possible. You want to talk about a sinking ship? How about Jerusalem in Isaiah's day? And yet look how confident God is that renewal is coming...
1:26 "I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning; After that you will be called the city of righteousness, A faithful city."27 Zion will be redeemed with justice and her repentant ones with righteousness.
God says renewal will happen. And what is basis of God's confidence? Is it the amazing people of Jerusalem? No way. God's plan for renewal does not rest on human effort or how people might respond. It rests on his son, Jesus.
Jesus makes renewal possible. Here's something you can take to the bank. If you are a Christian, you are destined to change! God is a powerful God. It will happen.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
If you're weighed down and feel trapped by sinful habits, think about this: the day is coming when Christ will perfect his work in your life. There's no question about that. The question is whether you will trust Christ, cooperate with him, and let him begin renewing you now.
Unbelief and cynicism are great enemies of renewal. If you have concluded, "God can't change me..." you're not just short-circuiting your growth, you're telling God he is too weak to change you. Paul says just the opposite is true:
Philippians 2:13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
If you are a Christian, Jesus lives in you through the Holy Spirit, and he gives you the power and even the desire to grow. Renewal is possible.
Final Thoughts
Don't walk out of here and make renewal your New Year's resolution. Renewal is about growing and becoming more like Jesus, and Jesus himself makes it possible.
Think about an escalator. You don't need to walk up the steps, you simply put yourself in position to be carried to the next floor. In a similar way, your job isn't to grow, it's to put yourself in position to grow by looking to Christ.
How do you do that? By taking advantage of what Christ has put in your life to help you change and grow. These provisions include:
Being with other Christians: Christ wants to work through other Christians to love you, encourage you, and teach you.
Praying: Asking Christ for strength and guidance.
Reading the Bible: Seeking Jesus' wisdom in the Bible.
Serving: Putting yourself in situations where Christ can empower you to serve others.
Don't see these as ways to earn merit, but rather as ways Jesus provides for your renewal. Through these means he has provided for our growth, we draw near to him and benefit from his life.
And remember, too, that while change and growth are wonderful outcomes of knowing Christ, Christ himself is the treasure. Paul said "I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord."
Someday, when people from all over the world stream to the New Jerusalem, who will they be there to see and learn from? Their messiah, Jesus Christ. We can never forget the Christian life is all about him.
i Visions are often connected with a word from the Lord. For example: Genesis 15:1 "The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying..."
ii See J. Alec Motyer, The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction & Commentary (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1992), comments on Isaiah 57:11.
iii The description in chapter 1 fits conditions during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.
Jotham: Judah was harassed by the Arameans and their sister country of Israel (2 Kings 15:37). He was victorious over the Ammonites (2 Chronicles 27:5).
Ahaz: Aram and Israel put Jerusalem under siege but failed to conquer it (2 Kings 16:5,6). The Arameans took captives from Judah and the Israelites inflicted terrible suffering. Judah was raided by the Edomites and the Philistines (2 Chronicles 28:17,18).
Hezekiah: In the first part of Hezekiah's reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria came against the fortified cities of Judah (2 Kings 18:13; 2 Chronicles 32:1).
Motyer: "Chapters 1–5 differ from chapters 6–12 in the absence of any historical markers. With 6:1 we enter upon stated historical situations in which dates (6:1; 7:1) and world powers (7:1, 17; 8:4) are mentioned but, apart from the title (1:1), the first five chapters have no dates and no names except those of Israel and Judah. This detachment of these oracles from the situations which first called them forth is deliberate. We have here a balanced presentation of truths about Judah whereby we enter with Isaiah into the initial circumstances of his ministry and share his fears and hopes. Like every author's preface these chapters are the 'backdrop' to the whole book." – J. Alec Motyer, The Prophecy of Isaiah. Section A. The preface. Judah: diagnosis and prognosis (1:1–5:30).
iv See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures. Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research institute. Accessed June, 2017.
v The New Testament describes working within existing social structures and addressing needs/effecting change at the grassroots level.