ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 1:1 Introduction: “Ah, Sinful Nation!” The prophet rebukes God’s people and calls them to obey God’s word. He promises miraculous grace beyond judgment. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 1:2 HEAVENS... EARTH. Isaiah calls the entire universe as a faithful witness to God’s word (Deuteronomy 30:19; Psalms 50:4). CHILDREN... THEY. These emphatic words highlight the contrast between God’s grace and his people’s ingratitude. That is how Isaiah summarizes Israel’s hi... [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 1:4 SINFUL. Isaiah uses several Hebrew words for sin (translated here as INIQUITY and CORRUPTLY) to reveal to the people their true character. THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL. This is Isaiah’s most frequent title for God, occurring 25 times in the book. To despise the “Holy One” is to r... [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 1:10 God rejects his people’s worship, however extravagant, because they use it as an excuse not to help the weak. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 1:11 SACRIFICES... BURNT OFFERINGS. Isaiah criticizes the way people have disconnected the sacrifices from their proper purpose. Apparently they were treating their worship as a way of manipulating God. See note on Amos 4:4–5. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName(... [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 1:18 LET US REASON TOGETHER. The people are urged to consider their actual position before God. THOUGH YOUR SINS ARE LIKE SCARLET... RED LIKE CRIMSON. Their hands, red with blood (v. Isaiah 1:15), can be cleansed (Psalms 51:7). But they must deliberately choose to repent (Isaia... [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 1:24 THE LORD... THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE MIGHTY ONE OF ISRAEL. See note on 1 Sam. 1:3. God’s judgment on his people is not the end of the story. The purpose of judgment is to SMELT AWAY the DROSS, that is, to remove the unbelieving members of the people (REBELS AND SINNERS, THOS... [ Continue Reading ]