Evoking the purification of the wilderness when Yahweh was Israel’s love and sole source of dependency). Before the nation turned away from God and asking for kings like the other nations.
27 Zion shall be redeemed by justice,
and those in her who repent, by righteousness.
28 But rebels and sinners shall be broken together,
and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed.
29 For they[e] shall be ashamed of the oaks
that you desired;
and you shall blush for the gardens
that you have chosen.
30 For you shall be like an oak
whose leaf withers,
and like a garden without water.
31 And the strong shall become tinder,
and his work a spark,
and both of them shall burn together,
with none to quench them.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 1:2 Or Sons; also verse 4
- Isaiah 1:10 Or law
- Isaiah 1:18 Or dispute
- Isaiah 1:21 Or become unchaste
- Isaiah 1:29 Some Hebrew manuscripts you
Tough words to hear
Covenant Lawsuit Jesus is the Judge, all in this broken lawsuit born into sin
Exodus, Golden Calf Law broken, false gods
Inauthentic worship, Jesus heals us, makes our satisfaction for us, humanity because we can’t
Salvation is free but not cheap. Not really free, costs us ourselves. God’s way vs our ways.
Hell “shall burn together,
with none to quench them.”
Jesus gives us a way out
Vs 5 Why will you still be struck down?
Why will you continue to rebel?
Proverbs, we are given a way out. Blame the Lord often for our own doing.
Woe is me. Seared lips, the cost of following God.
Exhortation
As we listen to almost 2500 yrs ago history, keep in mind our covenant with the Lord and our own faithfulness.
Oaths in civil society
How often do we fail to notice much less ask for forgiveness and find ways of restitution. The Lord is ever ready to forgive, but we must ask. He will never force His will onto us, even for our own good. Take this reading to your prayer and ask, “have I broken covenant with Him?”
Hope, make sin white as snow. Reminder of God’s justice. Through Jesus sin made white as snow. Hard purification is not sadist, come out on other side holier, with Lord as our first love.