Isaiah 1 Notes, The Courtroom Argument Against Judah

 https://youtu.be/9gnmrH3eWBE

• The title of the book 1:1 -- already discussed
• This is a later prophecy placed at the front that encapsulates the whole theme of Isaiah
• Sense of what is happening in this chapter -- any thoughts on the motif, not the content
• So what words do we see?
• Rebelled, rebel (s), forsake
• Lodge, sins, justice
• Oaks, gardens (idolatry)
• Son, children
• Moon, assembly
• Know, reason(1), understand(1)
• Court of law, assize
• Judge, prosecutor: God
• Defendant: Israel (Judah)
• Assessors: heavens, the earth
• Israel's condition 1:2-9
• Begins a courtroom hearing. What is the charge?
• Rebellion (vs 2)
• Stupidity (vs 3)
• Laden with sin, corruption, forsake (give up on), despised God, estrangement (meaning of separation) (vs 4)
• What is the condition of things (and why is this important)?
• Sickness, faint, bruises, sores ,raw wounds, pressed (individually)
• Country desolate, cities burned [note: indicates a later entry], foreigners devour
• Isolated in a little space (Jerusalem)
• Similar to Sodom and Gomorrah except a few have survived
• WHY IMPORTANT? It should clue them in, but it doesn’t, WHY? Because they  don't understand or see it -- they are stupid
• God's solution 1:10-20
• Ritual contrasted with reality 1:10-15
• By calling them Sodom and Gomorrah, what is he doing? Guilty of the same sins--selfishness, neglect of poor, & sexual sins. Also suggested is lack of solid teaching (vs 10)
• What does God take issue with?
• Worship. No delight in their sacrifices. Why? Sacrifices without heart. Obedience to a set of rules but not internal change (vs 11)
• Worship attendance (vs 12)
• Worship giving / offerings (vs 13) -- BRING NO MORE
• Special holy day observance (vs 13) -- CANNOT ENDURE
• Solemn assembly AND iniquity (vs 13)
• New moons (also holy days) and appointed (required) feasts (vs 14) -- MY SOUL HATES; A BURDEN; WEARY OF BEARING THEM
• Prayer (vs 15) -- I WILL HIDE MY EYES
• Many prayers (vs 15) -- I WILL NOT LISTEN (so in the NT, persistent prayer is recommended by Jesus)
• APPLICATION: God took no joy in their ritual observance of the law. Even in the OT, the heart aspect was necessary
• The wisdom of obeying God 1:16-20
• What does God want? (vs 16, 17)
• Wash yourselves (of sin)
• Remove evil deeds
• Cease evil (different from above)
• LEARN to do good -- How? The word of God gives us the wisdom to do good
• What does God suggest? (vs 18, 19)
• "Let us reason together" -- know the Lord (word of God), communicate to the Lord (prayer) -- importance of RELATIONSHIP not religious performance -- RESULT: SIN REMOVED
• Willingness; Obedience -- RESULT: EAT THE GOOD OF THE LAND
• What does God warn? (vs 20)
• If you refuse and rebel => EATEN BY SWORD (on the precipice)
• Israel's Response 1:21-30 (God paints a picture for the court)
• The depth of Judah's apostasy 1:21-23
• The city is a whore (usually this is in reference to idolatry), but it is contrasted with justice. Possible it is the sale of justice for gain (vs 21)
• Instead of righteousness (doing the right thing), we have murderers (this seems extremely harsh--Jesus called hatred murder) (vs 21)
• Their silver has impurities (suggests the value is less than it should be) (vs 22)
• Wine is mixed with water (suggests greed, watering down wine to increase profits--also puts to bed notion that wine was normally watered down) (vs 22)
• Princes are also rebels (against the law) -- they run with thieves (vs 23)
• Bribery is common (vs 23)
• The weak (orphan and widow) are ignored
• The Announcement of Judgment and Future Restoration 1:24-26
• How does God view his people? His enemy
• He plans to take them through a fire
• Then he will restore the judges and counselors, city renamed (millennial prophecy)
• The Fate of the Wicked 1:27-31
• What is God's judgement?
• Repentance, redemption is necessary (vs 27)
• Rebels, sinners broken; those who forsake God consumed (vs 28)
• Ashamed of oaks; blush at the gardens (Idolatry) (vs 29)
• Withered oak and an un-watered garden -- ready for the fire (vs 30-31)
• APPLICATION:
1. Don't rebel against God's rules (they are for our best). God wants our will
2. Don't be stupid (stay in the word and allow your mind to be changed). God wants our mind
3. Don't go through the motions (religious exercises are worthless). God wants our heart