Isaiah 1:10-20 exegetical analysis

Isaiah

The Holy Bible has been studies for centuries and remains as one of the controversial religious books in the world. The Old Testament holds special treasures concerning the relationship of God with His elect people, Israel. The book of Isaiah is particularly significant in this regard. The purpose of this discussion is to interpret Book of Isaiah 1:10-20. The research will explore the meaning of the passage and will include a questioning of the historical context of the research, the literary context of the passage and the structure of the passage. The discussion will also focus on the relevance of this passage for the original audience. In addition the investigation will answer the following questions

What was God attempting to convey to His people through Isaiah?

What methods were used to help the people understand God's distress concerning their actions?

How is this passage connected to other Biblical passages in terms of God's love for His people and the reality of their rebellious nature keeping from God?

Historical Context

Isaiah, the son of Amoz, was a prophet who prophesied the reigns of several kings of Israel including Josiah and Hezekiah.

According to Mark Henry's Commentary Isaiah has been called "the evangelical prophet, on account of his numerous and full prophesies concerning the coming and character, the ministry and preaching, the sufferings and death of the Messiah, and the extent and continuance of his kingdom. Under the veil of the deliverance from Babylon, Isaiah points to a much greater deliverance, which was to be effected by the Messiah; and seldom does he mention the one, without alluding at the same time to the other; nay, he is often so much enraptured with the prospect of the more distant deliverance, as to lose sight of that which was nearer, and to dwell on the Messiah's person, office, character, and kingdom."

The chapter one of Isaiah contains the scripture that will be examined in the discourse that is to follow. According to Dumbrell, (2004) the first chapter of Isaiah presents readers with a city in a state of decay.

Verses 1-12 describe Jerusalem as a city in which the sacrifices and prayers of the people are no longer acceptable.

In addition the verses focus on the nature of Isaiah's ministry which was to address the sinfulness of Judah and Jerusalem.

The chapter also focuses on the appeals of God for Jerusalem to stop sinning. Isaiah also provides warnings to the people of Jerusalem.

Literary Context and Major Themes

This particular text was written at a time when Judah and Jerusalem had transgressed against God. In Isaiah's prophecies the terms Judah and Jerusalem not only refer to God's elect people but also to geographic locations (actual cities).

Judah was the name of the southern kingdom and Jerusalem was the capital city of that kingdom .

The verses to be examined describe the nature of the transgressions and God's displeasure with his people.

The tone is one of lament; that is, God is grieved by the actions of his people and commands them to repents and walk in obedience.

The major themes of this passage are exposing wickedness, warnings against wickedness, the expectations of God for His people and the judgment that will occur if these warnings go unheeded.

There also exist in this passage an element of wooing as God attempts to draw His people back to Himself. All of these themes serve the purpose of encouraging the people of God to lay aside sin and return to the righteousness of God.

Form and Structure of the Passage

The passage begins with Isaiah establishing that the word that is about to precede out of his moth is a word from the Lord. The first verse also identifies who God believes he is directing the message to -- a wicked people. God is letting them know just how wicked they are by evoking the names of Sodom and Gomorrah which were so wicked that they were utterly and completely destroyed by God. In evoking these names God is also sending out a warning to the people. In fact the entire passage is a warning and attempts to encourage to people to walk in obedience and stop committing evil acts.

In verses eleven and twelve God seems to want the people to explain their actions because he asks two questions. He seems perplexed as to why the people are behaving in the manner that they are and he wants it to end. Through the remainder of the passage God encourages the people to lay aside their sin so that He can once again embrace them. The passage ends with a warning that destruction will come if the people fail to stop walking in the ways of iniquity.

The climax of the passage occurs in verses 16-18. In these verses Isaiah is exposing the most significant point that God is attempting to make through the prophesy. He tells His people to wash themselves of sin. He also lets them know that they can reason together in verse 18. God's willingness to reason with His people is insightful because it demonstrates His patience, and love for His people. This passage also shows God's true desire for His people which is for them to walk in righteousness and obedience.

The climax is related to the beginning and the end of the passage in a couple of different ways. Firstly, both the beginning and end of the passage explain that God is speaking through Isaiah. That is, Isaiah is simply serving as a conduit through which God speaks. This is related to the climax in that God is pleading with His people to live in a way that is pleasing to Him. He reminds them who He is and that his nature is reasonable. Secondly, in the beginning, end and climax of this passage, God reminds the people of their wickedness and His capacity to render judgment.

Major Sections of the Passage

10 Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God, You people of Gomorrah: 11 " to what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?" Says the LORD. " I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats. 12 " When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts?

In this verse, Isaiah is speaking as the mouthpiece of God to the rulers of "Sodom" and the people of "Gomorrah." For many generations there has been a great deal of commentary about Sodom and Gomorrah. The reference to Sodom and Gomorrah in this scripture refers to two cities that God destroyed because of the evil actions of their inhabitants ("Sodom and Gomorrah"). In both instances the judgment was complete. That is God did not allow any people for those two cities to survive his judgment. Referring to Judah and Jerusalem as Sodom and Gomorrah is therefore God's way of letting His people know that their sinful ways cannot continue without some judgment being declared.

Verses 11 and 12 expose the practice of the people of god offering sacrifices while living their lives in disobedience. "Although these sacrifices had been commanded by God, and although the sacrificial system as such had been instituted by him, they were not a delight to him because the heart of the offerer was far from him (Young)." In addition Gill explains that the people had begun to put their entire trust in the sacrifices instead of the totality of God's Law.

God was growing tired of their unwillingness to observe his law in its totality.

God, through Isaiah is letting the people know that this behavior is not acceptable. The sacrifices that are being made are not being presented by people with pure hearts and this is evident in their behaviors. God then ask who has required or suggested that they behave in such a manner. God wants to know where these corrupted ideas came from because they are inconsistent with the mandates that He gave His people.

13 Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies -- I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. 14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them.

In this verse God is warning his people not to keep presenting vain sacrifices. He explains that the burning incense is actually disgraceful in his eyes. In addition, He explains that the mixture of iniquity with things that are holy and sacred is not pleasing to him. God also explains that these meetings are not ordained by Him, they are instead creating their own ceremonies and God is not pleased with their activities. Matthew Henry's commentary explains that at this time in history "Judea was desolate, and their cities burned. This awakened them to bring sacrifices and offerings, as if they would bribe God to remove the punishment, and give them leave to go on in their sin. Many who will readily part with their sacrifices, will not be persuaded to part with their sins. They relied on the mere form as a service deserving a reward. The most costly devotions of wicked people, without thorough reformation of heart and life, cannot be acceptable to God."

15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. 16 " Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.

Through Isaiah, God proceeds to warn his people that he will not hear their cries. In fact he says that his eyes will be turned from them. The hands of the people are filled with blood. In this passage, "blood" refers to the sin and the wrong doing of the people. God demonstrates the anger that he is feeling towards his people in this particular verse.

God presents His people with an alternative that will make them acceptable to Him. He tells them to wash themselves by stopping their evil ways. In the seventeenth verse He tells them how to stop doing evil, by learning what is good and seeking justice. God also tells his people to rebuke the oppressor. The oppressor being referred to is Satan who seeks to destroy the people of God and pull them away form his favor. The second half of the seventh verse also encourages the defending of the fatherless and the widow. This theme of protecting orphans and widows is also found elsewhere in the Bible. In fact James 1:27 states "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction."

Protection for orphan and widows speaks to the character of God and the character that God wanted His people to possess. In any given society orphans and widows are the most vulnerable and need to be protected.

18 " Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, " Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. 19 if you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; 20 but if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword"; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

In this passage God is again pleading with His people to turn from their wicked ways and return to His grace. God tells that they can reason or talk about the situation so that it can be resolved. In this verse God also makes a promise to the people. He promises that their sins can be washed and they can be made clean. This can only occur if they repent and stop their evil actions.