28 July

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Isaiah 1-4

Isaiah 1

Isaiah was a prophet to Judah. He exercised his ministry wholly within her borders, and with a view to her correction and comfort. His burdens of the nations were uttered concerning those nations which surrounded Judah, and had harassed her. His outlook was world-wide, and inclusive of the whole purpose of God. Profoundly conscious of the purpose of God that through His people all peoples should be blessed, he saw through all the processes of judgment the ultimate blessing of the whole earth.

The prophecies of judgment fall into three circles: concerning Judah and Jerusalem (Isaiah 1-12), concerning the nations and the world (Isaiah 13-27), concerning the chosen and the world (Isaiah 28-35). This concerning Judah and Jerusalem is separated into two parts by the prophet's vision at the death of Uzziah. In the first five chapters, therefore, we have his messages during the reign of Uzziah.

This first message is of the nature of a great impeachment of the nation, in which the cause of controversy between Jehovah and His people is declared, and the necessity for judgment affirmed. The heavens and earth are summoned to hear the complaint of Jehovah, which is that notwithstanding His love and tenderness His people do not know Him. The prophet appeals to the sinning people, demanding why they will still be stricken. All their suffering is the result of their sin, and yet they rebel more and more. Again voicing the message of Jehovah, he corrects the prevalent and pernicious idea that relation to God is conditioned by external acts of worship. Sacrifices and feasts are nothing worth, and God hates them when unaccompanied by rectitude.

Jehovah now calls His people to reason with Him, and declares that the alternative issue of such reasoning is dependent on their attitude. Because of the fearful corruption of the city judgment is necessary. It will proceed to restoration in the case of those who are obedient; but to reprobation and utter destruction in the case of the transgressors.

Isaiah 2

Following this broad statement of the case between Jehovah and His people, we have the prophet's great appeal to them. The first part constitutes a vision of the latter days, that condition toward which judgment is to proceed. The Lord's house is established at the center of the national life. His law proceeds from Zion to the peoples of the earth. and the issue is peace.

The prevalent conditions are seen in the light of that latter day, and the prophet appeals to the people to walk in that light. In burning words he describes these evil conditions. The people have become contaminated with the surrounding nations. They are wealthy, and prosperous in all material things. They are steeped in idolatry, and consequently human life, both low and high, is degraded. In order to realize the vision of the latter days, Jehovah will visit His people in judgment. His terror is described in itself and in its operation. As He goes forth in judgment men of all classes are subdued and bend before Him, and the wholesale destruction of idols follows. This description of prevalent corruption and judgment ends with another appeal that it cease.

Isaiah 3

The prophet now deals with judgment in greater detail, and shows how it will proceed against the rulers and against the women. The judgment in the case of the rulers is to be the destruction of true government and the substitution of incompetent administration, with chaos necessarily resulting. The reason for this, so far as the people are concerned, is the open sin into which they have been led by evil rulers. So far as Jehovah is concerned, He has the cause of the people in His heart, and is against all oppression.

Isaiah 4

In all human history there has been a close connection between corrupt rulers and frivolous and polluted womanhood. Fierce is the prophet's denunciation of such. Their wantonness and their luxury are to be ended. They are to be visited by physical diction, and the sweeping out of all the things associated with their corrupt and luxurious life, and by the death of men.

The appeal ends with another description of the days following the judgment. They are to be characterized by material prosperity issuing from moral purity, and by the mighty protection of Jehovah.