Isaiah - Verse By Verse

Scripture:  Isaiah 1:10 (NIV):  "Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the law of our God you people of Gomorrah!"

Thought:  To me, a thorough examination of what kind of nation we have become would do us all a great deal of good.

Question:  Do I follow "the law of God"?

Now Isaiah addresses Israel in these terms:  they are like the rulers of Sodom and Gomorrah.  They have come so far that they stand similarly on the verge of fiery destruction.  They have exercised their authority to draw many away into evil and sin.  Perhaps this "name-calling" will wake them up.  The past historical record of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is a strong epitath for those who died there, but a more powerful statement of force to those still living.  Will Israel, will we, heed this pointed warning?  Beware! You are rulers, but how do you rule?  Whose "law" stands supreme?  It ought to be "the word of the LORD".  It should be "the law of our God."

Prayer:  Most Holy God, help me to hear Your word.  Help me to listen to Your law.  These are what will save me, oh my God!  Amen. 

Scripture:  Isaiah 1:9 (NIV):  "Unless the LORD Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah."

Thought:  To me, people seem casually indifferent to the fact that God has intervened to save them.

Question:  Am I one of God's "survivors"?

We are on our way to this destructive "fire and brimstone" unless God intervenes.  We cannot save ourselves.  Sodom and Gomorrah burned.  So will we without God's intervention.  But God does intervene.  He preserves a "remnant" of His people--"some survivors."  But the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah is the kind of end satan and all he owns will experience, "unless the LORD Almighty..." 

A few "survivors", a remnant, can turn the world upside down.  Christ will live again even though He may ocupy the hearts of only a handful, or even half a handful, of believers.  Salvation is entirely of God.  We see this here:  "the LORD Almighty had left us some survivors."  We contribute nothing to it.  God has acted to rescue us.  Thank goodness He has!

Prayer:  LORD Almighty, thank You for leaving some survivors, some believers, down through all the ages.  You are so faithful to us!  Amen. 

Scripture:  Isaiah 1:8 (NIV):  "The Daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a field of melons, like a city under siege."

Thought:  To me, God still allows opportunity for change when we realize where our errors have taken us.

Question:  Do I feel that my spirit is "under siege"?

In picturing these metaphors I get a sense of being surrounded or isolated in the middle of a vast, outnumbering force.  There is a quality of lonliness here that is frightening.  Not only are we alone and abandoned, seemingly neglected by others; but also we are being hurt by forces around us.  We are trapped. 

The reference here to "shelter" and "hut" describe temporary shack-like structures that are completely indefensible, leaving the area open and vulnerable.  They were erected to house watchmen or guards who were on the lookout for thieves and/or predators. 

"The Daughter of Zion", the great city of Jerusalem, is a member of the royal family of God, is she not?  Why this isolation and separation?  Why this sense of being under attack?  Again, it has been brought on by her own choices (see verse 4).  In spurning God there are painful consequences.  The world surrounds and presses in upon you; there is vulnerability to attack.  The enemy advances and the former strong walls of protection are gone.

Prayer:  Lord of Hosts, cause me to see my utter depravity when I push You away.  Help me in my lonliness and isolation to become hungry for You and Your protection again.  Amen. 

Scripture:  Isaiah 1:7 (NIV):  "Your country is desolate, your cities burned with fire; your fields are being stripped by foreigners right before you, laid waste as when overthrown by strangers."

Thought:  To me, our nation illustrates a turning away from one-time prosperity toward a more downward trend.

Question:  Do I see desolation and waste in my own life?

Beyond our own self and body, (verse 6), our possessions are also affected by our sin and rebellion:  our property, our cities, our country--they are "desolate", "burned with fire" and "stripped by foreigners."  I think of myself, and others, who may be vulnerable to satan.  He makes us desolate and "burns" our "cities."  He strips our "fields" and he is indeed a "stranger" and "foreigner" to us.  He is the author of confusion, chaos and destruction.  We ought not be like Israel here and become overthrown by his evil power.  Israel was overthrown because Israel rebelled against God.  God may allow enemies of several kinds to enter one's world as God's judgment comes against the practice of rebellion. 

It would seem we are either blessed by God possessing us or cursed by satan victimizing us.  There seems to be no middle ground.  Where do I stand?

Prayer:  Dear God, help me to draw near to You that evil strangers may not overthrown my life.  Amen. 

Scripture:  Isaiah 1:6 (NIV):  "From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness--only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with oil."

Thought:  To me, the deterioration of our society should become a spiritual wake up call.

Question:  Have I found "soundness" through obedience to God?

If Israel, or we Christians, are embattled at all, it is our own doing.  God chastises us in love, but never to these extremes.  If we never respond to His measured displines we simply create more trouble for ourselves:  "wounds and welts and open sores" that stretch from the bottom of our feet to the top of our heads.  The cleansing of Jesus' blood, the bandaging and soothing oil (healing aids) of the Holy Spirit in obedience to God could be ours.  God's care waits in the wings in abundance, yet we do not come to Him.  We will never be "sound" away from Him.  Disobedience and spiritual rebellion are extremely self-destructive behaviors.  We are brought to the brink of death...

It sounds as though God is on the verge of giving up on us.  God has reared children, but now that only rebellion has come forth, what is next?  Why should they be "beaten", corrected, anymore?  The whole head, the whole heart is ruined; can they be salvaged?  Will God quit on them--on us?

Prayer:  Great Healer, help me to remain loyal to You that I may avoid the pitfalls of unchecked rebellion.  Amen.   

Scripture:  Isaiah 1:5 (NIV):  "Why should you be beaten anymore?  Why do you persist in rebellion?  Your whole head is injured, your whole heart is afflicted."

Thought:  To me, it is good sometimes for a grieving parent, or grieving Heavenly Father, to pour out their dismay.  It might wake up a dull child.

Question:  Has God given up on me because I am too stubborn?

The "beatings" of discipline toward correction and training have proven ineffective here with Israel--with us.  It's as though nothing is salvageable.  No good part remains to be appealed to.  The whole person is lost.  "The whole head" speaks of the mind and will.  The "whole heart" speaks of the emotions and attitudes and seat of personal desire.  Who has your will?  Where does your desire lie?

The threat of abandonment by the Father/God should hang like a dark cloud over disobedient children, but will Israel respond properly?  Will they realize their unbrokeness and stubborn rebellion?  Will we?

Prayer:  Father God, help me to be aware when You are "spanking" me into obedience.  It is for my good.  Lord, help me to desist from rebellion.  And Lord, please do not give up on me!  Amen. 

Scripture:  Isaiah 1:4 (NIV):  "Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to coruption!  They have forsaken the LORD; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him."

Thought:  To me, there is only woe to a nation or people that would choose to push God away.

Question:  Have I caused myself to be "loaded with guilt"?

The blame is squarely placed upon Israel--upon us.  It is not God Who is to blame in this matter.  We are corrupt.  We do evil.  We have the guilt.  What an indictment against Israel--against any who disregard God!  These words describe a people overcome by the disease, the spreading leaven of sin.  It has taken over the whole "nation", it has "loaded" them with guilt, it has resulted in an entire "brood of evildoers", it has ended in complete corruption." 

What has caused this overwhelming disaster?  They have "forsaken" or completely left God behind.  They are marching away without Him, turning their "backs on him."  They have "spurned" their own Maker.  Webster defines "spurn" as "to kick away or trample on, to reject with disdain."  I see an equal and opposite reaction to a total repudiation of God!  When God is removed, the full tide of sin will roll in.

Prayer:  O Holy One in heaven, please help us all to realize where we have gone astray and help us to accept responsibility for our sins.  Amen.  

Scripture:  Isaiah 1:3 (NIV):  "The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner's manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand."

Thought:  To me, western society would do well to awaken to the truth of their own denseness.

Question:  Do I understand who my ultimate master is?

Israel, or today's nominal "Christians", are more stupid than animals sometimes when it comes to what we have done with God.  We are blind and unknowing of Him and His ways with us if we reject Him.  What should come instinctively between Creator and human is often cut completely off.  And God grieves over this.

Oxen recognize their "master".  Why don't we?  I fear it is because God has well-equipped us with gifts, intelligence and free will.  He is not to blame, however.  When we take advantage of all He has given us and choose to cut ourselves loose from Him we are fully responsible.  The donkey knows "his owner's manger."  He realizes who feeds him.  Why don't we?  We have taken God's provisions for granted far too long.  We are much more dense than even the stodgiest animals!

Prayer:  Generous Master, You have over-blessed me with so much!  Help me to give my allegiance to You alone and to listen to You, obey You and follow You always.  Amen.   

Scripture:  Isaiah 1:2 (NIV):  "Hear, O heavens!  Listen, O earth!  For the LORD has spoken:  'I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me.'"

Thought:  To me, an upward look into the heart of God is crucial!

Question:  Do I listen to God?

(Observation:  Nobody understands a parent's broken heart better than God does!)

Both heaven and earth are commanded into attention here because something important is about to be said:  "rebellion has sprung up among my children!"  What will God have to say now?  Does this create fear in us?

What the LORD speaks is vitally crucial.  We owe Him total respect and attention.  "I reared children."  How?  By providing every need:  by blessing Abraham's barren wife, by guiding each generation carefully through each patriarch until a nation was conceived, by strengthening them against their enemies and preserving them--even unto the present day.  Yet "they have rebelled against me."  What a sad affair!  Truly, when men rebel against God it is an unwarranted, groundless betrayal.  It is tantamount to self-destruction because God is the Loving Maker of us all.

Prayer:  Great Creator God, help me always to listen to You when You speak.  Forgive me when I rebel like a wayward, disrespectful child.  Amen. 

Scripture:  Isaiah 1:1 (NIV):  "The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, Kings of Judah."

Thought:  To me, our current culture has seemingly forgotten that God is sovereign over us all.

Question:  Can I envision what God has seen?

Do we see "visions" as Isaiah did?  We need to--all during the passing of time and kings.  Though this vision is "concerning Judah and Jerusalem", God's chosen people and their center of worship, it is valid for all of us to hear.  We are all "His chosen ones" if we believe.  God is sovereign over every leader, over every period of time, over every nation.  All places, peoples, kings and events lie within His Almighty control.  We should widen our vision to include this vision of Isaiah so that we may learn what God would have us learn!

Prayer:  King of All, help me to "open my eyes that I may see"!  Enable me to stretch beyond my own concerns.  Amen. 

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