Isaiah 1:4 was written 2700-2800 years ago but these words sound like today: “Oh, sinful nation, People weighed down with guilt, Offspring of evildoers, Sons who act corruptly! They have abandoned the LORD, They have despised the Holy One of Israel, They have turned away from Him.” (NASB)
Isaiah 1:7 sounds like a current event. “Your country lies in ruins, and your towns are burned. Foreigners plunder your fields before your eyes and destroy everything they see.” (NLT)
God has provided prophets, judges, Jesus, and apostles to turn us back to Him. As Isaiah 1:9 states “If the LORD of Heaven’s Armies had not spared a few of us, we would have been wiped out like Sodom, destroyed like Gomorrah.” (NLT) I am thankful for the few who have been faithful to God to lead us.
The assassination of Charlie Kirk is igniting courage in many believers around the world. God continues to call people according to His will that keep us from destroying ourselves. We still require the word of the LORD and instruction of our God as they did in Isaiah 1:10.
Our human practices are still worthless and detestable to God and His soul still hates them as we are told in Isaiah 1:13-14. Thankfully, God’s love overwhelms His hate. As John 3:16 told us “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (NIV)
Isaiah 1:16 had instructed us to “Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong.” (NIV) God sent Jesus to clean us. Through Him we can live out Isaiah 1:17 “Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.” (NLT)
Isaiah 1:18 instructs us to “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.” (NKJV)
Charlie tried to reason with the young people oppressed with evil teachings. I just watched a video where Charlie told a young person that Jesus saved his life. I am reading a lesson in re:generation entitled “Are you willing?” Isaiah 1:19-20 challenges, promises, and warns us “If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (NKJV)
Isaiah 1:21 remains as a question today, “How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, But now murderers. (NKJV)
It is shocking to read Isaiah 1:23 “Your leaders are rebels, the companions of thieves. All of them love bribes and demand payoffs, but they refuse to defend the cause of orphans or fight for the rights of widows.” (NLT) This is where governments end up when you remove God.
Isaiah 1:26 does offer promise “I will restore your leaders as in days of old, your rulers as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.” (NIV) We can only become a country or world of righteousness and faithfulness if we seek the LORD, the God of Isaiah, the Father of Jesus Christ. The irony is that we can only destroy rebels and sinners by loving as Jesus Christ taught us.
One conversation at a time sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and how He saved our lives. I am praying that God helps to reason with others so they too can know the Christ.
Today’s Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive us for turning away from You. Thank You for the leaders You have brought to us to show us the way to Your love. Grant us the reasoning powers of Your Holy Spirit. Please remove our sinful natures and remind us of everything Jesus came to teach us through Your Helper the Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus, we are praying. Amen.
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