Isaiah 1: 21 - 31, 2

Intro

I hope each of you have had a chance to read and . If you haven’t it will greatly benefit your understanding of the background and context of Isaiah’s prophesies.

Remember that the first 5 chapters deal with the reign of Uzziah, who was a true believer and a great king. But there was a problem we discussed with the people.

What was God’s issue with Judah? Indifference.

Tonight we will complete chapter 1 and move into Chapter 2.

Picking up here in Verse 21 Isaiah closes with an indictment against the city of Jerusalem.

He closes with an indictment against the city of Jerusalem.

​How the faithful city has become a harlot!

In a technical sense, what is Harlotry? The idea is a wife who is bound to one man, makes herself available to other men. So here this is a metaphor of Spiritual Harlotry. God loves us and we are His bride he cannot tolerate our worship or giving ourself to another. Whatever that may be. Interestingly, Idols have been found in the ruins of ancient Jerusalem, in the ancient residences

He continues:

​​It was full of justice;

​​Righteousness lodged in it,

This is not to say that they were perfect, but the heart attitude was right.

​​But now murderers.

Look at ,

22 ​​Your silver has become dross,

Dross is the impurities removed in the refining process. He is saying there is no silver left, only dross.

Video - Refining Silver. 8 min

​​Your wine mixed with water.

IE your faith is diluted, impure.

23 ​​Your princes are rebellious,

​​And companions of thieves;

​​Everyone loves bribes,

What is a bribe intended to do?

So much of this sounds like America today. “And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous.

​​And follows after rewards.

​​They do not defend the fatherless,

​​Nor does the cause of the widow come before them.

24 ​​Therefore the Lord says,

​​The LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel,

​​“Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries,

​​And take vengeance on My enemies.

25 ​​I will turn My hand against you,

​​And thoroughly purge away your dross,

​​And take away all your alloy.

26 ​​I will restore your judges as at the first,

​​And your counselors as at the beginning.

​​Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.”

27 ​​Zion shall be redeemed with justice,

​​And her penitents with righteousness.

28 ​​The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together,

​​And those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.

29 ​​For they shall be ashamed of the terebinth trees

​​Which you have desired;

​​And you shall be embarrassed because of the gardens

​​Which you have chosen.

30 ​​For you shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fades,

​​And as a garden that has no water.

31 ​​The strong shall be as tinder,

​​And the work of it as a spark;

​​Both will burn together,

​​And no one shall quench them.

In the end what get what we desire and choose. What will we Choose?