Isaiah 1

1. Historical Background

“Visions” v1 Isaiah records the revelations he receives as “visions” from the Lord God. We can imagine that he “saw” the Lord speaking to him and ponder what personal impact having visions like this would have on him. 

The span of Isaiah’s prophetic work was between the years of Uzziah through Hezekiah (792 to 686 BC), which gives us a timeframe to consider while studying these passages. There will be information that assumes the reader would already know. So I would encourage modern-day Bible students to grasp the corresponding biblical material, especially in 2 Kings 15:1 – 20:21 and 2 Chronicles 26:1 – 32:33

During Isaiah’s ministry, the northern kingdom was defeated and carried into exile. In 2 Kings 17:7-23, a narrator’s voice explains the reason for Israel’s punishment. The southern kingdom’s demise was also imminent, to which Isaiah was given a vision of and relayed to King Hezekiah. These passages provide for us a timeline wherein we can place the book of Isaiah.

2. What Can We Observe about God?

God’s patience is not Forever.

If you hadn’t studied the previous history of Israel up until the time of Isaiah, it is still clear from the language what has happened. God has succored the nation of Israel to be His special people, His “children.” Rather than receiving faithful adoration, God has endured their infidelity for many generations.

“…I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.” Verse 2

We can also see that God has used corrective measures, but now their sickness has reached a point of no return.

“Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” Verses 5-6

The blessings of Israel as a nation were dependent upon one thing, their faithfulness to God and their covenant. While other nations and their gods would look to alliances with other nations or trust in the strength of horses and military, Israel was to trust in God and keep faithfulness with the covenant. 

Isaiah will later say:

“Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help;

And stay on horses,

And trust in chariots, because they are many;

And in horsemen, because they are very strong;

But they look not unto the Holy One of Israel,

Neither seek the Lord! Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help;

And stay on horses,

And trust in chariots, because they are many;

And in horsemen, because they are very strong;

But they look not unto the Holy One of Israel,

Neither seek the Lord!”

Isaiah 31:1

Solomon began the spiraling downfall with his wives and horses. Both things were expressly written in the Law for the future king to restrain himself from that they would not turn his heart from trusting in God.

1 Kings 4:26 

And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. 

1 Kings 11:4 

For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. 

1 Kings 11:11 

Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. 

David was not a perfectly moral man, yet his “heart was perfect with the Lord.” This must mean that even though David had sin, he repented, always maintaining his trust in God no matter his state, whether in riches or adversity.

This line of unfaithfulness found in Solomon would carry all through his line, even until the time of Isaiah’s prophecy. God had brought chastisement on Judah, but God’s reparations did little to stay the unfaithfulness of David’s line and thus the nation. We are brought to this point in Israel’s history where God says a final judgment is imminent on those who refuse to repent.

“But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” Verse 20

God’s patience is for the sinner’s repentance.

A key verse in 18 will reveal where we get this observation:

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

Even here, at the fullness of their sin, at the point of no return, remains an opportunity to be wiped clean of their sin. Consider the magnitude of grace God is offering in verse 18 in the light of verses 5-6. Here God’s people lie at the bottom of the moral barrel, wallowing in putrid sin. Their “scarlet” sin as red as the innocent blood they shed can be cleansed white if they would be willing and repent. God’s patience with Israel’s repeated offenses and the sins of David’s sons was to give them space for repentance.  

God has two wills or plans.

The second key verse is verses 27 and 28.

“Zion shall be redeemed with judgment and her converts with righteousness. And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.”

God’s tone is absolute; there is no wavering in His authoritative voice. Yet there is a pleading tone to His invitation, “Come now, let us reason together.. (v18).”

From this chapter and these key verses, we can observe two plans that God will carry out. One is what God prefers to do: forgive the repentant and restore their life. But the other is what God will do if people are unwilling to confess sin and repent, which is the judgment and destruction of sinners.

3. How does this passage point to Jesus?

Jesus is the ultimate reason for God’s patience.

To summarize this in Scripture, I refer you to Paul’s sermon in Athens, spoken to a non-Jewish crowd. If you are a non-Jew, you might think Isaiah may have nothing to do with you as it was not written to you nor to the culture in which we live. But Paul, while in Athens, summarized what Jesus’ resurrection means for people of all nations.

“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”

Acts 17:30-31

Paul refers to the ignorance of all people’s sin before their Creator. While the nations are busy worshipping idols and being ignorant of God, they still will be held accountable to Him, their only Creator. But God “winked” or overlooked our sin in His patience. He has not brought judgment on the world just yet because He made room for all nations to repent before Jesus Christ.

But this space is not infinite, and the patience of God is not forever, for this same Jesus is appointed to judge the world by His righteous standard. All nations and people will appear before Him and receive judgment for their sins. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection completed both of these plans simultaneously, not just for Israel and Jerusalem, but for all people. We are even given a proof of assurance to tell everyone that this will indeed happen; it is the proof of Jesus’ resurrection. If we can deny Jesus ever truly resurrected, we could very well continue on in our blissful ignorance of God and the future judgment. But If we cannot, then Jesus is Lord and our Judge.

The coming of Jesus fulfilled the two wills of God.

In the coming of Jesus, we can see what God prefers sinners to do, repent, and be saved. We see this in OT and NT scripture:

Ezekiel 33:11 

11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 

2 Peter 3:9 

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 

God yearns and calls sinners to repentance through His Son. His sacrifice is both proof and measurement of God’s great love. God desires His people to repent for their good in our Isaiah passage. “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. (verse 19).” The same God who loves Israel also gave His Son to all nations. God’s love extends to those who have the most to gain, who stand the farthest away from God. If they would only repent and believe in Jesus Christ, they can be saved immediately!

Though this is God’s preferred outcome for sinners to repent, His justice remains unwavering if they do not repent, delivering punishment to all who reject the gospel.

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 

“In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. “

In Jesus alone, these two wills of God meet together and are fulfilled. A passage in the New Testament letter Peter writes captures this idea in his own words:

1 Peter 2:6-8

“Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, “And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.”

 Christ is the Stone upon which our faith is built upon. It is the cornerstone of the church that supports the entire structure. For those who believe, the Stone is our foundation on which we trust and rest upon. But for those who reject Christ, He is the Stone that will crush them. Through the cross and resurrection, we see both the saving grace of God and His wrath together. The resurrection is either assurance we are saved through faith or a guarantee that all who remain in unbelief will face the judgment of the Lord Jesus.

4. How do I apply this passage to my life?

Isaiah’s passage comes with a built-in application. He calls for the sinner to “reason together” with God’s word. I can imagine what the Gospel must sound like to someone hearing it for the first time. But Gospel is in its core “news” of events that really happened surrounding Jesus Christ. The implication for a risen Jesus Christ means either eternal life with God or everlasting punishment away from God. Would the weight of such a claim behoove you to examine the evidence before so carelessly dismissing the Gospel? If you remain uncertain about the Gospel, use these coming days to reason with God. Ask questions. Search for truth. Pray and ask God to help you see.

If you find life with God to be desirable and you are convinced of His great love for you, then heed what God says through Matthew:

Matthew 11:29 

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 

Call to Jesus ask Him to save you. Learn His life, study Jesus. Follow His commandments. God sent His Son to be a blessing to all mankind. God does not violate your will to obey or reject. God is ready to extend His goodness to all who make Jesus their Lord and Savior.