Contributor: Clem Roberts
INTRODUCTION
Isaiah 1:1–31
The first chapter of Isaiah serves as a summary vision and presents the major themes of the book: judgment on Judah for rebelliousness and hope for the future restoration of Zion.
Verse 1- The vision of Isaiah This opening heading identifies the book as prophetic revelation associated with Isaiah the prophet.
Isaiah The prophet’s name means “Yahweh’s is salvation.” Or “The Lord shall save”.
Isaiah’s ministry spans the reigns of four kings of Judah over a period of several years, but most of his prophetic activity relates to the crisis during the reign of Ahaz or the Assyrian king Sennacherib’s invasion and siege of Jerusalem during the reign of Hezekiah. His access and relationship to the royal court seems similar to that of Nathan, Elijah, or Elisha (2 Sam 7; 1 Kings 18–19; 2 Kings 6).
Judah and Jerusalem The northern kingdom of Israel fell to Assyria, during Isaiah’s lifetime. This and other traumatic events provide the dramatic backdrop for Isaiah’s warning of impending judgment against the southern kingdom of Judah.
Verses 2–20 God’s formally brings a legal suit against Judah for a breach of contract (breaking their covenant with Him). The accusation appears in Isa 1:2–3, followed by a direct address to the people outlining the charges detailed in Verses 4–20.
SUMMARY OF CHAPTER 1 - God’s Case Against Judah
Verses 1- 9
• Jerusalem is called by more than 30 different names in the book Isaiah.
• The chastening of the Lord (re: Deut. 28-29) has been visited upon the land and the time of expulsion is near.
• Total destruction: Deut. 29:22; Amos 9:11; Isa 13; Jer. 50.
God’s condemnation - of sheer outward religion and formalism: Hos. 6:6; Amos 4:4; 5:21-25; Micah 6:6-8; Jer. 7:4, 21; Ps 50:3-15.
• 10 Reference to Jerusalem as Sodom (Rev 11:18).
• 13 “Abomination due to use of images and idolatry (Rev 13).
• 18 - 31 Entreaty and warning.
• 18 An invitation to “Reason together”
• 19 Grace for all which includes full amnesty.
Again another derailment
• 20 - 22 Silver & Harlotry: Ex 34:15; Hos. 1:2; Isa 50:1; 54:1, Ex 30:11-16
• 24 The call of Trinity.
• 25 Dross: Ezek. 22:18-22.
• 26 Judges are to be restored in the future kingdom (Mt 19:28).
• 29 Trees: 2 Kgs 16:4; Hos. 4:13; Jer. 2:20; 3:6-13; 17:2; Ezek. 6:13; Isa 57:5.
• Gardens: Isa 65:3; 66:17.
A CLOSER LOOK
Rebellion:
Vs 2 - “I have nourished and brought up children, And they have rebelled against Me;
God is emphasizing His role as caretaker or master over Israel’s well-being; He cared for them like a father. Yet they rebelled against Him. The Hebrew word for “rebel” is used to describe political rebellion (see 2 Kgs 3:5–7). It indicates a breach of contract—when someone has not fulfilled his or her contractual obligation.
In this case, the Israelites are accused of breaking their agreement to obey God. The metaphor of Israel as a rebellious child connects directly to the covenant law in Deut. 21:18–21, where the penalty for disobeying parents was death.
Are we conscious and committed?
1:3 An ox knows its owner God’s children have shown less sense and loyalty than stubborn farm animals, who at least recognize their master’s role in providing for them.
Israel here, refers to God’s people generally, not just the northern kingdom. The vision is addressed to Judah and Jerusalem, the southern kingdom.
1:4 children Indicates that those being addressed are connected to God’s rebellious children in Isa 1:2.
The Holy One of Israel This title for God is frequently used in Isaiah to emphasize the holiness of God. Isaiah’s experience may have profoundly impacted his vision of God, and led him to stress this aspect as central to God’s identity.
Isaiah develops a portrait of God as all powerful and greater than other so-called gods. He also emphasizes God’s separateness and otherness compared to His creation (Hosea 11:9), and His demands for moral perfection and ritual cleanness (Lev 19:2). Isaiah’s dismay in Isa 6:5 is related to his awareness of his own uncleanness for standing before that which was most holy.
God’s Grace
As God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness (Gen 19). The prophets frequently referenced the cities to illustrate what God’s judgment looks like (see Isa 13:19; Jer. 49:18; Amos 4:11; Zeph. 2:9).
A small remnant was saved from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah—only through God’s grace. But Isaiah referenced it and also added a spiritual angle to it.
SUMMARY OF CHAPTER 2 Emphasises On A Vision Of The Coming Kingdom.
• Verses 2-5 similar to Prophet Micah in Micah 4:1-3, 5.
• Mountains an idiomatic expression for kingdom, authority, rule: Dan 2:35, 44-45; Rev 17:9-11; etc.
• 6 - 22 The necessity of humility
• 11 Compare with Isa 14: the fall of Lucifer through pride.
• 17 Only God should be exalted.
• 19 Rev 6:16; Josh 10:16,17.
SUMMARY OF CHAPTER 3 - National And Regional Disintegration Of Israel Due To Sin And Transgression
• Talks about the chaos that will befall those leaders who lead people away from God almighty.
• Obscene nature of the society at large.
SUMMARY OF CHAPTER 4:1-6: We Will See A Vision Of The Coming Kingdom.
• Seven women
• “The Branch of the Lord” to be fully manifested after His return in glory (Mt 25:31);
• “The Branch” of David (Isa 11:1; Jer. 23:5; 33:15), the Messiah, “of the seed of David according to the flesh” (Rom 1:3), revealed in earthly glory as King of Kings.
• The Lord’s “servant, the Branch” (Zech. 3:8), Messiah’s humiliation and obedience unto death (Isa 52:13-53:12; Phil 2:5-8);
• Cloud covering for them that believe: Ex 13:21,22.
CONCLUSION
What we have learnt in these first four chpaters on the book of Isaiah is a theme pointing towards, a call to righteousness and total reliance on God
