(The
objective of these ‘Frameworks' is to provide an easy-to-read
layout of the text in order then to use these individual verses
for verse-by-verse study or meditation. To focus each
verse we have also added in italic a description of what is happening)
FRAMEWORKS:
Isaiah
Part
1: Words of Judgment: Ch.1-39
Part
2: Words of Comfort: Ch.40-66
Part
1: Words of Judgment: Ch.1-39
1.1
The Sins of Israel & Judah Ch.1-12
1.2
Judgment against heathen nations Ch.13-23
1.3
God's Purpose in Judgment Ch.24-27
1.4
Jerusalem's true and false hopes Ch.28-35
1.5
Events during the Reign of Hezekiah Ch.36-39
1.1
The Sins of Israel & Judah Ch.1-12
FRAMEWORKS:
Isaiah 1: God's intentions towards a fallen nation
v.1
Introduction of the Vision of God speaking
v.2-8
Your awful state now
v.9,10
You could be like the cities of judgment in the past except
for God's mercy
v.11-15
Your false religiosity is meaningless to God
v.16-20
Get yourselves cleaned up
v.21-25
Your fall has been so great I'm now going to step in and deal
with you
v.26-31
What I will do with you
[Comment:
This chapter focuses well and truly on Judah and Jerusalem. v.2-8
show the land in a desolate state after marauders have pillaged
it. v.9 & 10 acknowledge that if God hadn't left some survivors,
they would be like cities destroyed in the past, mere memories.
v.11-15 eyeball their meaningless religion; they have outward
show but are spiritually bankrupt. v.16-20 is a challenge to sort
themselves out and v.21-25 is a warning from the Lord that He
is coming to do that, and v.26-31 specifically what He will do.
An awesome chapter of warning with a demand to face their state
and do something about it.
For
an outline of 1.1 The Sins of Israel
& Judah, see the bottom of this page]
v.1
Introduction of the Vision of God speaking
v.1
(the pictures
of Judah AND Jerusalem God gave Isaiah during four reigns in Judah)
The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem
that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham,
Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
v.2-8
Your awful state now
v.2
(Listen everyone,
I raised them as children and they turned against me) Hear
me, you heavens! Listen, earth! For the Lord has spoken:
“I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled
against me.
v.3 (animals
know their masters but these people don't recognise me) The
ox knows its master, the donkey its owner's manger, but Israel
does not know, my people do not understand.”
v.4
(oh what a people
you are, given over to evil having turned their backs on me!)
Woe to the sinful nation, a people
whose guilt is great, a brood of evildoers, children given
to corruption! They have forsaken the Lord ; they have spurned
the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him.
v.5
(can't you see
the terrible state you're in?) Why
should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion?
Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted.
v.6 (everything
about you is ravaged) 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 olive oil.
v.7
(your country,
the cities, the fields all overrun) 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.
v.8 (Jerusalem,
you're like a hut in a field that is under siege) Daughter
Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in
a cucumber field, like a city under siege.
v.9,10
You could be like the cities of judgment in the past except for
God's mercy
v.9
(without some
survivors we would be like the destroyed cities of old) Unless
the Lord Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have
become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.
v.10
(you're just
like them, let them teach you) Hear
the word of the Lord , you rulers of Sodom; listen to the
instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah!
v.11-15
Your false religiosity is meaningless to God
v.11
(your meaningless
sacrifices mean nothing to me) “The
multitude of your sacrifices— what are they to me?” says
the Lord . “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of
rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the
blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
v.12 (if
you come seeking me I'll ask you who told you to do this)
When you come to appear before me, who
has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts?
v.13 (cut
out all this utterly meaningless religiosity) Stop
bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable
to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations— I cannot bear
your worthless assemblies.
v.14 (I'm
tired just watching it all) Your
New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with
all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary
of bearing them.
v.15 (I'm
no longer listening to your pseudo-prayers) When
you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your
hands are full of blood!
v.16-20
Get yourselves cleaned up
v.16
(clean yourselves
up by stop doing wrong) Wash
and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my
sight; stop doing wrong.
v.17 (do
right, seek justice for the needy) Learn
to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up
the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.
v.18
(let's sort
this out, let me transform you) “Come
now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your
sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though
they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
v.19 (I
just need your obedience) If
you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things
of the land;
v.20 (if
you don't invaders will wipe you out) but
if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
v.21-25
Your fall has been so great I'm now going to step in and deal
with you
v.21
(Jerusalem used
to be holy, but now sold out to false religions) See
how the faithful city has become a prostitute! She once was full
of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her— but now
murderers!
v.22 (everything
of value has become useless) Your
silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with
water.
v.23 (your
leaders are as bad as the unrighteous mob, uncaring for the weak
and needy) Your rulers are rebels,
partners with thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts.
They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow's
case does not come before them.
v.24
(so, says the
Lord, I will deal with you) Therefore
the Lord, the Lord Almighty, the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
“Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes and avenge myself on
my enemies.
v.25 (I
will work against you and cleanse you) I
will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away
your dross and remove all your impurities.
v.26-31
What I will do with you
v.26
(I will deal
with your leaders so you'll be known as holy once more) 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.”
v.27
(justice and
righteousness will return) Zion
will be delivered with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness.
v.28 (but
the unrighteous and ungodly will be dealt with) But
rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake
the Lord will perish.
v.29
(you will be
ashamed at all the evidences in your midst of false religion)
“You will be ashamed because of the
sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be
disgraced because of the gardens that you have chosen.
v.30 (you'll
be like a tree and garden without life) You
will be like an oak with fading leaves, like a garden without
water.
v.31 (those
who feel strong will become matchwood for burning judgment)
The mighty man will become tinder and
his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to
quench the fire.”
Summary:
1.1 The Sins of Israel & Judah Ch.1-12
Ch.1:
God's intentions towards a fallen nation – warnings about present
state
Ch.2:
The Mountain & Day of the Lord – Jerusalem exalted
in the last days, after a time of judgment
Ch.3:
Judgment on Jerusalem & Judea – what the Lord will do and
why
Ch.4:
A Chapter of Hope – the work of the Branch at the End
Time - after judgment, survivors
Ch.5:
Judgment on the Vineyard – Israel as an unfruitful vineyard and
what will follow