Isaiah 1

• This is the vision: This term introduces the book as a unified whole, covering Isaiah’s prophecies over about fifty-five years, from around 740 to 685 BC.

• Isaiah son of Amoz: Nothing else is known about Isaiah’s family.

• Jerusalem, the capital city of Judah, was the center of Isaiah’s ministry. Some of his prophecies also relate to the northern kingdom, Israel (called Samaria and Ephraim, Isaiah 9:8–21; 28:1–13), which Assyria destroyed in 722 BC (see 2 Kings 17).

heavens … earth: All of creation is called to witness the trial that God has convened against Judah (compare Deuteronomy 31:28; 32:1).

The ox knows its owner: Even an animal recognizes the one who feeds and cares for it. But Judah did not recognize or obey the Lord in this way.

Even so, despite their rebellion, God still spoke to them as “my people.” This shows his continued grace (undeserved kindness) toward them.

The term Holy One of Israel often appears in Isaiah as a title for the Lord. God is:

• the righteous and just King of heaven and earth (Isaiah 6:3–5),

• the incomparable God, meaning no one is like him (Isaiah 40:25), and

• the Redeemer (the one who rescues and saves) of his people (Isaiah 43:14).

Because of this, it was a serious and foolish sin for Judah to reject him.

God sent famine, war, disease, and death as punishment. However, God often wanted to change stubborn behavior rather than just punish.

Because of their ongoing rebellion, the people’s “head” is described as injured and their “heart” as sick. This language shows how serious their condition had become.

The nation suffered physical harm from Assyrian attacks. At the same time, they were spiritually defiled and overcome by sin (Isaiah 64:6).

neither cleansed nor bandaged nor soothed with oil: Judah's national condition was like an injured person who had not received medical care.

land … cities: By 701 BC, the Assyrians had destroyed the infrastructure, captured cities, and devastated the fields (see Isaiah 64:10). This fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 6:11–13).

Those who survived the Assyrian attack learned to heed later warnings of exile to Babylon (Isaiah 39:6–7). God fulfills his promises, so his warning of judgment on all nations is certain.

the Daughter of Zion: Zion, one of the hills on which Jerusalem stands, often served as another name for Jerusalem.

Zion symbolized God's presence (Psalm 46), his protection of his people, and Jerusalem's strength against enemies. Now, however, the opposite is true. Jerusalem has become weak, like a helpless city under siege and like an abandoned shelter or a shack.

the LORD of Hosts: This title refers to the countless angels under the Lord’s command (see 2 Kings 6:16–17; Matthew 26:53).

During the exodus, Moses described God as a warrior who fought for his people (Exodus 15:1–21). Ironically, in Isaiah’s time, God fought against Judah because of their wickedness (Isaiah 1:24; 3:1–5).

• Hear the word of the LORD: Here, listen means to obey the law (or teaching; Hebrew torah) of our God (see Isaiah 2:3; 5:24).

• rulers … people: All levels of society were guilty.

• Like Sodom and Gomorrah, Jerusalem faced divine judgment for rebelling against God’s laws. Jerusalem might have been completely destroyed like those cities if not for God’s grace (Isaiah 1:9; see Genesis 19).

The people had sinned so much that God no longer found joy in their sacrifices. The Lord wanted Judah to stop the religious practices he had commanded them to do rather than to continue them in a manner that was sinful and false (Isaiah 1:13). Ceremony cannot replace true godliness.

• The incense with offerings was meant to be a sweet fragrance to the Lord (see Exodus 30:7–8). However, when offered with hypocrisy, it became a disgusting smell and an offense to God.

• The Lord had designated special fasting days at the temple (Leviticus 16:31; 23:32; Numbers 29:7), but Judah's sinfulness ruined them (see Isaiah 58:1–7; Matthew 6:16–18).

• solemn assembly: These holy days were associated with the new moon and other festivals (see Leviticus 23).

• New Moon celebrations took place on the first day of each lunar month (Numbers 28:11–15). These days included sacrifices, special meals, and rest from work.

• The annual festivals included:

  • Passover,

  • the Feast of Unleavened Bread,

  • the Feast of Weeks, and

  • the Feast of Tabernacles (Numbers 28:16–29:39; Deuteronomy 16:1–17).

I will hide my eyes from you … I will not listen: The Lord does not answer prayers from those who live in constant wrongdoing. In this situation, God accused the people of twisting his laws to commit violence against innocent victims.

Wash and cleanse yourselves: The people were made unclean by their sin and impure sacrifices. To be clean in God's eyes, they needed to change their behavior, remove their sins, and abandon their evil ways (see also Isaiah 1:18).

Seeking justice means following God's standards of fairness and supporting the rights of the oppressed, orphans, and widows—those who are weak and marginalized in society (see also Jeremiah 7:5–7; 22:3; Zechariah 7:10; Matthew 23:23; 25:31–46; James 1:27).

• God called his people to come and settle their dispute so that he could restore his covenant relationship with them. Judah had to choose between obedience and rebellion (Isaiah 1:19–20). Isaiah says their sins are "like scarlet" and "red like crimson," the color of blood, which Judah had shed unjustly (Isaiah 1:15).

• white as snow … like wool: The people would be radically transformed. God would cleanse, purify, and make them holy (see also Psalm 51:7; Daniel 7:9).

Repentance leads to life. Resisting God's will and turning away from him leads to death (see Deuteronomy 11:26–28; 28:1–62).

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken: This statement shows the seriousness of God's promise. The phrase appears 11 times in Isaiah.

The image of Jerusalem as a prostitute symbolizes Judah's unfaithfulness to God (see Jeremiah 3:6–14; Ezekiel 16:25–26; Hosea 1–3).

The Lord GOD of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, was usually Israel’s protector (Isaiah 31:5). However, in this context, God was coming to take revenge against his own people. Their wickedness had turned them into his enemies and foes.

• I will turn My hand against you: God, who was usually Israel’s protector, would now act against them as a judge. However, his purpose was not only to punish. He planned to correct and restore his people.

• I will thoroughly purge your dross; I will remove all your impurities.: God would use the exile in Babylon to remove the wicked from among his people and to refine those who would return.

The restoration of the community would include new leaders. These leaders would uphold justice instead of twisting it (see Isaiah 1:23).

Jerusalem would once again be like pure silver (see Isaiah:22). The city would again be called the City of Righteousness and the Faithful City.

Here, Zion refers to the remnant (the small group who remain faithful) within the community. Only those who repent (turn away from sin) would receive God’s salvation and cleansing. They would live in his presence.

Zion was meant to be a strong place of justice and righteousness. God loves what is right. He expected the covenant community (the people bound to him by promises) to reflect his holy standards in the way they lived.

The rebels (Isaiah 1:28), who worshipped idols in sacred oak groves and gardens, would become like oaks and gardens suffering from drought. They would miss the life-giving presence of the true God. Those who followed the Canaanite fertility religion of Baal considered gardens and trees sacred, thinking they brought blessings. Instead, they led to spiritual death.