Bible Study Lesson for Isaiah 1:23-31: The Righteous Suffering with the Wicked

(When I taught my two year long Bible study on Isaiah, I used The Pulpit Commentary Volume 10: Isaiah edited by H.D.M. Spence and Joseph S. Exell to give me a starting point and rough outline of the material covered in the chapters. In this article, when you read the phrase "my commentary", I am referring to this volume.)

Read Isaiah 1:23. Once more Isaiah emphasizes the specific sins that God hates, as listed in verse 17 (not being just, but rather taking bribes; not protecting the weak or even allowing unpopular cases to come to court for judgment.)

Isaiah calls them "companions of thieves", for taking bribes is similar to stealing. At the heart of both sins is greed, the love of money. With stealing you hurt your victim directly; with accepting a bribe you hurt others less directly, through inaction or looking the other way.

Read Isaiah 1:24-25. Notice how Isaiah describes God here: the lord Almighty, the Mighty One of Israel. Isaiah is focusing on the militant nature of God, on the warrior going into battle. When God speaks, He speaks of moving against Judah. "...my hand against you."

The verses here are no longer talking about chastising a rebellious child or dealing with an unfaithful wife; Judah is God's foe and enemy.

God wants relief from the burden he describes in verse 14. "...avenge myself..."

He is going to take direct action in response to Judah's disobedience, disdain and rebellion. This is the God of judgment, the other side of the God of compassion we saw in verse 18.

If I had lived in Judah at this time and heard these words I would be shaking in my boots... you definitely DO NOT want God as your enemy. This is one person you DO NOT want to make angry.

In order to purge dross from metal you must put the metal into a fire. This is not a pleasant process for the metal, but it is the only way that the impurities can be identified and removed.

Who or what is the metal in this case? I think there are two possibilities: Judah as a nation and the people of Judah, as individuals. With a nation, the dross would be ungodly, unrepentant people. With people, the dross would be the sins in their individual lives. I think God is saying to Judah that if you are unrepentant, you are dross to the nation and you will be removed; the result will be a godly nation, with godly leaders. If you are repentant, God will use circumstances in your life to show you your sins and help you to clean out these impurities; the result will be a godly man or woman.

Read Isaiah 1:26. God is probably speaking in part of the time before Israel and Judah had kings, but rather judges and prophets. The book of Judges has many examples of men (and one woman) who were appointed as righteous judges by God. As the people fell away and rebelled, then cried out to God again, God would call up another judge to lead them.

"... counselors as in the beginning..." Perhaps He is alluding even as far back to the times of Moses and Joshua, who were the first real documented leaders of Israel in the Exodus and the return to the Promised Land.

"...City of Righteousness, the Faithful City." God is responding to Isaiah's criticism in verse 21. God is a God of grace; Judah can be brought back to her original age of glory.

Read Isaiah 1:27-28. In my version (NIV), there are no quotes; notice also the use of "her". Isaiah, not God, is now speaking, and he is speaking to the neutral third party, the Heavens & the Earth.

The word "redeem" had 8 definitions in my dictionary; the most appropriate definition in this context is:

-- to save from a state of sinfulness and its consequences

The NIV says "redeemed with justice"; King James says "redeemed with judgment."

With some help from a commentary I came to the conclusion that Isaiah is saying that in order for Zion (Jerusalem/Judah) to be saved (redeemed), she will have to face the judgment and wrath of God. Those who repent will come through the fire (as we discussed with the dross/silver analogy) and will be the righteous remnant that will remain.

Those who reject God and continue in their sin will be broken/destroyed during this time of judgment.

The reality is that the godly and righteous in Judah will be forced to endure suffering because of what the ungodly in their midst have done. Sometimes God does rescue his children from His wrath (i.e. the rescue of Lot from Sodom and Gomorrah), but other times He chooses not to and the righteous suffer (i.e. when Daniel and his three friends are taken into captivity.)

While I was studying this verse, it made me wonder about the belief some Christians (mostly Western Christians) have that the Church will be raptured before the Great Tribulation described in Revelation because they believe that God would not pour out His wrath on His beloved (His bride), while disciplining the wicked. I have a feeling that those Christians in third world countries currently experiencing persecution would marvel at why anyone would expect the Church to be given a special exemption from suffering. All I can say is that the Old Testament shows a pattern of the righteous often suffering along side the wicked.

Read Isaiah 1:29. Notice the use of quotes again, and the use of "you." God is speaking once more to Judah.

"sacred oaks", "gardens you have chosen". What is God saying here? Does He have some grudge against certain plant life? J Actually what was going on was that Judah was participating in pagan rituals, making sacrifices to idols and having sexual orgies with temple prostitutes. We can read a more explicit description in Isaiah 57:3-7.

One of the sins Uzziah (called Azaiah in 2 Kings) was judged for was not removing the pagan altars on the high places. Read 2 Kings 15:1-5.

At that time and in other ancient cultures, "pleasure gardens" were not uncommon and were associated with certain goddess worship. So Judah was not only being unfaithful to God in worshipping other gods, she was also doing so in a shameful, detestable way, having sex under trees and in gardens with prostitutes in the name of religion.

Read Isaiah 1:30. Now compare this passage to Psalm 1:3. Those who reject God don't have access to His spiritual water and strength. Eventually they will fade and dry up, like leaves on an oak tree in autumn, trying to survive on their own strength. One who is connected to God's water will flourish and prosper and never grow weak or fade.

Read Isaiah 1:31. God is still speaking to the rebels and sinners of Judah that He addressed in verse 28. These people think that they are mighty and strong in wealth and physical power, but they will become as flimsy and vulnerable as tinder. Their own work (evil actions) will set off a chain reaction (a spark), which will destroy not only themselves, but also the evil they have done. They will destroy themselves.

Blessings!

Source
H.D.M. Spence and Joseph S. Exell (editors). The Pulpit Commentary Volume 10: Isaiah