“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.” (v.18)
Isaiah, whose name means “the Lord saves,” began his prophetic ministry in 740 B.C. Isaiah 1–39 of the book that bears his name was probably written around 701 B.C., with the remaining chapters finished in his later years. Its themes are numerous and include judgment, exile, rebellion, pride, salvation, holiness, justice, mercy, hope, the Messiah, and God’s sovereignty and kingdom. And, the New Testament quotes Isaiah more than all the other prophets combined!
The book opens with a charge of covenant-breaking against Israel. Like a child who rebels against a parent, the people—in particular the leaders—had forsaken the Lord. Though they followed the rituals of worship, their prayers and sacrifices were empty and meaningless.
Even so, the “Holy One of Israel”—a signature phrase of Isaiah—offered another chance for them to repent, to be forgiven, and avoid judgment and discipline (Isaiah 1:18, 27–28). To underline this hope, Isaiah also imparted a future vision of the entire world at peace under God’s rule (Isaiah 2:1–5).
Likewise, we too can backslide into a meaningless relationship with God. Our hypocritical worship, prayers, and sacrifices, can all be a smoke screen, an act from which we hide our sinful heart. But we too have a loving heavenly Father who desires to forgive us, and save us from our own destruction, if we would just repent of our foolish ways and “reason with Him.”
The Truth: “For the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7b)
Isaiah, whose name means “the Lord saves,” began his prophetic ministry in 740 B.C. Isaiah 1–39 of the book that bears his name was probably written around 701 B.C., with the remaining chapters finished in his later years. Its themes are numerous and include judgment, exile, rebellion, pride, salvation, holiness, justice, mercy, hope, the Messiah, and God’s sovereignty and kingdom. And, the New Testament quotes Isaiah more than all the other prophets combined!
The book opens with a charge of covenant-breaking against Israel. Like a child who rebels against a parent, the people—in particular the leaders—had forsaken the Lord. Though they followed the rituals of worship, their prayers and sacrifices were empty and meaningless.
Even so, the “Holy One of Israel”—a signature phrase of Isaiah—offered another chance for them to repent, to be forgiven, and avoid judgment and discipline (Isaiah 1:18, 27–28). To underline this hope, Isaiah also imparted a future vision of the entire world at peace under God’s rule (Isaiah 2:1–5).
Likewise, we too can backslide into a meaningless relationship with God. Our hypocritical worship, prayers, and sacrifices, can all be a smoke screen, an act from which we hide our sinful heart. But we too have a loving heavenly Father who desires to forgive us, and save us from our own destruction, if we would just repent of our foolish ways and “reason with Him.”
The Truth: “For the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7b)
