Rebellion… vs. 2-9

• 1^st – No excuse… vs. 2-3
  • Nation of Judah… vs. 1
    • ISAIAH was one of the SIX prophets God sent to the SOUTHERN kingdom of Judah…
    • The VISIONS he SAW [חָזָה] – lasted through FIVE of their kings [Uzziah – Manasseh]
    • As he opened – the Word he had from God was NOT good…
    • Judah and their leaders were REBELLING against the Lord!
    • We do NOT know for certain when Isaiah gave this first prophecy…
    • The REBLLION he describes – lead many believe it was the reign of Ahaz [730-715 B.C.]
    • A period when the Northern Kingdom would go into Captivity [722 B.C.]
    • And when the Southern Kingdom was also in moral DECLINE – II Chronicles 28:19
    • But it is just as possible it was during the time of King Ahaziah [Uzziah]
    • Because God does not just condemn REBELLION – He rebukes empty RELIGION!
  • The heavens and earth… vs. 2
    • Hear O heavens – and give ear O earth! For the LORD has spoken:
    • I have nourished and brought up children and they have rebelled against Me!
    • The heavens and earth must [imperative] LISTEN…
    • The reason is because the LORD was the one who [perfect] SPOKE [piel]
    • Therefore – the heavens and earth KNEW enough to pay ATTENTION…
    • But the CHILDREN God had glorified [גָּדַל] and lifted up [רוּם] – did NOT listen [rebelled]
    • The LORD knew it was REBELLION – because of the OX and DONKEY!
  • The animals… vs. 3
    • The ox knows its owner and the donkey its masters crib.
    • But Israel does not know – My people do not consider!
    • Even a dumb ox and donkey KNOW [יָדַע] where their HOME is – who their MASTER is…
    • But Israel did NOT appear to know [perfect]
    • Because they NEVER stopped and think [בִּין] that God was their MASTER!
    • The point is powerful – people KNOW who God is [three ways]
    • The Lord has written it upon the heart of EVERY person – Ecclesiastes 3:11
    • He has shown Himself through His creation [general revelation] – Psalm 19:1
    • And He has given us His WORD [specific revelation] – John 17:17
    • Since people KNOW who God is – they have NO excuse…
    • When they do NOT obey Him – they are being REBELLIOUS!
    • Romans 1:19-20 – “They are without excuse because although they knew God – they did not glorify Him as God!”
• 2^nd – Beyond helping… vs. 4-6
  • Sinful heritage… vs. 4
    • A sinful nation. People laden with iniquity. Brood of evildoers. Children who are corrupters.
    • They have forsaken the LORD. They have provoked to anger the Holy One of Israel.
    • They have turned away backward!
    • OY [הוֹי] – the REBELLION of Judah had made them a SINFUL [חָטָא] nation…
    • A people that were HEAVY [כָּבֵד] because of their GUILT [עָוֹן]
    • Because they were the CHILDREN of EVIL [רָעַע] parents – Exodus 20:5
    • Parents whose WICKED example [hiphil] would DESTROY their kids…
    • Because those kids REJECTED the LORD [יְהוָה]
    • PROVOKING [piel] to ANGER the HOLY [קְדֹש] one [not smart] – I Peter 5:5
    • Therefore – they became [niphal] STRANGERS [זוּר] – and turned their back on God!
    • REBELLION is sadly something that is easily passed onto our children…
    • When PARENTS are burdened by their GUILT [do NOT confess their sins]
    • Their GUILT and SIN keeps them far from God – Psalm 66:18
    • Therefore – they will NOT raise their CHILDREN to know the LORD…
    • Instead they DESTROY their kids [both temporally and eternally]
    • Because when God gets ANGRY with their kids for REJECTING Him…
    • Those kids end up TURNING their backs on God – becoming STRANGERS to Jesus!
  • Why punish… vs. 5
    • Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more!
    • If a CHILD is going the WRONG way – if they are REBELLING…
    • It would make sense to try and CORRECT them…
    • But Judah was so far gone – the LORD said PUNISHING them would NO longer help…
    • Because the MORE He STRUCK [hophal] them – the faster [hiphil] they TURNED [סוּר] away!
    • We are only given a limited window when we can influence our kids…
    • After a certain age – they are going to make their own choices…
    • Which is why we need to make sure we TRAIN them while they are still YOUNG!
    • Proverbs 22:6 – “[We must] train [imperative] up a [young] child in the way he should go.”
  • Open wound… vs. 5-6
    • The whole head is sick – and the whole heart faints.
    • From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it.
    • But wounds and bruises and putrefying sores.
    • They have not been closed or bound up or soothed with ointment!
    • The problem with the people of Judah – was EVERY part of them was sinful…
    • ALL [כָּל] of their head was DISEASED – making ALL [כָּל] of their heart WEAK [דַּוָּי]
    • From the bottom of their FEET – to the top of the head – NOTHING [אִין] was right…
    • They had a WOUND [singular] – a BRUISE – a rancid SORE…
    • Yet they refused to close the WOUND – bind the BRUISE – put antibiotic on the SORE!
    • There is a GOOD reason why we treat wounds [medical care]
    • If a CUT – BRUISE – SORE is left untreated it can become SEPTIC within days…
    • Once the BACTERIA gets into the blood – it can quickly become FATAL [organ shut down]
    • Yet people leave SIN untreated in the life and think NOTHING of it…
    • They do NOT seem to stop and consider that it can spread and INFECT their whole body…
    • And if ignored – it becomes SEPTIC – and will lead to SPIRITUAL death!
• 3^rd – Nothing left… vs. 7-9
  • Desolate… vs. 7
    • Your country is desolate. Your cities are burned with fire.
    • Strangers devour your land in your presence and it is desolate – as overthrown by strangers!
    • As a RESULT of their UNTREATED sin – their land [אֶרֶץ] was DEVASTATED…
    • Their CITIES were burning [participle] and on fire…
    • And whatever crops grew on their DIRT [אֲדָמָה] – strangers [זוּר] ate…
    • Because their LAND has been TURNED over to people who did NOT know God [strangers]
    • TURNED over [שְׁמָמָה] – 6x in NT – always in reference to Sodom and Gomorrah!
  • Empty… vs. 8
    • So the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard.
    • As a hut in a garden of cucumbers – as a besieged city!
    • The people [daughter] of ZION [Jerusalem] were left ALONE…
    • LIKE [כְּ] an empty BOOTH in a vineyard [used for shade during the heat of the day]
    • LIKE [כְּ] an abandoned HUT in the midst of a vegetable garden…
    • LIKE [כְּ] a city that has been SIEGED by an army [no more food]
    • The LORD has warned Israel what would happen if they REBELLED…
    • He would DESTROY their crops – make their land BARREN [like hardened bronze]
    • And if they did NOT repent – He would make it SEVEN times worse!
    • Leviticus 26:8 – “I will punish you seven times more for your sins.” [4 times]
    • When hard times come – we might think we can handle it…
    • But God has ways to turn up the heat [SEVEN times] to get our attention…
    • So that we would learn NOT to trust in ourselves – but instead TRUST in Him!
  • Sodom and Gomorrah… vs.  9
    • Unless the LORD of hosts had left to us a very small remnant.
    • We would have become like Sodom. We would have been made like Gomorrah!
    • Sodom and Gomorrah were two cities synonymous with being WICKED…
    • They were so EVIL – Lord of HOSTS [צָבָא] destroyed them with BRIMSTONE – Genesis 19:24
    • The only difference between them and Jerusalem – was a REMNANT [יָתַר]
    • SMALL group who still put their FAITH in the LORD!
    • When God came down to DESTROY Sodom and Gomorrah for their WICKEDNESS…
    • First with Abraham who asked – would He destroy the RIGHTEOUS with the WICKED…
    • After HAGGLING – God agreed to spare them if there were TEN righteous – Genesis 18:32
    • But as it turned out there was only ONE [Lot] – so the cities we wiped off the map…
    • The ONLY reason God had NOT wiped out JUDAH was that REMNANT!
    • We live in a world that is very much like Sodom and Gomorrah…
    • The reason why God holds back His WRATH – is there is a REMNANT!
    • Romans 11:5 – “At this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.”

• 2^nd – Empty Religion… vs. 10-20
  • 1^st – No purpose… vs. 10-15
    • Listen… vs. 10
      • Hear the word of the LORD you rulers of Sodom.
      • Give ear to the law of our God you people of Gomorrah!
        
      • God called on the RULERS of Sodom – and the PEOPLE of Gomorrah [referring to Judah]
      • The rulers MUST [imperative] listen to Him – the people [imperative] hear the LAW [תּוֹרָה]
      • He took them back to the WORD – to contrast it with their empty RELIGION!
    • Why sacrifice… vs. 11
      • To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me? Says the LORD.
      • I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle.
      • I do not delight in the blood of bulls or of lambs or goats!
      • The people were offering the SACRIFICES as the LAW required – Leviticus 3:1
      • BUT God pointed out they had NO meaning – because the people kept SINNING…
      • So He was WEARY [שָׂבַע] of their offerings – did NOT [לֹא] take pleasure in those sacrifices!
      • Hebrews 10:8 – “Sacrifice and offering – burnt offerings – and offerings for sin You did not desire – nor had pleasure in them.”
    • The question… vs. 12
      • When you come to appear before Me.
      • Who has required this from your hand to trample My courts?
      • [כִּי] God had a QUESTION for the people – WHO were they seeking [בָּקַשׁ]
      • When they came into the TEMPLE [His courts] with their SACRIFICES…
      • Because it did NOT seem they were LOOKING for the LORD…
      • They were just going through the MOTIONS – their HEART was NOT in it!
    • Abomination… vs. 13
      • Bring no more futile sacrifices. Incense is an abomination to Me.
      • The New Moons – the Sabbaths – and the calling of assemblies.
      • I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting!
      • Therefore – God told them to STOP [לֹא] bringing their GIFTS [tithes]
      • Their PRAYERS [incense] were an ABOMINATION [disgusting] to Him…
      • STOP celebrating their monthly festivals – sabbaths – their CHURCH services [מִקְרָא]
      • Because God would NOT put up with mixing CHURCH and SIN [עָוֹן]!
    • Hated… vs. 14
      • Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates.
      • They are a trouble to Me. I am weary of bearing them!
      • It had gotten to the point where God HATED [שָׂנֵא] their EMPTY rituals [feasts]
      • FEASTS that were meant to remind the people about God – Deuteronomy 6:20
      • Now ONLY served to remind God how far the people were from Him!
    • Hidden…
      • When you spread out your hands I will hide My eyes from you.
      • Even though you make many prayers I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood!
      • When they came to WORSHIP [lift up hands] – it caused [hiphil] God to look AWAY…
      • When they PRAYED – He would NEVER [אִין] listen to them…
      • Because – their hands were covered in BLOOD [their sin]!
      • Sadly – there are MANY [perhaps most] who have RELIGION and not a RELATIONSHIP…
      • They show up on the RIGHT festival days [Christmas – Good Friday]
      • They come to CHURCH – going through all the MOTIONS…
      • They may even bring their GIFTS [tithes] – lift their hands in WORSHIP – and PRAY…
      • But have NO idea that God has TURNED away – and is NOT listening…
      • Because it is NOT about the RITUAL – it is about the HEART!
  • 2^nd – Repent… vs. 16-17
    • Put away Evil… vs. 16

• Wash yourselves make yourselves clean.
• Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil!
• If Judah wanted the Lord to SEE them – and HEAR them…
• Then they had [imperative] to CLEAN up their act – they needed to become PURE [זָכָה]
• HOW – by cutting out their EVIL deeds [sin] – STOP [imperative] doing EVIL [רֹעַ]!
• Do Good… vs. 17
  • Learn to do good. Seek justice. Rebuke the oppressor. 
  • Defend the fatherless. Plead for the widow!
  • INSTEAD – they must [imperative] LEARN to do what is GOOD [טֽוֹב]
  • SEEK to do what is RIGHT [מִשְׁפָּט] – correcting [piel] those who are WRONG…
  • What is RIGHT – defending ORPHANS – helping out WIDOWS [defenseless]!
  • James 1:27 – “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble – and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
  • God does NOT make it complicated – just be HONEST…
  • If we LOOK at our lives – do we see EVIL or GOOD works…
  • If we are NOT pure – if we are NOT clean – it does NOT matter if we are RELIGIOUS…
  • Our lives are reflecting our need to STOP what we are doing – and LEARN to do GOOD!

• 3^rd – Reason… vs. 18
  • Talk to God…
    • Come now and let us reason together: Says the LORD!
    • Therefore – the LORD [יְהוָה] pleaded [imperative] with Judah to REASON [niphal] together…
    • REASON [יָכַח] – God REALLY [cohortative] wants His people to TALK with Him!
    • Because God is NOT interested in RELIGION – He is looking for a CONNECTION…
    • He is NOT a God that gives rules to be BLINDLY obeyed…
    • He is a LOVING God – what wants to have CONVERSATIONS with His us!
  • Forgiven by God…
    • Though your sins are like scarlet they shall be as white as snow.
    • Though they are red like crimson they shall be as wool!
    • If [אִם] they would come and TALK with the LORD…
    • Though their SINS [חֵטְא] were BLOOD red [scarlet] – He would make them WHITE as snow…
    • Though they were covered in RED [תּוֹלָע] – he would make them white like [כַּ] sheep wool!
    • RED [תּוֹלָע] – used to describe a small worm used to create RED dye…
    • The WORM [תּוֹלָע] in order to give life – has to DIE…
    • As it gives birth – it stains the tree RED – after its death – the stain becomes WHITE as snow!
    • Jesus [lamb of God] allowed Himself to be nailed to a tree – stained it with His blood…
    • After His death – He took the RED stain of our SIN and made it WHITE as snow!
• 4^th – The Choice… vs. 19-20
  • Obey… vs. 19
    • If you are willing and obedient you shall eat the good of the land!
    • It all came down to a simple CHOICE for the people…
    • If [אִם] they were willing to LISTEN to the WORD of the LORD…
    • Then they would be BLESSED – they would EAT [אָכַל] the GOOD [טֽוֹב] of the land!
  • Rebel… vs. 20
    • But if you refuse and rebel you shall be devoured by the sword.
    • For the mouth of the LORD has spoken!
    • But if [וְאִם] they REFUSED to LISTEN – and continued to REBEL [מָרָה]
    • Then the SWORD would EAT [אָכַל] them [conquered and killed]
    • BECAUSE [כִּי] – what they were REJECTING was the WORD [דָּבַר] of the LORD [יְהוָה]!
    • If we were given the choice between being BLESSED or CURSED [eating or being eaten]
    • The choice would be VERY easy to make – we would choose BLESSINGS…
    • But that is NOT the choice – the decision is to LISTEN to or REJECT the WORD of God…
    • If we LISTEN to the WORD – come and TALK [reason] with the LORD – we are BLESSED…
    • But if we REFUSE – if we follow empty RELIGION – then we are CURSED!
    • Deuteronomy 30:19 – “I have set before you life and death – blessing and cursing – therefore choose life.”

• 3^rd – Remedy of God… vs. 21-32
  • 1^st – Enemy of God… vs. 21-24
    • Full of evil… vs. 21
      • How the faithful city has become a harlot!
      • It was full of justice. Righteousness lodged in it – but now murderers!
      • But Judah did NOT make the right CHOICE…
      • The city of Jerusalem used to be FAITHFUL [אָמַן] to the LORD…
      • But NOW had become like a HARLOT – chasing after other gods…
      • They used to be full of JUSTICE and did what was RIGHT [צַדִּיק]
      • But NOW they were full of [piel] of MURDERS!
    • Compromised… vs. 22
      • Your silver has become dross. Your wine mixed with water!
      • Their SILVER and WINE – things that had VALUE…
      • Had become DROSS and WATER – things that had NO value…
      • As a RESULT of their refusal to LISTEN – they were COMPROMISED – they had NO value!
    • Evil leaders… vs. 23
      • Your princes are rebellious and companions of thieves.
      • Everyone loves bribes and follows after rewards.
      • They do not defend the fatherless. Nor does the cause of the widow come before them!
      • The leaders REFLECT the WICKED state of the people…
      • They also REBELLED against the WORD of the LORD…
      • They were the friends of THIEVES – they LOVED and chased after BRIBES…
      • BRIBES [שַׁלְמֹנִים] – only here OT – from the root verb [שָׁלַם] peace…
      • The only way to have PEACE with them – was if you gave them MONEY…
      • Therefore – they did NOT care about the ORPHANS or WIDOWS [they had no money]!
    • Vengeance… vs. 24
      • Therefore the Lord says. The LORD of hosts. The Mighty One of Israel.
      • Ah – I will rid Myself of My adversaries and take vengeance on My enemies!
      • YES [כֵּן] – says the [הָ] MASTER [אֲדֹנָי] – the one who is in CHARGE…
      • The LORD [יְהוָה] over all the ARMIES [plural] of heaven [צָבָא]
      • The MIGHTY one [אֳבִיר] – 6x in OT [always of God] – from verb [אָבַר] to fly over Israel…
      • Three TITLES that should make those who REBEL nervous…
      • The God who is in CHARGE – has an ARMY of angels – and SEES everything…
      • Will vent His WRATH – and take VENGEANCE [piel] on His ENEMIES!
      • The very LAST thing we should want – is to be counted an ENEMY of God…
      • Because there is NO question who will win [master – armies – mighty one]
      • Meaning we should be VERY careful which side we CHOSE…
      • Because to be a FRIEND of this world – means we become the ENEMY of the LORD!
      • James 4:4 – “Whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
        
  • 2^nd – Refiners fire… vs. 25-27
    • I will turn My hand against you.
    • And thoroughly purge away your dross – and take away all your alloy!
    • God had a simple SOLUTION – FIRST – He would TURN [שׁוּב] His hand on them [spanking]
    • When you have impure METAL – your PURIFY it…
    • He would throw them [cohortative] into the FIRE – to PURGE them of ALL [כָּל] their SINS!
    • Silver is refined by putting it into the heat of an intense fire…
    • The fire draws out the impurities of the silver so they can be removed…
    • The smith knows the silver is pure when he can see his reflection!
    • Jesus put us in the fiery TRIALS – draw out the impurities from our life [sin]
    • He knows when we are done – because He sees His reflection in our lives!
  • 3^rd – Restore… vs. 26-27
    • I will restore your judges as at the first and your counselors as at the beginning.
    • Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness – the faithful city.
    • Zion shall be redeemed with justice and her penitents with righteousness!
    • SECOND – God would TURN [שׁוּב] the leaders back…
    • RESTORE the JUDGES and COUNSELORS like [כְּ] they had in the BEGINNING…
    • Then Jerusalem would be called a RIGHTEOUS [צַדִּיק] and FAITHFUL [אָמַן] city again…
    • ZION will be JUST [מִשְׁפָּט] – and TURN [שׁוּב] in RIGHTEOUSNESS [צַדִּיק]!
  • 4^th – Judgement… vs. 28-31
    • Destruction… vs. 28
      • The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together.
      • And those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed!
      • THIRD – those who DEPARTED from the LORD…
      • Both the REBEL [פֶּשַׁע] and the SINNER [חַטָּא] – will be DESTROYED!
    • Ashamed… vs. 29-30
      • For they shall be ashamed of the [oak] tree which you have desired.
      • And you shall be embarrassed because of the gardens which you have chosen.
      • For you shall be as a [oak whose leaf fades and as a garden that has no water!
      • BECAUSE [כִּי] – those who REJECTED the LORD…
      • And chose to put their FAITH in wood [oak] idols – would be put to SHAME…
      • BECAUSE [כִּי] – like [כְּ] an OAK tree that has NO [אִין] water – they would WITHER and die!
    • Consumed… vs. 31
      • The strong shall be as tinder and the work of it as a spark.
      • Both will burn together and no one shall quench them!
      • AND [וְ] – it will be the STRONG [חָסֹן] – 2x in OT – those who have LOTS of stuff [חָסַן]
      • Will be like the KINDLING that is waiting for a SPARK…
      • BOTH [rebel and sinner] with then BURN together – and NO [אִין] one can put out their fire!
      • The picture is HEAVY – God is talking about the LAKE of FIRE…
      • Because the consequences of our choice are not just TEMPORAL – they are ETERNAL…
      • The reason why God fight so hard for us – wants to REASON with us…
      • It because He is trying to make sure that we end up in HEAVEN…
      • But the CHOICE is ours – we can either REBEL or OBEY!