LEARN TO DO RIGHT; SEEK JUSTICE

Passage: Isaiah 1:1-23

Key verse: 17

NIV

1 The vision(A) concerning Judah and Jerusalem(B) that Isaiah son of Amoz saw(C) during the reigns of Uzziah,(D) Jotham,(E) Ahaz(F) and Hezekiah,(G) kings of Judah.

A Rebellious Nation

2 Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth!(H)
    For the Lord has spoken:(I)
“I reared children(J) and brought them up,
    but they have rebelled(K) against me.
3 The ox knows(L) its master,
    the donkey its owner’s manger,(M)
but Israel does not know,(N)
    my people do not understand.(O)”

4 Woe to the sinful nation,
    a people whose guilt is great,(P)
a brood of evildoers,(Q)
    children given to corruption!(R)
They have forsaken(S) the Lord;
    they have spurned the Holy One(T) of Israel
    and turned their backs(U) on him.

5 Why should you be beaten(V) anymore?
    Why do you persist(W) in rebellion?(X)
Your whole head is injured,
    your whole heart(Y) afflicted.(Z)
6 From the sole of your foot to the top of your head(AA)
    there is no soundness(AB)—
only wounds and welts(AC)
    and open sores,
not cleansed or bandaged(AD)
    or soothed with olive oil.(AE)

7 Your country is desolate,(AF)
    your cities burned with fire;(AG)
your fields are being stripped by foreigners(AH)
    right before you,
    laid waste as when overthrown by strangers.(AI)
8 Daughter Zion(AJ) is left(AK)
    like a shelter in a vineyard,
like a hut(AL) in a cucumber field,
    like a city under siege.
9 Unless the Lord Almighty
    had left us some survivors,(AM)
we would have become like Sodom,
    we would have been like Gomorrah.(AN)

10 Hear the word of the Lord,(AO)
    you rulers of Sodom;(AP)
listen to the instruction(AQ) of our God,
    you people of Gomorrah!(AR)
11 “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;(AS)
I have no pleasure(AT)
    in the blood of bulls(AU) and lambs and goats.(AV)
12 When you come to appear before me,
    who has asked this of you,(AW)
    this trampling of my courts?
13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings!(AX)
    Your incense(AY) is detestable(AZ) to me.
New Moons,(BA) Sabbaths and convocations(BB)—
    I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
14 Your New Moon(BC) feasts and your appointed festivals(BD)
    I hate with all my being.(BE)
They have become a burden to me;(BF)
    I am weary(BG) of bearing them.
15 When you spread out your hands(BH) in prayer,
    I hide(BI) my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
    I am not listening.(BJ)

Your hands(BK) are full of blood!(BL)

16 Wash(BM) and make yourselves clean.
    Take your evil deeds out of my sight;(BN)
    stop doing wrong.(BO)
17 Learn to do right;(BP) seek justice.(BQ)
    Defend the oppressed.[a](BR)
Take up the cause of the fatherless;(BS)
    plead the case of the widow.(BT)

18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”(BU)
    says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;(BV)
though they are red as crimson,
    they shall be like wool.(BW)
19 If you are willing and obedient,(BX)
    you will eat the good things of the land;(BY)
20 but if you resist and rebel,(BZ)
    you will be devoured by the sword.”(CA)
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.(CB)

21 See how the faithful city
    has become a prostitute!(CC)
She once was full of justice;
    righteousness(CD) used to dwell in her—
    but now murderers!(CE)
22 Your silver has become dross,(CF)
    your choice wine is diluted with water.
23 Your rulers are rebels,(CG)
    partners with thieves;(CH)
they all love bribes(CI)
    and chase after gifts.
They do not defend the cause of the fatherless;
    the widow’s case does not come before them.(CJ)

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Footnotes
  1. Isaiah 1:17 Or justice. / Correct the oppressor
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

1 The (A)vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem (B)in the days of (C)Uzziah, (D)Jotham, (E)Ahaz, and (F)Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

The Wickedness of Judah

2 (G)Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O (H)earth;
    for the Lord has spoken:
“Children[a] (I)have I reared and brought up,
    but they have rebelled against me.
3 The ox (J)knows its owner,
    and the donkey its master's crib,
but Israel does (K)not know,
    my people do not understand.”

4 Ah, sinful nation,
    a people laden with iniquity,
(L)offspring of evildoers,
    children who deal corruptly!
They have forsaken the Lord,
    they have (M)despised (N)the Holy One of Israel,
    they are utterly (O)estranged.

5 Why will you still be (P)struck down?
    Why will you (Q)continue to rebel?
The whole head is sick,
    and the whole heart faint.
6 (R)From the sole of the foot even to the head,
    there is no soundness in it,
but bruises and sores
    and raw wounds;
they are (S)not pressed out or bound up
    or softened with oil.

7 (T)Your country lies desolate;
    your cities are burned with fire;
in your very presence
    foreigners devour your land;
    it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners.
8 And (U)the daughter of Zion is left
    like a (V)booth in a vineyard,
like a lodge in a cucumber field,
    like a besieged city.

9 (W)If the Lord of hosts
    had not left us (X)a few survivors,
we should have been like (Y)Sodom,
    and become like (Z)Gomorrah.

10 Hear the word of the Lord,
    you rulers of (AA)(AB)Sodom!
Give ear to the teaching[b] of our God,
    you people of (AC)Gomorrah!
11 (AD)“What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?
    says the Lord;
I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
    and the fat of well-fed beasts;
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
    or of lambs, or of goats.

12 “When you come to (AE)appear before me,
    who has required of you
    this trampling of my courts?
13 Bring no more vain offerings;
    incense is an abomination to me.
(AF)New moon and Sabbath and the (AG)calling of convocations—
    I cannot endure (AH)iniquity and (AI)solemn assembly.
14 Your (AJ)new moons and your appointed feasts
    my soul hates;
they have become a burden to me;
    I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you (AK)spread out your hands,
    I will hide my eyes from you;
(AL)even though you make many prayers,
    I will not listen;
    (AM)your hands are full of blood.
16 (AN)Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
    remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
(AO)cease to do evil,
17     learn to do good;
(AP)seek justice,
    correct oppression;
(AQ)bring justice to the fatherless,
    plead the widow's cause.

18 “Come now, (AR)let us reason[c] together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as (AS)white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
    they shall become like wool.
19 (AT)If you are willing and obedient,
    you shall eat the good of the land;
20 but if you refuse and rebel,
    you shall be eaten by the sword;
    (AU)for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

The Unfaithful City

21 How the faithful city
    (AV)has become a whore,[d]
    (AW)she who was full of justice!
Righteousness lodged in her,
    but now murderers.
22 (AX)Your silver has become dross,
    your best wine mixed with water.
23 Your princes are rebels
    and companions of thieves.
Everyone (AY)loves a bribe
    and runs after gifts.
(AZ)They do not bring justice to the fatherless,
    and the widow's cause does not come to them.

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Footnotes
  1. Isaiah 1:2 Or Sons; also verse 4
  2. Isaiah 1:10 Or law
  3. Isaiah 1:18 Or dispute
  4. Isaiah 1:21 Or become unchaste
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

 

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH

Isaiah was a prophet in Judah during the reigns of kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah between 74

and 68

BCE. He prophesied during the time when the Assyrian kingdom was advancing, overtaking Israel and threatening Judah and Jerusalem.

Isaiah boldly accepted the call of God to speak up against the injustice in society where the poor and marginalized were being neglected and trampled on by the rich, powerful, and even religious. He criticized the religious practices that were done by people with blood on their hands. Isaiah was also a poet, putting the words of God in powerful imagery that painted a vivid picture of the spiritual forces at work that gave meaning to the events that were unfolding. He saw God’s judgment as a purifying fire that would eventually lead to a restoration of the land and its survivors.

Isaiah is referenced often in the New Testament and alludes to the coming Messiah, Jesus.

Isaiah was a prophet revealing the corruption, the coming judgment, and the eventual restoration of God’s people Israel. He was also a poet, painting the words of God in powerful, vivid pictures of the spiritual forces at work. His imagery gave meaning to the events that were unfolding. Isaiah also points to the Gospel story and to Jesus.

Outwardly, the people of Judah were faithful at keeping all the appointed festivals. They observed the Sabbath, had many conferences and prayer meetings, and gave offerings to God. Yet, these religious practices became detestable to God because their personal lives did not reflect the heart of God. Their hands were full of blood.

In their wickedness, people cared for themselves while others were being oppressed and neglected. They needed to learn to do right. Learning takes humbleness to admit that we may be wrong and need to change. Learning takes self-examination and a willingness to acknowledge our blind spots. Learning opens our eyes to the suffering of others, helping us show Jesus’ compassion towards those in need.

Prayer: Lord, teach us how to really see and care for the oppressed among us. Cleanse us from our deep-rooted sin and shame and make us whole.

One Word: Learn to do right