Isaiah 1:19-31(Daily Bread of 16/1/2018)

ZION WILL BE REDEEMED 

Key verse 1:27 

Isaiah continues talking about curses and blessings that will fall upon the people. We can see here hat God will judge His people but His motive is love. 

1. The town of decadence  (19-23)  

Like Moses had told the people before they entered into Canaan (the country from which milk and honey came), Isaiah said that there is a line that God draws between those who are obedient and those who are rebellious. Those who are obedient will get the best reward whereas those who rebellious will be punished. Be rebellious is the same as refusing to obey so it is a deliberate action. Thus one cannot avoid the consequence of this action under the pretext of a variation in situation.  . thTherefore Jerusalem which was once faithful city, will be transformed into a prostitute. There were once lived many just, will become a place wherein assassins roam. Practise injustice by oppressing the defenceless will become like eating bread. This people that was once like silver before God, will become no more than a desolate land without value. God will judge them and He will send fire upon them. Isaiah speaks about this at the beginning of his book in order to underline the reason behind God's judgement. 

2) Zion will be redeemed (24-31)

The fire is approaching and burning up. God uses the metaphor that He used in verse 22 to reflect the fervent love and mercy that accompanied His judgement. It is this love, the opposite of indifference, that will the people's infection amongst His people and His enemies. Thus the line of judgement that will distinguish those who live and those who die will pass through Zion. This line will not be drawn between Jews and Pagans but between those who will believe in God and be converted and those who will remain rebellious. For the rebellious, eternal fire is their reward and for the obedient, justice. They will be completely restored. The labyrinths and the gardens refer to man's strength and his organisational strategies which all appear to be very pretty and in which he places his trust. He trusts in the strength of mankind and in his marvellous work but this is very risky. There is a modern concept to be taken out of this warning and it is that man's capacities can contribute to his ruin. What really matters in a man's life is God's forgiveness which comes from His Son, Jesus.