ISAIAH
Chapter 1:26-31

Isaiah 1:26-31

quote:

"I will restore your judges as in days of old, your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City. 27 Zion will be redeemed with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness. 28 But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the LORD will perish. 29 You will be ashamed because of the sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be disgraced because of the gardens that you have chosen. 30 You will be like an oak with fading leaves, like a garden without water. 31 The mighty man will become tinder and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the fire."

The rebellious were those who had departed from the Lord in blatant sin. The reference to the sacred oaks and gardens appear to be places of idolatrous worship. Judah had become like a mighty tree whose leaves had faded and a beautiful blossoming garden that had withered from lack of water. In this withered state God would send a judgment of fire that would purge Jerusalem of all of those in rebellion.

Isaiah closed his message with a message of comfort and hope saying one day Jerusalem would be a "City of Righteousness". The Lord made a declaration of grace – "I Will Restore"! He is so emphatic in making this statement it must have caught the attention of some with its familiar opening words, "I Will!". This phrase is reminiscent of the five "I Will’s" spoken in connection with the Israelites' exodus of Egypt.

Exodus 6:6-8
"Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, 'I am the LORD, and

{1} I Will Bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and

{2} I Will Deliver you from their bondage.

{3} I Will also Redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7 Then

{4} I Will Take you for My people, and I Will be your God; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8

{5} I Will Bring you to the Land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I Will Give it to you for a possession; I am the LORD.'"

As God proved Himself faithful in these promises, Judah could know with absolute certainty He would again be faithful in restoring them to their prior glory and even more. There would come a time in which true righteousness and justice would be found in Jerusalem, but it would not come through their own efforts. Those few spiritual Jews who would remain, knew that redemption would come only through the Lord’s righteousness and not their own, just as it was spoken in the Psalms.

Psalm 143:1-2
"A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD, Give ear to my supplications! Answer me in Your faithfulness, in Your righteousness! 2 And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no man living is righteous."

Isaiah 45:24-25
"They will say of Me, 'Only in the LORD are righteousness and strength.' Men will come to Him, And all who were angry at Him will be put to shame. 25 "In the LORD all the offspring of Israel Will be justified and will glory."

Isaiah 59:20-21
"A Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," declares the LORD. 21 "As for Me, this is My covenant with them," says the LORD: "My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring's offspring," says the LORD, "from now and forever."

Psalm 131:3
"Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever."

Israel has a blessed hope and future to look forward to. God's grace is abundant. He is both worthy and trustworthy! How blessed are those of us who know the Redeemer has already come and has provided salvation for all those who will receive Him. Should we not be praying for unbelieving Judah and the rest of the world to know Jesus as their Redeemer too?