The Divine Lamp

THE DIVINE LAMP: ISAIAH 1:18-31 (PART 1)
Vs 18. Come, let us see who is right, says the Lord: Though your sins are scarlet, they shall become as white as snow; Though they be crimson red, they shall become as wool.

The reference to the color of the peoples sins (red, crimson, scarlet) provides a link with vs 15 (hands full of blood).

In the post on 1:1-10 we saw that god was engaging in a covenant lawsuit (a rib) with his people. Here he sets down why he is right in the matter of the covenant. In spite of the peoples sins against it he is willing to remain faithful and offers them the possibility of coming back covenant relations with him. The question is, will the people remain scarlet, or become clean.

Vs 19-20. (19) If you are willing and hear me, (i.e. obey) then once again you shall eat the good things of the land. (20) If, however, you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten up by the sword. It is the mouth of the Lord that has spoken.

Notice the word play: “you shall EAT the good things of the land,” or, “you shall be EATEN up by the sword.” Like several other verses in this first chapter, these words allude to the covenant theology of Deuteronomy.

Therefore, keep the commands of the Lord, your God, keeping to his ways and fearing him. For the Lord, your God, is leading you into a fine country, into a land filled with streams, and springs, and fountains of water…a land rich in wheat and barley, vines and figs, with pomegranates, olive trees and honey, a land where you will EAT bread to you are full…But when you have EATEN and been filled, you must bless the Lord, your God, who gave you this good land…lest, having EATEN your fill, you become proud of heart and forget the Lord, your God…(for) if you forget the Lord, your God,…I warn you, on that day you shall perish, for not listening to the voice of the Lord, your God. (see Dt 6:6-20)

But Jacob ATE his fill and grew fat and frisky; he grew fat, thick, and engorged. They turned from the God who made them…they provoked him with strange gods…”Since they have provoked me with a strange god, I will provoke them with a strange (foreign)people. For my wrath is a kindled fire that shall burn to the depth of the nether world…I will give them woe upon woe…I will send them HUNGER by famine, great fever, and pestilence…the SWORD shall bring them sorrow…To the heavens I raise my hand and take my oath: as certainly as I live, I will sharpen my gleaming SWORD and lay my hands upon my quiver. On my foes I will deliver my vengence, I will pay back those who hate me. My arrows will be drunk with blood, and my SWORD SHALL EAT up flesh. (see Dt 32)

Vs 21. Oh how the once faithful city has become a harlot! She used to be filled with justice. Righteousness used to dwell in her, but now, murderers!

“murderers” provides a link with vs 15 (hands full of blood).
“Righteousness (justice)” provides a link with vs 16.

“the once faithful city” provides another connection to Deuteronomy. Throughout that book, the people are exhorted to maintain faithfullness to God or suffer the consequences. The past faithfullness of the people is sometimes recalled by the prophets as they attempt to get the people to return to the covenant. see Hosea 2:16-25; and Jer 2:2; Hebrews 11; and Hebrew 13:7. These passages relate to the doctrine of the communion of saints.

Referring to a city in feminine terms is typical of the bible (see “daughter Zion” in vs 8).

“Has become a harlot.” The covenant between God and his people was often compared to a marriage. The infidelity of the bride (the people) was often compared to harlotry and adultery (see Hosea 4:12; 5:4; 9:1; and Jer 3:1; 6:8). This harlotry usually took the form of idolatry.

Vs 22. Your silver is turned to dross; your wine is diluted with water (Litv)

This verse continues the theme of vs 21.

“dross” Heb: cuwg (soog) The word means literally “to flinch.” By implication it can mean to turn back or retreat. It was often used to refer to apostasy. (see vs 4, though different terms are used there). See also Ezk 22:18.

“wine is diluted” Like silver tarnished wine mixed with water is here a symbol of corruption. But see 2 Macc 15:39.

Vs 23. Rebellious are your princes as they keep company with thieves. Each of them loves a bribe, and seeks after gifts. They do not do justice to the orphan, the pleading widows cause they ignore.

This verse links with vs 16.

Thru the use of their wealth th rich often took advantage of the poor and lowly in their society. The rulers of the people often had a hand in this by accepting bribes. This sort of thing was greatly condemned by the prophets and the law of Moses. For the law see Ex 22:22 and Dt 24:17. For the prophets see Amos 2:6-8; 4:1; 5:7-11; Jer 7:6; 22:3.

Vs 24 Therefore, declares the Lord, Yahweh, the God of hosts, the mighty one of Israel: “woe! I will be unburdened of my foes and I will have vengence on my enemies.

In vs 14 God spoke about being burdened by the peoples sins, here he declares he will be unburdened (literally ‘eased’) of his enemies. These are people who continue to worship while ignoring justice (see vss 14-16 and 16-23. Note the parallels.)

Note also the connective “therefore” at the start of vs 24. God’s punishment is closely connected to his care for the lowly and results from human injustice against them.

Vs 25 Against you, my hand will turn, and refine your dross to purity, taking away all your alloy.

“Dross” see vs 22. The image seems to be the purifying power of fire, as when metal is refined.

Vs 26 I will establish your judges as at the first, and your advisors as at the beginning. Once again you will be called city of justice, a faithful city.

The faithfullness exhibited by earlier judges and councilors will be found again among the leaders of the people. This is part of the purification mentioned in vs 25 and is necessitated by the current sinful leaders (see vss 10, 23). Note also the reversal of what was stated in vs 21.

Vs 27 Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and her repentant ones with righteousness.

Earlier in this chapter we saw that the people, by their actions, were opposing aspects of their founding traditions (see notes on vss 2-4) Those founding traditions were closely bound up with their having been redeemed from slavery in Egypt (see Dt 7:8; 13:5). Though they gave up being part of God’s family, (vss 2-4) thereby becoming slaves, (vss 5-6) God will redeem them from this slavery as well. Because he is just and right, he demands justice and righteousness on the part of man (vs 16). If man rejects the call and grace to act rightly, then punishment comes. But this punishment is meant to be medicinal (see vss 7-9). God’s just punishment upon his people is really a manifestation of his love and mercy. It is itself and act of redemption, and an appeal to the people to repent. (On the relation between God’s mercy and justice see here, and here, note 52.

“redeemed” A concept closely associated with family in the OT. See the Catholic Encyclopedia THE REDEMPTION OF LAND, HOUSES, AND TITHES. For NT developments see here.

“Justice” and “Righteousness” See here.

Vs 28 And crushed shall be the rebels and the sinners alike, those who have forsaken the Lord shall be destroyed.

The sinners were described in verse 4 as weighted down and bent back due to their iniquity in forsaking God (see notes on vs 4). In vs 14 it was stated that God was tired of bearing the peoples hypocritical sacrifices. Here, in vs 28, God will crush them. The ones being spoken of here are those who refused to heed the punishments already inflicted (vss 5-8) and the call to repent (vs 19).

Vs 29 For they shall be ashamed of the trees which you lusted after; and you shall be ashamed of the gardens you have chosen. (LITV)

“Trees” and “gardens” A reference to the fertility cults practiced by the canaanites, the original inhabitants of the land. It was a violation of the covenant
for thee people of God to engage in such worship. they had been commanded to destroy these places: Do not faill to destroy every place on the high mountains, on the hills, and under every leafy TREE where the nations worship their gods. (Dt 12:2; see also 1 Kings 14:23; Hos 4:13; Jer 2:20 Is 65:3)

Notice the reference to lust, taking up the harlot theme of vs 21.

Vs 30 For you shall be like a tree whose leaf fades, and like a garden that has no water in it. (LITV)

God will show the futility of worshiping the fertility gods by destroying the people who have embraced them. this verse is obviously related to the previous one. Ther may also be an allusion to Psalm 1 where the just man who meditates on God’s law is described as a well-rooted tree whose leaves never fade.

Vs 31 The strong man shall be turned to tinder, and his work shall be a spark; both will burn with none to quench them.

Continues to play on the thought of verses 29-30. Having become like withered trees(having no life, grace, law?) because of their worship of false gods under trees, they will become like tinder, and their works (false worship) will ignite them, so that both they, and their, works turn to unquenchable fire.