Isaiah 1

God's promises to Israel are reiterated in this chapter, though sometimes in focusing on the negative situation; in verses 5-6, he talks about the current state of the people being beaten and bruised, not cleansed and bandaged and soothed in oil.
Earlier, God comments on our stubbornness: "The ox knows his master, the donky his owner's manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand." I see this even now; my cats know that we feed them and take care of them, they even know when I feed them. But I rely on myself, not on God, to provide everything. I'll take credit for the paycheck, the job, everything; not realizing or wanting to believe that God is responsible for giving these things to me.

I like Isaiah's comments in v. 9: "Unless the Lord Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah." Without God's mercy, all of Israel would have been wiped out. Sure, Sodom and Gomorrah were evil cities, that's clear. But Israel could not be held much higher as time passed, for as Isaiah says, "They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him." In doing so, they were well on their way to becoming like S&G. Even now, after Christ has come so that we can be forgiven, I will still turn my back often and have a hard time returning. Praise God that I'm able to return and be forgiven!

Though, it leads me to ponder something I've been struggling with for a few years now. How perminent is Christ's forgiveness? I've heard people comment that once you've turned to Christ and asked for forgiveness, you're forgiven and nothing can take that away. Ok, but what if you give it away? If you've confessed your sins to Christ and asked for forgiveness, and then continue to choose to sin (because after coming to Christ, we're not slaves to sin any longer), but do not ask for forgiveness before dying, are we still "saved" from our sin?

Anyway, back to the passage...

Earlier in time God had provided the Israelites a way of repentance - the sacrificial system. However, Isaiah makes it clear that the people were using the system rotely: "The multitude of your sacrifices -- what are they to me? I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and theh fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats." Does this mean the people should have stopped sacrificing? I don't think so. I think, however, that God is calling for people to start recognizing their sin before committing it, as well as offering sacrifices with meaning and purpose - if you make the sacrifice, remember it going forward and don't commit the sin again. Again, in v. 13: "Stop bringing meaningless offerings!" I hope that I remember this throughout the days and weeks; that I don't default to sin, ask for forgiveness, and then go right back into the sin.

"Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow." (vv. 16b-17). Let this be a reminder to me to be on the lookout for doing right, not wrong. The Bible often talks about widows and orphans - I think I need to look into this and see an assumption that my wife should already be taken care of...by noone other than myself!

Praise God, though, for v. 18! (Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as whte as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.) The promise repeated through Christ that we can be restored and pure.

God's restoring nature is displayed throughout the rest of the chapter; comments about "purging the dross" and "removing the impurities" indicate that there will still be something left after God's wrath has subsided, something better and holier. "Zion will be redeemed with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness. But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the Lord will perish." May I be genuinely hurt and remorseful for my sins, since I really don't want to perish!