Isaiah 1:18 (New International Version)
“Come
now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like
scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they
shall be like wool.
Another
translation of this same verse says; ‘No matter how deep the stain of your
sins, I can remove it’.
From their escape out
of Egypt and throughout their long history, the children of Israel
rebelled against the Lord. Isaiah was one of many prophets of God who was
inspired to record their ungodly ways and yet he also wrote of God's
long-suffering patience, His loving-kindness and His never-failing tender-mercy
towards His errant people.
Israel was guilty on all
counts and described by this prophet of God as a sinful nation who broke their
covenant with the Lord. He labelled them a brood of evil-doers, depraved
children and a people weighed down with iniquity. He likened them to the
depraved people of Sodom and Gomorrah and pronounced God's stern judgement upon
them all.
But he also wrote of a small
remnant, a few survivors, who trusted their God and found grace in the eyes of
the Lord. And throughout the book of Isaiah we hear an ongoing call to
repentance and a plea to turn from their wicked ways and to learn to do good. Isaiah implored
them to seek after justice and to reprove the ruthless, to defend the
orphan and to plead for the widow.
Despite their behaviour, God
continues to offer His people complete forgiveness and restoration if they will
simply return to Him and renounce their wicked ways. He entreats His people to
repent of their sins: “Come now, and let us reason together,' says the LORD,
'Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow. Though they
are red like crimson, they will be like wool.
An inner cleansing of the
heart and mind is what the Lord desires of all His people, which should be
reflected in outward deeds of righteousness and social justice. They were not
to reason with the Lord by defending their behaviour and arguing their
innocence, but were to admit that His ways are perfect and good.. they are
right and righteous altogether - for their behaviour was unacceptable for the
people of God.
Like most of the Old
Testament, Isaiah is written towards Israel as a nation. But all Scripture is
for our learning and there is much that Christians in the body of Christ can
learn from Isaiah - much that we should avoid and much that we should
apply in our everyday lives.
As Christians we have to
admit our guilt, renounce our idolatry, repent and recognise that we
are sinners who need a Saviour, so that by faith in His sacrificial death and
glorious resurrection we may be cleansed of our wicked ways, forgiven of our
sins, washed in His precious blood, declared righteous in the eyes of our
heavenly Father - and live a life that is acceptable in the eyes of the Lord.
With thanks to knowing-jesus.com
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You
for the way that You have used Israel as an example to us of the
importance of purifying our heart and learning all that You want to teach us as
we journey through life. We pray that we may shun evil and turn away from
those things that dishonour Your name and live godly in Christ Jesus - Who is our
life and our Salvation - and in Whose name we pray Amen
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