Isaiah 1:21-26

God's Purpose For The Future (Isaiah 1:21).

The call having been made to Israel for response, God describes their present state and guarantees that in the end He will bring their transformation about.

a How is the faithful city, become a prostitute? She who was full of discerning judgment. Righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers (Isaiah 1:21).

b Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water. Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves (Isaiah 1:22 a).

c Every one loves gifts, and follows after rewards. They do not judge the fatherless, nor does the cause of the widow come to them (Isaiah 1:23 b).

c Therefore thus says the Lord, Yahweh of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel. “Ah, I will ease myself of my adversaries, and avenge myself on my enemies” (Isaiah 1:24).

b “And I will turn my hand on you, and purge away your dross as with lye, and will take away all your impurity (literally ‘tin'). And I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counsellors as at the beginning” (Isaiah 1:25 a).

a “Afterwards your city will be called, ‘The city of righteousness, the faithful city'. Zion will be redeemed with justice (judgment), and her converts (those who return) with righteousness” (Isaiah 1:26).

In this remarkable passage we find ‘the faithful city which has become a prostitute' (Isaiah 1:21), being finally restored to being ‘the city of righteousness the faithful city' (Isaiah 1:26); perverted justice (Isaiah 1:21) becoming true justice (Isaiah 1:26), the dross that filled her (Isaiah 1:22) being removed (Isaiah 1:25); the rebellious princes (Isaiah 1:23) being finally restored (Isaiah 1:26 a), injustice (Isaiah 1:23 b) being dealt with by the Mighty One of Israel avenging Himself on those who are enemies of His covenant (Isaiah 1:24). Note again the characteristic chiastic construction on which it is based, the remedies being in inverted order to the problems.