Isaiah 1:21-23

2. THE JUDGMENT ANNOUNCED Isaiah 1:21-31

a. REASON FOR JUDGMENT, THE CORRUPT CITY

TEXT: Isaiah 1:21-23

21

How is the faithful city become a harlot! she that was full of justice! righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.

22

Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water

23

Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth bribes, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

QUERIES

a.

Why use the word harlot to describe Jerusalem?

b.

Why the condemnation of the princes?

PARAPHRASE

Jerusalem, once My faithful wife! And now a prostitute! Running after other gods. Once the city of Fair Play, but now a gang of murderers. Once like sterling silver; now mixed with worthless alloy! Once so pure, but now diluted like watered-down wine! Your leaders are rebels, companions of thieves; all of them take bribes and won-'t defend the widows and orphans.

COMMENTS

Isaiah 1:21 JERUSALEM HAD BECOME A HARLOT: a profligate, sensual, mercenary city, worshipping idols. It was no longer wed to God, sharing His nature and His goals. People make up a city. The city is what the people make it. Some cities have parks, flowers, trees, churches, justice and peace some have saloons, brothels, gambling halls, law-breaking and fear. The spirit of harlotry is the spirit of promiscuousness (see our comments on Hosea, in Minor Prophets, by Paul T. Butler, College Press). Jerusalem left her first love and prostituted herself to pagan idolatry (which is in reality selling oneself to Satan who exploits for his own prideful purposes anyone who will do so),

Isaiah 1:21 WISDOM AND JUSTICE WERE LOST: Justice and righteousness had found permanent residence in Jerusalem before (probably in the days of David and Solomon, 1 Kings 3:9-28; 2 Chronicles 19:5-11, or the days of Jehoshaphat). Jerusalem had been known throughout the world for her wise and just menbut now she was known for her profligacy, injustice and murderers.

Isaiah 1:22 GREAT MEN HAVE BECOME CONTAMINATED: Silver represents nobilitybut it had been mixed with dross (the scum or refuse matter thrown off from molten ore or metal). Her great men had deteriorated. They had been weakened by mixing in sin like wine is weakened when mixed with water. The further a nation gets from God, the harder to find men with elements of greatness; faith, vision, initiative, moral integrity, humility, unselfishness. When a nation allows its young men to be taught unbelief and sin, its noble manhood is weakened to little men with enlarged egosself-serving, greedy, stupid men, drunk with the intoxication of their self-importance.

Isaiah 1:23 REBELLIOUS PRINCES: The royal household (princes) were in rebellion against the true king (God). The princes were companions of thievesin league with criminals, involved in bribery and graft. Men sworn to uphold law and decency using their position and power to defraud the very people they are supposed to govern and protect. They are greedy shepherds devouring the flock over which they have been made overseers (Cf. Ezekiel 34; John 10). They use the law for lawless purposesfor selfish ends. Could such a scathing condemnation be true of some of the leaders of God's kingdom (the Church) today? Unquestionably!

QUIZ

1.

What makes a city a harlot?

2.

What does Satan do with those who prostitute themselves spiritually?

3.

In what era was Jerusalem known for righteousness and justice?

4.

What does silver symbolize?

5.

What is the figurative picture induced by water-weakened wine?

6.

In what way were the princes rebelling?