Exposition by Max A Forsythe
Every year at school I have to set the historical record straight for my students as that record applies to two of the greatest tragedies in the history of America. The first record is set in Paris, France. The year was 1919, the great and powerful had assembled amidst the vanitied mirrors of the great hall in the Sun King's palace: Versailles. There the arrogant victors planned to dispose of the defeated survivors of the Kaiser's former German Empire. Into this grand convergence came an unwelcome crusader described by one commentator as a self-proclaimed messiah come to set the world aright heedless of who had been friend or foe. That crusader was none other than President Woodrow Wilson whose fourteen points and promised League of Nations just might usher in a post-millennial reign amidst prosperity, peace and security. The French commentators were partially right, the pompous and pious platitudes of America's greatest idealist, were only a dream marred by the realities of the fallen nature of every human. The very attitudes of the allies which Wilson took to task, were indeed his very own. This is shown by the treatment given to the democratic aspirations of a young Asian student in the Sobornne.
For most of the summer, a young Ho Chi Mien waited patiently in Wilson's reception room to beg help in establishing the constitutional liberties and rights of America in his southeast Asian homeland. Finally, Colonel House, Wilson's aide, spokesman and secretary, took the young man aside and in no uncertain profane and bigoted terms told him to get lost, because his people were thought to be unfit to govern themselves. A generation later, 57,000 Americans gave their lives because a young man who would have been our fondest friend was turned to be a bitter enemy instead.
Our second example of high American tragedy involves the moral agitation surrounding the coming of the great war of the last century. Northerners and southerners still argue about States Rights. All but a handful of white robed red necked die hards will agree that slavery was a moral wrong and that all of the sons and daughters of Adam are one and the same people. However, there are many more who believe that the States should have retained the right to decide when and if that immoral institution should have ended. The uncompromising self-righteousness of Northern abolitionists also contributed mightily to the conflict. in fact both sides erred tremendously in assuming that they had the right to let blood be shed to appease their own consciences.
Now, let us consider the two attitudes briefly described from our history, and then let us compare that feigned righteousness and ingrained bigotry at the root of our historical problems, with the situation in Judea at the beginning of Isaiah's ministry. Five times in this first chapter, God charges the Judeans with rebellion. This charge is repeated eleven times again in later chapters. Just as Woodrow Wilson's secretary mirrored the attitudes of an earlier generation, so did the Judeans of Isaiah's day mirror the constant rebellion of their forefathers. In chapters twenty-seven and twenty-eight of Deuteronomy, the Israelites were promised blessings for obedience and curses if they did not obey the revealed Law of God. Scriptural history dramatically shows us that generation after generation, the Israelites were unfaithful to God's covenant. Time after time the prophets were sent to call the people back into obedience. Periods of reformation and revival were intermingled with years of apostasy and apathy.
Isaiah's own lifetime spanned the rule of two good kings and two bad kings as the spiritual pendulum of the independent Judean people ran down to judgment and captivity. As we compare our age to this lifetime of Isaiah, and as we lay our own lives alongside those of the Judeans, we may well ask ourselves if God's people today can show a better profit from the spiritual warnings and admonitions than did those people of Jerusalem? Are we indeed righteous rebels just like the Judeans?
Our scriptural portion for today is divided into three parts. Verses ten to seventeen admonish God's elect to consider their real standing before the God of heaven. Verses eighteen to twenty- three appeals to the reasoning power of the human intellect to consider the sinful nature of the human soul and the natural end that sin will lead to. Finally verses twenty-four to thirty shows us that even through the process of judgment, salvation is possible through the merciful grace of our Sovereign God.
In the first portion, God's people are compared to the residents of Sodom and Gomorrah. What good are their ritual sacrifices, God asks, if their hearts are not tuned to God and the living of their lives so far short of the divine expectations? I remember a student at school who was so enamored with a young man that she sent candy, flowers and little gifts to the one she thought she worshipped. Yet, during the one date that she was allowed, she emotionally and physically abused the young man. So he regularly trashed all of the gifts just as he did the bouquet delivered during class one day. Now, that is not the best example, but we have to understand that even with the best of intentions, we all regularly trash the affections of our God who would mercifully give us salvation. Just as God accuses in verses fifteen and sixteen: "Your hands are full of blood; wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right!" Human nature has not changed, remember what the Jerusalem elect did to God's only Son? he came to be the bridegroom to the Old Testament Church and they abused Him, they even killed Him! Do you think that we are any better today? How well is the Almighty God of heaven regarded and obeyed in our time? How many Churches are even obedient to His word and His son?
Our second portion appeals to that intelligent part of the human nature which is given to us so that we may know God. "Come now, let us reason together," runs one of the greatest passages in all of Isaiah. Come on, he says, let us think these things through. Let us consider things as they really are. And how are things in this relationship we truthfully have with the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth? The truth about man is a hard pill to swallow. "Through your sins are like scarlet ... though they are red as crimson." Who really wants to believe the fallen nature of our human condition? We all rebel against that assessment and enough pop psychology has been passed off as science that we all feel down right righteous even as we question how fatal is the infection of sin. Yet, if we would believe what the Bible tells us about the natural state of our soul, we might find hope in the free offer of grace outlined in this great passage from Isaiah. Remember those laundry advertisements on television, where the soiled handkerchief, sock or shirt is miraculously cleaned before your very eyes?
Well, this is the offer that the Lord is making to you. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." IF! What do you mean if? "If you are willing and obedient." Are you willing to accept the free offer of grace on God's terms? Are you willing to learn obedience to the revealed will of God? He doesn't ask you if you are able does He? He only asks if you are willing and obedient. Then He will bless you. But, what if you continue in rebellion, what if you decide to resist? Then your life is forfeit! You must certainly die.
In the last three verses of this portion, God describes the "holy" city in its rebellious state. Silver and wine are worthless, the government is a den of thieves and gluttons who devour the wealth of the people and ignore those truly in need. Therefore the Lord God thunders in the last portion of this chapter. Therefore He says, I'll take care of my enemies so that I can give my full attention to you! How very awful it will be to fall into the hands of Almighty God if we do not belong to Him.
But look at the nature of God's discipline for His saints in verse twenty-five. Yes, His rod of punishment is severe, but His purpose is to purify you for eternity. In verse twenty-six He also promises restoration of the City of God as well. However, every blessing is balanced with a curse. See verse twenty-eight? "But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the Lord will perish." How will you turn out? Are you willing to bow down and listen to the Lord's reasoning and learn to obey Him so that you may enjoy Him for eternity in heaven? Or would you rather stand up straight and like the nineteenth century atheists who dreamed of a super man, a mighty man - shake your fist at God and reject His grace so that you may relish the eternal fires of hell? Isn't it sad, that so many people even have to think twice about that offer and continue in their rebellion. May you have no hesitation at all in this regard, and may you be found willing and obedient before the throne of our eternal God.
Resources Used:
Thomas, Derek.
God Delivers: Isaiah Simply Explained.
Young, Edward J.
The Book of Isaiah.
The Holy Bible.
New International Version (1984 Edition)
NOTE: I am not able to automatically
recommend any future editions.
Christ Covenant Reformed (Presbyterian Church in America) -
Box 13926 - Columbus, OH 43213
(c) 2001
19 September 93
Permission granted to redistribute unedited versions with this notice.