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The relationship between the Lord and Israel is governed by the covenant that binds them together. The covenant spells out the sacred obligations incumbent upon the parties as well as the consequences that follow compliance or noncompliance with its stipulations. The consequences of the Mosaic covenant are set forth in its blessings and curses. If Israel obeys the Lord’s commandments, the nation will be blessed and live prosperously in the land of Canaan. (Deut 28:1-14). But of Israel turns away from the Lord and disobeys his commandments, the nation will suffer dreadful curses, culminating in military conquest and expulsion from the land (Deut 28:15-68)
Isaiah repeatedly confronts the people of Israel for sins against the covenant- sins that activate its curses if the invitation to repent and seek reconciliation with the Lord is declined.
One way that God brings charges against violators of the covenant is a form of judgment speech called a riv, a legal term, that can be translated as controversy (Mic 6:2), indictment Hosea (12:2) or case (Is 41:21). >> covenant lawsuit
The Lord initiates legal action through his prophet (called by God to deliver a message for others) and presses the case against his disobedient people, the defendant, for breaking covenant and failing to fulfill its terms.
a people laden with iniquity,
offspring of evildoers,
sons who deal corruptly!
They have forsaken the Lord, (broken covenant)
they have despised the Holy One of Israel,
they are utterly estranged. (no longer bound to the covenant blessings)
With this background, let us listen to Micah read the entirety of the Chapter 1, and we shall then have some commentary by verse. ESV
Micah Reading Isaiah Chapter 1
1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth;
for the Lord has spoken:
“Children[a] have I reared and brought up,
but they have rebelled against me.
3 The ox knows its owner,
and the donkey its master’s crib,
but Israel does not know,
my people do not understand.”
a people laden with iniquity,
offspring of evildoers,
children who deal corruptly!
They have forsaken the Lord,
they have despised the Holy One of Israel,
they are utterly estranged.
5 Why will you still be struck down?
Why will you continue to rebel?
The whole head is sick,
and the whole heart faint.
6 From the sole of the foot even to the head,
there is no soundness in it,
but bruises and sores
and raw wounds;
they are not pressed out or bound up
7 Your country lies desolate;
your cities are burned with fire;
in your very presence
foreigners devour your land;
it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners.
8 And the daughter of Zion is left
like a booth in a vineyard,
like a lodge in a cucumber field,
(A picture of Jerusalem under siege and surrounded by devastation) 701 BC Assyrian campaign of Sennacherib against Hezekiah of Judah. Assyrian army ravaged the Judean countryside, captured 46 towns, deported more than 200,000 exiles. Amidst this duress, Hezekiah trusted in the Lord at Isaiah’s counsel and Jerusalem was spared by a miracle of God (36:1-37; 38; 2 Kgs 18:13-19:36)[2]
had not left us a few survivors,
we should have been like Sodom,
and become like Gomorrah.
10 Hear the word of the Lord,
you rulers of Sodom!
Give ear to the teaching[b] of our God,
you people of Gomorrah!
11 “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?
says the Lord;
I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
and the fat of well-fed beasts;
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
or of lambs, or of goats.
(worship must be tied to right intentions and behavior of life Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi (Latin: “the law of what is prayed [is] what is believed [is] the law of what is lived”), is a motto in Christian tradition, which means that prayer and belief are integral to each other)[3]
Isaiah is not against right worship but lack of moral obedience.
12 “When you come to appear before me,
who has required of you
this trampling of my courts?
13 Bring no more vain offerings;
incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—
I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts
my soul hates;
they have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you spread out your hands,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
I will not listen;
your hands are full of blood.
(guilty of oppression and murder)
16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
17 learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
(the most vulnerable, orphan and widow, in the ancient world)
18 “Come now, let us reason[c] together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you shall eat the good of the land;
20 but if you refuse and rebel,
you shall be eaten by the sword;
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
has become a whore,[d]
she who was full of justice!
Righteousness lodged in her,
but now murderers.
22 Your silver has become dross,
your best wine mixed with water.
23 Your princes are rebels
and companions of thieves.
Everyone loves a bribe
and runs after gifts.
They do not bring justice to the fatherless,
and the widow’s cause does not come to them.
24 Therefore the Lord declares,
the Lord of hosts,
the Mighty One of Israel:
“Ah, I will get relief from my enemies
and avenge myself on my foes.
25 I will turn my hand against you
and will smelt away your dross as with lye
and remove all your alloy.
26 And I will restore your judges as at the first,
and your counselors as at the beginning.
Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness,
[1] Ignatius Catholic Study Bible 1562
[2] Ignatius Study Bible 1170
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lex_orandi,_lex_credendi accessed Jan 21, 2025
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