Isaiah stands as a giant in the midst of this era: “The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah” (Isaiah 1:1). His book is complicated, as we shall see; yet his words spoke with a depth of passion, insight, and call to the people of his day – and they continue to speak to our day as well.

The book begins with a complaint where God derides the leaders of Judah as “Sodom and Gomorrah” (1:10), and then says: “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 fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats” (1:11). This seems odd; the whole system of sacrifices and offerings was specifically set up to create a system for forgiveness for the multitude of human sins. But now this people has become laden with iniquity; they have forsaken the Lord, and are utterly estranged (1:4). Yet they keep on making many prayers (1:15); they are present in the court of the temple (1:12), bringing offerings and incense (1:13). What has gone wrong?

Despite the people’s many prayers, their hands are full of blood (1:15). This seems to point to actual murderous violence going on in their society; and along with it there is economic corruption among the elite and hunger for the poor and downtrodden: their leaders love bribes, and fail to defend the orphan and the widow (1:23). “From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness” in the body of God’s people (1:6).

Yet as grim as all this sounds, there is hope. “Come now, let us argue it out, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken” (1:18-20). Like ancient Israel, we today presume that God will always be happy with us as long as we offer a modest level of piety; yet it is doubtful that we pray as well as ancient Israel, and we leave many widows and orphans to go hungry.

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Our sins are indeed scarlet, O Lord: cleanse us by your grace, and transform us by your power, we pray, that we may indeed become a community of righteousness before you once again.

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