Thoughts for the Day

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.

The Wickedness of Judah

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.

When you come to appear before me,
who asked this from your hand?
Trample my courts no more;
 bringing offerings is futile;
incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation—
I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity.
Your new moons and your appointed festivals
my soul hates;
they have become a burden to me,
I am weary of bearing them.
When you stretch 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.
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil of your doings
from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
learn to do good;
seek justice,
rescue the oppressed,
defend the orphan,
plead for the widow.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Last week we looked at the Prophet Hosea and his warnings to the Northern Kingdom of Israel with its capital in Samaria and this week we're looking at the work of the Prophet Isaiah whose warnings were directed to the smaller Southern Kingdom of Judah (which included Jerusalem). Both spoke during the 8th century BCE a time when a number of kingdoms in the area like Assyria and Egypt were jostling for power. We are accustomed to hearing Isaiah's predictions in Advent, but this time the lectionary looks at verses that have different themes. In his first Chapter Isaiah starts with a detailed analysis of the current situation, and it's almost as though he's in a court room. He sees God as calling the universe to be witnesses to the way His people have become estranged from Him, seeking military alliances to try to ensure their safety rather than trusting in God to keep them safe.

Isaiah's concern is for Judah and its capital, Jerusalem. He points out forcibly that its leaders are corrupt, and despite the people's faithfulness in offering sacrifices to God, and their constant prayers, God has not listened to them. Why has God not listened? Isaiah's answer is that God does not want such observance when they are morally bankrupt. God wants them to 'cease to do evil, to learn to do good, seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, and plead for the widow'. If this happens then their clothes will not be red from their sin, but white!

Isaiah speaks centuries ago but he might just as well be speaking of today's world when we compare it to the Kingdom that God requires, neither can we escape our own responsibilities in this respect.

Lord God,
help us to realise
that Your Kingdom is one of love,
and that we will be judged
by the way we treat others.
Help us to realise that the ills of our society,
rely on each one of us to put then right,
not just on our leaders.
Amen.