worship and righteousness

Good morning all,
Scholars usually divide Isaiah into two or three parts. So called First Isaiah is basically chapters 1-39 and was probably written or at least composed orally in the 700s BC. The overall theme is calling for justice and warning of God's judgment. Second Isaiah is either the rest of the book or chapters 40-54 along with some earlier material, and dates from the exile after Jerusalem's fall. This section is most concerned with reminding the people that even though they have been punished, God will restore them with a glorious return from exile and a renewal of the world. Many of our Lenten text come from this section. Finally, Third Isaiah is chapters 55-66 as well as some earlier material and dates from the return from exile. The end of exile didn't solve all of Judah's problems, so this section deals with that disappointment and seeks to build up hope in God's future. Like the other prophets we've read, First Isaiah warns of judgement, but there's a hopefulness in Isaiah we don't really see in Amos.

Yesterday Isaiah compared Judah's fate to that of Sodom and Gomorrah, saying that it was different only because the Lord left a few survivors in Judah. I expect that comparison would already be pretty shocking for the chosen people of God, but here Isaiah makes the comparison even stronger. He calls the leaders of Israel, "Rulers of Sodom" and "People of Gomorrah." The specific complaint is that Judah's society is unjust. They may worship in all the ways the tradition teaches. They bring all the offering the Law tells them to bring, but their lives are not touched. Doing the right thing in our lives is more important than worshiping the right way. Or maybe put a different way, living the right way is the foundation of worshiping well. If our lives don't show the faith our worship proclaims both become hollow and hypocritical.

God bless,
Sam


Isaiah 1:10-20
10Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! 11What 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. 12When you come to appear before me, who asked this from your hand? Trample my courts no more; 13bringing offerings is futile; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation— I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity. 14Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them. 15When 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.

16Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, 17learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. 18Come 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. 19If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.