Isaiah 1 to 4
When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He read to people from a very old book, and also, often said words from that book, and so did his disciples later; so it was very important. It was part of the Hebrew Scriptures, written by a man, named Isaiah, who lived, about seven hundred years before Christ. He was a prophet, one who told people words from God, often of events to happen later. Much that God told Isaiah of a future time, He showed him as a picture, called a vision, which he told of to the kings and people of Jerusalem; not all at one time, or all to the same people, as he lived during the rule of four kings.
Isaiah also wrote all this, which we may read in our language. Very little is told of Isaiah, himself; his name meant, salvation of God, so when the people said his name, they should have remembered that God would save them.
God first told Isaiah to tell the people that He had cared for them as children, but they had turned away from Him God said,
“The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib; but Israel doth not know, My people doth not consider.” Chapt. 1:3.
Animals soon know the one who feeds them, and where the grain is kept, but God’s people had become so careless, they did not go to Him for help or blessing. Many were even praying to idols, and doing other evil things, so God could not be pleased with their feasts or sacrifices.
He had often called the people “daughters of Zion.” Zion way a high part of the city, and “daughters” meant pure ones; but now He said they were like foolish daughters dressed in varied suits with rings, nose jewels, bracelets, earrings, etc, proud and haughty, (Chapt. 3:10-24).
There were a few who wished to obey God and they were called, the “remnant” (Chapt, 1:9), which means a small part. They went through the sorrows with the others, so that God should always have some to tell how ready He was to forgive and bless any who would leave the evil ways; Notice these kind words,
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool,” Chapt, 1:18.
God would Himself make the way to wash away the sins, but because the people would not listen or obey, God said their loved city would be deserted “as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers”, those were the houses where the keepers stayed to gather the fruits; but when done, the houses were empty (Chapt. 1:8).
Some years after Isaiah died, Jerusalem was so left; and those words proved true. Yet God told Isaiah to tell of a time when the city should be called, “the faithful city”, when the people would do rightly to one another, and be faithful to God, when there would be no more sorrow or war (See Chapt. 1:26, 2:2-4). Those words have not yet come to pass; but what have come true, teach us how surely all will at last be fulfilled.
ML 10/12/1941