V.13, 16 An important chapter too — in it we find the words which the Lord Jesus quoted to Satan when He was being tempted by him (Matt. 4).
V.4-19 These bring before us God Himself. And this is one of the greatest reasons why the people should obey the Lord. Read carefully this tender pleading of God with His people. He wanted to bless them! There were many false gods in the countries round about Israel. The people who had lived in this land were the most idolatrous people (Deut. 9:55Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Deuteronomy 9:5)). So the children of Israel had a wonderful opportunity to show to all the others that they had the One and only true God.
V.5 Notice spirit (heart), soul and body (might).
V.7 What a wonderful way to bring up our children.
V.16 Tempting God is to doubt Him. We are guilty of this sometimes. The person who believes God, is calm and peaceful at all times!
V.20-25 Parents, read carefully. Are our children hearing the Word of God from our lips?
Summary. In spite of all this tender pleading by God to them, they failed. Read Deuteronomy 29:4,4Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day. (Deuteronomy 29:4) they lost out. Not because they didn’t keep up the sacrifices (they kept them), but because even in keeping them, they were not doing it from love for God, but thinking that in this way alone they would be considered righteous. (Read Isa. 1:10-2010Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. 11To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. 12When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? 13Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. 14Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. 15And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. 16Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 17Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18Come 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. 19If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 1:10‑20)).