A Commitment Is Required

Isaiah 1:16-31

A wife may well refuse to accept flowers as evidence of an unfaithful husband’s regrets,  She has every right and even an obligation to demand a sincere and concerted effort to make things right and demonstrate his commitment to her before trusting him again, for her own self-respect and emotional health.   Before God forgave and accepted Judah’s advances, He demanded evidence of a sincere commitment to him.

“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.  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.   If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 1:16-20)

If they were to experience the blessing from God, Judah needed to eliminate the known sin from their lives and begin to do the things they had promised to do in exchange for God’s blessings and protection.  Not only did they need to stop their sin, they also needed to proactively seek to set things right, seeing that justice was done, and that provision was made for those who could not protect themselves.    In effect is much like the betrayed wife demanding that her husband get rid of the other woman’s phone number and picture and  come straight home in the evening, doing things around the house and spending time with her instead of going off where she has no way of knowing what he is doing. 

If the husband is willing to listen to his wife and make a commitment to do as she asks, and then follow through with it, the marriage can be saved and eventually become as good or better than ever, but if he refuses to take her seriously, the marriage is doomed to fail.   God promised Judah that if they would sit down and talk it over, and take action, they would be forgiven the relationship could be restored or become even better.  If they refused to listen or rebelled against the agreement, they would be destroyed.  It was their choice what happened because God would not change his mind. 

“How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.  Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water: Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.” (Isaiah 1:21-23)

How could a faithful wife whose husband has provided a nice home and give as much as he could prostitute herself out to other men for a few dollars or a temporary pleasure.  Her actions will destroy the peace and happiness they once had, and the pleasure they once found together will be diluted by the memories of relations with someone else and the purity severely tarnished. By worshipping the Syrian gods and turning to the Assyrians for help, Judah had religiously prostituted themselves, betraying God.  As a result, the moral standards had changed, with their leaders accepting bribes, and using their position to take advantage of the people, ripping them off and breaking the laws.   There was no concern for those who were less fortunate. 

“Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies: And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin: And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.” (Isaiah 1:24-26)

If the unfaithful mate refuses to accept responsibility and make efforts to restore the relationship, the betrayed one will probably seek a divorce and repayment for their emotional distress by legal and sometimes physical attacks.   God promised Judah he would destroy those she had messed around with and punish them until they returned to a proper relationship with him, until every remembrance of the other gods was purged.  When they finally did, they would again be known as God’s people.  God will not ever give up on them.

“Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.  And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.  For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.  For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.  And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.” (Isaiah 1:27-31)

Jerusalem will be restored by judging and correcting the things that are wrong and those who turn to God as a result will live in righteousness.  Those who refuse to obey God’s law will be destroyed.  Everyone would be embarrassed about the choices Judah had made, choosing some on they thought was strong instead of the Lord, and another source of provision instead of him.  The ones they have counted on for strength will be like a piece of frayed rope or loose cotton just waiting for a spark to set it off, and the ones who made it seem so desirable will serve as the spark, Like the Assyrians coming to help Israel ut turning on them instead.  Ultimately it will result in the destruction of both.