Study of Isaiah Chapter 1

Isaiah 1:1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Isaiah saw a vision from God during the time that Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah were kings over Judah. It is apparent that Isaiah saw more than one vision since this would indicate a long period of time under the reign of four kings. The vision mainly concerns Judah as opposed to the northern kingdom of Israel at this time. Jerusalem is the capital of Judah and the main city so the address is given to them as well as the kingdom of Judah.

In the biblical times, they did not use first and a last name like we do today. To describe fully who a person was, they often gave the name of the person's father or their family lineage. Isaiah was the son of Amoz and he was a prophet. A prophet was a man especially called of God to present a message not just future predictions but warnings, exhortations and advice. He was a man who was highly dedicated to God and had to choose often whether to tell the truth to the people and risk displeasure, even death or to please people and distort the message of God. A prophet had a very high calling and responsibility.

One reason the bible is so reliable and believable is because of the risk men like Isaiah took. Why would someone risk displeasure, death and loss of income for a lie? To tell the truth could cost them their lives. If they went about speaking words to please and sooth men, they could have been rich, famous and in favor with everybody but instead they chose to speak what God wanted them to speak even though it was unpopular. No one likes prophets of doom.

I don't believe that I would risk disfavor and be a prophet of bad tidings unless I was very certain that it was from God. It would be much easier for me to say what people want to hear. Of course, I realize there are some who actually enjoy hearing bad prophetic prophecies so a prophet of doom would actually attract them. My way then to tell a true prophet would be to see if they preach the same things to both favorable and unfavorable audiences. Isaiah didn't seem as if he would compromise truth to please the crowds. We need more like him today.

A good lesson in understanding prophecy would be not to take it out of its setting, time and place. Prophecy could be immediate future or it could mean the events were not to take place until a longer period of time. Some prophecy may have a double meaning and have both an immediate and a future fulfillment. Still others had to do with only the one nation and not the whole world. One good thing to remember is that if the sin that brought judgment upon any nation in Isaiah's time is being committed by any nation today, I believe the nation would probably be in danger of the same judgment since God is still the same God.

Isaiah 1:2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

Isaiah speaks from the very heart of God here. He addresses the heavens and the whole earth as well as Judah. God had raised up the nation of Judah and Israel from nothing, he brought them out of Egypt where they were held in severe slavery, he gave them a land of their own and yet they rebelled against him.

Here we see the reason God sent Isaiah. He was displeased with Judah for rebellion. They had chosen the way of the nations surrounding them. Those nations knew not the true and living God. This is why the walls of protection fell from around Judah. Babylon was able to come in and take over. They copied the ways of Babylon and desired to be like them instead of following God, so they were allowed to be part of Babylon for a season and found out what Babylon was really like. They lost true freedom to choose and make decisions on their own. Now they were in bondage to the nation they coveted after.

We see in this second verse that the warning is now directed to all heaven and earth. The judgment for disobedience is about to fall on the nation of Judah but the warning is given to all that may rebel in the same manner in which they rebelled. This is written as an example to us who may follow the same rebellious path of unrighteousness.

Bondage can also happen in individual lives without being an actual slave. We serve that which we yield to. One that yields to sin becomes a servant to sin. Look at the way alcohol and drugs bring so many into a bondage that is difficult to break. That is a picture of how sin will bring us into bondage. We are free from this bondage through Jesus Christ if we continue in Christ and do not forsake him like the people of Israel did in the time of Isaiah's prophecy. To live and walk with God is true freedom. To be bound by our own desires and sins is slavery.

God has allowed the United States to become great and prosperous. I would venture to say that the United States exceeds any nation before it in riches and greatness, yet have we given God the glory and praise for this? Is He not declared unconstitutional by modern day judges who have distorted the true meaning of the constitution? Anyone who has ever read and studied the story of our constitution and the struggles of our founding fathers can see fully that they did not intend for the open observance of God to be abandoned within the public arena. They only wanted to avoid a state church like the Church of England and the Church of Rome.

 Isaiah 1:3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

Animals act more faithful than the people of God described by Isaiah did. In fact other nations are more faithful to what they believe whether the belief is true or false. What would happen if the ACLU went to Iran and tried to cast the Koran out of their schools?

Yet the Christians in the United States have sit idly by and allowed our public schools to be ruined by a small handful of people who were offended by our God and our Lord Jesus Christ. In the name of "Separation of Church and State" which in not actually in the Constitution, they have been successful in ushering in the lie of evolution and casting out the recognition of God and the teaching of His creation.

Isaiah 1:4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

When a nation once knows God and then forsakes him to go back into corruption, it angers God. God can and does get angry at wickedness that continues without any repentance. God loves repentance. To repent means to change, turn around and not only be sorry for but desire to be free from sin. Repentance, if genuine, pleases God and he makes us "Just as if we never sinned", through faith in Jesus Christ. The results of a nation or group of people who forsake God and go continually without repentance brings in disastrous results both for the individual and the nation as a whole.

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance." Psalms 33:12

Oh what we forfeit when we depart from the fellowship of God. Oh what we can return to if we make up our minds to repent and follow the ways of the Lord.

Suppose a rich man builds a town, builds a recreation center to be used freely by the town's youth, he builds a hospital with his own money to help the sick free without charge. Suppose he also builds a library, a homeless shelter, and supplies everything else the town needs to survive and decides to visit the town. How would he feel if the people ignored him, ridiculed him, treated him shamefully, and did not even give him thanks. This is how many of us treat our God. Look at the color in the fall, the newness of life in the spring, the beauty of the first snow in the winter. How can we see the beauty and splendor of the seasons and not thank the one who gave it? How can we think it is there by accident? God must be marvelous. He simply could not be a boring God to have thought up such beauty and splendor. How great and mighty He must be.  Yet we build and send our children to schools where He is not honored or remembered.   We place in those institutions of learning teachers who teach an alternative reason for our existence.   

Animals cannot talk, they cannot make decisions like humans, and they are not half as intelligent as humans yet they know who there owners are. They are faithful to the ones who care for them. Should we not be the same? I cringe when I hear the theory of evolution taught as a fact without question in the public schools. I also wonder, who do we think we are to purposely ignore our God. They teach and assume that God had nothing whatsoever to do with the formation of the earth. It makes me shudder. Evolution has so many holes and gaps in its theory yet they teach it as though it is conclusive. If a teacher would dare present another side of the picture to students, the ACLU would sue at once. I also wonder, what are they afraid of? Why are they afraid to consider another view? Why are they afraid of the teaching of God? The thought of God being in control is a comfort to me. The ones who do not want the thought of God are the ones who do not want anyone telling them that they can't sin. They want the freedom to do whatever they please with no one telling them that they have to stop, repent and change. They don't realize that they are in bondage, chains and darkness. If this nation continues thumbing up its nose against God you will see crime increase even more than it is now. There will be no restraint. I'm afraid also that there is something very sinister behind evolution and the anti-God movement in the school and public arena.  Satan, the great deceiver is behind all these movements.  He uses groups such as the ACLU.  They may not realize that they are actual tools of the devil himself to deceive mankind into deception to keep them from finding salvation through the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

How this must hurt our Lord as it did in the days of Isaiah's prophecy and now to see His creation rebel against Him. 

Isaiah 1:5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

This is a true picture of what happens in the life of a backslider as well as a backslidden nation. They are compared to someone very sick and faint-hearted.

Isaiah 1:6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

To be outside the fellowship of God is compared to a badly wounded individual who has been beaten or one who has a disease causing open sores that have been left untreated. Their sin is compared to an incurable sore or sickness. This is the exact opposite of health and strength. A nation that rejects God and abides in sin is in reality a weak, sick nation ready to be destroyed at any time.

God pleads to Judah, "Why should you be stricken any more?" They didn't have to be in this deplorable condition. At any time they could have repented and received God's healing of their nation and land. Instead they went backward. They went further away.

Isaiah 1:7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.

This happens when a nation forsakes God. His hand no longer is there to protect. As a result the enemies that surround the nation have the power to come in and overthrow the government and take the inhabitants into captivity. This is what happened to Judah by the country of Babylon. When they forsook God and served idols, they were actually biting the hand that fed them. They were allowing the walls of protection to be torn down.

Remember the story when the king of Moab tried to get Balaam to curse Israel. Balaam could not do it. Israel could be cursed, however, if one could lure Israel into forsaking God and thus the walls of protection could be removed from around them.

Isaiah 1:8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

This is why Israel and Judah was besieged and taken over by other nations. They had sinned against God and would not listen to the prophets who warned them.

Why do we choose this way when we can have the blessings and peace and righteousness that come from God. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." He has so many better things for us than the devil offers, yet so many choose wrongly.

They were almost destroyed completely except for the mercy and grace of God. God had a purpose for their existence and spared a remnant. He remembers His promise to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and to the children of Israel. He promised to send a savior to rule over the earth. This has to be done through the nation of Israel. They forsook God at this time in history and deserved to be wiped out but God's plan will continue no matter what man does. A remnant returned to the land after the captivity of Babylon. Unlike Sodom and Gomorrah, which was destroyed with no survivors to this day, Jerusalem still stands by the mercy and grace of God.

 Isaiah 1:9 Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

Sodom and Gomorrah is our example of complete destruction because of wickedness. Visitors could not even visit their cities without becoming rape victims. Lawlessness was rampant with the government agreeing to it. They left God's laws of moral decency and judgment and did what was right in their own eyes. It is quite one thing when there is lawlessness and rebellion against what is right among the people but when the government sanctions the evil and calls evil good and good evil that is when a nation is in real trouble. When the ones who run the government gets just as evil as the criminals then watch out - there is no justice.

It is the mercy of God that keeps all nations who turn their backs on God from ending up like Sodom and Gomorrah. The writer here states that the Lord left a small remnant or else Judah would have been annihilated like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Isaiah 1:10 Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

God is actually calling Judah and Israel here, rulers of Sodom and people of Gomorrah.

Here is what the people of Sodom and Gorrah were like:

Genesis 13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

They didn't even try to hide their sin. They were not ashamed of their sin. They were open about sin.

Isaiah 3:9 The show of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.

Genesis 19:4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.

The wickedness was so great that Lot was willing to sacrifice his own daughters rather than allow men who took shelter under his roof to be violated by the men of Sodom.

Jeremiah 23:14 I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

Other traits attributed to Sodom are adultery, walking in lies, and unrepentant. The leaders of the government strengthen the hands of those that do evil instead of enforcing laws of justice and righteousness.

Ezekiel 16:49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

Their other traits were, haughtiness, pride, fullness of bread, idleness, they committed abomination and they neglected the poor.

Matthew 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Yet for all their sin, the sin of rejecting the gospel is just a severe a sin as what Sodom and Gomorrah did. Why?

God had compassion on us when he saw that we were doomed for eternal death without hope because of our sins. He made a way for us to escape eternal judgment and instead have eternal life. He allowed his own Son to die for our sins in our place. Jesus took the punishment that we deserved yet he did nothing to deserve it. All we have to do is accept what Jesus did for us by turning away from sin and accept Jesus as our savior and Lord. Jesus in turn cleanses away our sin and grants us eternal life. To reject this is to reject eternal life and freedom from the judgment for our sins. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves if we refuse God's plan of salvation. We can build hospitals, feed the poor, be neighborly, friendly and do good deeds but if we reject his plan for our salvation and refuse to renounce sin our works are in vain. Works cannot save the soul. If doing good deeds could save the soul, Jesus would not have had to die for our sins.  After such a sacrifice that Jesus gave on our behalf, after suffering and dying a horrible death for our sins, if we refuse, we become guiltier than Sodom and Gomorrah.

Here in the Old Testament one was saved by trusting and serving in God. This would qualify him for eternal life when the Son of God came in the future to cancel out their sins through faith. When they turned their backs on God after knowing Him, they were the same as those today who have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and have rejected Him.

Isa 1:11 To 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.

Sacrifices, offerings and good works, church attendance is vain if the heart is not right with God. Outward actions have no meaning if the heart is far from God.

12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
13 Bring 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.
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.

Their sins were as Sodom, they did not repent, their ways were evil so their sacrifices actually made God weary.

Isa 1:15 And 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.

God was so displeased with their sin that He actually called them by the name of Sodom and Gomorrah. They had become so rebellious against Him and His word that their festivals and sacrifices was an abomination to Him. He would have rejoiced in their sacrifices and feasts if their hearts had of been right. If they would have done those things with true love and worship of God in their hearts along with repentance of sin, He would have accepted their feasts. But we see that God had come to hate the feasts and sacrifices. He wanted them to serve and love Him. He wanted them to love one another and care for those in need. He cries for the people of Judah to repent and turn back to God. All heaven rejoices when even one sinner repents. God does not delight in destruction. He wants to save. If the angels rejoice over one sinner who repents think how much they would rejoice when a whole nation repents and turns to God.

Yet when hands are full of blood and sin, He will not hear them. This may be a reason for some unanswered prayer. If we want God to hear us, we must make sure that we come with a sincere humble repentant heart.

Here is an example: Suppose we just closed a business deal that brought in a good profit but it cheated someone else and robbed him or her in order that we might gain. Next, we happen get sick with something the doctors can't cure. We pray and ask God for healing yet do not even think or attempt to repent of cheating. I believe that unconfessed sin will hinder our prayers. I am not saying here that everyone that gets sick and is not healed has sin in his or her lives. We all know someone who was good as gold, yet did not get healed. I am saying that we can't expect God to answer all our prayers if we live in disobedience and sin without regard to the word of God and have an unrepentant heart.

God reminds these people what true religion is all about. He is tired of vain religious rituals that do not change the heart or cause repentance; burnt offerings to appease the conscience and do nothing for the spiritual condition of the soul. True religion should cause us to first love God and His word with all our hearts, souls, minds and spirit and secondly it should cause us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Again I repeat if we loved God we would not love sin. If we loved God we would not worship other gods. If we loved our neighbor as ourselves we would not lust after their possessions, wives, husbands, etc. We would not cheat them in a business deal. We would not refuse to help them when they are in need if we have the ability and opportunity to do so.

All these feast days, holidays and sacrifices were vain. They did not worship God from their hearts. This reminds me of our Christmas. How many of us use Christmas to really worship the Lord?

Isaiah 1:16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

Even after all this, there was a way out. This verse I believe is an answer straight from the heart of God. Even though we may sin and even though Israel had sinned and turned away from God, there was still hope. Genuine repentance is the best way to be clean. Genuine repentance is being sorry for sin to the point of being willing to turn from sin and change. Cease to do evil.

This is the cry from the heart of God who wants to save and not destroy. This should be what is in our hearts too. Not to lash out and destroy our enemies but warn, preach and plead with all to get right with God. Repent, wash, become clean, put away evil, turn to God through the salvation and power He has provided through Jesus Christ His Son.

Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

Here is good works that is to follow true repentance. Doing well, seeking fair judgment, relieving the oppressed, take care of the fatherless and widows. Part of our responsibility is to relieve the oppressed, help the widows and orphans. They were guilty of neglecting that part and were judged. We have a responsibility to social concerns as well as saving the soul, which is to remain the priority. If we fed the hungry and never presented the gospel we would only be helping temporarily. They would soon get right back into the mess they were in without God in their lives.

Isaiah 1:18 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.

This is a true description of salvation. I cannot say it any better. The new birth produces a life whiter than snow through faith in Jesus Christ.

Here is the gospel in the Old Testament. God wants to save. God wants to remove sin. God wants to give us life eternal, not death. God wants to bless us and do good things in us. Do you think He enjoys seeing people war, fight, starve, suffer cold, homelessness, sickness etc.? He can't bless a nation who turns their backs on him. He can't come into our lives if we shut the door. Why do you think there is so much famine, disasters, and wars in so many places. In other places there are school shootings, work place violence, unrest and tragedy? God can't protect us as a nation if we continually ignore him. We have ruled Him unconstitutional, remember. And we wonder why there is so much violence. It's not as though God wills these evil things or even sends them. The evil is in the world already but his hand of protection is drawn back if we continually choose to walk in our own ways and reject God's ways. We reap what we sow.

19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

There are clearly two choices here: Obedience or rebellion. The choice is ours to make. This involves human participation and choice: Refusal or willingness. One results in death and the other results in eternal life. Why do so many choose wrongly? Oh how our Lord wants to save rather than destroy.

Isaiah 1:21 How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.

This is the sad story of many nations. The city was once filled with righteousness and faithful to the Lord. They had lost that and have done murder.

This reminds me of the United States. We were once a nation that got rid of slavery and begun to recognize the evil of racism. We began to realize the sin of racism against Jews, blacks and offer freedom of religion. Yet now we have forgotten who blessed them with this freedom. We have allowed God to be removed from our public schools. His word cannot be taught. After 30 years of evolution and secular humanism our law now allows the murder of babies up until the time of delivery. They can be born with part of the body outside the womb of the mother and killed while the head remains inside the mother's body. If they allow the baby to be born completely and then kill it, they can be charged with murder. Yet they can kill the baby one-minute before it emerges from the birth canal and it is considered legal. This is still murder of the innocent and there is no excuse under heaven and earth for this kind of evil. Talk about child abuse. This is the ultimate child abuse. If crushing a skull of a newborn baby is not child abuse than I don't know what is. We have got to stop this. It is morally wrong and surely God will bring judgment if we do not repent as a nation for allowing this act to continue.

Why are we silent except for a handful of people who are trying to crying out? How have we become so dull of hearing? Why are we not weeping and crying with grief and remorse? Look at us. When I read the Old Testament, I see America. I see the hand of God's protection being removed. I see judgment coming not good things. I don't think we are going to get by with all this evil.

When we read Isaiah, we can't just sit in judgment against Judah and say, Our nation isn't like that. We need to search our hearts and begin to pray for our nation because I believe our nation is just like this one was at that time..

22 Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:

23 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.

This is what really brings a nation to ruin. When the leaders rebel and become as thieves, loving bribes, neglecting the poor that can't reward them and doing everything for gain and self instead of serving for the good of their nation. When people cannot trust their government anymore, something is very wrong. When government officials pass laws that they do not keep themselves, something is wrong.

24 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:

This verse is a reminder of who sees all this and whom we will answer to if it isn't corrected. That is one thing about God that I really notice. He loves repentance and change. He prefers to save rather than destroy. He doesn't like to see sin and he doesn't allow us to get by with sin but He prefers that we change rather than to bring judgment. He waits and sends his spirit, prophets and teachers to warn and bring us to repentance and brings judgment as a last resort. He is a good God. He has to judge sin eventually but it is up to us whether we choose to get rid of it in this life or have to face God with a mountain full of sin to answer for. He made a wonderful way for us to get rid of sin in our lives, all we have to do is believe and receive it. Jesus Christ.

25 And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:
26 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.

This is a hope for the whole world. One day Jerusalem will walk in righteousness and be faithful. This can apply to any nation who repents and seeks after the intervention of God into their lives.

27 Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.

Oh that the United States could be described as righteous. I used to think it was. I used to think that it was a good nation and it is good compared to others, I am thankful to live in this great country. That is why I grieve at her sin because I know if the sin is continued without repentance, it will cease to be a great country. God does not want to destroy countries. I see the heart of God as one that wants to restore.

If we as individuals or collectively as a nation, do not judge ourselves we will stand before the judgment of God. God loves us and wants us to repent and do the works or righteousness. We can't do this properly without Him in charge of our lives. If we reject Him to be our savior and Lord then we cannot possibly do any works of righteousness. The result is we sin as individuals and we sin as a nation. God has to allow judgment to fall. He will not let sin continue indefinitely. Verse 25 shows His words to Judah. He will turn His hand upon them and purely purge away the dross and take away all the tin. Judah is to be cleansed and restored to righteousness. We can be too if we yield to God.

It is now up to the United States and other countries of the world whether they are going to be part of this righteousness or be the part that is destroyed in judgment. The difference is repentance. Receiving the Lord and accepting Jesus Christ as savior is the only escape. He is the way God made for all to escape sin and judgment. To reject Him is to become the people that stand on the left hand in the day of judgment. I want to be standing on the right.

How does one reject Jesus Christ? We can reject Him by not believing that He is the Son of God that God sent to be the savior of the world. We can reject Him by accepting Him as savior but not allowing Him to become the Lord of our lives. We can reject Him by claiming Him as savior but rejecting the bible as the word of God. We reject Him when we accept Him as savior in word only but not in deed and truth. If we claim to accept Him but do not pay any heed to His word that He provided us with, that is rejection. If we allow sin back into our lives that He once cleansed us from, that is rejection.

28 And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.

These are not my words. This is the word of God through his servant Isaiah.

Where is the bible is there anything about God judging nations?

Here is the words in Matthew 25

31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

The chapter goes on the explain that if you do good to the least one of the believers in Jesus Christ, it is the same as doing it to Christ himself. Beware how you treat a child of God. Nations that are now persecuting believers in Jesus Christ, your days of judgment are coming unless you repent.

I realize the United States has not done any persecution of Christians as yet but by continually rejecting the bible and the knowledge of God it will not be long until they do if THEY DO NOT REPENT. Repentance is the key to change. True repentance has the power to turn this nation or any nation around. True repentance is the only way to get victory over sin. If we are Christians and are still having trouble with sin, have we really repented? True repentance will bring a changed life. The old things pass away and all things become new.

Verse 28 is a reminder that sinners that never repent and that continually turn away from God will be destroyed.

29 For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.
30 For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.

The reason they would be ashamed of the Oaks is that they were once used as idols and they now realize that God is the true God and the idols were vanity. Now they were ashamed. Gardens and groves were used to set up idols.

This is a picture of the results of evil. Unfruitfulness, barrenness, dry and without life. Do you realize that a soul caught up in sin is really without life and purpose. He is actually dead. When we become dead to sin, we actually become alive unto God. God makes us alive both spiritually and in the resurrection, physically. We have the power to choose life or death.

31 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.

Eventually everything is burned with no power to stop it. God will make a new heaven and earth with all the evil destroyed out from it. We can be part of this.

Look at just one of the things that we can look forward to.

1 Corinthians 2:9

What a wonderful promise and hope and yet so many rebel at repentance and the changed life. Are you caught up in sin that you feel there is no way out? Have you been told that you are only human, you can't help the way you are? Yet, in spite of all the comforters do you feel chained, trapped and miserable? Are you caught up in alcoholism, sexual immorality, greed, hatred, anger, stress, pride and fear? These are all things that you can be free from through faith in Jesus Christ.

Though your sins be scarlet, they can be white as snow. Jesus has the power to change your life right this minute. Acknowledge your need of help. Acknowledge that you have sinned. Acknowledge that you need the savior God sent to give you life.

"I am come that they might have live and that they might have it more abundantly."

Jesus Christ makes you whole. Jesus Christ makes you free. Jesus Christ takes all the old ugly sin and places it in the sea of forgetfulness, never to be remembered any more. Jesus Christ then makes all things new. You become a new creature in Him. You become a child of God, covered with His blood. You can then be filled with His Spirit and baptized into the body of Christ. You don't have to be in bondage to sin anymore. You can be free. I don't care what your past is. I don't care what you have done or how bad you did it? Jesus Christ makes you free.

Maybe you are the type that has not actually been caught up in any big sins. Maybe you have been a "good" person all your life but has never really come to repentance and received Jesus Christ as your savior. You will find that when you do receive Him, that you need Him as much as the drunk. You need Him as much as the murderer. Jesus gives life. He gives a new way. He is our righteousness.

There is nothing we can do that can earn our way to heaven and eternal life. Our good deeds, our faithfulness to society, our good lifestyle etc., it not enough to save us. The so-called "good" people are just as lost as the "bad" people if they are without Jesus Christ. The bad and good alike are eternally lost if they do not have the blood of Jesus Christ covering their sin. Good works apart from receiving the Lord Jesus Christ cannot save us. If it were possible to be saved by being a good clean living person then Jesus Christ would not have had to die on the cross for our sins. That sacrifice on the cross was made because God knew that there was no other way to save His creation from eternal death. The wages of sin is death (eternally). All have sinned. We are born into a sinful nature. We are need to be saved. We all need Jesus Christ and His salvation to save us. Receive Jesus if you have not yet done so. He has so many good things to give those that love Him.

Isaiah Chapter 2