The Real Effect of Persistent Sin (Part 2)

Pastor Bill Farrow

Isaiah 1:24-25a

24  Therefore the Lord says,
The LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel,
“Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries,
And take vengeance on My enemies.

25  I will turn My hand against you,…

ISAIAH 1:24

Therefore saith the Lord … - The prophet, having stated the guilt of the nation, proceeds to show the consequences of their crimes; or to foretell what would happen. These are the effects of sin on the nation as a unit.  The name of God is repeated, to attract attention; to fill the mind with awe; and to give emphasis to the solemn sentence which was about to be uttered. It is interesting that the names are the “military” names of God, those that suggest both His authority over Israel and His ability to enforce that authority over His people.  It ought to be regarded, not as a threat, but as a warning of His own actions, should their actions not change.

The Lord - This word properly denotes master, lord, owner. (Gen. 24:9: “lord over his whole house.” 1 Kings 16:24: “owner of the hill Samaria.”) It is applied here to YAHWEH, not as a special title, or as one of the names which he assumes to himself, but as owner, proprietor, master, ruler of the nation, and, by implication, all that is in it, including the people of the nation. The word, when applied to God as one of his special titles, has the form of an ancient plural termination.  The root is probably “to judge”, which in ancient times was also closely connected with the idea of ruling.

The Lord of hosts - YAHWEH - ruling in the hosts of heaven, and therefore able to accomplish his threatenings; (note, Isa. 1:9).

The mighty One of Israel - He who had been their defender in the days of their peril; who had manifested his mighty power in overthrowing their enemies; and who had shown, therefore, that he was able to inflict vengeance on them.

Ah - This is an expression of emotion. It is that which is used when an affront is offered, and there is a purpose of revenge; (see Isa. 1:4).

I will ease me - This refers to what is said in Isa. 1:14, where God is represented as burdened with their crimes. The Hebrew word is, I will be consoled, or comforted - that is, by being delivered from my foes - to suffer pain, to be grieved; and hence, to have pity, to show compassion, or, in another form; to console or comfort one’s-self; to take revenge. The idea included in the word is that of grief or distress, either in beholding the sufferings of others, or from some injury received from others. Hence, it denotes to obtain relief from that distress, either by aiding the distressed object, or by taking revenge. In both instances, the mind, by a law of its nature, finds relief. The passion expends itself on its proper object, and the mind is at ease. It is used here in the latter sense. It is an instance where God uses the language which people employ to denote passion, and where they obtain relief by revenge. When applied to God, it is to be understood in accordance with his nature, as implying simply, that he would punish them; (compare the note at Isa. 1:13). It means that he had been pained and grieved by their crimes; his patience had been put to its utmost trial; and now he would seek relief from this by inflicting due punishment on them. An expression explaining this may be seen in Ezek. 5:13; ‘Then shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted.’ Also, Deut. 28:63: ‘As the Lord rejoiced over you, to do you good; so the Lord will rejoice over you, to destroy you.’ The truly sad idea here is that God is in the position, or more properly, God’s people are in the position of God needing to “ease” Himself, or get relief from their sin.

Mine adversaries - The enemies to his law and government among the rebellious Jews. The expression in this verse is a remarkable instance of God’s adapting himself to our apprehension, by using our language. Instances occur often in the Scriptures where language expressive of human passions is applied to God; and as human language must be employed in revelation, it was indispensable. But those expressions are not to be understood as they are when applied to the passions of mankind. In God, they are consistent with all that is pure, and glorious, and holy, and should be so understood. The point here is that Israel, instead of remaining in the condition of being the blessed nation of God, had put themselves in the place o f being His adversary!  What a shocking thing!  Instead of being the people whom He would bless and help, they are under His curse and the recipients of His anger.  They have become His enemies.  This is another of the effects of sin on a society.  A society that was once the friend of God; and the benefactor of His blessing and even His defense; can become those whom He sets Himself against.  Surely this is the most serious of the ideas and results of persistent sin that we have seen thus far.  Israel had become the adversary of God!  We see this most directly demonstrated in the opposition of the Jewish leaders to both Paul, and of Christ in the New Testament!

ISAIAH 1:25

And I will turn my hand upon thee - This expression is capable of two significations. The hand may be stretched out for two purposes, either to inflict punishment, or to afford help and protection. The phrase in the book of Isaiah, at different portions, refers evidently both to the former, the act of chastening, as here;  and to the latter, to the act of redeeming and restoring his people, (Isa. 1:26-27). Once again we see the irony of the idea that God, Who, it is clear, would far rather be the One Who blesses and increases the nation, setting Himself against that selfsame people.  God is against them, and taking vengeance against them.  How very tragic!