Murderers and Other Disobedients

Isaiah 1:21

How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, But now murderers.

The first chapter of Isaiah tells us that the faithful city has become a degenerate city. God longs to bring us back to him and set us back in righteousness, but we must obey him. God started out setting us up in beauty, but our sins have made it ugly.

Last week I mentioned that God’s job is vengeance. We’re supposed to stay away from that and let him do it. In Isaiah 1:24, God again says he will take vengeance on his enemies.

God intends to correct us and get us back on the right track. His will is for us to live in peace and order. But we can’t live in the beauty that God provides if we are disobedient and disrespectful to him. Adam found that out when he was kicked out of the Garden of Eden. We have to carefully watch ourselves and be diligent to obey God. When we allow ourselves to go crazy with selfishness and sin, we end up as unrighteous murderers.

In Isaiah 1:19-20, we read that our obedience brings blessing.

“If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Yes, we have all sinned, but there is hope in God. If we return to him and accept his love, there is hope for us.