Diamonds From Isaiah, chapter 1:1-10:

                            I heard someone say recently that they were not learned, but they loved to study the Bible. That’s me. No way am I a learned scholar, but I do love to be a student of the Bible.

 

I have enjoyed the book of Isaiah for years. I’ve seen many hopeful, gracious verses pop out from its pages. I thought I’d do a study where I’d graze through the chapters and share these diamonds that pop out at me. After reading chapter 1 again, I think I need to sift slowly through each sentence.

 

Isaiah 1

1 The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

2 

Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth!

    For the Lord has spoken:

“I reared children and brought them up,

    but they have rebelled against me.

 

Oh, Lord, I know I’ve rebelled against you. Forgive me. Help me.

 

3 

The ox knows its master,

    the donkey its owner’s manger,

but Israel does not know,

    my people do not understand.”

 

Lord, you call me your daughter. Forgive me that I don’t try to know you better.

 

4 

Woe to the sinful nation,

    a people whose guilt is great,

a brood of evildoers,

    children given to corruption!

They have forsaken the Lord;

    they have spurned the Holy One of Israel

    and turned their backs on him.

 

Jesus, I have to admit that so many times, I have turned my back on you.

 

5 

Why should you be beaten anymore?

    Why do you persist in rebellion?

Your whole head is injured,

    your whole heart afflicted.

6 

From the sole of your foot to the top of your head

    there is no soundness—

only wounds and welts

    and open sores,

not cleansed or bandaged

    or soothed with olive oil.

7 

Your country is desolate,

    your cities burned with fire;

your fields are being stripped by foreigners

    right before you,

    laid waste as when overthrown by strangers.

8 

Daughter Zion is left

    like a shelter in a vineyard,

like a hut in a cucumber field,

    like a city under siege.

9 

Unless the Lord Almighty

    had left us some survivors,

we would have become like Sodom,

    we would have been like Gomorrah.

10 

Hear the word of the Lord,

    you rulers of Sodom;

listen to the instruction of our God,

    you people of Gomorrah!

 

Lord, in all of our waste, and injury, and rebellion, you continue to seek a remnant. I’ll still find diamonds in Isaiah.