Isaías 1

J. Vernon McGee · Citado em PreceptAustin

Isaías 1:1

Vernon McGee adds that… Although the predictive element bulks large in this section, the prophets were more than fortune-tellers. Actually, they were men raised up of God in a decadent day when both priest and king were no longer worthy channels through whom the expressions of God might flow. These men not only spoke of events in the far-off future but also spoke of local events in the immediate future. They had to speak in this manner in order to qualify for this office under God, according to the Mosaic code: 'But the prophet who shall speak a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he shall speak in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.' "And you may say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?' "When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:20, 21, 22) If the local event did not transpire just as the prophet predicted, he was labeled a false prophet and was so treated. You may be sure that the message of the false prophet is not in the library of inspired Scripture. The prophetic books are filled with events that are local and fulfilled. A sharp distinction needs to be drawn between this portion and that which is yet to be fulfilled. One of the greatest evidences of the fact that these men were speaking the words of God is revealed in the hundreds of prophecies that have been fulfilled literally. Man cannot guess the future. Even the meteorologists have difficulty in prognosticating the weather twenty-four hours in advance, although they have the advantage of all sorts of scientific and mechanical devices to assist them. No modern weather forecaster could have been an accepted prophet in Israel! The law of compound probability forbids man from consistently foretelling the future. Each uncertain element added decreases the chance of accuracy by fifty percent. The example of hundreds of prophecies literally fulfilled has a genuine appeal to the honest mind and sincere seeker after the truth. Fulfilled prophecy is one of the infallible proofs of plenary, verbal inspiration of Scripture. The predictive element is the peculiar and particular contribution of these men of God. This does not mean there was not this element before them or after them. The last book of the Bible closes the message of God for the future. The prophets were extremely nationalistic. They rebuked sin in high as well as low places. They warned the nation. They pleaded with a proud people to humble themselves and return to God. Fire and tears were mingled in their message, which was not one of doom and gloom alone, for they saw the Day of the Lord and the glory to follow. All of them looked through the darkness to the dawn of a new day. In the night of sin they saw the light of a coming Savior and Sovereign; they saw the millennial kingdom coming in all its fullness. Their message must be interpreted before an appreciation of the kingdom in the New Testament can be attained. The correct perspective of the kingdom must be gained through the eye of the Old Testament prophets. (McGee, J Vernon: Isaiah Introduction - Pdf) ISAIAH Prophetic Ministry: 739-681BC Isaiah - His name means "the LORD saves" or "Yahweh has saved" certainly an apropos name for a prophet through whom God gives knowledge of His salvation through the Messiah of whom he prophesies extensively. Bultema wrote that Isaiah… has the courage of a Daniel, the sensitivity of a Jeremiah, the pathos of a Hosea, and the raging anger of an Amos; and moreover he leaves all of them far behind the in the unique art of holy mockery. His courage is of such a nature that he never, not even for a moment, shows himself to be weak or timid. Isaiah is often referred to as the "prince of prophets" prince of prophets," because of the length of his prophecy (although the prophecy of Jeremiah is slightly longer in the number of words/verses) and because of the majesty and beauty of his themes and the many prophetic pictures of the two comings of the Messiah and His glorious Millennial Kingdom. Isaiah 53 contains one of most complete expositions of the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ in Scripture. Isaiah as you will observe begins with a sad depiction of the sinful, condition of the majority of the people, but ends with a glorious description of the new heavens and new earth, proving that God's ultimate desire for His people is good, not judgment. Not much is known about Isaiah's personal life, but we do know that Isaiah was married and was the father of at least two sons (Isaiah 7:3,8:3) and lived in Jerusalem (Isa 7:3, 22:1, 37:2, 38:5, 39:3). Some resources state that Isaiah belonged to the royal family of David but this cannot be affirmed from Scripture. (2Ki 19:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7-37, and 2Ki 20:1-3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11-13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21) 2Kings describes Isaiah's interactions with King Hezekiah. Isaiah is mentioned by name in the ESV 54 times (22 of which are in the NT) - 2Ki. 19:2, 5, 6, 20; 20:1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14, 16, 19; 2Chr 26:22; 32:20, 32; Isa 1:1; 2:1; 7:3; 13:1; 20:2, 3; 37:2, 5, 6, 21; 38:1, 4, 21; 39:3, 5, 8; Mt 3:3; 4:14; 8:17; 12:17; 13:14; 15:7; Mk. 1:2; 7:6; Lk. 3:4; 4:17; Jn 1:23; 12:38, 39, 41; Acts 8:28, 30; 28:25; Ro 9:27, 29; 10:16, 20; 15:12. C I Scofield writes "According to an ancient Jewish tradition the Prophet Isaiah was sawn asunder by the servants of King Manasseh." Other writers agree with Scofield that Isaiah was the man sawn in half in Hebrews 11 "They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated,." (Heb 11:37) This passage in Hebrews could possibly refer to Isaiah but we will have to wait until we meet him face to face to confirm this supposition (either way he will be back in one piece in glory! Hallelujah!). J Vernon McGee adds a pithy comment that… This (Isaiah's being sawn in two) may or may not be true. The liberal critic has sawn him asunder in forging the fake fabric of the Deutero-Isaiah hypothesis. Some have gone so far as to fabricate a Trito-Isaiah. There is not a scrap of documentary evidence beyond the skepticism of the destructive critic. They have cut Isaiah up like a railroad restaurant pie. History presents only one Isaiah, not two or three. This method of the destructive critic could be applied one thousand years hence to prove just as easily that there were three Dwight Eisenhowers: 1st — General Eisenhower, the military leader of the victorious forces of World War II — European theatre. 2nd —President Eisenhower of the United States, elected in 1952 and 1956. 3rd — Dwight D. Eisenhower, the invalid man and victim of a heart attack and a serious operation for ileitis. We know that only one man by the name of Eisenhower fulfilled all those requirements. Likewise, only one man by the name of Isaiah can easily fulfill all the requirements as the sole author of the Book of Isaiah. (McGee, J Vernon: Isaiah Introduction - Pdf) As noted above, the prophet's words sometimes spoke to his own time and in fact the fulfillment of some of Isaiah's prophesies served to authenticate him as a true prophet of God. For example, Sennacherib failed to take Jerusalem as Isaiah had prophesied (Isa 37:6,7, see Isa 36-38). In another fulfillment, Jehovah healed Hezekiah just as Isaiah had predicted (Isa 38:5; 2Ki 20:7). Isaiah also prophesied of events that occurred after his lifetime, one of the most famous being his prophecy that a man named Cyrus would become king of Persia and deliver Judah from the Babylonian captivity (Isa 44:28; 45:1). Isaiah prophesied of another King who would come and be rejected, the fulfillment of his prophecies of Messiah's first coming serving to validate his prophecies of Messiah's yet to come future return to rule and reign in Jerusalem, a prophecy many commentators still refuse to acknowledge as yet to be literally fulfilled. Isaiah presented more prophetic details on the the Day of the Lord and Messiah’s future Millennial Kingdom on earth than any other OT prophet. John

Isaías 1:1

Vernon McGee illustrates the comparison of Isaiah and the Bible in the following table… Isaiah Bible 66 Chapters 66 Books 39 Chapters on LAW, the Government of God 39 Books in Old Testament 27 Chapters on GRACE, Salvation of God 27 Books in New Testament Isaiah has been called the "fifth evangelist" because of his portrayal f the nature of God and His purpose in salvation. Others have referred to the book of Isaiah as "the fifth Gospel," because the prophet so clearly predicts the Lord Jesus Christ's Christ’s virgin birth, character, life, death, resurrection, and second coming. The importance of Isaiah to the argument of the NT cannot be underestimated for the NT writers have some 66 direct quotations. In addition if one also includes NT passages that have "allusions" to Isaiah the number of references is approximately 85. Twenty of the twenty-seven New Testament books refer in some way to Isaiah with 12 of those books utilizing direct quotations. Unger in his Bible handbook writes that Isaiah… is the great messianic prophet and prince of OT seers. For splendor of diction, brilliance of imagery, versatility and beauty of style, profundity and breadth of prophetic vision, he is without peer. Henry

Isaías 1:2-4

McGee writes that This verse is a splendid piece of satire. The two animals that are used for illustrations do not have a reputation for being very intelligent. Neither the ox nor the long-eared donkey has a very high l.Q. The expression “dumb as an ox” is still often used. The donkey does not wear a Phi Beta Kappa key. I should qualify that statement: I admit that I have met a few who do! However, even these animals have intelligence enough to know who feeds them. Motyer writes that… The Lord’s dealings with His people are designed to develop true spiritual instincts, a mind-set of attachment to the Lord as automatic and spontaneous as that seen in the animal creation. (Ibid) Alexander

Isaías 1:2-4

McGee observes that… Israel is described as “a people laden with iniquity.” This phrase throws a world of light upon the personal invitation that the Lord Jesus gave in the New Testament. He said,“ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28). Now we know what He meant—“laden with iniquity.” The people of Israel were laden with sin. Today His invitation goes out to those who are laden with sin to bring that burden and load to Him and find rest, the rest of redemption. (McGee, J V: Thru the Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson) Iniquity (05771) ('avon) describes perversion, from a verb meaning "to bend or twist." Thus the idea is a twisting of the standard or deviation from it. 'Avon describes sin as crookedness and perversity in contrast with chata which is missing the mark. Isaiah uses 'avon later in describing the "sin solution" for Judah and for all sinful mankind because… All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity ('avon) of us all To fall on Him. Alexander

Isaías 1:2-4

Vernon McGee writes "This is God’s general judgment against Judah. He is calling the world, if you please, to come into the courtroom and listen to the proceedings as He tries His people. God does not do anything in a corner or in the dark." The Creator frequently summons His creation (heaven… earth) to the "witness stand" or the "jury box" in the Old Testament… Deuteronomy 4:26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you shall surely perish quickly from the land where you are going over the Jordan to possess it. You shall not live long on it, but shall be utterly destroyed. (Comment: In this context, the heavens and the earth witness to an oath.) Deuteronomy 30:19 "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, Deuteronomy 32:1 "Give ear, O heavens, and let me speak; And let the earth hear the words of my mouth. ( McGee: When God put the nation Israel in the land, having taken them out of the land of Egypt, He put down the conditions on which He was “homesteading” them in the Promised Land. He called the created intelligences of heaven and earth to witness these conditions.) Psalm 50:4 He summons the heavens above, and the earth, to judge His people

Isaías 1:2-4

McGee notes that here in Isaiah 1:2, 3, 4 - God spells out Israel’s condition. They are backslidden, they have turned away from God, and they are a people laden with iniquity. Now He is going to spell out in detail the charge that He has made against them.

Isaías 1:10-15

Vernon McGee explains that "God specifies His charges against His people. He has put His hand upon a definite thing, and He is going to prove that particular point in which they are wrong. He puts His finger on the best thing in Judah, not the worst. He shows them what is exceedingly wrong. Israel has a God-given religion and a God-appointed ritual in a God-constructed temple, but they are wrong in that which represented the best. They are bringing sacrifices and going through the ritual according to the letter of the Law, but their hearts are in rebellion against God. Their religion is not affecting their conduct. Frankly, that is a problem among believers today. A great many of us have reached the place where we have a form of godliness, but we deny the power thereof (2Ti 3:5-note). Pleasure (02654) (chaphets) has the basic sense of to feel great favor towards something. Originally this verb meant “to bend” (cp Job 40:17), hence to “incline to” then to “take pleasure in.” It means to feel a strong positive attraction for something. This positive feeling God did not have toward Judah's sacrifices. Jeremiah records a similar complaint by God against Judah… For what purpose does frankincense come to Me from Sheba And the sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable And your sacrifices are not pleasing to Me.” (Jer 6:20). Walter Kaiser writes that "So deceptive was the nation’s (Judah's) trust in this hollow worship that Jeremiah later announced that God had wanted more than sacrifices when he brought Israel out of Egypt (Jer 7:22). He had wanted the people to trust him. It was always tempting to substitute attendance at God’s house, heartless worship or possessing God’s Word for active response to that Word (Jer 7:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26; 8:8, 9, 10, 11, 12)…God does approve of sacrificing, but he does not wish to have it at the expense of full obedience to his Word or as a substitute for a personal relationship of love and trust. Sacrifices, however, were under the Old Testament economy. Animal sacrifices are no longer necessary today, because Christ was our sacrifice, once for all (He 10:1-18). Nevertheless, the principle remains the same: What is the use of performing outward acts of religion if that religious activity is not grounded in an obedient heart of faith? True religious affection for God begins with the heart and not in acts of worship or the accompanying vestments and ritual! (Kaiser, W. C.. Hard Sayings of the Bible Downers Grove, Il: InterVarsity) (Bolding added to emphasize the importance of obedience to the Word - cp the NT teaching on this same subject in Jas 1:22-note) The prophet Hosea records what God finds pleasure in, writing… For I delight (chapets/hapes) in loyalty (hesed) rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God (cp Ho 4:1, 6) rather than burnt offerings (Ho 6:6) Comment: So what gives God pleasure? (1) Loyalty (loyal love) or hesed - a covenant term which speaks of unswerving allegiance and faithfulness (as manifested in one's godly attitude and actions) in this case of men to God and (2) Knowledge of God - not referring to just head knowledge but head knowledge that affects heart change (i.e., repentance) which in turn brings about godliness and holiness in conduct and behavior. Israel wanted the shadows (sacrifices, burnt offerings) but they did not want the substance (repentance, obedience, holiness, etc) Enough… no pleasure - They had religious activity (as summarized in Isa 1:12, 13, 14, 15), but their external "worship" did not please God. The rulers and the people had plenty of religious activity but no intimacy or relationship with the living God. Later in Isaiah's prophecy similar charges are reiterated with this scathing synopsis… Then the Lord said, "Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service (external), but they remove their hearts far from Me (no internal change - no changed hearts), and their reverence for Me consists of tradition (mere formality, like so many dead religious rituals in many modern churches) learned by rote (Isa 29:13) In Ezekiel we see a similar indictment… But as for you, son of man (the prophet Ezekiel), your fellow citizens (those Jews in captivity with Ezekiel in Babylon) who talk about you by the walls and in the doorways of the houses, speak to one another, each to his brother, saying, 'Come now, and hear what the message is which comes forth from the LORD.' And they come to you as people come, and sit before you as My people, and hear your words, but they do not do them, for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after their gain. (Ezekiel 33:30, 31) In the Sermon on the Mount our Lord Jesus Christ gave a similar warning about the deceptive nature of external religion unaccompanied by a changed (new) heart indicative of genuine spiritual rebirth… "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does (present tense = as a lifestyle, which is clear evidence of a changed life, a new direction, a born again spirit) the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 "Many (Read that word again and weep. This will be an eternal tragedy for the many who thought that they were saved when they in fact were not saved as evidenced by their lack of obedience from the heart - Mt 7:23-note, cp Ro 6:17-note) will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' (Each of these categories speak of various aspects of religious activity, even activity with a supernatural character. Interestingly Jesus does not refute their claims, implying that the claimants indeed carried out these activities. And yet these activities do not save anyone, nor do they irrefutably identify one as saved or not saved. Only a faith that works demonstrates evidence that it is true saving faith and not just simply mental or intellectual assent without heart transformation) 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never (Very strong negation in Greek - oude = not even + pote = at any time -- "not even at a time, never at all" is the idea! They weren't saved and then lost their salvation - they simply and sadly were never truly saved!) knew (speaks of intimate fellowship) you; DEPART (present imperative - A divine command which calls for continuing obedience! No second chance one these fateful words fall from from our Lord's lips. The Greek verb apochoreo calls them to move away from, with emphasis upon separation) FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE (present tense = speaks of their lawless life as not just a momentary lapse or a period of backsliding but the general bent and direction of their life) LAWLESSNESS (equates with sin in 1Jn 3:4 - their lifestyle was wholly unholy despite their words and their religious activities).' (Mt 7:21-note, Mt 7:22, 23-note) Comment: Do misinterpret Jesus' words as teaching that "doing" saves a person ("he who does the will of My Father"), for that is not what Scripture teaches. What He is warning about however is that words that claim Jesus as "Lord", when coupled with a lifestyle that proves He is not "Lord" will be excluded from the Kingdom of heaven. In other words, these individuals have no change of heart (no "circumcised heart - eg, see Ro 2:28, 29-note, Col 2:11, 12-note) that reflects the Spirit's regenerative activity in the soul who has been saved by grace through faith. Luke echoes Jesus' words emphasizing the vital importance of obedience, recording "And why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" (Lk 6:46) The words of an engraving from the cathedral of Lubeck, Germany, beautifully reflect our Lord’s teaching here : Thus speaketh Christ our Lord to us: Ye call Me Master and obey me not, Ye call Me Light and see Me not, Ye call Me Way and walk not, Ye call Me Life and desire Me not, Ye call Me wise and follow Me not, Ye call Me fair and love Me not, Ye call Me rich and ask Me not, Ye call Me eternal and seek Me not, Ye call Me gracious and trust Me not, Ye call Me noble and serve Me not, Ye call Me mighty and honor Me not, Ye call Me just and fear Me not, If I condemn you, blame me not. Anonymous (Lübeck Cathedral) Jesus castigated the "super religious" Pharisees with a series of staccato-like "Woes" beginning with this scathing indictment… saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; 3 therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them. 4 "And they tie up heavy loads, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. 5 "But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries, and lengthen the tassels of their garments… 13 "But woe ("Woe" throughout Scripture = expression of judgment, destruction, condemnation and corresponds to the Hebrew interjection "Alas" as in Isa 1:4) to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from men; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in… 15 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel about on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. 23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 24 "You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! 25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. 26 "You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. 27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. 28 "Even so you too outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Mt 23:2-5, 13, 15, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28) Paul's words aptly summarize the external religiosity of the Jews in Isa 1:11-15… They (Titus 1:15 the "defiled and unbelieving") profess (present tense = continually they say "I have a relationship with God") to know God, but (always take note the important contrast word but - it marks a "change in direction" in the writers thought) by their deeds (in other words it is not what they say, but what they don't do [obey the truth of God's Word in the power of His Spirit] that proves them to be unregenerate "professors") they deny Him (not with their words but with their deeds, just as Jesus prophesied in Mt 7:21, 22, 23!), being detestable and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed. And so in this section (Isa 1:11, 12, 13, 14, 15), God does not berate the rulers or the people of Judah for not attending the temple service and not bringing animals for sacrifice, but he condemns for their hypocritical hearts that were rebellious, hardened and still far from Him. This section teaches a well known truth that sacrifices per se do not please God, unless they are accompanied by clean hands (right deeds) and a pure heart (right motives) (cp Ps 24:4, 5). As the prophet Samuel made clear to a disobedient, remorseful but non-repentant King Saul… 22 And Samuel said, "Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. 23 "For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king." 24 Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned; I have indeed transgressed the command of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice. 25 "Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the LORD." 26 But Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel." (1Sa 15:22-26) In David's psalm expressive of his genuine repentance after his horrible sin with Bathsheba we David acknowledge that God does… not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; Thou art not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. (Ps 51:16, 17) And through the prophet Micah ask and then answer a series of questions regarding what constitutes genuine spirituality (reflective of a changed heart and salvation)… 6 With what shall I come to the LORD and bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, with yearling calves? 7 Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams, In ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my first-born for my rebellious acts, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:6, 7, 8). Comment: Again it is important to emphasize that this characteristics of a godly walk (Micah 6:8) do not earn or merit one's salvation (one could never carry them out perfectly anyway and God demands perfection - cp Jas 2:10, Eccl 7:20, 1Ki 8:46, 2Chr 6:36, Ps 130:3, Pr 20:9, Isa 53:6, Ro 3:23!), but are traits that should characterize all those have been saved by grace through faith in Messiah, the OT saints of course having a less complete understanding of the Cross then NT saints have as a result of progressive revelation of truth. Nevertheless, both Old and New Testament individuals have always been saved the same way - by grace through faith in Messiah or Christ (cp Ge 15:6). Warren Wiersbe draws out a pithy application from this section writing that… before passing judgment on worshipers in a bygone era, perhaps we should confess the sins of the “worshiping church” today. According to researcher George Barna, 93 percent of the households in the United States contain a Bible and more than 60 percent of the people surveyed claim to be religious; but we would never know this from the way people act (cp Mt 7:23, Ezek 33:31). One Protestant church exists for every 550 adults in America, but does all this “religion” make much of a difference in our sinful society? Organized religion hasn’t affected the nation’s crime rate, the divorce rate, or the kind of “entertainment” seen in movies and on TV. The average church allocates about 5 percent of its budget for reaching others with the Gospel, but 30 percent for buildings and maintenance. At a time (Ed:

Isaías 1:27-31

McGee notes that "This has to do with idolatry because the idols were placed under the oak trees, and a garden was planted around them." The discerning reader must be aware that many writers take a non-literal approach to interpretation of Isaiah, and this includes authors who are generally literal such as W E Vine. For example on Isaiah 1:29, Vine states that… the oaks which they have desired represent the mighty ones of earth, the Man of Sin (he is referring to the Antichrist) and the leaders under him. Vine is interpreting the literal oaks symbolically and when one begins to take that approach, there are few rules to limit one's imagination. Such an "imaginative" approach is not only dangerously inaccurate but can lead to inappropriate application and thus must be assiduously avoided. In regard to oaks and gardens, Jamieson (I think correctly) writes that Others translate the "terebinth" or "turpentine tree." Groves were dedicated to idols. Our Druids took their name from the Greek for "oaks." A sacred tree is often found in Assyrian sculpture; symbol of the starry hosts, Saba. Gardens -- planted enclosures for idolatry; the counterpart of the garden of Eden The discerning reader must be aware that many writers take a non-literal approach to interpretation of Isaiah, and this can even include authors who otherwise generally espouse a literal view of Scripture interpretation such as the well known lexicographer (definition) W E Vine. For example on Isaiah 1:29, Vine states that… the oaks which they have desired represent the mighty ones of earth, the Man of Sin (he is referring to the Antichrist) and the leaders under him. Vine is interpreting the literal oaks symbolically and when one begins to take that approach, there are few rules to limit one's imagination. Such an "imaginative" approach is not only dangerously inaccurate but can lead to inappropriate application and thus must be assiduously avoided. Desired (02530) (chamad/hamad) means to take pleasure in something, and even to lust for it or covet it. This verb focuses not on an external act but on an internal mental activity behind the act, the motivation for it. The idea is that Judah passionately desired these oaks and so we might say they were some of the first "tree huggers"! Clearly their intense desire was not purely horticultural but was in fact related to pursuit of the forbidden (by God, cp Dt 7:25, 26, 12:2, 3, 4, 5, 18:9, 12, Lv 18:24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, Josh 23:12, 13, finally note how Solomon was "snared" - 1Ki 11:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13) illicit practices associated sexual fertility rites that were well known among the pagan idol worshipers. Chamad/hamad is used again in Isaiah 44:9 All who form idols are nothing; the things in which they delight are worthless. Their witnesses cannot see; they recognize nothing, so they are put to shame. (NET Bible) David tells us what we should truly desire - "They (Ps 19:9 "judgments of the LORD") are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb." (Psalm 19:10+) The psalmist speaks of God's desire "Why do you look with envy, O mountains with many peaks, At the mountain which God has desired (chamad) for His abode? Surely, the LORD will dwell there forever. (referring to Jerusalem) (Psalm 68:16) Lxx translates chamad in this verse with the verb boulomai which is used to describe a person desiring something and can include the nuance of deliberating and deciding something. It seems in the present passage they deliberated over whether to obey the living and true God and to their detriment determined to follow dead idols! Does this not sound like Paul's description of the godless pagans in Romans 1? For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them. (Romans 1:21-24-note) The first use of chamad is positive while the second is negative - Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 3:6+ When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable (chamad) to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Chamad/hamad- 20v in the OT (Observe especially uses in bold font) - attracted(m)(1), covet(6), coveted(1), delight(1), desirable(2), desire(1), desired(2), desires(2), pleasing(1), precious(2), precious things(1), took delight(1). Gen. 2:9; Ge 3:6; Ex 20:17; Ex 34:24; Deut. 5:21; Dt 7:25; Jos. 7:21; Job 20:20; What should we "covet"? Ps. 19:10; Ps 39:11; 68:16; Prov. 1:22; Pr 6:25; Pr 12:12; 21:20; Song 2:3; Isa. 1:29; 44:9; 53:2; Mic. 2:2 Complete Biblical Library Hebrew-English Dictionary - Chāmadh has a variety of nuances. Stemming from the notion of desire and physical beauty the verb has the basic meanings of "to desire" and "to take pleasure in." Desire is driven by physical attraction (hence the plethora of derived nouns which are connected with beauty). The objects of desire can be either inherently evil (e.g., idols, Isa. 44:9; women outside of legally sanctioned relationships, Prov. 6:25), or they can be morally neutral (e.g., food, Dan. 10:3). The motives of the subject often determine whether desires are pleasing in the eyes of Yahweh. Naturally, the desires of the wicked (Prov. 12:12) or the godless (Job 20:5, 20) are not in accord with the desires of Yahweh. Desires can cause sinful acts, such as Achan's violation of the cherem (sacred ban) concerning the booty of Jericho (Josh. 7:21). The first sin of humanity entered because Eve "desired" the fruit which was "pleasant" to look at (Gen. 3) but was forbidden. Desires which are in accord with the desires of Yahweh stand in contrast with the normal sense of physical attractiveness. Right desire is deeper than mere sensory data. Indeed, the suffering Servant is not physically desirable (Isa. 53:2). and you will be embarrassed at the gardens which you have chosen: Isa 65:3; 66:17; Jer 2:20; 3:6 Embarrassed (02659 - חָפַר - abashed, ashamed, confounded, disgraced, disgraceful) (haper/chapher) describes a state of disgrace, humiliation or of self-conscious distress. These men and women Isaiah describes looked away from God and unto idols rather than away from idols and unto God (cp 1Co 10:6, 11) as in the following psalm… Psalm 34:5 They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed (haper).

Isaías 1:27-31

McGee notes that… God has been misrepresented in the sense that He has been pictured as losing His temper and breaking forth in judgment. That is never a true picture of God. The fact is that our sin is like a wick, and when we play with the spark of sin, the fire will follow. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap" (Gal 6:7, cp Gal 6:8, 9, 10). (Isaiah Commentary Mp3's) Although these warning passages (warning of judgment to come) literally speak primarily to Judah, there is also a broader application, as