Paul the Poke

Isaiah 1:27-31 Zion will be freed by justice, and her returnees by righteousness. Rebellious sinners will be shattered, those who abandon the Lord will perish. Indeed, they will be ashamed of the sacred trees you find so desirable; you will be embarrassed because of the sacred orchards where you choose to worship. For you will be like a tree whose leaves wither, like an orchard that is unwatered. The powerful will be like a thread of yarn, their deeds like a spark; both will burn together, and no one will put out the fire.

v. 27 In this verse, there is debate among scholars as to who brings about the freedom of Jerusalem. One camp’s opinion is humanity or mankind will introduce this era by conforming to God’s word and doing God’s word. The other camp is that this era will be brought into being by God. Based on a brief review of mankind’s history, I am of the opinion that God will introduce this era. If anything, mankind is on the decline and getting worse. Man is not just, holy, or righteous by nature. We as humans fail to meet God’s standard. When one looks at what and who God is, He seems more likely to be the source of a redeemed society. Part of God’s character is His righteousness and holiness. He is just.

v. 28 Note the contrast of this verse in comparison to verse 27. The contrasts continue. Verse 27 discusses the righteous. This verse (28) discusses the rebellious sinners. The result is very consistent in the original Hebrew text, all the rebellious will be crushed, shattered, and destroyed. Why, because they abandoned the Lord. Scripture is very consistent as to what happens when man is left to his own devices. He turns to some form of depravity (See Romans for great detail). God is the source of morality, not man.

v. 29 Let’s look closely at what is going on in these two verses. There are a group of people who have turned away from God and they have chosen to worship trees. Yes!! Tree Huggers. With all due to respect to this current wave of Tree Huggers, you are not that cutting edge or that progressive. This nonsense was going on 2,800 years ago. Spare me the notion, how enlightened you are. You are copy cats and I seriously doubt that you are even aware of this history. Ecclesiastes 1:9-11 That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one might say, “See this, it is new”? Already it has existed for ages which were before us. There is no remembrance of earlier things; And also of the later things which will occur, there will be for them no remembrance among those who will come later still. God’s word was right, this stuff is still going on in the age of enlightenment that is the 21^st Century culture.

v. 29 What a perfect analogy for these Tree Huggers. They are so close and in tune with nature. They would clearly understand that their future is consistent with a dehydrated and dying tree. The Tree Hugger, like the tree, will become withered, dry, and brittle. It will make for nice kindling needed in verse 31.

v. 31 The net result is they will completely burn with the little strand of yarn (formerly the powerful).

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