Reasoning the Reason...
| ...18 "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as pure as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. (Isaiah1:12-18) |
Yesterday we saw how the Lord diagnosed Israel's sin and brokenness. In the verses we looked at yesterday, there was an unmistakable tone of sadness and wistfulness. Isaiah portrays God as heart-broken and irate at what their brokenness had done to them.
But we ended with and today return to a beautiful promise.
Healing......... Restoration........... Forgiveness.
And I love the opening phrase:
"Come now, let us reason together..."
The Hebrew verb "let us reason" can mean argue, adjudicate, or debate.
But what's to debate?? What's to adjudicate???
Israel have sinned - the evidence is clear and incontrovertible.
They are guilty and broken.
Even their good deeds and religious behaviour are empty and false.
(Read through verses 12-17 which precede our verse for today, I have pasted them below...)
So there is no debate. Nothing to adjudicate. There is no argument.
Israel is guilty.
And then God offers forgiveness!
- scarlet and crimson sins (bloodguilt) washed away
- made pure like freshly fallen snow
What... incredible... grace!
We have nothing to bring to the table.
But Jesus comes to the table and offers blood-bought forgiveness for our blood-guilt.
He brings us to the table and the discussion although we have no right to either.
And what is the reason for this unexpected and one-side-initiated reasoning?
It can only be God's kindness, compassion and forgiveness.
In one word: LOVE.
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ISA 1:12 When you come to appear before me,
who has asked this of you,
this trampling of my courts?
13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations--
I cannot bear your evil assemblies.
14 Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts
my soul hates.
They have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even if you offer many prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are full of blood;
16 wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight!
Stop doing wrong,17 learn to do right!
Seek justice, encourage the oppressed.
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.
18 "Come now, let us reason together,"
says the LORD.
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as pure as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.
