How does Isaiah 1:21 describe the transformation of Jerusalem's moral state? Text Under Study “How the faithful city has become a harlot, she who was full of justice! Righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.” (Isaiah 1:21) Jerusalem’s Tragic Decline • Once called “the faithful city,” Jerusalem was known for covenant loyalty to the LORD. • Isaiah portrays a shocking reversal—faithfulness has turned into spiritual adultery (“has become a harlot”). • The city that used to overflow with “justice” is now marked by violence; “righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.” Key Terms Unpacked • Faithful city – speaks of covenant commitment (cf. Deuteronomy 7:9). • Harlot – a graphic Old-Testament image for idolatry and unfaithfulness (Jeremiah 2:20; Hosea 9:1). • Justice / Righteousness – God’s expected social order; their disappearance signals systemic corruption (Micah 3:10). • Murderers – the extreme fruit of injustice; human life is no longer valued (Ezekiel 22:2-4). Then vs. Now – The Stark Contrast Former state: – Faithful to God – Full of justice – Righteousness felt “at home” inside her walls Present state: – Spiritual prostitution – Injustice prevailing – Bloodshed replacing righteousness Wider Biblical Echoes • Ezekiel 16 expands the same marriage-and-harlotry metaphor for Jerusalem. • Revelation 17–18 picks up the “harlot city” theme when speaking of end-times Babylon—showing that betrayal of God always follows this pattern. • Psalm 106:35-38 links idolatry with violence, reinforcing Isaiah’s indictment. Takeaway for Believers Today • Departure from wholehearted devotion to the LORD inevitably erodes social ethics. • What begins as idolatry ends in outright harm to others; private compromise becomes public injustice. • The passage urges a return to first-love faithfulness so that righteousness can once again “lodge” in the midst of God’s people (Revelation 2:4-5; Isaiah 1:26). |
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