What is the meaning of Isaiah 1:10? Hear the word of the LORD - The verse opens with an urgent summons: “Hear the word of the LORD” (Isaiah 1:10). This is God’s gracious initiative, inviting His people to listen before judgment falls, echoing Deuteronomy 4:1 and Revelation 2:7. - “Hear” is more than passive listening; it implies obedience (James 1:22). The same appeal resounds in Micah 6:1–2 where the mountains are called to hear the LORD’s case. - Even in rebuke, God’s word is a lifeline. Psalm 119:105 reminds us it is “a lamp for my feet,” intended to guide sinners back to the path of righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). You rulers of Sodom - God addresses Judah’s leaders as though they were governing Sodom (Genesis 13:13; 19:24). This shocking metaphor exposes how far they have drifted. - Leadership sets moral tone (Proverbs 29:2). Corrupt rulers invite national decay (Hosea 4:9). The title “rulers of Sodom” warns them that privileged position does not shield from divine scrutiny (Luke 12:48). - By using Sodom’s name, God links present sins to a notorious past example of arrogant injustice (Ezekiel 16:49–50), underscoring that judgment is consistent with His unchanging character (Malachi 3:6). Listen to the instruction of our God - A second command stresses attentiveness: “listen to the instruction of our God.” Repetition intensifies urgency (Psalm 62:11). - “Instruction” points to the entirety of God’s revealed will (Joshua 1:8). The call is relational—“our God” reminds the people of covenant intimacy (Exodus 19:5–6). - To “listen” involves submitting thoughts, schedules, and worship practices (1 Samuel 15:22; John 10:27). Otherwise, religious activity becomes empty ritual, as Isaiah will expose in verses 11–15. You people of Gomorrah - The indictment widens from leaders to citizens, showing communal accountability (Jeremiah 5:1; Romans 3:23). - Gomorrah’s reputation for pervasive wickedness (Deuteronomy 29:23) highlights Judah’s moral collapse. God’s comparison is a mercy—He warns before He acts (Amos 3:7). - Because past destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was swift and total (2 Peter 2:6), the allusion signals the severity of impending discipline if repentance is refused (Luke 17:28–30). summary Isaiah 1:10 is a divine wake-up call. God commands Judah’s leaders and people to heed His word and instruction, likening them to Sodom and Gomorrah to expose the depth of their sin. The passage insists that hearing must lead to obedient response, for privileged covenant status will not spare unrepentant hearts. Even in stern rebuke, the invitation to listen reveals God’s desire to redeem, not to destroy. |
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