What is the meaning of Isaiah 1:26? I will restore your judges as at first The Lord reaches back to the earliest days of Israel, when judges such as Deborah, Gideon, and Samuel governed under His direct authority (Judges 2:16; 1 Samuel 7:15–17). By promising to “restore” those kinds of leaders, God pledges: • A return to righteous, God-fearing justice (Deuteronomy 16:18; Psalm 82:3-4). • A reminder that civil order flourishes only when grounded in obedience to His law (Joshua 1:8). • A literal future for Israel in which governance is once again openly submitted to Yahweh’s standard (Jeremiah 23:5). and your counselors as at the beginning Counselors shaped national direction alongside the judges (Exodus 18:13-26). God intends to replace corrupt advisers with men and women who fear Him (Proverbs 11:14; 15:22). That means: • Wise guidance that promotes covenant faithfulness. • Policies reflecting the Word rather than human schemes (Psalm 119:105). • The re-establishment of godly accountability at every level of leadership (2 Chronicles 19:6-7). After that you will be called the City of Righteousness Once leadership is realigned with the Lord, Jerusalem’s very identity changes. “Righteousness” will not merely be preached; it will be practiced (Jeremiah 33:16; Zechariah 8:3). Expect: • Public life marked by justice, honesty, and compassion (Isaiah 32:1). • National testimony that attracts the nations to seek Israel’s God (Micah 4:2). • A foreshadowing of Messiah’s earthly reign when righteousness covers the earth (Isaiah 11:4-5). the Faithful City Isaiah previously labeled Jerusalem “an unfaithful city” (Isaiah 1:21). God now reverses that verdict. Faithfulness here speaks of covenant loyalty—steadfast love for the Lord evidenced in daily life (Psalm 101:6). The promise includes: • Hearts restored to single-minded devotion (Ezekiel 36:26-27). • Worship purified from idolatry (Zephaniah 3:9-13). • Ultimate fulfillment in the New Jerusalem, eternally loyal to the Lamb (Revelation 21:2, 27). summary God vows to overhaul Jerusalem from the top down: replacing corrupt judges with righteous ones, exchanging deceitful advisers for wise counselors, and transforming the city’s reputation from wicked to righteous and faithful. Taken literally, Isaiah 1:26 looks toward a future era—culminating in Messiah’s kingdom—when leadership, society, and worship all align with God’s holy character. What He promises, He will certainly perform. |
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