Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind - A Shocking Affront to "the Holy Ones of Israel"

A Shocking Affront to "the Holy Ones of Israel"

Isaiah continues his message with strong words for the nation of Judah: "Woe to the sinful nation, the people heavy with error, an evildoing seed, ruinous sons!  They have left Jehovah, they have treated the Holy One of Israel with disrespect, they have turned backwards."  (Isaiah 1:4) Wicked deeds can accumulate to the extent that they become like a crushing  weight.  In Abraham's day Jehovah described the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah as "very heavy."  (Genesis 18:20)  Something similar is now evident in the people of Judah, for Isaiah says that they are "heavy with error."  In addition, he calls them "an evildoing seed, ruinous sons."  Yes, the Judeans are like delinquent children.  They have "turned backwards," or as the New Revised Standard Version puts it, they are "utterly estranged" from their Father. 

By their wayward course, the people of Judah are showing gross disrespect for "the Holy One of Israel."  what is the significance of this phrase, which is found 25 times in the book of Isaiah?  to be holy means to be clean and pure. Jehovah is holy to the superlative degree.  (Revelation 4:8)  The Israelites are reminded of this fact every time they observe the words engraved on the shining gold plate on the high priest's turban:  "Holiness belongs to Jehovah."  (Exodus 39:30)  Hence, by referring to Jehovah as "the Holy one of Israel," Isaiah underscores the gravity of Judah's sin.  Why, these rebels are directly violating the command given to their forefathers: "You must sanctify yourselves and you must prove  yourselves holy, because I am holy"!  -Leviticus 11:44.

Christians  today must at all costs avoid following Judah's example of disrespecting "the Holy One of Israel."  They must imitate Jehovah's holiness.  (1 Peter 1:15, 16)  And they need to "hate what is bad."  (Psalm 97:10) Such unclean practices as sexual immorality, idolatry, thievery, and drunkenness can corrupt  the Christian congregation.  Ultimately, those who unrepentantly follow a course of uncleanness will be excluded from enjoying the blessings of God's Kingdom government.  Really, all such wicked works constitute  a shocking affront to 'the Holy Ones of Israel." - Romans 1:26, 27; 1 Corinthians 5:6-11; 6:9, 10.

Next time: Sick from Head to Foot

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy  Light for all Mankind