“Come now and let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be a white as snow; thought they be like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
This text is written in the context of God’s concern for the wayward people of Judah. Inspired by the Spirit, Isaiah wrote to them by warning them of God’s judgment, and also giving them some words of encouragement. In this text, Isaiah gives the people of Judah an earnest entreaty from God to turn from their wicked ways. One of the problems dealt with here is that the Jews were still going through religious practices, such as burnt offerings and special holy days, but, as it is with us, God did not want their religious practices but He wanted them – their hearts. It is a heartfelt appeal from a loving and compassionate God. The verse begins: “Come now and let us reason together.” This is like one friend calling on another friend to reason over a problem in their relationship. The fact that God was willing to reason with this wayward people shows His great compassion and love. I think that the idea of calling the Jews to reason together with Him was that they might come to Him seriously and give Him their full attention. Like people today, the Jews were so busy doing what they wanted to do that they gave little time to do what God wanted them to do. It is possible for us to be so busy in church work that we do not take time to be alone with God and reason with Him. It is a call to fellowship and prayer. God knows that when we ignore Him and His ways, we are headed for trouble. Decide today to get alone with God and reason with Him. Give Him your full attention and pay attention to what He says to your heart, then go and do whatever it is that He wants you to do. There is a promise of forgiveness and cleansing in this text: “Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” This speaks primarily to cleansing, but before cleansing can take place God has to forgive sin. 1 John 1:9 reminds us: “If we confess our sins, He faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Keep in mind that this promise of forgiveness and cleansing was given to a people who had strayed far from the righteous path. This should teach us that we can’t get so far away from God and His will for our lives that He will not forgive us when we come to Him in confession and repentance. The notes in The Life Application Bible pertaining to this verse gives some good information on this promise: “Scarlet, or crimson was the color of a deep-red permanent dye, and its stain was virtually impossible to remove from clothing. The bloodstained hands of the murderers are probably in view here. The stain of sin seems equally permanent, but God can remove sin’s stains from our lives as He promised to do for the Israelites. We don’t have to go through life permanently soiled.” The good news for the Jews and for us is that though we have sinned, God will forgive and cleanse us. This invitation to Judah was given years and years ago, but it is as relevant today as it was when Isaiah wrote it. God forgives all sin!!! I don’t know what you have done in your life, or how far you have drifted from God and His church, but I know that you haven’t done anything that He can’t or won’t forgive. There are many people who have either just given up their lives to a lifestyle of sin and feel that they have gone too far to turn back from their wicked ways. This is not true. Our great, loving and compassionate God will meet us at the point of our greatest need and give us the forgiveness that we need. Why don’t you take advantage of this call to confession and repentance and be forgiven and cleansed? Bro. Joe
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AuthorDr. Joe Beauchamp is the author of this blog and website. Categories
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