ridding our lives of impurities

he meant and means exactly what he said

After five plus decades on this terrestrial ball, I’m finally coming around to learning a thing or two. One of them is to be sensitive and listen to the Holy Spirit, especially in regards to the Scriptures. So when I kept feeling him pressing me to adjust my yearly Bible reading plan, and, instead of moving on, to park in Isaiah for the time being, I listened.

So I’m now entering into a more in-depth study of this missive for the third time in my life. What “in-depth” usually means for me is slowing down, and getting the help of gifted scholars to aid me in my study and meditation. I’ve always felt that books are one of the most economical means of learning: for $15-$30 (on average) I get to “sit down” with someone who has spent months, or years, on a particular topic, and have a conversation with them as I read. That’s cheap tutoring.

So, for this study of Isaiah, one of the scholar-tutors I’ve chosen to hang out with is Alec Motyer. And one of his works that has been so helpful is Isaiah by the Day: A New Devotional Translation. As I begin my study, I thought I’d share with you a wonderfully encouraging observation from Mr. Motyer. But first, his object of concern, Isaiah 1:21-31. This is his translation:

The State of Society
21 Ah! How she has become a harlot—
the trustworthy town!
Full of judgment,
righteousness used to lodge in her,
but now, murderers!
22 Your silver has become dross,
your liquor diluted with water,
23 your princes stubborn,
and in league with robbers.
Each and every one loves a bribe,
and pursues all sorts of graft.
They do not provide justice for the orphan,
and the widow’s case does not come before them.
24 Therefore—
(This is the word of the Sovereign,
Yahweh of Hosts,
Potentate of Israel)—
oh, I will relieve myself of my adversaries,
and I will avenge myself on my enemies,
25 and I will bring back my hand upon you,
and I will refine, as with a cleansing agent, your dross,
and I will remove all your base metal.
26 And I will bring back your judges as at the first,
and your counsellors as at the start.
Afterwards you will be called
City of Righteousness,
Trustworthy Town.

The Surprising Future
27 Zion, with justice, will be ransomed,
and her returning ones with righteousness.
28 And shattering for those who are rebelling, and the sinful,
all at once!
And those who forsake Yahweh are finished.
29 For they will reap shame
from the fine trees which you have desired,
and you will be dishonored by the gardens
which you have chosen.
30 For you will be like a great tree withering in its foliage,
and like a garden which has no water.
31 And the strong will be tinder,
and what he has made a spark,
and they will burn, both of them together,
with no one to put the fire out!

And now, an observation:

Note what Yahweh says, “I will refine, as with a cleansing agent, your dross.” This, of course, is true enough. Yahweh’s power to save does work to rid our lives of impurities. But it misses the line between ‘dross’ in verse 22 and in verse 25. The silver had become dross; Yahweh’s hand would turn the dross back into silver.

He will totally undo what sin, Satan, and our own willfulness have achieved. His ransom-price will leave nothing in the hand of the kidnapper of all he sought to grasp. Isaiah will presently tell us at what cost this will be done, bring back as sons those who wandered off as sheep (53:6), and bestowing Yahweh’s gift of righteousness (54:17); but in this early passage it is for us to fill in the gaps in the story. The returning hand of judgment (v.25) fell on the Son of God, the Just died for the unjust (1 Peter 3:18), and the ‘It is finished’ at Calvary (John 19:30) meant and means exactly what it says.

Yes, and very amen, in Jesus’ name.

I’m eager to learn more from the prophet, and happy for God’s hand keeping me here with him.