Isaiah 1:19
Verse
Context
Meaningless Offerings
18“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool. 19If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land. 20But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Sermons






Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Ye shall eat the good of the land - Referring to Isa 1:7 : it shall not be "devoured by strangers."
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
But after the restoration of Israel in integrum by this act of grace, the rest would unquestionably depend upon the conduct of Israel itself. According to Israel's own decision would Jehovah determine Israel's future. "If ye then shall willingly hear, ye shall eat the good of the land; if ye shall obstinately rebel, ye shall be eaten by the sword: for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it." After their justification, both blessing and cursing lay once more before the justified, as they had both been long before proclaimed by the law (compare Isa 1:19 with Deu 28:3., Lev 26:3., and Isa 1:20 with the threat of vengeance with the sword in Lev 26:25). The promise of eating, i.e., of the full enjoyment of domestic blessings, and therefore of settled, peaceful rest at home, is placed in contrast with the curse of being eaten with the sword. Chereb (the sword) is the accusative of the instrument, as in Psa 17:13-14; but this adverbial construction without either genitive, adjective, or suffix, as in Exo 30:20, is very rarely met with (Ges. 138, Anm. 3); and in the passage before us it is a bold construction which the prophet allows himself, instead of saying, חרב תּאכלכם, for the sake of the paronomasia (Bttcher, Collectanea, p. 161). In the conditional clauses the two futures are followed by two preterites (compare Lev 26:21, which is more in conformity with our western mode of expression), inasmuch as obeying and rebelling are both of them consequences of an act of will: if ye shall be willing, and in consequence of this obey; if ye shall refuse, and rebel against Jehovah. They are therefore, strictly speaking, perfecta consecutiva. According to the ancient mode of writing, the passage Isa 1:18-20 formed a separate parashah by themselves, viz., a sethumah, or parashah indicated by spaces left within the line. The piskah after Isa 1:20 corresponds to a long pause in the mind of the speaker. - Will Israel tread the saving path of forgiveness thus opened before it, and go on to renewed obedience, and will it be possible for it to be brought back by this path? Individuals possibly may, but not the whole. The divine appeal therefore changes now into a mournful complaint. So peaceful a solution as this of the discord between Jehovah and His children was not to be hoped for. Jerusalem was far too depraved.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Temporal blessings in "the land of their possession" were prominent in the Old Testament promises, as suited to the childhood of the Church (Exo 3:17). New Testament spiritual promises derive their imagery from the former (Mat 5:5).
John Gill Bible Commentary
If ye be willing and obedient,.... The Targum adds, "to my Word": the Word made flesh, and dwelling among them; who would have gathered the inhabitants of Jerusalem to his ministry, to attend his word and ordinances, but their rulers would not: ye shall eat the good of the land; the land of Canaan; as the Jews held the possession of that land, before the times of Christ, by their obedience to the laws of God, which were given them as a body politic, and which, so long as they observed, they were continued in the quiet and full enjoyment of all the blessings of it; so, when Christ came, had they received, embraced, and acknowledged him as the Messiah, and been obedient to his will, though only externally, they would have remained in their own land, and enjoyed all the good things in it undisturbed by enemies.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
1:19-20 Repentance leads to life, whereas resisting God’s will and turning away from him results in death (see Deut 11:26-28; 28:1-62).
Isaiah 1:19
Meaningless Offerings
18“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool. 19If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land. 20But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Obedience
By Harold Vaughan1.9K45:06ObedienceDEU 11:26ISA 1:19MAT 6:33ROM 1:5ROM 6:17ROM 15:18In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal story about his lack of obedience as a child. He emphasizes the importance of immediate obedience to God's commands. The speaker then highlights three key elements in the Bible: facts, commandments, and promises. He explains that facts are to be believed, commandments are to be obeyed, and promises are to be claimed. The sermon concludes with a call to action, urging the audience to write down their areas of obedience and commit to fulfilling them before the return of Christ.
Revival Is Obedience
By Del Fehsenfeld Jr.1.5K55:51RevivalEXO 40:16ISA 1:19MAT 6:33In this sermon, the speaker poses the question of how we would spend our last three days, three hours, and fifty and a half minutes if we knew Jesus was returning. He emphasizes the urgency of this hypothetical situation, urging listeners to repent, seek forgiveness, and surrender every area of their lives to God. The speaker also highlights the importance of instant obedience to God's voice, recounting how disobedience can lead to a breakdown in communication with God. The sermon concludes with a reminder that building our lives on Jesus, the true rock, is the key to being wise and prepared for His return.
Esther Dowie's Death, Pt 2
By John Alexander Dowie1.2K02:24GEN 2:18PSA 4:8ISA 1:19ISA 30:21MAT 11:28JHN 14:271TH 4:13In this sermon, the speaker shares a heartfelt message to the audience. The speaker emphasizes the importance of loving and serving God wholeheartedly. They also encourage obedience to those in authority, as it is seen as a way to honor God. The speaker mentions a personal experience of forgiveness and expresses gratitude for God's mercy. The sermon concludes with a reminder to seek rest in Jesus and to follow the voice of God's servant.
(Remnant Meeting 2013) Testimonies by Lori, Patrick, Joanne, and Jared
By Brian Long98300:00ObedienceSpiritual WarfareRemnantISA 1:19PHP 2:12Brian Long shares powerful testimonies from Lori, Patrick, Joanne, and Jared, emphasizing the necessity of spending time in God's Word and prayer to combat self and engage in spiritual warfare. He reflects on the importance of being willing and obedient to God's calling, as highlighted in Isaiah 1:19, and the transformative power of working out one's salvation as stated in Philippians 2:12-13. The testimonies reveal a deep yearning for genuine fellowship and unity within the body of Christ, showcasing how personal struggles can lead to a greater reliance on God's grace and community support. The message encourages believers to actively live out their faith and seek a deeper relationship with God, recognizing that true unity comes from Him alone.
A Wake Up Call to Men in the Church
By Shane Idleman72938:011SA 15:23PSA 51:17PRO 27:8ISA 1:19EPH 5:251TI 3:5JAS 1:22JAS 4:61JN 1:9This sermon emphasizes the theme of being prone to wander from God's path, drawing parallels to a bird leaving its nest. It delves into the consequences of wandering, especially for men as leaders in their families, highlighting the impact on marriages and children. The message calls for honest self-examination, repentance, and a return to God's ways, stressing the importance of obedience over rebellion. It challenges men to lead, love, and prioritize their families above all else, addressing issues like divorce, absent fathers, and the need for genuine, humble leadership.
Which Basket Are You In?
By Erlo Stegen58447:38EXO 20:13ISA 1:19JER 24:2MAT 11:28MAT 16:26MRK 8:36LUK 9:23ROM 12:1GAL 2:20JAS 4:7This sermon emphasizes the importance of surrendering all aspects of our lives to the Lord, drawing parallels from the story of two baskets of figs in Jeremiah's vision. It highlights the consequences of not fully surrendering to God, using powerful testimonies to illustrate the transformative power of complete surrender and the dangers of holding back from God.
These Times Demand Special Trust
By David Wilkerson5221:10:13Christian LifeEXO 19:5PSA 121:4PSA 121:7PSA 124:1ISA 1:19LUK 1:68ROM 8:28HEB 13:5In this sermon, the preacher warns of various calamities and signs of the end times, including famine, war, pestilence, earthquakes, and fear. He emphasizes the importance of trust in God during these times and highlights three specific instances where special trust is needed. The preacher then focuses on the story of Abraham and how God called him to leave his country and go to a land that God would show him. He emphasizes the need for obedience and trust in God's promises, even when it means stepping into the unknown. The sermon concludes with a reminder that God wants to have a people who have unwavering trust in Him, even in the midst of difficult times.
Homily 1 on the Gospel of John (Preface)
By St. John Chrysostom0PSA 19:10ISA 1:19MAT 7:6JHN 15:19EPH 3:10John Chrysostom emphasizes the importance of attentively listening to the divine message being delivered, comparing it to the eagerness people show towards athletes, musicians, and rhetoricians. He describes the Apostle John as a man speaking from heaven, proclaiming truths sweeter and more delightful than any music, urging the audience to cleanse their souls to fully receive the profound mysteries being shared. Chrysostom urges the listeners to approach the divine message with reverence and earnest will, likening the transformation of the soul to changing from clay to gold in an instant. He warns against indulging in worldly distractions and implores the audience to prioritize the spiritual nourishment offered by the divine message.
Some Considerations Proposed to the Distracted Nation of England
By Isaac Penington02CH 7:14PRO 3:5ISA 1:19GAL 5:1EPH 6:12Isaac Penington preaches about the need for England to submit to God's work and design, emphasizing that true settlement depends on submission to God rather than any form of government or change of governors. He reflects on how the reformation from Popery was not fully achieved, leading to a dark way of worship and church-government that hindered the growth of true reformation. Penington warns against returning to bondage and urges England to seek true righteousness and reformation, reminding them that God's work of reformation will prevail despite opposition.
Britain's Mercies, and Britain's Duty. Preached at Philadelphia, on Sunday, August 24, 1746. and Occasioned by the Suppression of the Late Unnatural Rebellion. (Psalm 105:45)
By George Whitefield0DEU 4:91SA 12:24PSA 57:9PSA 103:2PRO 3:1ISA 1:192CO 5:141TH 5:16JAS 1:221PE 2:9George Whitefield preaches about the importance of observing God's statutes and keeping His laws, emphasizing the power of love as a motive for obedience. He reflects on the need for gratitude and obedience in response to the manifold mercies received from God, as seen in the history of Israel and the blessings bestowed upon Great Britain and Ireland. Whitefield highlights the recent deliverance from a rebellion and the need for a national reformation, urging the congregation to make a return to God by obeying His commands and living in holiness and righteousness. He acknowledges the need for continual gratitude, praises the heroes who sacrificed for the nation, and calls for a deeper commitment to God's statutes amidst ongoing challenges and potential judgments.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-3
By St. John Chrysostom0PRO 5:3ISA 1:19MAT 19:122CO 6:51TH 4:11TI 5:22HEB 12:14John Chrysostom preaches about the importance of sanctification and living a life that pleases God. He emphasizes the need to go beyond mere obedience to God's commandments and strive for a life that reflects voluntary choice and a desire to please God. Chrysostom warns against the dangers of fornication and adultery, urging believers to possess themselves in sanctification and honor, avoiding the passions of lust that lead to sin. He highlights the significance of marriage and the importance of guarding against impurity and immorality, encouraging young men to pursue chastity and self-control, especially in a culture that promotes sensuality and indulgence.
Prayer and Obedience
By E.M. Bounds0ObediencePrayerDEU 5:291SA 15:22ISA 1:19MAT 7:21JHN 14:15JHN 15:10ROM 8:4JAS 2:102PE 1:41JN 3:22E.M. Bounds emphasizes the critical relationship between prayer and obedience, asserting that true obedience to God's commandments is essential for effective prayer. He highlights that obedience is not merely a duty but an expression of love and faith, and that it is through obedience that believers can access the fullness of God's grace and the Holy Spirit. Bounds argues that God's commandments are not burdensome but are given in love for our benefit, and that through prayer, believers can receive the strength to obey. He concludes that an obedient life is foundational for a powerful prayer life, as it aligns the believer's will with God's will, enabling them to approach God with confidence.
The Call of the First Four Disciples Luke 5:1-11
By R.A. Torrey0Obedience to ChristDiscipleshipDEU 11:27PSA 8:6ISA 1:19MAT 4:18MRK 1:16LUK 5:1LUK 14:33JHN 2:5JHN 21:6PHP 3:7R.A. Torrey explores the calling of the first four disciples in Luke 5:1-11, emphasizing the importance of listening to Jesus, obeying His commands, and following Him wholeheartedly. He highlights Peter's initial reluctance and doubts, yet underscores the miraculous catch of fish that resulted from obedience, illustrating that true blessings come from faith and surrender to Christ. Torrey also discusses the significance of recognizing one's own sinfulness and the need to forsake all for the sake of following Jesus, ultimately leading to a greater purpose in 'fishing for men.' The sermon encourages believers to trust in Jesus' guidance and to respond to His call with unwavering faith.
Manifest Presence of God - Part 14
By Walter Beuttler0PRO 8:17ISA 1:19ISA 40:30REV 3:20Walter Beuttler emphasizes the importance of rising early to spend time with the Lord, sharing personal experiences of struggling to change sleep patterns but ultimately finding deep satisfaction and reward in seeking God early in the morning. He highlights the need for prompt obedience to God's prompting, even when it requires self-discipline and may not be easily understood by others. Beuttler stresses the value of immediate response to God's call, drawing from examples in Scripture like the prophets rising early and the Song of Solomon's depiction of missed opportunities due to delayed response.
Obedience to Christ
By Octavius Winslow0ObedienceLove for Christ1SA 15:22PSA 119:105ISA 1:19MAT 11:30JHN 2:5JHN 14:15ROM 12:1GAL 5:13JAS 1:22REV 14:4Octavius Winslow emphasizes the importance of obedience to Christ, urging believers to heed the words of Jesus as the ultimate authority in their lives. He draws parallels between the commands of Mary and Pharaoh, highlighting that true freedom and reward come from following Christ's directives. Winslow encourages a heartfelt response to God's commands, whether it involves faith, sacrifice, or personal struggles, and stresses that love for Jesus should be the driving force behind our obedience. He reminds us that sincere obedience is better than mere sacrifice and that the rewards of following Christ are both immediate and eternal.
The Christian Service
By Mary Wilder Tileston01CH 29:5PSA 51:10PRO 3:6ISA 1:19MAT 16:24ROM 12:1JAS 4:71PE 5:61JN 1:9Mary Wilder Tileston emphasizes the importance of consecrating our service to the Lord daily, echoing the call from 1 Chronicles 29:5. She highlights the significance of obeying God's will humbly and gladly, as seen in the example of Isaiah. Tileston stresses the need to restore a weakened will by faithfully obeying even the smallest acts of obedience, leading to gradual growth in conformity to God's will. She encourages the congregation to break off evil, uproot sin, and deny self-indulgence as offerings to God, with the promise of receiving faith, life, and love from the eternal Source of love.
The Prodigal's Father
By J. Wilbur Chapman0PSA 103:12ISA 1:19MAT 11:28LUK 15:20JHN 10:28JHN 14:6ACT 2:39ROM 5:8EPH 2:131JN 1:9J. Wilbur Chapman preaches on the parable of the prodigal son, emphasizing the father's unconditional love, compassion, and readiness to forgive. He shares a powerful story of a son's return and the father's overwhelming joy, reflecting God's longing for every lost soul to come back to Him. Chapman highlights the importance of accepting God's gift of reconciliation through Jesus Christ, symbolized by the father's actions of embracing, clothing, and providing for his wayward son. He encourages listeners to trust in God's love, mercy, and willingness to forgive, no matter how far they may have strayed.
Kadesh-Barnea
By J. Wilbur Chapman0DEU 1:24DEU 32:49PSA 91:1ISA 1:19MRK 10:29JHN 10:10ROM 12:1GAL 5:22EPH 6:12J. Wilbur Chapman preaches about the importance of crossing over from the wilderness of failure and discontent into the land of Canaan, symbolizing a life of victory, rest, and communion with God. He emphasizes the need to surrender our will to God, just as the children of Israel had to choose between the wilderness and Canaan. Chapman shares examples of individuals who made the decision to fully surrender to God, leading to a life of joy, peace, and fruitfulness. He urges listeners to take the step of faith to enter into the abundant life God has promised.
- Adam Clarke
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Ye shall eat the good of the land - Referring to Isa 1:7 : it shall not be "devoured by strangers."
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
But after the restoration of Israel in integrum by this act of grace, the rest would unquestionably depend upon the conduct of Israel itself. According to Israel's own decision would Jehovah determine Israel's future. "If ye then shall willingly hear, ye shall eat the good of the land; if ye shall obstinately rebel, ye shall be eaten by the sword: for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it." After their justification, both blessing and cursing lay once more before the justified, as they had both been long before proclaimed by the law (compare Isa 1:19 with Deu 28:3., Lev 26:3., and Isa 1:20 with the threat of vengeance with the sword in Lev 26:25). The promise of eating, i.e., of the full enjoyment of domestic blessings, and therefore of settled, peaceful rest at home, is placed in contrast with the curse of being eaten with the sword. Chereb (the sword) is the accusative of the instrument, as in Psa 17:13-14; but this adverbial construction without either genitive, adjective, or suffix, as in Exo 30:20, is very rarely met with (Ges. 138, Anm. 3); and in the passage before us it is a bold construction which the prophet allows himself, instead of saying, חרב תּאכלכם, for the sake of the paronomasia (Bttcher, Collectanea, p. 161). In the conditional clauses the two futures are followed by two preterites (compare Lev 26:21, which is more in conformity with our western mode of expression), inasmuch as obeying and rebelling are both of them consequences of an act of will: if ye shall be willing, and in consequence of this obey; if ye shall refuse, and rebel against Jehovah. They are therefore, strictly speaking, perfecta consecutiva. According to the ancient mode of writing, the passage Isa 1:18-20 formed a separate parashah by themselves, viz., a sethumah, or parashah indicated by spaces left within the line. The piskah after Isa 1:20 corresponds to a long pause in the mind of the speaker. - Will Israel tread the saving path of forgiveness thus opened before it, and go on to renewed obedience, and will it be possible for it to be brought back by this path? Individuals possibly may, but not the whole. The divine appeal therefore changes now into a mournful complaint. So peaceful a solution as this of the discord between Jehovah and His children was not to be hoped for. Jerusalem was far too depraved.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Temporal blessings in "the land of their possession" were prominent in the Old Testament promises, as suited to the childhood of the Church (Exo 3:17). New Testament spiritual promises derive their imagery from the former (Mat 5:5).
John Gill Bible Commentary
If ye be willing and obedient,.... The Targum adds, "to my Word": the Word made flesh, and dwelling among them; who would have gathered the inhabitants of Jerusalem to his ministry, to attend his word and ordinances, but their rulers would not: ye shall eat the good of the land; the land of Canaan; as the Jews held the possession of that land, before the times of Christ, by their obedience to the laws of God, which were given them as a body politic, and which, so long as they observed, they were continued in the quiet and full enjoyment of all the blessings of it; so, when Christ came, had they received, embraced, and acknowledged him as the Messiah, and been obedient to his will, though only externally, they would have remained in their own land, and enjoyed all the good things in it undisturbed by enemies.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
1:19-20 Repentance leads to life, whereas resisting God’s will and turning away from him results in death (see Deut 11:26-28; 28:1-62).