INNOCENT O UDOKPORO

Answer: The prophesy of Isaiah concerning God’s spoken word about Judah whom He loved and protected. Judah broke God’s covenant of obedience due to their rebelliousness and wicked ways, Judah disregarded the Ordinances of God as their Heavenly Father and lived in ways displeasing to Yahweh. God was forsaken by His children, whom He brought out of bondage to glorious liberty. Judah though knows God by name but disregarded His Holiness as their Heavenly Father and that they are His children. In Judah’s act of wickedness and rebelliousness, Isaiah prophesied against Judah as: 1. Sinful nation 2. A Nation laden with guilt and iniquity 3. Brood of evildoers 4. Children who are corrupters of upright heart and are given to corruption. 5. Forsaken the Lord 6. Provoked the Lord (The Holy One of Israel) with their acts of disobedience 7. They turned away backward – backsliders The consequences when Christians today suffer from such identity confusion is to backslide and engross in the same manner as Judah, they will lose God’s protection and identity as God’s Children and Ambassadors for Christ. Therefore they will be oppressed, burdened, enslaved to their lost, and destitute of God’s ordinances. The injustices God accuses his people of in vs 15 – 17 are: 1. Their hands are full of blood – Murderers 2. Wash and make yourselves clean - Uncleanliness 3. Put away your evil deeds out of my sight - Covetousness 4. Stop doing wrong - 5. Learn to do right 6. Seek justice 7. Encourage the oppressed 8. Defend the cause of the fatherless 9. Plead the case of the widow. Judah’s unreasonable behaviour:- Judah remained unwilling and disobedient towards God, but Isaiah declares God’s faithfulness and readiness to forgive Judah. God used His physical created heavenly and earthly things to demonstrate their pitiable situation, but declares His readiness to forgive, cleanse and restore, to set Judah at liberty if only they will turn back to Him and accept His provisions in holiness, “IF THEY ARE WILLING AND OBEDIENT”, He offers them the goodness of the land but if they continue in their rebellious and sinful life, calamity and disaster awaits Judah, therefore, Judah is to chose between obedience to God leading to God’s continued love, liberty and freedom, or rebelliousness and wickedness leading to judgement and condemnation. God is calling Judah to obedience and Holy Protection and provision.