Our Memory verse: Isa 1:18-20
Our First Theme: Mankind is under indictment! It has been diagnosed with a terrible malady.
We have seen the charges against mankind: rebellion, ignorance, disloyalty and autonomy; now how about the evidence for these charges? You will find references scattered throughout chapter 1, e.g. "sinful nation", but to really see God lay it out, take a look at chapter 5 verses 8-24. (It will be helpful to read vs. 1-7 to again see the charge--Israel's rebellion--using a completely different metaphor than the courtroom setting of chapter one.)
a. As you read through the list of sins documented by God, see if you can categorize them. In other words, drunkenness is a completely different kind of sin from taking advantage of the widow and orphan.
b. The other thing I would like you to think about: God speaks so matter-of-factly about sin and what constitutes sin--how is it He can do that. I am asking this question, because in our day, there is quite a bit of debate in our society about the nature of right and wrong, e.g. about what is a marriage and what is not. On the other hand, the proclamations in the book of Isaiah are very one-sided. God simply declares what is sin as part of the evidence to support His charges against Israel. What would you say to the skeptic who says that times have changed and what was once seen as sin is so no longer? In other words, suggesting that there should be debate with God about what exactly constitutes sin.
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