The Degenerate City
It was full of justice;
Righteousness lodged in it,
But now bmurderers.
And bcompanions of thieves;
cEveryone loves bribes,
And follows after rewards.
They ddo not defend the fatherless,
Nor does the cause of the widow come before them.
The Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel,
“Ah, aI will rid Myself of My adversaries,
And1 take vengeance on My enemies.
And athoroughly purge away your dross,
And take away all your alloy.
And your counselors as at the beginning.
Afterward byou shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.”
And those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed.
Which you have desired;
And you shall be embarrassed because of the gardens
Which you have chosen.
| << Isaiah 1:22 | Isaiah 1:24 >> |
What Does Isaiah 1:23 Mean?
Isaiah 1:21-26
Isaiah 1:21-26 is especially interesting because it describes the harlotry principle working within the social justice system. Judges were selling themselves out through accepting bribes or for personal advantage in some other area of life, and counselors—lawyers—were giving bad advice to tip the scales of "justice" favorably for their careers. Under such corruption, justice in Israel was difficult to find, so difficult that "the prudent keep silent at that time, for it is an evil time" (Amos 5:13).
God makes the contrast between harlotry and faithfulness clear. "Harlotry" is the Bible's code word for faithlessness to God regardless of the area of life in which the faithlessness occurs or of which gender is sinning.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Beast and Babylon (Part Nine): Babylon the Great
Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Isaiah 1:23:
| << Isaiah 1:22 | Isaiah 1:24 >> |
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