Isaiah 1-2

These first two chapters talk about our attitude towards God. He is not fooled by our shinanigans.

Chapter 1: When God is not exalted

I. A Rebellious Nation

• In spite of knowing better (2-3)
• In spite of guilt (4)
• In spite of punishment (5-9)
  

II. A Useless Religion – shocking after Hezekiah’s reforms

• Offerings (10-13a) see Psalm 51
• Meetings (13b-14) see 1 Cor 11:17
• Prayers (15) see James 1
• All meaningless without REPENTANCE
• washing (16,18) – first requires cleansing from God by faith
• doing (17,19-20) – also requires submission to God by obedience

III. A Gross Deterioration

• The quality of kings (21-22) 2. The crimes of kings (23)
• The cleanup of kings (24-26) – both removal and cleansing

IV. A Regret and Restoration

• Restoration will come, both temporarily and eternally (26-28)
• Idols will be exposed. What will we regret? (29-31) see 1 Cor 3:11-15
  

Chapter 2. When God alone is exalted

I. The Kingdom comes in blessing – “in the last days” – when God’s purpose’s find ultimate fulfillment

• People will know and recognize the Truth (2)
• People will be hungry for righteousness and knowledge of God (3)
• People will be happy with justice and not fight or oppress one another (4)
  

II. The Kingdom comes in judgment

• We will see idols for what they are (6,8,18,20)
• Anything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God
• We will see money, possessions, and “every lofty thing” for what they are (7,12-16)
• Fashion, success, comfort?
• Things that might not be idols still need to be seen correctly
• We will be humbled and hide in fear (9-11,17,19,21) see Rev 16-18
  

III. The Kingdom touches our lives

• Live in the light of that day; live as if it's real (5)
• Don’t put hope or fear in men, including churches and leaders (22)
  

I pray that God would reveal Himself to us in such a way that we see our rebellion, religion, and idolatry for what it is; that we could learn a repentant heart and a right attitude toward Him. If we only saw the Truth instead of living in a bored, self-righteous sleep.