Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"I will restore your judges as at the first"
Text: Isaiah 1:26
THE LORD’S INTENTIONS REVEALED
The LORD revealed His intentions and plans for Judah. His intentions and plans were two-fold.
“Therefore the Lord says,
The LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel,
‘Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries,
And take vengeance on My enemies.
I will turn My hand against you,
And thoroughly purge away your dross,
And take away all your alloy.
I will restore your judges as at the first,
And your counsellors as at the beginning.
Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.'”
Isaiah 1:24-26
1. The intentions and plans.
a) Determined by the LORD of hosts.
b) Decreed by the Mighty One of Israel.
2. The first line of action.
a) He will turn His hand against Israel (Judah).
b) He will thoroughly purge away the dross.
c) Dross is a term that refers to any form of impurity added to silver.
d) These dregs have to be removed or the silver would not be pure.
3. The second line of action.
a) He will restore the judges.
b) He will restore the counsellors too.
c) The phrases:
i) “As at the first”
ii) “As at the beginning”
iii) This could be a reference to the kind of judges that Moses had in mind.
d) The original guidelines given in the selection of judges.
“Choose wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men from among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.”
Deuteronomy 1:13
i) Wise
ii) Understanding
iii) Knowledgeable
4. The results when righteous leaders ruled the country.
a) It would become “a city of righteousness”.
b) It would be known as “the faithful city”.
c) Jerusalem was in mind, being:
i) The political capital.
ii) The religious capital.