Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"Cease to do evil"
Text: Isaiah 1:16
THE CLEANSING THAT IS NEEDED
The challenge to seek cleansing had to be issued. This should have been well known to all in Israel. The need for cleansing is well taught in the Psalms and in the prophetic books.
“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes.
Cease to do evil,
Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor;
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow.”
Isaiah 1:16-17
1. Strong admonition:
a) “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean”
i) This does not mean we can cleanse ourselves.
ii) This is a call to deal with the problem of being unclean.
iii) The individual must give attention to seeking cleansing from God.
b) Put away evil doings from before God’s eyes.
i) Evil is the major cause of uncleanness and unrighteousness.
ii) A major step to be taken is to put away evil deeds.
iii) This must be done consciously.
c) “Cease to do evil”
i) This is a necessary follow-up.
ii) Cessation from evil-doing is an important next step.
3. Five practical and positive things to do:
a) “Learn to do good”
i) To sinful people, doing good does not come naturally.
ii) Doing good things must be learned.
b) “Seek justice”
i) The poor and the needy suffer injustice most.
ii) The challenge is to seek justice for those who need it.
c) “Rebuke the oppressor”
i) The oppressive ones are those who subvert justice.
ii) The oppressor must be rebuked by the righteous.
d) “Defend the fatherless”
i) Those who do not have fathers are the hardest hit.
ii) They are in a bind because they do not have fathers who will be on their side.
iii) The fatherless need special protection.
e) “Plead for the widow”
i) In the days of Isaiah, widows often suffered terribly.
ii) Good employment was hard to obtain.
iii) Widows were often victimised.
iv) The righteous must dare to stand up for widows and to plead on their behalf.