Isaiah 1:22-26
22 Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water.
Silver is used in a figurative way at times in the Bible to represent the following: God’s words, speech of the just, saints purified by affliction.
Dross may shine like silver, and the wine that is mixed with water may still have the colour of wine.
You look like you are spiritual but deep inside are full of sins. Jesus said Matthew 23:27,28; Jesus says; “Woe to you, ..You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full ..Everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness” Are we in the same group. Are we bothered about what others think of us or are we living to please God. Are we pretending Christians? Are we passionate to keep the inside clean?
23 Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts.
They were representative of heaven to defend the helpless. To stand with those who are suffering. Math 25:40 “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me” Way we treat others is the way Jesus, considers how we treat him. Do you have no compassion on other, is there any sort of hatred, anger, bitterness, remember Jesus takes these offences done against Him.
24 Therefore the Lord, the LORD Almighty, the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
“Ah, I will get relief from my foes and avenge myself on my enemies.
Lord here is not spoken as a lamb but as Almighty, Mighty one. Oh! When He descend down in His majesty, who can stand that awesomeness. He was a lamb crushed on cross, now He will come back as Lion of Judah. The mighty one is on our side. He declares, Lord will take vengeance on his enemies. When someone does wrong to us, they are God’s enemies. Let us forgive and bless them because pay back is our Fathers style. Do not take vengeance, because that will make us lose our relationship with God and also true payback to our enemies will be lost.
Remember Rom 12:19 “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.” Do pay back forgiveness to wrongs.
25 I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross
and remove all your impurities.
Lord has taken His hands for correction. He will thoroughly purge the things that are looking holy outwardly and life with secret sins, Lord will purge, it will be painful, hidden sins, impurities will be removed. He will put the silver in fire to be purified, it could be fire of affliction, His ways no one can every comprehend. Remember our loving Father will correct. Let us examine and surrender for cleansing. It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of an angry God.
26 I will restore your judges as in days of old, your counsellors as at the beginning.
Restoration happens after purification. If you want restoration wait on the Lord to be purified. When Lord came down at Mount Sinai, people for 3 days prepared by purifying themselves. We serve a Holy God, how could we come and stand casually with unconfessed sins.
Demons trembled at His presence, Angel could not look at Him, Elders fell face down before Him, Cherubin’s covered their bodies in front of God, even in Heaven people could not face Him, we in flesh how could we ever think of taking sin lightly and come to His presence.
Lord will set up counsellors and judges for us. He has lifted His hand to throughly purge, let us run to the throne of grace for mercy before He brings His hands upon us.
Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.”
Once purification is complete your name changes. Name change shows that we are under His Lordship and we belong to God. Lord plans for us to be a city for God, to be Faithful and Righteous. Hate sin and ask Lord to cleanse us. Plead for anointing to lead a Holy Life.