Isaiah 1:27-31
27 Zion will be redeemed with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness.
Lord is confirming that Zion will be redeemed. Redemption is from the Lord. People who are converted(penitent : her returners, those of them who shall come out of captivity into their own land) in Zion will be righteous. When Lord shows favor; redemption and righteousness flows into His people. We can never achieve it by our works. Remember redemption happened because of His love and Lord loved us even before we knew Him. Word says Abraham believed and it was counted as righteousness. Lord imputes righteousness when we confess and have faith in His cleansing and surrender for His leading..
28 But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the LORD will perish.
Final proclamation of judgement from God. But a common destruction will overtake sinners and evil-doers together, and those who have gone away from the Lord will be cut off.
When will Lord decide it is enough. Was the last forgiveness your last chance, what if Lord calls you back today. How will you stand before the judgement seat. Yes it is true; Lord is ever merciful, but also remember stop living the way you want on top a very weak broad bridge above hell. It might break, then rebels and sinners are broken into the anger of God (hell).
29 “You will be ashamed because of the sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be disgraced because of the gardens that you have chosen.
oaks-Others translate the “terebinth” or “turpentine tree.” Groves were dedicated to idols. gardens-planted enclosures for idolatry; the counterpart of the garden of Eden.
Your superstitions, your running behind idols, idol worship is when we go behind anything else and gives those , the place of God. What ever it is, you are going to ashamed because of the things that takes Lord’s place. Disgrace is going to happen because you ran behind it instead of God. Our delight should be in the word of God not in the things of the world.
30 You will be like an oak with fading leaves, like a garden without water.
We are a tree planted by riverside to bear fruit at right season. Examine ourselves is it now like a strong tree in severe hot condition without water(remember Jesus said those who thirst come to me ) If you forsake God, Lord will cut off the spiritual resources, that resulted in dryness and leaves lost it color and started to fall down. Started slipping, glorious past is lost, tree is on the Birk of falling.
31 The mighty man will become tinder and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the fire.”
Man of great strength and deed has become like a man with no strength, his work is of no fruit, Lord judgement fire has burned both, no man can quench the fire of destruction. Remember when angel fell, Lord did not send a savior to save them. But for us He allowed Jesus to be crushed on cross, if we still continue in sin after knowing this truth, what greater condemnation is awaiting us.