full of blood

 An Exposition of Isaiah 1:1-20           

Could YHWH hate my prayers? Could he detest the songs sung daily in chapel? Could he be worn out from our Sunday services and ritual holidays? Could he see our hands raised in worship or folded in prayer and see hands full of blood? It is uncomfortable to consider, but comfort may be our deadliest enemy. The book of Isaiah, cherished by many Christians for the prophecies about Immanuel[1] or words of comfort,[2] opens with one of the most confounding indictments of hypocritical religiosity found in the Bible. Here, I will examine the Old Testament understanding of Isaiah 1:1-20, reflect on the character of YHWH revealed in the passage, and argue that the message therein should have a significant effect on the lifestyle and beliefs of North American Christians.

Isaiah the Prophet

Isaiah 1 

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth;

for the LORD has spoken:

“Children have I reared and brought up,

but they have rebelled against me.

3 The ox knows its owner,

and the donkey its master's crib,

but Israel does not know,

my people do not understand.”

4 Ah, sinful nation,

a people laden with iniquity,

offspring of evildoers,

children who deal corruptly!

They have forsaken the LORD,

they have despised the Holy One of Israel,

they are utterly estranged.

5 Why will you still be struck down?

Why will you continue to rebel?

The whole head is sick,

and the whole heart faint.

6 From the sole of the foot even to the head,

there is no soundness in it,

but bruises and sores

and raw wounds;

they are not pressed out or bound up

or softened with oil.

7 Your country lies desolate;

your cities are burned with fire;

in your very presence

foreigners devour your land;

it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners.

8 And the daughter of Zion is left

like a booth in a vineyard,

like a lodge in a cucumber field,

like a besieged city.

9 If the LORD of hosts

had not left us a few survivors,

we should have been like Sodom,

and become like Gomorrah.

10 Hear the word of the LORD,

you rulers of Sodom!

Give ear to the teaching of our God,

you people of Gomorrah!

11 “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?

says the LORD;

I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams

and the fat of well-fed beasts;

I do not delight in the blood of bulls,

or of lambs, or of goats.

12 “When you come to appear before me,

who has required of you

this trampling of my courts?

13 Bring no more vain offerings;

incense is an abomination to me.

New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—

I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.

14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts

my soul hates;

they have become a burden to me;

I am weary of bearing them.

15 When you spread out your hands,

I will hide my eyes from you;

even though you make many prayers,

I will not listen;

your hands are full of blood.

16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;

remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;

cease to do evil,

17 learn to do good;

seek justice,

correct oppression;

bring justice to the fatherless,

plead the widow's cause.

18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD:

though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red like crimson,

they shall become like wool.

19 If you are willing and obedient,

you shall eat the good of the land;

20 but if you refuse and rebel,

you shall be eaten by the sword;

for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Old Testament Understanding of Isaiah 1:1-20

            Historically, the first portion of Isaiah takes place after the exile of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. John Oswalt comments that up until Israel’s exile, both kingdoms had enjoyed a long period of peace, prosperity, and stability, and that this stability like fed into a false sense of YHWH’s blessing, and thus a dangerous complacency.[3]After Israel’s exile, the complacency of Judah may have only grown more dangerous, as they may have considered themselves somehow more blessed than their wicked brothers to the north. Because ancient peoples generally equated economic and political success with favor from their deity, the people of Judah likely saw their successful circumstances as YHWH’s approving hand. Isaiah forcefully challenges this assumption. 

            

            Ultimately, the first hearers of this oracle could have easily ignored Isaiah’s words. While they had suffered damage from the Assyrians that exiled Northern Israel, they still remained independent and thus “successful.” From their current state of comfort and prosperity, at least for the upper-class, Judah had no reason to believe that YHWH was as displeased as Isaiah proposed. While they may have seen their narrow escape from Assyria as a sign of YHWH’s favor, Isaiah’s pronouncement proposed that this was a warning from YHWH, and further destruction would come. Scholars suggest that the comforting verses 18-20 are not original to the text,[4]leaving nothing but Isaiah’s scathing indictment. 

Understanding the Character of YHWH

             YHWH’s character differs from other deities of the area in his attitude toward the religious practices of Judah. Religious practices such as sacrifices or priestly rituals were in large part seen as a form of appeasement for the gods. Food, incense, and even human sacrifices in the Ancient Near East were commonly accepted ways to provide for the needs and demands of the gods. YHWH addresses this idea at the very beginning, pointing out that it is not rituals and sacrifices that will satisfy him, but obedience and justice. In fact, if justice is not done toward the oppressed, the religiosity of the people is useless. In verse 15, YHWH even indicts the worshippers for their bloody hands, hands that would have been made bloody in the process of sacrificing an animal as an offering. YHWH’s rejects the hands “full of blood”[5]because their hypocrisy has caused the blood of the offering to become a symbol of the injustices they have committed or allowed in their society. While YHWH’s value for justice over sacrifice may be a simple concept for contemporary Christians, in would have been radical for the religious and sacrificial-system-based culture of Ancient Judaism. 

            

            Following from YHWH’s desire for justice over sacrifices, Isaiah 1:1-20 demonstrates that YHWH’s laws have a purpose toward shaping a holistic, healthy community. The covenant that bound Judah to YHWH had laid out ways to live justly, providing for the poor, and worshipping God in actions and practices. Standing in Jerusalem at the center of both religious and political power and prestige, Isaiah seeks to remind the people that YHWH, who they had committed to obey, seeks the welfare of their entire community, including the “widow” and the “fatherless.”[6]

Finally, Isaiah 1:1-20 speaks to an understanding of YHWH’s anger. Unlike other gods of the area, YHWH’s anger does not flare up instantaneously and without cause or explanation. However, Judah must not misinterpret YHWH’s patience for his indifference. Rather than direct, aggressive acts of anger toward Judah, Isaiah explains that the natural consequence of Judah ignoring YHWH will be YHWH’s own ignoring of Judah’s ritualistic attempts to please and pacify him. As Oswalt writes, “… a genuinely biblical view of God’s response to sin must always hold these two extremes in tension. On the one hand, he does not respond out of arbitrary rage, but on the other hand, he does respond personally and directly.”[7]

 Implications for Contemporary North American Christianity 

            Each of the aspects above regarding YHWH’s character provides insight for modern North American Christians into how they should live in light of YHWH’s clear desires. First, I believe that many modern Christians live under the presupposition that when all is well in their lives, it means a loving God is blessing them. Though in clear contrast to the gospel of a suffering messiah, Christians today still preach the idea – consciously or unconsciously – that good actions and intentions are rewarded by health, wealth, and comfort, and therefore those blessings are in themselves stamps of approval from YHWH. Isaiah 1:1-20 should cause Christians to ask not “How can we continue getting YHWH’s blessing?” but rather, “Are we obeying what YHWH has asked us to do?”

            Secondly, Isaiah 1:1-20 should teach modern Christians that YHWH finds no explicit pleasure or satisfaction from ritualistic attempts to appear outwardly devout. Whether it be a Sunday service, the Eucharist, tithing, fasting, singing in worship, or personal scripture reading and prayer, none of these hold weight for YHWH if they are not accompanied by justice toward the oppressed around us. In fact, these practices become offensive to YHWH, and he turns away from the prayers of those whose “hands are full of blood.”[8] If the sacrificial blood of ancient temple practices became a symbol of the injustice of their times and the blood of victims of violence, then what of our times? Could YHWH say to us today that when we receive the body and blood of the Eucharist while simultaneously oppressing the poor and marginalized around us, that he sees our hands full of the bodies and blood of these victims instead? Contemporary North American Christians must learn that repentance does not mean feeling sorry and praying for forgiveness, but rather requires righteous action and a renewed obedience to the will of YHWH toward the marginalized and oppressed. 

Modern Christianity should also learn from Isaiah 1:1-20 that YHWH’s laws, and Jesus’ commands, have in mind a holistic community. In a modern culture of unprecedented individualism, Bruce Birch explains, “The prophets spoke to Israel as a community, a social reality, rather than as a collection of individuals.”[9] YHWH’s commands should be read, interpreted, and applied communally, not alone. The first chapter of Isaiah must exhort modern Christians to remember that they are part of a body of humanity, and following YHWH’s commands will lead to the exaltation of the oppressed and the inclusion of the marginalized through the intentional justice work done by those who obey him. 

            Finally, modern North American Christian theology must re-understand YHWH’s anger. Living in a culture that values “niceness” above all, there is significant aversion to the concept of YHWH’s anger. We have so quickly and naively embraced the quip that “God is love”[10] that we have forgotten that YHWH’s love necessitates anger toward the injustices manifested against his children. We are uncomfortable with the idea of an angry God, but we must recognize that it is our comfort that makes us most like the Judeans against whom YHWH finds such serious fault.

            

Conclusion

Isaiah 1:1-20 is a staggering revelation of the heart of YHWH that has been long neglected by those who should have known. Just as Judah felt too safe in her status as the covenant people of YHWH, perhaps Christians should similarly be warned lest they feel too safe in their status as the chosen people of Christ. I must make a decision to let this revelation reform my life and the life of my community. If I should ignore the warning now, I will be no different than the comfortable, religious elites of Judah who did not fear YHWH or love their neighbor until it was too late. 

Abridged version of my essay for RELS 446 - Hebrew Prophets - that left me convicted and concerned to learn true repentance. 

[1]Isaiah 7:14 ESV

[2]Isaiah 40:1 ESV

[3]Oswalt, John N. The Book of Isaiah: Chapters 1-39. Eerdmans Publishing Company: Grand Rapids, Mich. 1986. Pg. 5.

[4]Holladay, William L. Isaiah: Scroll of Prophetic Heritage. Eerdmans Publishing Company: Grand Rapids, Mich. 1978. Pg. 7. 

[5]Isaiah 1:15 ESV

[6]Isaiah 1:17, ESV

[7]Oswalt, 1986. Pg. 90.

[8]Isaiah 1:15 ESV

[9]Birch, Bruce C. Let Justice Roll Down: The Old Testament, Ethics, and Christian Life. John Knox Press: Lousiville, Kentucky. 1991. Pg. 258. 

[10]1 John 4:8 ESV