Answers (2)
“Come now, and let us reason together,” says YHWH. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18
Reason Together – Once we discover the real meaning here, we might wish it were still about apologetics. We would like this invitation to be about a comfortable discussion over spiritual matters. But that’s not what the word yakah suggests. This word is typically about an assessment of moral right-standing. This is an invitation to present our case before the Lord and see if it stands up to His holiness. It is God’s way of saying, “Bring it on!”
Often taken out of context, we assume that God’s request is a gentle RSVP. Once we read the context, we see that such a naïve view is impossible. Read what God says before He uses yakah. “Listen heaven and earth. You, Israel, have rebelled. Even animals know who their master is, but not you. This nation has forsaken its Deliverer. Look at the results: your land is devastated, you are beaten down, you are overthrown, your sacrifices are worthless, I have rejected your rituals, I no longer attend to your impure religion.”
“Now, then, come to the judgment seat. Present your case. Let’s see how you fare. Bring your evidence before Me and let’s examine it together.”
Oh, that’s not quite what we thought, is it? This is the call from the Judge of all Mankind, not the invitation to a scholarly debate. This is a serious accounting exam. We might be inclined to run rather than show our hand. We might see only the smoke and fire of Mt. Sinai appearing on the horizon. Except for one small letter in Hebrew. You see, the call is not le-hoo. It is le-hoo-na. At the end of the verb we find the attached particle na. This changes the command to a request. “Please, come.” Even in the invitation to an audit, God displays His hesed, His kindness. He could demand punishment from the evidence in the books of life. He could justifiably reject our arguments and dismiss us to outer darkness. But even in His scrupulous review of our failed state, He shows His true colors. “Please.”
Perhaps it’s time to rethink our propensity to treat God as an equal in the dialog of life. It’s time to stop insisting that we have as much to say about things as He does, that we have a right to be heard, that He needs to see our point of view. When He invites us to conversation, maybe we would be far better served by listening. Then we might discover His unfathomable mercy wrapped around His infinite holiness.
Topical Index: reason together, yakah, na, please, Isaiah 1:18
Houston- we have a problem. We have a G-d who has declared himself to be Holy. How do we know this?- “It is written” in a Book, He has given unto us. (Leviticus 11.44) He has given unto us His Word, (Yes, -both written and Incarnate).
The Jewish Rabbi’s knew His name to be holy, so holy, G-d is referred to as “Hashem” or “the name.” Even Yeshua, (the ultimate Rabbi) referred to G-d as “our Father who art in heaven,” out of respect, rather than mentioning “the name.”
Our problem is, we have forgotten the holiness of G-d. We have attached empty meaning to this hame and have demeaned and vulgarized the Name above all names. We have lost respect for His name and you cannot love someone you do not respect. It seems, (I don’t know)- love is counterbalanced with fear. When is the last time I trembled or wept in His presence?
We speak often of “the glory of G-d.” We do not, however, speak of the cross of Christ. Shameful, bloody -the sins of the world, (past,present,future), -the full wrath of G-d, concentrated on our Representative, -the Red Heifer receiving and drinking the vile cup of my sin. I will (now) glory in the cross of Jesus Christ. My sins are gone- I’ve been set free- my G-d, my Savior has ransomed me, and like a flood His mercy flows- amazing love, -amazing grace.
Read,in G-d’s book, when you have time, of the high priest who went in to “the Presence” of the Holy One- once per year in the “holy of holies”. (We don’t mention this “holy” place very often do we?). The cohen hagadol (high priest) was the only one “allowed” to enter and as he ministered before the HOLY ONE- he had little bells on the bottom of his vesture that made enough sound to where the one (or ones) waiting “outside the veil” could, if it became, “dead quiet”- remove the now “quite dead” priest’s body with the aid of a rope tied around his ankle and pull him back to the other side of the veil. This veil separating the two compartments of the tabernacle was over six inches thick and this very veil was torn from top to bottom (Mark 15.38) as a symbol of the acceptance of the atoning Sacrifice of the perfect Lamb who was slain. As foretold by Abraham and Isaac- G-d did provide-Himself- a Lamb. “G-d was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.” 2 Corinthians 5.19)
The blood upon the mercy seat (foreshadowed in history by the blood of bulls and goats) was now-as the final propitiating Sacrifice,- the precious blood of the Lamb Himself. (1 Peter 1.18)
“And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for G-d from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Revelation 5.9)
Where does this “trembling” come from? When we come to the place called Calvary and kneel before the cross, realizing and recognizing, Who it is impaled on a stake, and why He is hanging suspended between earth and heaven on a cursed tree, knowing His sacrifice was not random, but absolutely purposeful, and knowing full-well His blood was shed as an atonement for my sins;- this ‘second Adam’ is the very Creator (Himself), the Lamb (foreshadowed in the Old Testament) and fulfilled in the New, now purchasing for Himself a bride “washed” in His precious blood. “When I see the (applied) blood- I will pass over you.” Jesus paid it all- (“Tetelestai”)- all to Him I owe- sin had left a crimson stain- He washed it white as snow.
“Blessed is the man whose sins are forgiven- whose iniquity is covered.” (Romans 4.7)