"COME NOW, AND LET US REASON TOGETHER"

Isaiah 1:1-20

Intro: 

	1.	The book of Isaiah deals with "the vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah." (v.1)

	2.	What Isaiah saw was a nation which had sunk into sin and rebellion. (v. 2 ff)

	3.	We see Judah's problem laid out by the Lord through Isaiah and then God's solution given. Of course, the only 

		solution to such problems as they had is God's solution.

I.	Judah's Problem. (v. 2-15)

	A.	They had forgotten the Lord and what he had done for them. (v. 2-3)

		1.	We must remember that material things come from God. (Deut. 8:18; 1 Tim. 6:17; Isa. 42:5; Acts 17:28)

		2.	He provides the things needful for those who follow Him. (Matt. 6:25-33; Ps. 34:10; Ps. 68:35; 84:11)

		3.	He also provides all our spiritual necessities and heaps upon us all spiritual blessings. (2 Pet. 1:3; Eph. 1:3; 

			James 1:17)

	B.	They were steeped in sin. (v. 4)

		1.	Evidently at this time the people were given over to all kinds of unrighteousness and lawlessness. 

			(cf. 1 John 3:4; 5:17)

		2.	They were not pleasing to God and were separated from Him. (cf. Ps. 11:5; Rom. 6:23)

		3.	We, too, can sink into such a condition.

	C.	They were in need of healing. (v. 5-6)

		1.	The people of Judah needed spiritual healing.

		2.	One may be healed by turning to God. (Ps. 41:4; 107:17-20; Acts 28:25-28; 1 Pet. 2:24)

		3.	God and His son have the healing power. (cf. 1 Pet. 2:24)

	D.	They were in need of deliverance. (v. 7-8)

		1.	The people of Judah needed deliverance from their enemies.

		2.	We need deliverance from sin.

			a.	From its reign over us. (cf. Col. 1:13)

			b.	From its guilt. (Ps. 51:1-4,14)

			c.	From its penalty. (2 Cor. 1:9-10; 1 Thess. 1:10)

	E.	They had made their worship vain. (v. 10-15)

		1.	The Lord has always put more emphasis on obedience and righteousness than worship. (1 Sam. 15:22; 

			Hos. 6:6; Ps. 50:16-17; Prov. 15:8,29; 21:27; 28:9)

		2.	One cannot worship properly when separated from God. (cf. Is. 59:1-2)

II.	God's Solution. (v. 16-20)

	A.	"Come now, and let us reason together." (v. 18)

		1.	One must listen to what God says - His reasoning is the only reasoning. (Josh. 3:9; Ps. 19:7-11; Ps. 78:1; 119:9-11)

		2.	We must become acquainted with and heed God's word. (Josh. 1:8; Matt. 7:24-25; Luke 11:28)

		3.	We must continue to submit to God's reasoning. (Acts 17:11; Heb. 2:1-3)

	B.	"Wash yourselves." (v. 16-18)

		1.	Must remove the stain of sin. (v. 18)

		2.	Only through obedience to God can this be done. (Acts 22:16; 1 Cor. 6:9-11)

	C.	"Cease to do evil." (v. 16)

		1.	If we want life. (Ps. 34:11-14)

		2.	 If we want to be accepted by God. (2 Tim. 2:19)

	D.	"Learn to do good." (v. 17-19)

		1.	Must be learned - requires study. (2 Tim. 2:15)

		2.	God intends for us to do good. (Eph. 2:10; 1 Thess. 5:15,21; 3 John 11)

		3.	Must do good to be accepted by Him. (Acts 10:34-35)

Concl:

	1.	Israel had many problems, but God had a solution.

	2.	We have a problem today with sin and God has a solution.