Introduction:

One the book in the Old Testament encompasses four kings in the Northern Kingdom before the dispersion of the Ten Tribes dated (790 BC - 739 BC). Isaiah as a young man called into the prophetic office. This week's lesson will discussed the condition of God's people, as they face the crisis of identity.

Note these statements from the Spirit of Prophecy:

"I am filled with sadness when I think of our condition as a people. The Lord has not closed heaven to us, but our own course of continual backsliding has separated us from God. Pride, covetousness, and love of the world have lived in the heart without fear of banishment or condemnation. Grievous and presumptuous sins have dwelt among us. And yet the general opinion is that the church is flourishing and that peace and spiritual prosperity are in all her borders". {5T 217.1}

"The church has turned back from following Christ her Leader and is steadily retreating toward Egypt. Yet few are alarmed or astonished at their want of spiritual power. Doubt, and even disbelief of the testimonies of the Spirit of God, is leavening our churches everywhere. Satan would have it thus. Ministers who preach self instead of Christ would have it thus. The testimonies are unread and unappreciated. God has spoken to you. Light has been shining from His word and from the testimonies, and both have been slighted and disregarded. The result is apparent in the lack of purity and devotion and earnest faith among us". {5T 217.2}

The following are the parts in this lesson. Let's learn together from the book itself and from the inspiration.

A. A Crisis of identity - Isaiah 1:1-9

B. A Form of Godliness - Isaiah 1:10-17

C. An Offer of Forgiveness - Isaiah 1:18

D. An Opportunity to Choose - Isaiah 1:19-31

E. A Point of no Return - Isaiah 5:1-7

A. A Crisis of identity - Isaiah 1:1-9

The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s crib; but Israel does not know, my people do not consider.” (Isaiah 1:3)

Let each put the question to his own heart: "How have we fallen into this state of spiritual feebleness and dissension? Have we not brought upon ourselves the frown of God because our actions do not correspond with our faith? Have we not been seeking the friendship and applause of the world rather than the presence of Christ and a deeper knowledge of His will?" Examine your own hearts, judge your own course. Consider what associates you are choosing. Do you seek the company of the wise, or are you willing to choose worldly associates, companions who fear not God and obey not the gospel? {5T 217.3}

1. Satan in the garden of Eden

Satanic agencies are clothing false theories in an attractive garb, even as Satan in the Garden of Eden concealed his identity from our first parents by speaking through the serpent. These agencies are instilling into human minds that which in reality is deadly error. The hypnotic influence of Satan will rest upon those who turn from the plain word of God to pleasing fables. {CCh 324.1}

2. Be on Your Guard

I say to all: Be on your guard; for as an angel of light Satan is walking in every assembly of Christian workers, and in every church, trying to win the members to his side. I am bidden to give to the people of God the warning: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked." Galatians 6:7. 581 {CCh 324.3}

3. Identity of Our Own

There are rights which belong to every individual. We have an individuality and an identity that is our own. No one can submerge his identity in that of any other. All must act for themselves, according to the dictates of their own conscience. As regards our responsibility and influence, we are amenable to God as deriving our life from Him. This we do not obtain from humanity, but from God only. We are His by creation and by redemption. Our very bodies are not our own, to treat as we please, to cripple by habits that lead to decay, making it impossible to render to God perfect service. Our lives and all our faculties belong to Him. He is caring for us every moment; He keeps the living machinery in action; if we were left to run it for one moment, we should die. We are absolutely dependent upon God. {CD 56.2}

Let's consider the following thoughts as well:

• By the end of Uzziah’s reign, God proclaimed something (v. 2-4): Israel had forgotten who their Lord was, and they had lost their identity.

• As a result of their separation from God, they were suffering serious losses (v. 5-8). However, a remnant still remained faithful (v. 9).

— What were they doing? Forsaking the Lord; provoking the Holy One; depravity; wickedness and sin; not knowing; not understanding the Lord; rebelling against God.

— What was going on with them? Physical wounds; a destroyed country; burning cities; sacked by their enemies.

— What was God doing? Keeping Zion standing; keeping a remnant.

B. A Form of Godliness - Isaiah 1:10-17

“Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.” (Isaiah 1:13)

1. Satan's Snares Amongst Us

Oh! how Satan watches to see his bait taken so readily, and to see souls walking in the very path he has prepared. He does not want them to give up praying, and maintaining a form of religious duties, for he can thus make them more useful in his service. He unites his sophistry and deceptive snares with their experiences and professions, and thus advances his cause wonderfully. The hypocritical Pharisees prayed and fasted, observed the forms of godliness, while corrupt at heart. Satan stands by, taunting Christ and his angels with insults, "I have them! I have them! I have prepared my deception for them. Your blood is worthless here. Your intercessions and power and wonderful works may as well cease; I have them! They are mine! for all their high profession as subjects of Christ, for all they once enjoyed the illuminations of his presence, I will secure them to myself in the very face of Heaven, which they are talking about.

2. We Aren't ignorant of Satan's Devices

It is such subjects as those that I can use to decoy others." Solomon saith, "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool;" and there are hundreds such to be found among professors of godliness. Says the apostle, "We are not ignorant of his devices." Oh! what art, what skill, what cunning, to lead to a union with the world, to seek for happiness in the amusements of the world, under the delusive idea that some good is to be gained. And thus they walk right into the net, flattering themselves that there is no evil in the way. {PH097 55.1}

• How could something that God had ordered become sin (iniquity)

• They were offering sacrifices and praying to God with lifted hands, but they were only keeping up appearances. Their hands were bloodstained (v. 16) because they were violent and unfair to the weak (v. 17).

• Their rites were void of repentance. God considered them sin because they were shallow.

• The people of God repeated the same mistakes several times (Matthew 23:23-28). We should be aware of repeating the same mistake ourselves.

C. An Offer of Forgiveness - Isaiah 1:18

‘Come now, and 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 be as wool.’” (Isaiah 1:18)

1. Forgiveness of Sin and Freedom in God

Some of you seem to be earnestly seeking for forgiveness of sins, for freedom in God. Do you deserve the pardon that you are seeking?—No, you do not; nevertheless, God is willing to grant it freely. And dare you withhold from your brethren the forgiveness and affection of which you do not think them worthy? Would you have God deal thus with you? Deal with your brethren as you wish God to deal with you. If we expect our prayers for forgiveness to be heard, we must offer them in a forgiving spirit. We must forgive others in the same manner, and to the same extent, that we ourselves hope to be forgiven. The hard-heartedness that professed Christians manifest toward one another is not Christ-like, but savors of the satanic. We must every one of us open our hearts wide to the love of Jesus, and encourage pity and affection for our brethren. {GW92 430.1}

• God wants to turn the bloody red on the hands of the Israelites into the white of His purity. He wants to forgive our sins and to purify our hearts.

• He asks us to just come to Him with the intention of settling accounts with Him (repentance).

• Our heart changes when we truly accept forgiveness (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Once we acknowledge our need for forgiveness, we’re ready to accept everything God has for us.

E. A Point of no Return - Isaiah 5:1-7

“And now, please let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; and break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.” (Isaiah 5:5)

1. Unfaithful Servant will be Left Out

Christ has given "to every man his work" (Mark 13:34). He expects every man to do his work with fidelity. High and low, rich and poor, all have a work to do for the Master. Every one is called to action. But if you do not obey the voice of the Lord, if you do not do His appointed work in firm reliance upon Christ as your sufficiency, if you do not follow His example, "unfaithful, slothful servant" will be registered against your name. Unless the light which has been given you is communicated to others, unless you let your light shine, it will go out in darkness, and your soul will be left in awful peril.

2. God's Plan to Enlighten the World

God speaks to every one who knows the truth, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). Communicate the knowledge of the truth to others. This is God's plan to enlighten the world. If you do not stand in your allotted place, if you do not let your light shine, you will become enshrouded in darkness. God calls upon all the sons and daughters of the heavenly family to be fully equipped, so that at any period they can step into the ranks ready for action. The heart made tender and sympathetic by the love of Jesus will find the precious pearls designed for the casket of the Lord Jesus. {1SM 266.1}

• God’s forgiveness is boundless, but we might reject it to a point of no return: the sin against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31-32; Hebrews 6:4-6).

• It’s extremely hard to get to the point of not hearing the plea of the Holy Spirit. God’s patience is relentless (2 Peter 3:9). His call is unceasing. God will do everything possible to persuade us to accept Him before we reach that point.

• Our souls can “be laid wasted” (v. 6) only if we stubbornly decide not to listen to Him.

From the Pen of Inspiration:

“The whole heart must be yielded to God, or the change can never be wrought in us by which we are to be restored to His likeness. By nature we are alienated from God.” E.G.W. (Steps to Christ, cp. 5, p. 43)

“Confession will not be acceptable to God without sincere repentance and reformation. There must be decided changes in the life; everything offensive to God must be put away. This will be the result of genuine sorrow for sin.” E.G.W. (Steps to Christ, cp. 4, p. 39)