Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.
Isaiah directs his words to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, and there are at least three lenses through which we can view this address.
Is Isaiah addressing Sodom and Gomorrah historically?
Absolutely not. Given that Isaiah lived centuries after the cities’ destruction, he isn’t speaking to the cities, people, and rulers who inhabited the region in the days of Lot.
Is he addressing Sodom and Gomorrah literally?
Again, a firm no. By the time Isaiah prophesied, these cities were long gone, devoid of rulers and inhabitants. There was no literal Sodom and Gomorrah left in his time.
Is he addressing Sodom and Gomorrah typically?
That’s a resounding affirmative. As a prophet in the southern kingdom, situated adjacent to the former site of Sodom and Gomorrah, it’s evident that Isaiah is using typology to convey his message.
Now, anticipating objections from skeptics who might challenge the accuracy of the Word of God, it’s crucial to understand that employing typology is a valid form of literal interpretation. In this context, Isaiah, by referencing Sodom and Gomorrah, is shedding light on the nature of the people and rulers in Jerusalem.
Consider Isaiah 1:11, where the Lord questions the purpose of the multitude of sacrifices in Jerusalem.[1] Here, the lesson is clear— their sacrifices, lacked purpose. The broader message is that religious practices devoid of understanding serve no meaningful purpose.
Religion does meaningless things. Genuine Christianity is full of meaning and purpose. To go through religious activity such as, for instance, baptism and Lord’s Supper without understanding them is worthless or worse. But when we comprehend and embrace the truths about Christ they memorialize, they become full of life for us.
#InterpretationInsights #IsaiahTypology #UnderstandingScripture #PropheticMeaning #SpiritualLessons #bibliology
Isaiah’s Insight: Isaiah’s Warning to Modern-Day Worship
[1] Isaiah 1:11 (KJV)
To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
To my readers:
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