Light Box Love

Some art I did today!

With the light box my stepdad and I made about about a year ago - before he was my stepdad.

Inspired by a picture a friend gave me and it had this verse:

Isaiah 40:30-31

New Living Translation (NLT)

30 Even youths will become weak and tired,
    and young men will fall in exhaustion.
31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
    They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.

    They will walk and not faint.

Blessings!

Isaiah Chapter Six

My absence has been long (for Internet timing) but not really for life timing.
God is taking me through a time of major upheaval and uncertainty where I am learning so much more to rely on him. This is almost a reflection of what is happening in the chapter I will discuss today. So sit back with me and soak it in.

Isaiah 6 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%206&version=NLT)
This chapter in Isaiah is a little bit different to the last 5. I read a devotional on this chapter the other day. It set out to explain that what Isaiah experiences here in this very chapter is exactly when happens when a person turns to Christ. Isaiah experience - though individual - is also universal. This is something I will unpack in a little while.

However lets begin with the TEMPLE.
Isaiah has been brought before the Lord God of the Heavens and Earth. The passage gives us some context - its in the year King Uzziah died.

Who the heck was King Uzziah? King Uzziah was the king of Judah in the time of Isaiah's writing (according to my bible dictionary and its also kind of obvious in the passage as well). It is said that he was struck with leprosy for a 'cultic misdemenour' (I'm guessing for doing some form of worship that was not in relation to God).

So Isaiah is brought before God after King Uzziah has died. In this scene God is sitting on a throne, wearing a robe whose train fills the temple. He is being attended by Seraphim - from my knowledge of Seraphim they were moral beings who served and worshipped God. Their main purposes were possibly centred around guardianship and worship. My bible dictionary also describes the possibility that they had the job of Purification by Fire, they are also only described here in Isaiah chapter 6 (again according to my Bible dictionary). The passage gives a clear image of what they may have looked like (have a look at verse 2). Here they are worshipping God and their worship causes the temple to shake and fill with smoke.

ISAIAH'S REACTION to all of this is to see his own sinfulness/unworthiness in the presence of such power and might. He cries out acknowledging his sin. The reaction of the Seraphim to Isaiah is to purify him. Using a burning coal from the alter of God. Isaiah's guilt is removed and his sin is forgiven.

Then Isaiah hears the voice of the Lord! He is asking who will go and send a message to his people. Isaiah responds 'SEND ME!'.
God allows Isaiah to go and says that the people will not understand and they will not turn to God for healing. God says this will happen until they have all been removed from the land so he can rebuild.


Israel's stump a holy seed?
The final verse states the above phrase. But what does this mean? The only thing I can think to link it to is Jesus Christ. Israel is left with nothing, no land, no relationship with God and no future. However in Jesus Christ all these things are restored. I firmly believe that God shows his stubborn creation his love and our need for him by removing everything that makes us feel secure and then showing us that it is only him that can provide that. And that's what happening here in the passage. God's people will not understand until there is nothing left and God brings in Jesus.

So here's the pattern...

Isaiah shows the pattern of what happens when someone comes before God and understands his might and power. The Individual see's Gods majesty and realises their inability to match that so they naturally bow down. They profess their sins. They are then forgiven by God and then God sends them out to tell others of this forgiveness. Today we do this by coming before God in prayer. We profess our sinfulness to him and ask for forgiveness through Jesus Christ. God offers forgiveness to all and the only reason this is possible is because Jesus Christ came to earth as a man. Being a perfect man he evened out the scale of the sin done by the first man Adam. Thereby taking the punishment for Man's sin and ending the cycle. His death repairs the relationship that was broken so many years ago in the garden of Eden. Jesus resurrection conquers death, death is redundant because it is a punishment for Sin. However when we take the offer for forgiveness for our sins death has no meaning any more. Yes we may still die and physical death because we live in a world broken by sin and because of that our bodies are no loner perfect and age and get sick and die. However we do not spiritually die. He have a confidence that we will live in God's perfect kingdom for the rest of eternity. This these things in mind today was then take up the task of spreading the GOOD NEWS about Jesus death and resurrection for our sinfulness. We go into the world much in the same way that Isaiah did.

I myself although going through a lot of life changes can hold on to the knowledge that I am saved by Jesus' death and resurrection from the dead.

Here is an drawing I did a month or two ago to depict how I often feel in life in relation to God:

The hand underneath is the hand of God, the hand on top is mine. My hand is weak and limp, it lacks strength. However the hand underneath is supportive and hold up mine. I may be weak and I may be lacking in ability and emotional strength. But I have the knowledge that God will keep holding me up in this life for as long as he see's fit for me to live. God is a loving God, a God of peace and a God who supports us through life. He has decided what every day will look like and he is there for us every step of the way.

While I can't wait for Jesus to return to take me to his kingdom and sometime's I can't wait for death to embrace me,  I will continue to walk in the path that God shows me and I will continue to lean on his love. I will continue to hold his hand. I will continue to do the Good Deeds he has set out for me.

God will continue to love us because he is constant and consistent!

Isaiah Chapter Five (Part Two)

Judah's Guilt and Judgement...
Verses 8 to 30!

So we move on now to the second section! From the images of a Vineyard, planted, cared for and grown. However the harvest was bitter. It was not as it should be. So the caretaker teares it down and starts again.

Verses 8 to 12 is a reflection and depiction of what the people were acting like in Judah at the time.
Buying up houses until there was no one left in the land surrounding. This is a story of greed in possessions through the use of great wealth. Often the bible talks about loving your neighbour and not saving up earthly treasures. But here the people are not loving their neighbours. They are buying up all the land they can own until there is no one left around them. 9 and 10 are a response to these actions. God swears an oath! A binding promise and God never breaks his promises in the bible. They have always been fulfilled. God is consistent and why should he be different here? God's oath is to destroy the prosperous empty houses, he will cause the vineyard to stop producing as much as it was built to and the crops will not grow. He is hitting them at their livelihood. Verses 11 and 12 speak of the people being constantly drunk, thinking only of drink and music and parties but not of the Lord. They do not even notice what he is doing to the lands he gave them.


13 to 15 God's people will be sent into exile from the land that he gave them because they have turned away from him. The great and honored will starve and the common people will die of thirst - possibly a reference to their loss of lively hood first and then the situation they will end up in during exile. The picture of the grave in verse 14 is strong. "Licking its lips in anticipation" -> death will come soon and swiftly and it will be satisfying to the grave. A large number of people will die. Death will not distinguish between classes or types of people they all face the same fate. Verse 15 confirms this "Humanity will be destroyed, and people brought down." The arrogant will be humiliated they will have nothing to be arrogant about and will acknowledge how their actions have brought them shame.

16 and 17 is a bit more positive. The Lord's armies will be exalted and Gods holiness is displayed. "The lambs will find good pastures" and they will "feed among the ruins" So there won't be nothing left and God will allow some to remain. Often lambs and sheep as used to represent God's people in the bible. I'm not sure if that's what it is here but it well could be.

18 to 23 has the recurring word 'Sorrow'. This section describes the way that the people think and how it is so backwards from God. The people are mocking God and not understanding his ways. Thinking 'evil is good,' 'dark is light' and 'bitter is sweet'. They do not focus on the things of God but on themselves, putting themselves higher than God. 'Wise in their own eyes.' They are drunks and boastful about it. They take bribes and 'punish the innocent.' These actions are all self-fulfilling and not God fearing or God following at all.

24 through to 30 is again about God's response to these wicked actions from wicked people. God's response again is described as total death and destruction. It interesting to note in verse 29 that 'no one will be there to rescue them.' Its interesting because God rescues his people often in the bible but here he does not. It important to note that only God can rescue them but he does not because of the evil they have done in his eyes.

My God is a vengeful God and his ways are Right!

Isaiah Chapter Five (Part One)

So this is a longer chapter!
I'm going to break it into sections again. There are two main sections: A song about the Lord's vineyard & Judah's guilt and judgement.
There seems to be a recurring theme -> judgement.
However in this post I will be focusing on the first section.

A Song about the Lord's Vineyard (verses 1 - 7)
Being written by Isaiah makes the first verse of this chapter quiet special. "I sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard"
How beautiful is that? Singing to the one he loves. Clearly Isaiah loves the Lord. Clearly this is a strong love and a love that has an element of adoration.
What the heck is a vineyard? -> This is not a silly question! A vineyard is a plantation - or a farm that's focused on the growing of plants - in this case where grapevines are grown. Usually for the production of Wine and I'm assuming that this is the case here.
The thing about vineyards, as with any sort of plantation or farm, is that they take a lot of hard work. Particularly because this is post curse time in the bible.
Lets go back a few steps...

Genesis 3:17-19

17 And to the man he said,

“Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree
    whose fruit I commanded you not to eat,
the ground is cursed because of you.
    All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.
18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you,
    though you will eat of its grains.
19 By the sweat of your brow
    will you have food to eat
until you return to the ground
    from which you were made.
For you were made from dust,
    and to dust you will return.”

Here we can see that working the ground is a hard thing to do - as a result of the fall / the first sin. So this Lord (God) having a vineyard may entail in the first verse that some hard work, thought and effort has gone into the creation of this vineyard.

So lets continue with the rest of this section.
This section is very visual and quiet figurative. Isaiah is comparing Judah and Jerusalem to the Vineyard made by the Lord. I think that the passage is saying that Judah and Jerusalem are the vineyard. The people are looking at their land, the promised land of God; and judging it. This is a visual representation of whats been discussed in Isaiah previously and I believe what is continued to be discussed in the second half of this chapter. This vineyard was worked and loved. Its creator expected it to be prosperous (Verse 2-> Then he waited for a harvest of sweet grapes, but the grapes that grew were bitter.)
So even though this vineyard was cared for the results are not what was intended (kind of like the results in the garden of Eden).
I think when verse 3 is saying Judah judges between the creator and his vineyard its talking about how the people are thinking that because the crops are bad the creator is also bad. This idea is debunked in verse 4 "What more could I have done for my vineyard that I have not already done?"
Its interesting that the author asks why the vineyard gave him bitter grapes. Its the vineyard that produced the bitter grapes so there is something wrong with the vineyard. The core of where the grapes are grown. There is something really wrong at the very roots. (Quiet similar to our sinful natures I think!)

Verses 5 and 6 - The creators response to the ruined vineyard. He tears it down to create space for a new one. I like the words "I will command the clouds to drop no rain on it." Controlling the weather is not something that humanity is capable of doing. This further proves how powerful this creator is.

Verse 7 - Isaiah reports what God says about what he expected his people to be like and what he really found. This is the literal version of the bitter grapes in the well tended vineyard. This is a prelude to the judgement that is to come. This judgement is discussed further in the next section of this chapter.

To finish this post I must say that the visual of the vineyard is very impressive and well thought out. A fantastic way to describe how God's intended creation was meant to be and what the result was.
The BIBLE is an amazing book. I never cease to be in awe of my God. Every chapter reveals or confirms more of my Gods character!

How wonderful it is to be able to know the Lord and God of the Universe!

Blessings!

A note on Zion

So Isaiah Chapter Four references a place called Mount Zion. Now that I'm out of my lazy mood I felt it was important to make a comment on it. I should really find out what it is. When the Bible mentions something it's usually important. You can't just skip bits you don't like or can't be bothered to look at. Thats not the best approach for the bible!

So my bible dictionary doesn't reference Mount Zion as a specific entry. However I did find it to mean a mountain near Jerusalem where the Temple of the Lord was built. Maybe around the time of King David (I'm not 100% on this!) It is also a term used to describe or names God's people Israel.


Here is an Image I got from here: http://www.jerusalemiloveyou.com/jerusalem_geography.html
I've seen Mount Zion referred to as the temple that was built on Mount Moriah. However I could be wrong. I think this needs more investigation.

In Isaiah 4 mount Zion appears to be used to describe God people and the city of Jerusalem.
So Jerusalem will be cleansed in Chapter four and become a safe haven and shelter for the people of God as it was intended to be.

The Bible is a very interesting historical document. There is always more to discover!

Isaiah Chapter Four

So this is a short one... compared to the really long chapter that is to come.
Having a lazy night tonight so I'm using Biblegateway -> http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%204&version=NLT

Biblegateway is actually fantastic. A few months ago the bibles I used for my scripture class went missing (always a positive and a negative when bibles are stolen - obviously being used for some greater purpose than my class). I'd been battling with the girls and their laptops for week beforehand. They just wouldn't get off them, no matter when I said. So I figured (massive cliche here) 'if you can't beat them, join them.'
Why the government decided to give every high school student from 9th grade in NSW a laptop I don't know - they can access facebook and everything.
Anyway biblegateway is where we do our studies now. Which is good actually because these girls can access the bible wherever they are. I am showing them how to use the site and its good. Thank the lord of missing bibles and laptops.

Anyway... back to the purpose of this post. Isaiah chapter 4!
The heading I find in this short chapter is: A promise of Restoration!

However before this heading there's a little section about the social demographics of what is to come. The thought that so few men will be around that women will beg them for marriage. Which is odd really. Plus the women say that they can feed and provide for themselves. All the women want to be married is for the social status. So they 'won't be mocked as old maids'. This is a link back to the last chapter where the women were focused on looks. Their social status is more important than the marriage relationships. What a HORRIBLE idea!

A Promise of Restoration!
2 But in that day, the branch[a] of the Lord
    will be beautiful and glorious;
the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory
    of all who survive in Israel.
3 All who remain in Zion
    will be a holy people—
those who survive the destruction of Jerusalem
    and are recorded among the living.
4 The Lord will wash the filth from beautiful Zion[b]
    and cleanse Jerusalem of its bloodstains
    with the hot breath of fiery judgment.
5 Then the Lord will provide shade for Mount Zion
    and all who assemble there.
He will provide a canopy of cloud during the day
    and smoke and flaming fire at night,
    covering the glorious land.
6 It will be a shelter from daytime heat
    and a hiding place from storms and rain.

These verses are interesting. A different image from the last chapter. Like usual the Lord God provides an alternative to destruction. He provides a WAY OUT! 
His alternative again is to follow him. And he provides a picture of what that will look like. God will restore his Holy People. He will cleans those who remain to follow him. He will restore and provide for his people. The place of the lord will be a hiding place and a shelter.

How WONDERFUL to be sheltered by the Lord. To live and dwell under the Lord. To be cared for as we should be as followers of the Lord.

GOD OUR IS A WONDERFUL PROVIDER!

Isaiah Chapter Three

So after another day of feeling sick, sleeping, catching up on online lectures, dropping a unit of study and baking chocolate cookies... its finally time for me to sit down with my bible.
The headings consist of - 'Judgement against Judah' and 'A warning for Jerusalem's Women'
I'm guessing that the Judgement outlined in Chapter Two is being extended here in chapter 3.

Judgement against Judah
The first paragraph I find here (3 verses 1 - 5) seems to be a changing of order. GOD ACTS - he gets rid of the food and water supplies - two vital things for human life! Then he destroys the leaders of the nations - people who are often looked up to and trusted to keep the peace and provide safety for the citizens. Then God appoints children. Here's something fundamental about children compared to adults. A lack of knowledge and life skills. I'm not sure if it means God will appoint actual physical children or if he is appointing people who act like children. People who are not equipped to lead a nation, people who don't have the skills or knowledge of what it means to lead a nation. (verse 4 - 'anarchy will prevail)
In verse five it seems that no one will respect each other, everyone will be out for their own interests and there will be no order. Almost like the survival of the fittest. Seems a bit like how we live today don't you think?
I like verses 6 and 7. The fact that someone who has a cloak is asked to rule is amusing to me. I'm guessing that the idea of a cloak is big for this prophecy. It kind of shows how people will have nothing, everything is in "ruins" so asking someone who has a cloak to rule is interesting. I'm guessing that in this scene being able to keep a cloak means you are a thoughtful person, who is able to conserve things that are needed - cloaks for warmth etc... they think ahead. Compared to the "childish" leaders someone with a cloak must look admirable and capable. The only problems is that this person only has one cloak, they have only cared for them self; they are lacking the capacity to help or look after anyone else. How can a person lead a nation if all they have is a cloak on there back?
Verses 8 and 9 form another little paragraph for me. The theme of this is the open sin and unashamed way that the people are acting against God. Their cities are in ruins and their relationships are in ruins and they openly defy God. They bring about their own destruction!
10 and 11 - contrast what life will be like for those who follow the Lord compared to those who won't. Those who follow God and are Godly will receive a reward. Imagine being rewarded by the biggest God! The most powerful being in the Universe! However those who don't follow the Lord and don't seek to be Godly in this passage will be punished.
Verse 12 - It kind of stands out on its own and links back into the beginning of the section. The leaders of the nation - women and children. The bible is very clear on the roles of Men, Women and Children. In this time Men were the one who were educated so I can understand why it says that women shouldn't rule here. How can someone who is uneducated rule and lead a people to prosperity. It was a very different time to what we experience now (however I will leave my opinions on Women's roles in this time to another post). I enjoy the image of a pretty garden path here. The contrast between the pretty and the destruction that awaits. What looks pleasing now and what looks like a good idea doesn't always end up being so. This is one of those times.
Verses 13 - 15 -> A scene involving the Lord. A court room scene, a place of judgement and trial. The order of Judgement is set - the leaders of the people. The leaders who are supposed to lead the people in the ways of the Lord. A people set apart to follow God especially. These leaders have taken advantage and led the people astray. They have not followed the Lord and it seems only right and just that they be judged first.

A Warning for Jerusalem's Women
Its interesting here the way that the women are judged next. Their actions show their priorities surely! They view themselves as first and most important. Their appearance is what is most important and gaining the affections of men is part of that. The plague of scabs and baldness is interesting. It changes their physical appearance to something unpleasant. God takes away all their jewels and fine clothing and perfumes. They will smell, wear ropes and their hair will fall out. Sackcloth is mentioned as the new dress. Sackcloth was warn in times of mourning and grief. Only fitting here. I wonder if they will be grieving not only their lost beauty but their choices to turn from the Lord. Only shame will be left to them (verse 24).
Lastly it says that the men will die in battle, the city will be in mourning and weak.

A reflection: Having never looked at these passages before I find myself linking the scenes to today's world. Our leaders (in Australia particularly) spend a great deal of time bickering like children, looking out for their self interests. And the actions of people are selfish. We however don't live in such a desperate time as this prophecy of Jerusalem shows. However I am struck with the depiction of the dress and attitudes of the women of Jerusalem. I can see this as a priority of the women in today age. Being a 20 year old woman myself I do fall prey to this sort of thought. Beauty and appearance are very important to women these days and is often the first thing we are judged on. And not just by men but other women. This passage is a good reminder to me to follow the ways of the Lord and not worship clothing and make-up. Not to want the eyes of men to fall on me for my body but to fall on me for my heart for the Lord.

To strive for the Lord is my goal and this passage is a good reminder of what will happen if I don't.

In God I trust!

Isaiah Chapter Two

So after a day of... being sick, dizzy, watching Dexter/Friends, eating soup, catching up on lectures and completing part of a Uni assignment... it's finally time to sit down with my bible -> before my parents return home to being their karaoke practice. (Ask me about that later!)
Isaiah Chapter Two - lets see how my brain goes, since my vocal chords won't work.

The headings I come across are: The Lord's future reign and a Warning of Judgement.
My first impressions of these headings without actually reading the text are -> well that's a pattern I see in the bible often. The Lord - I'm assuming Jesus - is continually looked toward as the king of all creation, the heavens and earth. We are now in the time where we wait for his return to become the reigning king forevermore. God always provides a warning of judgement before it comes. Part of me thinks it is so we can't turn and say "well you didn't tell us what to expect!" Also humanity likes predictability - it creates a feeling of stability.

The Lord's future reign: Another vision (verse 1). From the passage I am hoping that my interpretation of the text to mean after Jesus return, however the words "last days" (verse 2) could mean before his return. I do not possess enough biblical theology knowledge to feel confident about this. Although I think some scholars may feel similarly to me. Moving on...
The idea of the temple of the Lord being the most important place on Earth is mind boggling. This would mean that every human being would be focused on the Lord! That the Lord God would be the center of all human life - which he should be but since the fall we all know that isn't the case right now.
People from all over the world coming to the temple - its almost a reversal of the tower of Babel (Genesis 11: 1-9). The people of the world focused on one goal. However instead of selfish gain and a great name for themselves they would be coming together in worship of the Lord!
Verse 3 - "he will teach us his ways, so that we may obey him." -> this is something that God has called for many times over in the Old Testament before the book of Isaiah. Mainly in Genesis and with the calling of his people Israel. The idea of God teaching his people at the temple means contact with God, relationship with God. The ability to converse with God! Isn't that INCREDIBLE?
Further in verse 3 it says "the Lord's teaching and his word will go out from Jerusalem" Is this a prophecy of the ascension of Jesus, the giving of the Holy Spirit and the spread of the Gospel from the Jews and to the Gentiles? That's what it looks like to me. We have to remember that in the Old Testament - which is where we are reading right now - the message of God was mainly and pretty much exclusively for the people of God alone. That is the Israelites who were the Jews. Its not until Jesus but mainly after Jesus that the MESSAGE OF SALVATION is shared with the Gentiles. (Note: Gentiles just means non-Jewish people.)

The beating of swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks is significant.
The word beating is a forceful word, giving the idea of hard work, breaking a sweat. So behind this action is intent, its is meaningful.

• But what's a plowshare? -> Thanks to the invention of Google I found out that a plowshare is the cutting blade of a plow and a plow is a tool used for farming. A tool to help in the planting of crops.
• Pruning hook? -> A cutting tool used from pruning trees and other crops.

So a plowshare is for creating, growing crops and a pruning hook is for maintaining crops.
Its pretty cool how the tools used for war are in this passage changed for farming. Instead of warring against one another the nations are coming together to work the ground. This is possibly reflective of the beginning purpose of humanity to rule and care for the earth (see Genesis chapters 1 and 2). These tools are helpful if we are in  a pre-Jesus return era since we would still act under the curse of the ground being hard to work (Genesis 3).
Wars stopping and military training ending is significant because in the text there will not longer be a need for such things. People working in harmony together under the will and care of the Lord God.
LET US WALK IN THE LIGHT OF THE LORD! (verse 5)

A warning of Judgement:
Here's the flip-side of the chapter. We leave the bliss of the imagery of a people following one God together and enter the images of what happens to a land who does not unite under God.
In these verses we notice that the people are breaking some of the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20). They are not worshiping the Lord but the idols of the nations around them. In creating alliances with other nations they are being infiltrated by the cultures and practices of these nations also. The influence and love of God is being rejected for the pleasures and fleshy desires of the other nations. Here's something that has happened over and over again throughout Genesis and Exodus. The people of God turning from him, their focus is not on the ways and wills of the Lord but on the ways and wills of their minds and  their wrongful, lustful desires.
AND THIS MAKES GOD ANGRY!
HE REJECTS THEM!

The Lord cannot simply ignore their sins! (Verse 9)

The imagery here is extremely powerful. The call for people to hide from the wrath of God. The crawl into caves in rocks. To take cover from what is to come.
It really gives you a sense of God unending, undeniable power!
The people will be afraid and ashamed. What they built that wasn't under the Lord will be destroyed so the GLORY of the Lord will come through. The Lord will not stand for their disobedience.
The idea that the earth will shake is scary. Earthquakes kill thousands of people! The Lord has this power and no one can manufacture it. Only the Lord has the capacity to control the earth and everything in it.
This is something people often forget.

Final thoughts: When I read passages like this - with such stark contrasts in content - I come to a feeling of fear of the Lord. Seeing his power and Glory, but it is a fear that come in hand with admiration. I should fear the Lord, he has the power to smite me down at any second. But he is also a loving and caring God. He offer redemption - which we saw in the first part. We should live under him and there will be a day when we do. But for now I am content to live in fear and admiration of my God.

And on that note:

Stop putting your trust in mere humans. They are frail as breath. How can they be help to anyone? (Chapter 2 verse 22)

Isaiah Chapter One

It all began yesterday when I was doing a quick bible overview with some friends at Uni. I am pretty good with my Old Testament - at least the first 5 books and I'm pretty good with my New Testament. Then it hit me... BAM! I don't know my prophets. One of my lovely best friends/practically sister's has been telling me how much she loves the book of Isaiah.
So here I am. I am going to read Isaiah.
I began last night with Chapter one.
But before I begin to debrief my reading I am going to look up some context/background on this book.

Context: Isaiah according to the New Bible Dictionary 3rd Edition (Marshall, Millard, Packer, Wiseman)
 Isaiah - the Prophet -> Lived in Jerusalem. Possibly of Royal blood/noble descent. Called to be a Prophet around 740 BC. Married with 2 kids. Prophecies centered around Judah and Jerusalem.
Isaiah - the Book -> Judah under the rule of King Uzziah (782-753 BC) - a time of great prosperity. Assyrian threat and the eventual exile to Babylon.

A good friend of mine informed me that Isaiah is written in 2 sections. 1. to Jerusalem in the time of the Assyrian threat and a Prophesy of exile to Babylon. 2. The future of Jerusalem and Israel toward the end of the Babylonian exile and a look to the future heaven and earth. The new Zion.

Now that I've got some sort of Context, although I might not completely understand it, at least I have something to bounce my understanding off.

Chapter One
(I'm reading an NLT - New Living Translation - although I enjoy and mostly read the NIV - New International Version pre-2011 edition)

The first feelings I had for this passage were sadness. The idea of visions is pretty cool as well. The introduction verses are always a good way to see what's going on and what the purpose of the text is.
The two major headings I find are "A Message for Rebellious Judah" and "Unfaithful Jerusalem". Not a good start guys!

On Judah - 1:2-20
What a sad thing, for God to exclaim how Judah has turned from him. The fact that they are compared to animals makes a strong statement. Isaiah reflects how God cares of his people yet they still turn from him. They do not appreciate him. They are corrupt and do not follow his teachings. The land they live in is ravaged, they have been attacked and barely made it out alive. The imagery of sickness is extremely compelling. Verse 9 - the comparison to the fact that if not for God they would have been wiped out like Sodom and Gomorrah.
The leaders of the people are always addressed - this is something I have notices throughout. They lead Gods people and are responsible for their welfare. However this is not happening - see verse 10.
How incredible is it that God says that he is "sick" of their sacrifices. The people have forgotten about what a sacrifice means. They have forgotten about the reparation of the relationship between them and God., Sacrificing in that time without the intention of sin removal was worthless in Gods eyes. The repentance just doesn't seem to be there. If there is no repentance then there is no meaning for the sacrifice. They are meaninglessly slaughtering Gods creation for their own traditions and feelings. verse 12/13 - "Why do you keep parading in my courts with your worthless sacrifices? The incense you bring me is stench to my nostrils!"

Verse 15 - "From now on, when you lift up your hands in prayer, I will refuse to look. Even though you offer many prayers, I will not listen. For your hands are covered with the blood of your innocent victims."
How sad it is when God chooses to turn from his people because of their wickedness. When he has cared for them and stopped them from being destroyed yet they continue to go against his will. They seem to have no respect for his love or his actions.

But here God is calling for REDEMPTION AND FORGIVENESS, he says "No matter how deep your sins, I can remove it. I can make you clean as freshly fallen snow." (Verse 18)

God is always good! He always gives an alternative. Follow him and enjoy his love and care or turn and be destroyed. I don't know about you but I choose to follow.

On Jerusalem - 1: 21-31
Compared to a Prostitute and filled with murderers! Worthless slag! Watered-down wine! God speaks differently of Jerusalem here. And a lot less too. A notion that Jerusalem has already repented is seen in verse 27 but before that Isaiah is speaking of the city as if it is going to be redone, made-over.  The removal of impurities and the restoration of Judges. To be known as a "Home of Justice" and "The Faithful City" (verse 26).
It seems that without God in Jerusalem the people will wither away and be destroyed.
It interesting how Isaiah speak of Jerusalem remembering what it was like before God restored them and that they will be shamed and blush. A stark image of what it means to be with God and to be without God,

And thats the End of Isaiah 1. A lot of stuff in a short time.
Reminds me of how powerful God is and how much he values his relationships with his people. Hoe much he wants them to follow him and let him care for them. After all he is their creator, who says he hasn't got the right to these things? Who else has the authority to dictate these things?

Only God Alone!