Isn’t it a horrible feeling when you’ve been out working in the middle of summer and you’re sweaty and nasty and just…dirty? Ugh. Is there a worse feeling that feeling dirty? As bad as it is, is there anything better than finally stepping into the shower and washing away all the muck and the grime?
700 years before the birth of the Savior, the prophet Isaiah spoke to the people of Judah and warned them of the punishment of God that was coming as a result of their sins. In the process he spoke of their arrogance in the face of God’s warnings, and how their hearts and minds had left godliness for worldly pleasures.
In chapter 3, the prophet goes into detail describing the women of Judah, who lavished themselves with pearls, rings, fancy clothes, purses, etc. They lived high on the proverbial hog while the less fortunate of the land starved in the streets. Isaiah’s message: When Babylon invades the land, the women will not have it so comfortable…
The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,
The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,
The rings, and nose jewels,
The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,
The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.
And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.Isaiah 3:19-24
They loved to dress their best and spend hours looking good for the men they sought to impress but the tide is soon to change,; instead of wearing nice perfume they will smell the burned flesh of a Babylonian branding iron. Instead of fancy clothing they will wear a plain sack for a dress. Instead of well-kept hair they will be shaved bald like slaves. Instead of an expensive designer belt they will have a simple rope tied around their waste. And instead of smelling like they just stepping out of a spa, they will “stink.” The word is used to describe putrid garbage.
The women of Judah smell nice now, but they will soon need a bath.
On the other hand, to the eyes and nose of God, the people of Judah are dirty long before they go into captivity…
And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
Isaiah 1:15
When this nation of hypocrites decides to pray to God (lifting up their hands was a cultural expression of prayer), God says He won’t be giving them His attention. Why? Their hands are dirty; stained with blood. They carry the evidence of a thousand crimes against Jehovah. They’re dirty; they need a bath…
Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
Isaiah 1:16
All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). No prayer can save us in a lost state. We need to be washed and made clean: We need to wash the blood of our sins that is staining our hands, and remove it with the cleansing power of Jesus’ blood. Judah was invited to metaphorically wash their sins by ceasing to do evil. She was already the people of God and needed to repent and turn back to God.
Today a lost person is not a child of God. He lost the right to call himself that when he first sinned. He needs to repent and turn to God, and then he needs to obey the command to wash his sins away. Have you done that? If not, why not? As Ananias said to Saul:
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Acts 22:16
Think about it!
Have a great day!
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