Isaiah 1

1."The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
2. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the LORD has spoken; "I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me;
3. The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master's crib; but Israel does not know, My people do not consider."

v.1. - Notice that verse 1 begins by saying "The vision of Isaiah...in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah" Isaiah received one (singular) vision throughout his entire ministry which spanned the reign of 4 kings.
It is obvious that Isaiah was shown many visions (plural) during his ministry, yet the point that God is making is that He is showing Isaiah only ONE, SINGULAR vision. God has one purpose, one goal, one MESSAGE that He wants Isaiah to proclaim - for His people to RETURN to HIM!

v.2. - When Isaiah writes "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth!" he is proclaiming that the LORD is calling both heaven and earth as witnesses against Israel's adultery.
"Deuteronomy 19:15 - By the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established."
He then goes on to describe the LORD's case that He, as their Father, has raised them as children, yet they turned away from Him.
Animals such as the ox and donkey know the care of their masters and they don't violate that relationship, yet Israel left their first love.
The professing church today has done much of the same - leaving behind the commandments of YAH for their own traditions.

4. "Alas, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked to anger the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away backward."

v.4. - Elohim calls them a "sinful nation" and not His people. The nation of Israel laid claim to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob but many of them did not place their faith and trust in Him as their Lord and Savior. They chased after other gods and committed adultery against the LORD, therefore many were merely a nation before Him and not His children.
He establishes His place as the Maker and Sanctifier of Israel (the Holy One of Israel) and still His children have turned their back on Him. If you are a father (or mother) imagine your children turning away from you and walking into sin! Your heart would be broken;
Jesus, in John chapter 8, touches on this very same issue. It says that those Jews who believed Him came to Him and claimed their heritage came from them being descendants of Abraham and because of that they were free.
But the Lord corrects them in saying that "whoever commits sin is a slave to sin" and that if they were Abraham's children they would not seek to kill Him. In the same thought He points out that if they were God's children they would love Him (Jesus).
As John the baptist said in Luke 3:8 - "For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones." Being a child of Abraham means being a child of faith who obeys the commandments of Yahweh/Yeshua/Holy Spirit and not our own commandments.

5. "Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints.
6. From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundess in it, but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; They have not been closed or bound up, or soothed with ointment."

v.5. - He says the whole head is sick because they have replaced the true Head for their own.
"I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God." - 1 Corinthians 11:3
v.6. - When an entire body is sick it cannot function well, if at all. With putrefying (fresh, dripping, recently made) sores, Israel is made disgustingly sick by their grotesque adultery.
God is the One who soothes our wounds with ointment ("by His stripes we are healed" Isaiah 53:5b; "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God." 2 Corinthians 2:21)

Verses 7 & 8 speak of the utter destruction of Israel for rejecting the LORD. As they abandoned Him, so He promises to abandon them for their unfaithfulness.

9. "Unless the LORD of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been made like Gomorrah.
10. "Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah:
11. "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?" says the LORD. I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats.
12. When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts?
13. 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.
14. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them."

Isn't Elohim the One who commanded Israel to offer sacrifices, burn incense to Him and celebrate the New Moons, the Sabbath, and the feasts? The answer is Yes, He is. So why would He say that His soul hates them?
Many use these and other similar verses to make the case that God is done with the Sabbath and feasts. They are called the Jew's feasts and the Jewish Sabbath and so on. However, in Leviticus 23 Yahweh calles them HIS feasts! and in Isaiah 56 & 58 He calles the Sabbath, "My Sabbath" and "My holy day; the holy day of the LORD". Doesn't sound like He's not claiming them, does it?
If those who argue their case would simply open their hearts and choose to see the context for what it is, they would understand.
Yahweh is saying that Israel has made His feasts, His Sabbath, and the New Moon abominable because of their SIN! He validates this point in the next verse.
15. "When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood."

The LORD proclaims His position that He will not respond to them, even in their prayers because they have committed great sin, including murder! How can He except their offerings and praise when they have done such things without remorse and repentance. He will continue to build this case in the remainder of this chapter.
Notice though, what He says to them in these next verses.
16. "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of our doings from before My eyes.
Cease to do evil,
17. Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor;
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow.
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."

The LORD is always reaching out to us when we sin. For those who choose to walk in constant disobedience, there is still hope with the LORD: if they listen to His instruction, turn away from their sin, and walk in obedience, just as Ezekiel 36:27 and Ephesians 2:10 points out.
Notice that the LORD gives them some very specific things to begin doing as we read in verse 17.
And then in verse 18 we see the compassion and patience of the LORD when He says, "Come now, and let us reason together". He is always willing to dialogue with us. Unlike most people's vision of God, He is not some supreme being who cares little for His creation, rather, He is a loving, merciful Father who cares for His children and all of His creation.

19. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;
20. But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

Promises from the LORD that will come true, if we obey or if we rebel.

In verses 19 - 23 we see what Israel is doing that upsets the LORD and it is exactly what He counsels them to do in verse 16 and 17.

21. "How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it. But now murderers. (v.16,17 - Cease to do evil; Learn to do good)

22. Your silver has become dross, Your wine mixed with water. (v.17 - Seek justice)

23. Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; (v.17 - Rebuke the oppressor;)

Everyone loves bribes. and follows after rewards (related to seeking after justice)

They do not defend the fatherless, nor does the cause of the widow come before them.

(v.17 - Defend the fatherless. Plead for the widow)

Verses 24 - 31 end the chapter with the LORD's promise to restore save His people and destroy the wicked. It can really be summed up in verse 28b - "and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed." The LORD is a consuming fire and a righteous Judge who will defend the innocent and rebuke the guilty. Praise YAH!