Isaiah 1:2 & 16-21 Give ear, you heavens and earth - for it is the Lord who speaks; I reared children, but they have rebelled against Me.......Now, put away your evil deeds, learn to do good, pursue justice and protect the oppressed.
Come, let us argue this out, says the Lord. Though your sins are as scarlet, they may yet be white as snow. If you are willing to obey, you will have the best that the earth yields, but if you refuse and rebel, then the sword will devour you.
How the faithful people have played the harlot! Your glory has turned to ashes. Your rulers are rebels, associates of thieves, taking bribes and denying people’s rights.
Isaiah 1:24-31 This, therefore, is the Word of the Lord, the Mighty One of Israel: Now I will get relief from My foes and avenge Myself on My enemies. Once again I shall act against you to refine you of your impurities. Rebels and sinners alike will be broken and those who forsake the Lord will perish. Your idols will turn out to be false and worthless. You will be like a tree with falling leaves, like a waterless garden. The strongest person and their works will flare up and burn with no one to quench the fire.
I shall make your judges and councilors as they once were. Then you will be called the place of the Righteous, the Faithfull people. The Land of Israel will be redeemed with justice and her returning people by righteousness. Reference: Revised English Bible, some verses abridged.
“though your sins be as scarlet” : People are indicted for their faithlessness. Jeremiah4:22, Jeremiah 3:10-11&25, Isaiah 59:12-14
“they may yet be as white as the snow”: There is the hope that although our sins are piled high, we can be cleansed – if we are willing to obey the Lord’s Commandments and Laws and have faith in Him, then He will reward us with great blessings. Psalms 40:1-5, Psalms 80:14-19, Isaiah 45:22-25, Romans 5:6-11, Titus 3:3-6
“ Once again I shall act – if you refuse and rebel, you will die” This refers to the Day of the Lord’s vengeance – the next prophesied event, when the Lord’s enemies are punished. Deuteronomy 32:41, Isaiah 66:15-16, Habakkuk 3:12, Malachi 4:1
All the world will be judged on that Day. Revelation 6:12-17, Isaiah 35:4, Jeremiah 6:9-15 The Lord’s people will be tested and refined, 1 Peter 4:17-18, and those who refuse to acknowledge the Lord will die. Ezekiel 20:38, Hosea 7:1, 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, Romans 1:18-32
“ungodly people and their works will burn to ashes”, On the Day of the Lord’s wrath, fire from the sun will destroy His enemies – a CME sunstrike. Isaiah 30:26, Malachi 4:1&3, Psalms 50:1-3, 2 Peter 3:7
“I will give you wise leaders”: The leaders of His people, in the new nation of Beulah, Isaiah 62:1-5 – resettled in the Land, will be wise and just, as in ancient Israel. Daniel 12:10, Daniel 11:33, Ezekiel 39:25-29, Isaiah 32:15-20, Jeremiah 3:15, Jeremiah 30:21