Sermon Title: Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the law. Wash yourselves, purify yourselves, remove the evil of your deeds from before My eyes, cease to do wrong and stop committing sin.
Isaiah 1:10–31
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ our Lord, greetings to you all in the fold of our eternal living God, here in beloved South Sudan. On this blessed morning, by God’s grace to His chosen people from eternity, I hope you are all well.
Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ our Lord, I am pleased first to remind you of this grace from the Holy Bible, as you prepare to accept it into your eternal lives spiritually, with faith and trust in the eternal Lord Jesus Christ.
A brief note on the sermon: Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the law. Wash yourselves, purify yourselves, remove the evil of your deeds from before My eyes, cease to do wrong and stop committing sin.
As the Bible points out in the main verses of Isaiah 1:10–31:
- “Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah.
- What are your many sacrifices to Me? says the Lord. I am full of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats.
- When you come to appear before Me, who has required this of you, to trample My courts?
- Stop bringing meaningless offerings; incense is detestable to Me. New moons, Sabbaths, and convocations—I cannot bear your assemblies mixed with sin.
- My soul hates your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts; they have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them.
- When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood.
- Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before My eyes. Stop doing wrong, learn to do right; seek justice, defend the oppressed, take up the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.
- ‘Come now, let us reason together,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
- If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.’ For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
The passage continues to describe how the faithful city became corrupt, its leaders turned to bribery and theft, and justice was abandoned. Yet the Lord promises to restore judges and counselors as in the past, so that Zion will be redeemed with justice and righteousness, while rebels and sinners will be broken together.
The Bible also teaches us about justice and mercy in society, as in Micah 6:8: “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”
And in Revelation 1:3: “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.”
Also in Daniel 12:3: “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”
In conclusion, beloved brothers and sisters: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Author: Elder in the Seventh-day Adventist Church Contact: WhatsApp +211 913306885 Email: johndour268@gmail.com