Sunday School Lesson

1. Isaiah 1:10-20
God Confronts
September 6, 2020
His Followers Sunday School Class
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
What’s the number one thing?
The glory of God!
1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of
God.
Isaiah 43:5 TLB
5 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you from east and west, 6 from
north and south. I will bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the
farthest corners of the earth. 7 All who claim me as their God will come, for I have
made them for my glory; I created them.
Psalm 119
Father, teach us Thy statutes (v12),
Open our eyes (v18),
Stir our hearts (v2,32,36),
And enlighten our minds (v 27,34,73,125).
References:
• BE Series – by Warren Wiersbe
The Bible Exposition Commentary –
Old Testament – The Prophets.
• Tony Evans Bible Commentary,
The: Advancing God's Kingdom Agenda.
• The Human Problem
Author: Ray C. Stedman
Message transcript and recording © 1985 by
Ray Stedman Ministries, owner of sole copyright by assignment from the
author.
For permission to use this content, please review
RayStedman.org/permissions.
Subject to permissions policy, all rights reserved.

2. The Isaiah Scroll
Designated 1Qlsa and also known as the Great Isaiah Scroll, is one of the
seven Dead Sea Scrolls that were first discovered by Bedouin shepherds in 1946
from Qumran Cave 1. It is the oldest complete copy of the Book of Isaiah, being
approximately 1000 years older than the oldest Hebrew manuscripts known
before the scrolls' discovery. 1QIsa is also notable in being the only scroll from
the Qumran Caves to be preserved almost in its entirety.
The Gospel According to Isaiah:
Although he wrote during the period of 740 to 700 BC, Isaiah is the prophet most
often quoted in the New Testament. He was a prophet to the Southern Kingdom
at the same time as Hosea, Amos and Micah. Isaiah was of the tribe of Judah,
and according to Rabbinic tradition was closely related to several Kings.
He was part of the aristocratic class and may have been raised in the King’s
palace in Jerusalem. Often called the greatest of Israel’s writing prophets,
Isaiah’s book is exceeded in length only by the Psalms and (just barely)
Jeremiah.
Tradition has it that after a long career as one of Israel’s prophets, Isaiah so upset
King Manasseh, to whom he was related, that the wicked king had him sawed in
half. This is hinted at in Hebrews 11:36-38 (Hall of Faith), part of a passage that
speaks of the danger one faced in being a man of God.
It reads: “Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put
in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by
the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted
and mistreated―the world was not worthy of them.”
Isaiah was a farseeing prophet who recorded some remarkable prophecies
centering on the coming (1st & 2nd time) of God's Messiah. The 53rd chapter of
his prophecy is such a clear picture of Christ that this book is often called "The
Gospel according to Isaiah, or the Fifth Gospel."
Isaiah 53:3-4 NKJV
3 He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
4 Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.

3. Isaiah 53:5-7 NKJV
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
Isaiah 53:10a NKJV
10a Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
• The plan pleased God.
Isaiah Chapter 53:
God's plan of redemption and His work of redemption are central in this
prophecy. That is even suggested in the name of the prophet himself -- Isaiah,
which means "God saves."
Isaiah:
The book of Isaiah itself is considered to be a miniature Bible. There are 66 books
of the Bible, and Isaiah has 66 chapters. The Bible divides between the Old and
the New Testaments, and Isaiah also divides into two halves. The Old Testament
has 39 books, and the first division of Isaiah has 39 chapters. The New Testament
has 27 books, and the second half of Isaiah (chapters 40-66) has 27 chapters.
The opening chapter of the second division of Isaiah, Chapter 40, describes the
ministry of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Messiah, the voice crying in the
wilderness, "prepare ye the way of the Lord." In the New Testament likewise, the
first figure introduced is John the Baptist, crying in the wilderness, "prepare ye the
way of the Lord." The closing chapter of Isaiah deals with the creation of the new
heavens and the new earth. Revelation, the last book in the New Testament,
deals with the same subject -- the creation of the new Heavens and the new
Earth.
This great prophecy of Isaiah, therefore, captures not only the theme of all
Scripture and its central focus on the Savior of mankind Himself, but also it
reflects the divisions of the Bible itself.

4. Isaiah:
The sudden change in theme has caused some liberal theologians to ascribe
the last 27 chapters, sometimes called the Book of Comfort, to an unknown
author they call Deutero-Isaiah. The fact that the last part of the book contains
much more in the way of specific prophecy helps them justify this dual
authorship, at least to themselves. This is because liberal theology pre-supposes
the impossibility of predictive prophecy, and therefore Isaiah couldn’t have
known the future.
But the Lord Jesus knew that Isaiah wrote the entire book. In John 12:38-41 He
quoted from both parts of Isaiah (53:1 first and then 6:10) attributing them to the
same author. If you need confirming opinions, the Jewish historian Josephus
thought so too, and evangelical Christianity overwhelmingly supports the book’s
single authorship.
The funny thing is, not only did Isaiah write the whole book, but many scholars
believe that a number of his prophetic passages had a dual fulfillment in mind.
The first would culminate in the Babylonian captivity, which came 100 years
later, while the second was for the end of the age (our day).
Many prophecies in the Bible have a double meaning, a near fulfillment and a
far fulfillment. Some even have a triple meaning!
I have a personal connection to Isaiah:
The Isaiah 38 story of Labor Day weekend 2004!
Jan and I were in New Orleans for the holiday and I had read Isaiah 37 late that
Friday night September 3, 2004 before I went to sleep. Then, a few hours later at
5:30 am on September 4th, I woke up with chest pains! I left the bedroom and
the pain went away.
A few minutes later, I went back into the bedroom where Jan was sleeping and
the pain came back. Because there were feather pillows and a feather
comforter in the bedroom, I assumed that the feathers were causing some kind
of reaction so I went back into the other room and the pain went away again.
Since I had just read Isaiah 37 the night before, I thought that I would read Isaiah
38 while Jan slept a little longer. The first verse of chapter 38 says: “And Isaiah
the prophet went to King Hezekiah and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set
your house in order, for the time for you to die has come.’”

5. Isaiah 38:1-8 NKJV
Hezekiah’s Life Extended
1 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the
son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in
order, for you shall die and not live.’”
2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, 3 and
said, “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and
with a loyal heart and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah
wept bitterly.
4 And the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying, 5 “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus
says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have
seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years. 6 I will deliver you and
this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.” ’ 7 And
this is the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing which He has
spoken: 8 Behold, I will bring the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down
with the sun on the sundial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward.” So the sun returned
ten degrees on the dial by which it had gone down.
A personal connection to Isaiah:
I told Jan that it did not work out well for Hezekiah to live 15 years past what God
had originally said was His will so I suggested that we ask God, not necessarily
to extend my life, but that His will be done.
This past Friday I finished my 16th (15+1) year post heart attack!
I thank God that He has seen fit to allow me to live another 16 years!
Isaiah 1
Israel’s ancient apostasy typifies an end-time apostasy, with salvation reserved
for some who repent.
Isaiah 2
Isaiah 2:4 is taken as an unofficial mission statement by the United Nations.
Isaiah 2:4 NKJV
4 He shall judge between the nations,
And rebuke many people;
They shall beat their swords into plowshares,
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Neither shall they learn war anymore.

6. Overview:
God’s Plan for the World:
God’s Holiness, Righteousness and God’s Plan
Monotheism first seen in Isaiah 44:6.
A New Exodus in Isaiah 40 & Isaiah 55.
The Acceptable Year of the LORD in Isaiah 61:2.
The God of the Great Exchange Isaiah 61:3.
The God of Restoration, Rebuilding Isaiah 61:4-5.
The acceptable year of the Lord (Isaiah 61:1-2)
Luke 4:16-24 KJV
16 And He (Jesus) came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His
custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for
to read.
17 And there was delivered unto Him the book of the prophet Esaias (Isaiah). And
when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the
Gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach
deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty
them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And He closed the book, and He gave it again to the minister, and sat down.
And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on Him.
21 And He began to say unto them, This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears.
22 And all bare Him witness and wondered at the gracious words which
proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?
23 And He said unto them, Ye will surely say unto Me this proverb, Physician, heal
thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy
country.
24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.

7. Luke 4:28-30 KJV
28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with
wrath,
29 And rose up, and thrust Him out of the city, and led Him unto the brow of the
hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast Him down headlong.
30 But He passing through the midst of them went His way,
Oh, exactly what did Isaiah write in chapter 61?
Isaiah 61:2 NKJV
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, (Jesus stopped here)
And the day of vengeance of our God; (yet to be fulfilled)
To comfort all who mourn,
Verses 1-2a:
Jesus is the ultimate Preacher and the Redeemer of Israel Who rescues them. He
says specifically, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke
4:21). The Jews that were saved during Christ’s ministry, and those being saved
during this church age, still do not fulfill the promise of the salvation of the nation
to come in the end time (Zechariah 12:10-13:1; Romans 11:25-27).
Isaiah 61:2 "To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of
vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;“ This is where Jesus stopped
reading in the synagogue (Luke 4:19), indicating that the subsequent writing in
the rest of the chapter (verses 2b to 11), awaited the second coming of Christ.
“Day of vengeance”: As part of His deliverance of Israel, the Lord will pour out
wrath on all who oppose Him (59:17-18; Revelation chapters 6-19).
There will come a day when it will be too late.
The day of vengeance:
The signs of the Lord's return seem to be with us in this day. But the day of
vengeance has not come yet. Note that it mentions 'a year of the Lord's favour'
and only 'a day of vengeance'. We are still in that period known as the year of
the Lord's favour.
But I want to make mention of the last part of the verse which is a reason to
rejoice. He comforts those who mourn! God comes along side of us, He is with
us. His presence and companionship strengthens us. I am sure that you can
think of times in your life when you have experienced God’s comfort!

8. Isaiah 61:3 NKJV
3 To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
The God of the Great Exchange:
The Gospel, the Good News is all about the great exchange. It's not about a self
improvement trip. It isn't about you trying to pull yourself up by your bootstraps. It
is about exchanging what God is, for what you are not. The greatest of all
exchanges is given in the verse: 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made Him who knew no
sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in
Him.
Our verse here in Isaiah has three exchanges mentioned that govern a person's
emotional and mental well-being: Garland for ashes, gladness for mourning and
praise instead of heaviness. The figures suggest the difference between a funeral
and a wedding. At a funeral service Jews put ashes upon their heads and mourn
and lament; at a wedding, they wear beautiful bridal wreaths and garments of
praise. They would also put on oil.
We play a part in this though. If all we ever do is think about what is wrong and
moan to God and others about our condition then it is quite likely that spirit of
heaviness will remain. We need to put on the garment of praise. 'Thinking must
be turned', Martin Luther said, 'so that you can say 'Christ lives.'' God will give
comfort but He doesn't want us to be spiritual babies our whole life either. He
wants us to encourage ourselves in Him just as David had to learn and do.
1 Samuel 30:6 Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people
spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of
his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
The spirit of heaviness is so prevalent in our age. So many are being weighed
down, so many anxious. So many in depression and we are bombarded through
increased pressure, increased busyness and increased stress. Again, King David
knew of this spirit of heaviness and he experienced what it was like to be freed
from this!

9. The God of the Great Exchange:
Psalm 40:1-3 NKJV
1 I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps
3 He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the Lord.
• God gives new songs... Songs of praise.
• It is a reason for thankfulness.
The God of Restoration and Rebuilding:
Isaiah 61:4-5 NJKV
4 And they shall rebuild the old ruins,
They shall raise up the former desolations,
And they shall repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations.
5 Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks,
And the sons of the foreigner
Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
The immediate context of this verse is the restoration of Israel when Jesus returns.
And I have spoken recently of how God will restore all things on this Earth. Jesus
spoke of the 'regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne...'
And we saw that this word is pal-ing-ghen-es-ee'-ah - From two Greek words -
Palin - meaning once more or again, and Genesis.
So this word means 'Genesis Again' or 'Genesis Once More'. But thank God that
He is a God Who does this in the lives of men today. He does this in our lives.
What we have ruined, He can rebuild. What we have wrecked, He can restore.
That which we have broken, He can repair.

10. Now we may not have such a radical testimony, but God is in the restoration
and rebuilding business today with us as well. We too may sing...
Something beautiful, something good.
All my confusion, He understood.
All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife
But He made something, beautiful out of my life.
(https://jesusplusnothing.com/series/post/Isaiah61)
Chapters 55–66 are an exhortation to Israel to keep the covenant. God's eternal
promise to David is now made to the people of Israel/Judah at large. The book
ends by enjoining righteousness as the final stages of God's plan come to pass,
including the pilgrimage of the nations to Zion and the realization of Yahweh's
kingship (Jesus during the 1,000-year reign is the far fulfillment).
Before passing judgment on worshipers in a bygone era (during Isaiah’s day),
perhaps we should confess the sins of the "worshiping church" today.
According to researcher George Barna, 93 percent of the households in the
United States contain a Bible and more than 60 percent of the people surveyed
claim to be religious, but we would never know this from the way people act.
One Protestant church exists for every 550 adults in America, but does all this
"religion" make much of a difference in our sinful society? Organized religion
hasn't affected the nation's crime rate, the divorce rate, or the kind of
"entertainment" seen in movies and on TV.
The average church allocates about 5 percent of its budget for reaching others
with the Gospel, but 30 percent for buildings and maintenance.
At a time when the poor and the aged are pleading for help, churches in
America are spending approximately 3 billion dollars a year on new
construction. Where churches have life and growth, such construction may be
needed, but too often the building becomes "a millstone instead of a milestone,"
to quote Vance Havner. At least 62 percent of the people Barna surveyed said
that the church was not relevant to today's world and is losing its influence on
society.
It may be that, like the worshipers in the ancient Jewish temple, we are only
going through the motions. (See The Frog in the Kettle by George Barna,
published by Regal Books.)
Bible Exposition Commentary (BE Series) - Old Testament - The Bible Exposition
Commentary – The Prophets.

11. Isaiah didn't stop with the diagnosis but also gave the prescription, because he
wanted Judah to be a righteous people (Isaiah 1:16-31).
Judah was a place where injustice and treachery flourished, and the helpless
were mistreated by the powerful. Things were so bad that the people’s
hypocritical acts of religious observance made God sick.
Chapter 1 Theme:
God's charge against Israel
Chapter 1 is God's solemn call to the universe to come into the courtroom to
hear God's charge against the nation Israel.
Isaiah lived in a time of tension. In many respects it was a time of crisis in the
history of the world. World-shaking events were transpiring. Catastrophic and
cataclysmic judgments were taking place. There was upheaval in the social
order.
A new nation had arisen in the north; it was moving toward world domination.
Assyria, the most brutal nation ever to put an army on the battlefield, was
marching to world conquest. Already the northern kingdom of Israel had been
taken into Assyrian captivity (in 722 BC). The southern kingdom of Judah was in
a precarious position, and an Assyrian army, 185,000 strong, was just outside the
walls of Jerusalem.
In this dire, desperate, and difficult day Hezekiah entered the temple and turned
to God in prayer. God sent His prophet with an encouraging word. He asserted
that Assyria would never take Judah, the army of Assyria would never set foot in
the streets of Jerusalem, and they would never cross the threshold of any gate of
the city of the great King.
But God was preparing another nation, Babylon, the head of gold down by the
banks of the River Euphrates; this nation would eventually take Judah into
captivity (586 BC) unless she turned to God.
God was giving Judah another chance (September 11, 2001). In order to
establish the justice of His cause, God called her into court; He held her before
His bar of justice.
He gave her opportunity to answer the charge, to hear His verdict, and to throw
herself on the mercy of His court. God invites us (USA) into the court to see if He
is just. It is well for this day and generation to go into the courtroom and see God
on the throne of judgment in this sensational scene.

12. Chapter 1 Theme:
God's charge against Israel
In the thinking of the world, God has been removed from the throne of
judgment. He has been divested of His authority, robbed of His regal
prerogative, shorn of His locks as the moral ruler of His universe; He has been
towed to the edge of the world and pushed over as excess baggage. This is a
blasphemous picture of God! He is still the moral ruler of His universe. He is still
upon the throne of justice; He has not abdicated. He still punishes sin.
Isaiah 1:10-15 NKJV
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.
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.

13. Isaiah 1:16-18 NKJV
16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Put away the evil of your 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 word translated "reason" in verse 18 means "to decide a case in court," but
instead of pronouncing judgment, the Judge offered pardon! If they would
cleanse themselves by repenting and turning from sin (verses 16-17; see
2 Corinthians 7:1), then God would wipe the record clean in response to their
faith (Isaiah 1:18). God had every reason to punish His people for their sins but in
His grace and mercy He offered them His pardon. What were some of the sins
that the nation needed to confess and put away?
Isaiah named murder (verse 21), robbery, bribery, and exploiting the helpless
(verse 23), and the worship of heathen idols (verse 29). Because of their idolatry,
the once-faithful wife was now a harlot, and because of their unjust practices,
the pure silver had become dross. The tragedy is that many of the worshipers in
the temple participated in these evil practices and thereby encouraged the
decay of the nation.
The rulers maintained a religious facade to cover up their crimes, and the
people let them do it.
Two possibilities exist. First—as Hebrew has no question marks—Jehovah is
asking, “With blood on your hands, do you still imagine you can become clean?
Do you assume I will readily pardon you though you are guilty of the
unpardonable sin?”
Do Jehovah’s people pretend that the God who said, “Whoever sheds a man’s
blood, by man shall his blood be shed” (Genesis 9:6), will simply overlook their
crimes so long as they go to church and put on a good appearance?

14. That kind of hypocrisy is indeed characteristic of a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type
of society (verses 9-10).
Second, in this verse’s larger context of Jehovah’s people’s repenting of
transgression and purifying their lives, they may even now become clean of
gross crimes.
They shouldn’t assume, though burdened with guilt, that they are too far gone,
that there exists no further hope of recovery. The “test” Jehovah presents is
whether or not they will repent of doing evil. While “scarlet” and “crimson”—the
color of “blood”—allude to murder, abortion, etc. (verse 15), they also signify the
stain of wickedness in general.
Jehovah is willing to forgive those who “cease to do evil” and “learn to do
good” (verses 16-17).
Isaiah 1:19 NKJV
19 If you are willing and obedient,
You shall eat the good of the land;
So, sinners are twice dyed, first in their corrupt nature and then again in the long-
confirmed habits of actual transgression.
The first thing in the text is A CHARGE IMPLIED, and more particularly expressed,
in the former verses of this chapter. The charge is sin — sin the most aggravated.
Scarlet and crimson are colours far remote from white, which is the emblem of
innocence, or righteousness.
Revelation 19:8
8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the
fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
But here sinners are represented as in garments stained with blood. The bloody,
murderous, destructive nature of sin may be intended. Sin has slain its millions.
Romans 5:12 NKJV
12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through
sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—

15. Some understand by the word "scarlet," double-dyed; as deeply tinctured by sin
as possible; as when any garment has been twice dyed, first in the wool, and
again in the thread or piece. So great sinners are twice dyed, first in their corrupt
nature, and then again in the long-confirmed habits of actual transgression. It is
absolutely necessary that each of us should personally know that this is his own
case.
In Isaiah 1:18, the words scarlet and crimson refer to red colors that come from
certain dyes. Ancient cultures placed great importance on dyes, especially
those used for sacred or ceremonial purposes, such as burial clothing or
purification rituals.
Leviticus 14:6 NKJV
6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, the cedar wood and the scarlet and the
hyssop, and dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed
over the running water.
The point of a dye is that it is not only colorful but also colorfast, meaning that its
rich color will stick to the cloth and not fade or wash away.
Scarlet and crimson are: Bright red. Because of the vibrancy of their redness,
they are emblems of standing out.
Red has a strong psychological effect on people, and it can be reminiscent of
blood, which is sometimes a symbol of guilt. Our sins can be grievous and
obvious. Permanent.
The colorfast nature of scarlet and crimson dyes is similar to our sins, and “the
Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance” (Alma 45:16).
“According to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement
made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish” (Alma 34:9).
The Hebrew words for scarlet (shani) and crimson (tola) signify where the colors
were derived from—a worm (most likely Kermes echinatus).
The scarlet or crimson worm is of a family of insects that live on oak trees. Its
lifespan is about 4–14 weeks.
For about the last four weeks of its life, the female is ready to be fertilized and lay
eggs. She then attaches firmly to the oak tree and produces a red dye, which
stains her body as well as her eggs. Just before the eggs were to hatch, these
female insects were gathered, dried, and boiled.

16. Alum was added as a mordant (a chemical that helps the dye stick to the cloth
by combining to form an insoluble compound), and the resulting dye was used
to make red-colored cloth.
On the cross, the Savior quoted Psalm 22:1: “My God, my God, why hast thou
forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34). A later verse of this messianic psalm
states, “I am a worm, and no man” (Psalm 22:6). The Hebrew word used here for
“worm” (tola’at) refers specifically to the crimson worm.
If Israel accepted the invitation of the Lord to reason together with Him, they
would eat instead of be eaten; they would experience peace rather than
persecution.
Verse 19:
As noted, the essence of Jehovah’s “test” (v 18) is whether His people will
repent. How? By their willingness to obey the law or terms of his covenant.
The doubling of the Hebrew verbs “willing” and “obey” causes the first to modify
the second. An alternative translation, therefore, is “If you willingly obey, you
shall eat the good of the land.” Both the “good” or increase of the land and the
land itself constitute covenant blessings (Deuteronomy 19:8; 28:3-5, 11-12).
The context of this verse is Jehovah’s Day of Judgment, when He preserves alive
those who repent of transgression (verses 7-9).
Isaiah 1:20 NKJV
20 But if you refuse and rebel,
You shall be devoured by the sword”;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
John 3:16-17 NKJV
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not
send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him
might be saved.”
John 14:6 NKJV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through Me.”
Romans 3:23 NKJV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

17. Romans 6:23a NKJV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to
pay the penalty for our sin.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the “second death” explained in
Revelation 21:8.
Revelation 21:8 NKJV
8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,
sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with
fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
• Anyone who’s lifestyle is one or more of the sins listed in Revelation 21:8,
will experience the “second death,” if they do not repent.
• To Repent means to turn around, to go in the opposite direction, to turn
away from sin and believe in Jesus.
Romans 5:8 NKJV
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.
Romans 6:23b NKJV
23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7 NKJV
7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be
My son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explain to us how to be overcomers.
Romans 10:9-10 NKJV
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that
God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one
believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation.
Romans 10:13 NKJV
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Do you have questions?
Would you like to know more?
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or
https://www.firstbaptistjackson.org/contact-us/