Rolf Jacobson, Professor of Old Testament and the Alvin N. Rogness Chair of Scripture, Theology, and Ministry, at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, preaches from Isaiah 1:10-18. He presents four points about the passage. First, Jacobson says of Isaiah’s attempt to get his audience’s attention, “Do not try this at home!…Isaiah is not trying to win friends and influence people; he was showing us how to win enemies and influence sinners.” Next, Jacobson points out that the prophet Isaiah had a message from God about worship. “The Lord God does not like worship!…God wants one thing: righteous living that results in justice.” Third, the prophet “urges us to repent…but he has no confidence that we will be able to do so.” After these three doozies, Jacobson’s fourth point brings the good news from today’s passage. What is it? Listen to find out what God’s words of promise were for Isaiah’s hearers then and for us now.
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