Even Culture Can Be New
Afterward, you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city. Zion shall be redeemed with justice. Isaiah 1:26b and 27a
The Aaron Sorkin drama Studio 60 chronicled life producing a late-night television show. In the first episode, the proud franchise has fallen on hard times, with predictable jokes and a lack of bite to its social commentary. Alumni are coming back to resuscitate the show, and one of them quotes Pericles. Good things should flow into the boulevard. The culture deserves better.
There is something of his heart behind the flow in Isaiah 1, culminating in the end of verse 26 and the beginning of verse 27. The Great Physician gave His sober prognosis for the sick culture to which He speaks, with fatal idolatry contagious from the very biblical sacrifices of those who claim to be God's people. Not surprisingly, if those who at least go through the motions of attention to the Bible's details don't have changed hearts, don't apply His Word in their daily human interactions, the cultural elites who can find satisfaction elsewhere will do so. Without repentance, the culture is doomed.
Helpfully, hopefully, by God's grace, healing can be as holistic as sin's previous impact. As God works in individual lives with the expertise of a metalsmith, impurities are removed. His irrepressible grace even begins to show up in the halls of power where previously corruption casts its shadow. How sure is He of His power to restore? When humans want to convince themselves a new start has occurred, our advertisers give a new name, or our proprietors assure that a previously failed project is under new management. Not here.
God still possesses the ability to make all things new according to Revelation 21:7. In that verse, He is rebooting with the New Jerusalem straight from Heaven. Even here, in Isaiah 1, with a city that will be soiled again, God is hinting at His heart for new beginnings. Grant men new beginnings after I purify their hearts? Sure, He says, I can do that. Catch even the culture's influential princes up in My renewing wave? Sure, I can do that, too. In fact, I can renew the whole city so thoroughly that the same name on the same site will have an entirely different reputation. After repentance, yes, God knows Jerusalem is different. This is a reformation so thorough that even man knows Jerusalem is different. She shall be called the city of righteousness. She will be known for fairness in the same types of civil interaction which previously emanated a stench. Good from the source of all good has flowed into, and through, her boulevards.
The Aaron Sorkin drama Studio 60 chronicled life producing a late-night television show. In the first episode, the proud franchise has fallen on hard times, with predictable jokes and a lack of bite to its social commentary. Alumni are coming back to resuscitate the show, and one of them quotes Pericles. Good things should flow into the boulevard. The culture deserves better.
There is something of his heart behind the flow in Isaiah 1, culminating in the end of verse 26 and the beginning of verse 27. The Great Physician gave His sober prognosis for the sick culture to which He speaks, with fatal idolatry contagious from the very biblical sacrifices of those who claim to be God's people. Not surprisingly, if those who at least go through the motions of attention to the Bible's details don't have changed hearts, don't apply His Word in their daily human interactions, the cultural elites who can find satisfaction elsewhere will do so. Without repentance, the culture is doomed.
Helpfully, hopefully, by God's grace, healing can be as holistic as sin's previous impact. As God works in individual lives with the expertise of a metalsmith, impurities are removed. His irrepressible grace even begins to show up in the halls of power where previously corruption casts its shadow. How sure is He of His power to restore? When humans want to convince themselves a new start has occurred, our advertisers give a new name, or our proprietors assure that a previously failed project is under new management. Not here.
God still possesses the ability to make all things new according to Revelation 21:7. In that verse, He is rebooting with the New Jerusalem straight from Heaven. Even here, in Isaiah 1, with a city that will be soiled again, God is hinting at His heart for new beginnings. Grant men new beginnings after I purify their hearts? Sure, He says, I can do that. Catch even the culture's influential princes up in My renewing wave? Sure, I can do that, too. In fact, I can renew the whole city so thoroughly that the same name on the same site will have an entirely different reputation. After repentance, yes, God knows Jerusalem is different. This is a reformation so thorough that even man knows Jerusalem is different. She shall be called the city of righteousness. She will be known for fairness in the same types of civil interaction which previously emanated a stench. Good from the source of all good has flowed into, and through, her boulevards.
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