Isaiah 1:21-31

1:21-23 | The city had become a harlot, forsaking God and exchanging its faithful and righteous status for economic gain. Justice is ensuring economic and legal fairness, defending the innocent and the victimized. Righteousness is actively promoting what is kind, honest, upright, and moral. The people chose instead murder, rebellion, diluted moral and social values, thievery, and bribery (Hosea 9:15).

1:24 | Isaiah paints a foreboding picture of what God will do unless His people repent (Deut. 28:63). The Lord of hosts is a title for God, originally associated with the ark of the covenant, which portrays God as a powerful warrior who leads armies into battle. Sadly, the enemies are now His own people. The use of the title Mighty One of Israel occurs only in this passage in the OT and emphasizes that the weak and oppressed do indeed have a defender who identifies with them.