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In the previous chapters the prophet's language had been highly and somewhat perplexingly symbolical. In this chapter he begins to speak more plainly and in sententious utterances.

I. A CORRUPT PEOPLE. The depravity of Israel is represented —

1. Negatively. "There is no truth," etc. These are the great fontal virtues in the universe; and where they are not, there is a moral abjectness of the most terrible description. A people without reality, their very life a lie. No acts of beneficence performed, and the very spirit of kindliness extinct. The greatest, the holiest Being in the universe utterly ignored.

2. Positively. The absence of these great virtues gives rise to tremendous crimes.

(1)  Profanity. Reverence is gone.

(2)  Falsehood.

(3)  Killing.

(4)  Dishonesty.

(5)  Incontinence.

(6)  Murder.

II. AN EXPOSTULATING GOD. "The Lord hath controversy." Of all controversies this is the most awful.

1. It is a just controversy. Has not the great Ruler of the universe a right to contend against such evils?

2. It is a continuous controversy.

3. It is an unequal controversy. What are all human intellects to His? Sparks to the sun. The sinner has no argument to put before Him. He cannot deny his sins. He cannot plead accidents. He cannot plead compulsion. He cannot plead some merit as a set-off, for he has none. This controversy is still going on. It is held in the court of conscience, and you must know of its existence and character.

(Homilist.)

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KJV: Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.

WEB: Hear the word of Yahweh, you children of Israel; for Yahweh has a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "Indeed there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land.