Question About Isaiah 1, 10

[Terry_from_Ypsi]

Today’s first reading from Isaiah 1 includes this verse, verse 10

"Hear the word of the LORD, princes of Sodom! Listen to the instruction of our God, people of Gomorrah! "

I was wondering, how could there be any princes of Sodom or people of Gomorrah ? Were not both cities and their peoples utterly destroyed never to be inhabited again ?

Is God speaking to the degree of sin present in Israel ?

Could this be applicable today ?

Just wondering.

Thank you.

 

[NotWorthy]

By calling us “princes of Sodom”, God is warning His people that they are doing evil things just as Sodom did prior to the angels little “house-cleaning” job.

Hence, if we don’t change our evil ways…

In answer to your question, ALL prophecies of judgment can be applied to us today.

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

Today’s first reading from Isaiah 1 includes this verse, verse 10

"Hear the word of the LORD, princes of Sodom! Listen to the instruction of our God, people of Gomorrah! "

I was wondering, how could there be any princes of Sodom or people of Gomorrah ? Were not both cities and their peoples utterly destroyed never to be inhabited again ?

Is God speaking to the degree of sin present in Israel ?

Could this be applicable today ?

Just wondering.

Thank you.

Those cities were proverbial for their wickedness, so the prophet uses their names to point out the wickedness of Jerusalem’s rulers. Which he emphasizes in the verses that follow; in which, speaking in the person of God, he says that their sacrifices are an abomination to him, & their prayers hateful to him.​

There is every reason to believe that just as there were wicked men in authority in Jerusalem in Isaiah’s day (c. 740 onwards), so there are today. If the sacrifices of the Jews were an abomination to God because they were guilty of great sins against their neighbours, that can hardly be different in the Church, today.

Ezekiel goes further: he says Jerusalem is worse than Sodom, & worse than Samaria. Isaiah & Ezekiel spoke as they did because of the tendency of their people to separate religious practice from moral goodness: & this would be enough to make the words of these Prophets timely & relevant for us, as this is a temptation it is all too easy to fall into.

 

[COPLAND_3]

Here is commentary on the 1st reading, I provide the Readings and commentary litteralchristianlibrary.wetpaint.com/page/fourteenth

But here is what Tertullian said

Tertullian
Nor is this an unusual manner for the Creator, (in His Scriptures ) figuratively to employ names of places as a metaphor derived from the analogy of their sins. Thus He calls the chief men of the Jews rulers of Sodom, and the nation itself people of Gomorrha. Isaiah 1:10 And in another passage He also says: Your father was an Amorite, and your mother an Hittite, Ezekiel 16:3 by reason of their kindred iniquity; although He had actually called them His sons: I have nourished and brought up children. Isaiah 1:2