Isaiah 1:5 “Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.”
The revolting “nation” (Isaiah 1:4) is described as being “stricken” with an awful sin-sick disease. They are so stubborn that they blatantly reject the notion of repentance as they continue to “revolt” against God “more and more”. Because of their sinful rebellion, their “whole head is sick”; that is, they are confused, disoriented, unhappy, miserable, angry, and teetering on insanity. Also, their “whole heart is faint”; that is, their love has grown cold, they have no courage, and their only zeal is for more sin. Their sinful rebellion has become so bad that they are putridly sick with open wounds all over their body, so that now they are racked with disease. To make matters even worse, their disease ravaged body is receiving no medical care. This is a graphic picture of a “sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD” (Isaiah 1:4). They have become so vile that “they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger” (Isaiah 1:4). And, because they “revolt more and more” and will not repent, their “wounds” and “putrifying sores” “have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment”. All the while, faithful preachers cry “O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.” (Hosea 13:9). Such rebellion against God makes no sense, “Why should ye be stricken any more?”. God is NOT helplessly wringing His hands in despair because of His rebellious people, He is the Sovereign Almighty God, He has the Infinite Power and Wisdom to compel His people to their national knees and to plea for mercy! Here is the healing antidote, “Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.” (Jeremiah 3:22) and “Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.” (Hosea 6:1)!