Isaiah 1: 16-17 give us a list of things we are commanded to do. We can conclude that they are commands, rather than choices, by looking at the structure of the sentences. These sentences are imperative, meaning that they command or tell someone to do something (ex. you go...). "Wash yourselves." Who? YOU. "Make yourselves clean." Who? YOU. The entire list is addressed to YOU. [YOU] wash...[YOU] make clean...[YOU] put off evil...[YOU] cease to do evil...[YOU] learn to do good...[YOU] seek justice...[YOU] rebuke oppressors...[YOU] defend the fatherless...[YOU] plead for the widow. (Paraphrase of Isaiah 1:16-17) Basically, the list boils down to this: [YOU] sanctify yourself by putting off evil and pursuing righteousness while being the advocate of all who are needy. Such a giant assignment! Laying aside the world and self is much harder than it seems. Unfortunately, we can't check things off a list, so to speak. These things that we are commanded to do must be done on a continual basis. They are not complete by obeying them once. It is a life choice.
Verses 18-20 continue with a promise, a condition, and a warning. The promise is that God will wash us, making us as white as snow, and that He will provide for us. This is the condition: IF we are willing AND obedient. I think it is important to consider something here. It is not enough to be willing. Many are willing, but fail to ever follow through. They are like the persons who look in the mirror and immediately forgets what they look like (James 1). On the other hand, obedience with the wrong attitude is not enough. Obedience with grumbling or obedience out of a sense of duty is not what is being discussed here. We have to be both willing AND obedient. Then there comes a warning: IF you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword! Refusing to obey and having a rebellious spirit will only lead to death and destruction.
Verses 21-23 describe a city. This city, at one time, had been recognized as faithful and righteous. The verses share how evil has slowly taken over that city and many of the sins are included in the passage: harlotry, murder, deceit, rebellion, theft, bribery, selfishness, and abandonment of the poor and needy. Honestly, that sounds a great deal like the nation in which I live: America.
The LORD speaks in the verses following. He says that the city will be restored and shall come to be called "the city of righteousness, the faithful city" (vs. 26). However, this restoration will only come through a great purging. God will heal them, but there will be consequences and it will involve pain. In fact, this purging will include God turning His hand against the city - something very painful in and of itself.
Another warning can be found in verses 28-31: those who forsake the LORD God will be consumed/destroyed.
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