Judgment on Judah And Jerusalem
February 8, 2023
Commentary
In this chapter Isaiah denounces the sins of the people and especially those of the different upper class. He warns the people of Judah that God will take away their leadership and everything they have been depending on for their survival (vv. 1-3). In place of their national leaders God tells them that He will give them “children” and “babes” to rule over them (v. 4). This was actually fulfilled when Manasseh came to the throne at the age of l2 and began his long and wicked reign. He also states that He will even take away their food and water.
This section describes what happens when a nation loses its leadership (vv. 5-9). Instead of being repentant the people were proud of their sins, parading them out in the open (v. 9-11). This is true today as you see the homosexuals demanding their rights and murder of babies being legalized and financially supported by our government through abortion clinics. Sin may appear glamorous and exciting but it is wrong regardless of how society perceives it. In the long run, it will make us miserable and destroy us. It may even seem disheartening for us to see the wicked prosper while we struggle to obey God and follow His plan but we can be sure that God will bring about justice in the end.
It is disheartening to see the wicked prosper while we struggle to obey God and follow His plan. Yet we need to keep holding on to God’s truth and take heart! God will bring about justice in the end, and he will reward those who have been faithful.
Application
I will never be able to straighten out the wickedness of this world. Only God can do that and He is in charge. My only concern is to be faithful to Him in all I do and all I say.
Isaiah 3:1– 12 (NET)
1 Look, the Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s Armies is about to remove from Jerusalem and Judah every source of security, including all the food and water,
2 the mighty men and warriors, judges and prophets, omen readers and leaders,
3 captains of groups of fifty, the respected citizens, advisers and those skilled in magical arts, and those who know incantations.
4 The Lord says, “I will make youths their officials; malicious young men will rule over them.
5 The people will treat each other harshly; men will oppose each other; neighbors will fight. Youths will proudly defy the elderly and riffraff will challenge those who were once respected.
6 Indeed, a man will grab his brother right in his father’s house and say, ‘You own a coat— you be our leader! This heap of ruins will be under your control.’
7 At that time the brother will shout, ‘I am no doctor, I have no food or coat in my house; don’t make me a leader of the people!’”
8 Jerusalem certainly stumbles, Judah falls, for their words and their actions offend the Lord; they rebel against his royal authority.
9 The look on their faces testifies to their guilt; like the people of Sodom they openly boast of their sin. Woe to them! For they bring disaster on themselves.
10 Tell the innocent it will go well with them, for they will be rewarded for what they have done.
11 Woe to the wicked sinners! For they will get exactly what they deserve.
12 Oppressors treat my people cruelly; creditors rule over them. My people, your leaders mislead you; they give you confusing directions.
Illustration: God Doesn’t Always Pay in July
I heard a story once about two farmers. One loved the Lord and the other had no time for God. One July the one who had no time for God had great crops and the Christian had very poor crops. They were talking one day and the non-Christian said to the Christian, “I thought you said it paid to serve God.” The Christian replied, ’It does, God doesn’t always pay in July!” (Lou Nicholes – Missionary/Author).