Isaiah 5: 18-  In quick succession Isaiah declares 4 more "woes" on Judah for their sinful rebellion against  the Lord.  

V. 18 "Woe to those who drag iniquity with the cords of falsehood, and sin as if with cart ropes..." They were crying out to the Lord for help.."let Him make speed" !  Hurry up Lord and help us... "so we can know".  But, they wouldn't let go of their sins.  They wanted to God's blessing without obeying  God's commandments.  God does not honor such prayers. 

V. 20 "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness. Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 

I'm going to get a bit political for a moment.. I hope you will forgive me. But, as I watch and listen to what is happening in our country today.. I see a movement of people who are calling "evil good" - they are leading America into darkness and sin and calling it "enlightenment" and "progress".  God will judge them for this.  I also hear them calling "good evil".  What is good?   One example is - marriage that is restricted to one man and one woman.  That is God's way... the only right way according to His Word.  

V21 "Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and clever in their own sight!"   Reminds me of        I Corinthians 3:19-20  "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God.. For it is written, 'He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness.' The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that they are useless. "  And , James 3: 15 "This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic." 

V 22 "Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink; who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!" 

Again, we go back to Isaiah's song.. God established Israel for the purpose of true justice and true righteousness -  based on His Laws..They failed to produce anything close to His intentions for them.  So, He would bring judgement.  It would come through foreign nations.  God would "whistle" for them to come and they would come with power and speed. 

There is coming a day of judgement for the whole world, including our nation.  As we see the sins of Judah and Israel repeated today all across the globe, we need to heed the warning of the Almighty God. 

Father in heaven, we cry out to You, for we watch in horror as our nation is led into darkness and evil. We pray for  Your Word to run rapidly and spread freely across our land. We pray for Your grace, to open doors of opportunity for the Word to be shared in ways that lives will be transformed forevermore.  Let Your glory shine through Your people as You are lifted up and exalted on the earth.  You are our salvation and in You we have hope and victory. Let Your Kingdom come, Lord Jesus! Praise Your holy name. Amen. 

 Isaiah 5:11-17   Isaiah sang a song about the Lord's vineyard, Israel.  Planted in love and cared for by her Creator, Israel was meant to produce good fruit - justice and righteousness.  But instead, she produced only "worthless fruit" - "bloodshed... and distress."

Isaiah records 6 "woes" that the Lord declares against Israel.  The first one I wrote about yesterday - God condemned those who took what belonged to others - greedy and arrogant, they ignored God's Law and abused their fellow countrymen.  God promised justice would be done.  The mansions of the rich would be empty -abandoned by those who were taken off into captivity. The vineyards and fields would no longer produce. The land would be desolate. 

The second "woe" is issued in verse 11. "Woe to those who rise early in the morning that they may pursue strong drink; who stay up late in the evening that wine may inflame them!" 

The people of Judah liked to "party."  In fact, they were so enamored by their lifestyle that they started drinking early in the morning and kept on until late at night.  It was all they cared about.  They did not pay any attention "to the deeds of the Lord.."  They never considered "the work of His hands".  Unfortunately, this attitude and lifestyle is more prevalent in our nation than we ever care to admit.

Judah had witnessed Israel being taken into captivity by Assyria.  They had heard the threats of Assyria against their own nation. They had heard the warnings of the prophets.  But, they didn't care.  They lived by the philosophy of the rich man in Luke 12 .. "And I will say to my soul, .. take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.. "  And like him, God says to Judah, "You fool! This very night your soul is required of you.. " Judah would "go into exile for their lack of knowledge." 

The Lord would send the rich and the poor, the elite and the common folks.. into exile. All would suffer from starvation and thirst. Many would die. "Sheol has enlarged its throat and opened its mouth without measure; and Jerusalem's splendor, her multitude, her din of revelry, and the jubilant within her, descend into it."  Every man, woman, and child experienced God's judgement on Judah. 

 "But the Lord of hosts will be exalted in judgement, and the holy God will show Himself holy in righteousness."

Our country today needs to take heed of God's warning here!  America is not paying attention to the "deeds of the Lord" nor are we considering the "work of His Hands."  Too many in this world are enamored with a lifestyle that ignores the Word of God.  God alone has the final say on what is right and what is sin. 

We need to consider His deeds - He created EVERYTHING!  He chose to establish a people to teach His commandments.  He provided a way of salvation for those who broke His commandments. Even if we  just  consider those three things - we can begin to know Who He is.  

We need to think about what the "work of His Hands" means - Every single life on this earth - present, past, or future - is a work of God's Hands.  If we truly saw the unborn baby as a work of God's hands - how could we... ever... condone or support abortion?  If we read God's Word and learn what is truth, we would know that God created male and female - and He is not confused over which is which! May God help us!

We - as a nation - deserve the same judgement as Israel and Judah. For we also have a lack of knowledge !  The knowledge of a Holy God who has judged in righteousness before - and will do so again. May America turn back to the One True God! 

Father, You are the Sovereign King, perfect in holiness, and ruling in splendor and truth.  Open our ears, Lord. May we take heed of Your words, consider Your deeds and the works of Your hand.   Open the hearts of our leaders, to receive the truth and to repent of their sins. Proverbs 21:1 says, "The king's heart in Adonai's hand is like streams of water, he directs it wherever He pleases."  Direct the hearts of our leaders to the Truth of Your Word, to righteousness, and to true justice.  We ask this in Jesus' name, the name above every name, Amen. 

 Isaiah 5: 1-7  Isaiah writes a song for the Lord.  In this song he tells about the Lord's vineyard.  It was God Himself who planted the vineyard - Israel.  He planted it in a choice land. He planted it with "the choicest vine".  He did everything for His vineyard, so that it would bring forth the best fruit.. but it only produced "worthless" grapes. 

Because of the worthless fruit produced by Israel, God would remove "the hedge.. break down the wall.. and lay it to waste".  It would be consumed, trampled, arid, and full of briars and thorns.  Israel would be as worthless as the fruit it produced.  

The Lord  had desired a nation filled with justice and righteousness. .. good fruit.  But, Israel had become a nation of bloodshed and distress.  Therefore, He would remove His favor and protection from His land. 

v8-10  Isaiah identifies six indictments that the Lord was bringing against His people.  The first one is this, "Woe to those who add house to house and join field to field."  The wealthy were taking over the inheritances of their fellow countrymen. They were not obeying the Law to return the land during the Year of Jubilee. They were building themselves mansions while their brothers became impoverished.  This was not how God's people were supposed to live.  God would judge this injustice and make these houses "desolate".  Empty.  The fields would stop producing grain. The vineyards would stop producing grapes.

 Jeremiah also wrote about this. "Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness and his upper rooms without justice, who uses his neighbor's services without pay and does not give him his wages, who says,' I will build myself a roomy house with spacious upper rooms, and cut out its windows, paneling it with cedar and painting it bright red' Do you become a king because your are competing in cedar?

 Did not your father eat and drink, and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy; Then it was well. Is not that what it means to know Me?' declares the Lord. But your eyes and your heart are intent only upon your own dishonest gain, and on shedding innocent blood and on practicing extortion." Jeremiah 22:13-17

We hear so much about justice these days , indeed "social justice" has become a rallying cry across our country.  We need to understand  what God's Word teaches us about justice..   The Hebrew word here is mishpat - it means a verdict, a judicial pronouncement - the act, the place, the suit, the crime and the penalty.  It implies a correct judgement made in a lawful manner.  Judah's practices of usurping the land of others was a flagrant violation of God's Law. 

If we truly want to "do justice and righteousness" we need to honor God's Word. We need to act in a way that upholds His commands- to help those who are in need, to stop taking what we want at the expense of others... To stop the "lust of the eyes" - never satisfied or content with what we have, but always wanting more.. often at the expense of others.  This was the sin of Judah and Israel.  It is the sin of America.  And it will bring about God's just judgement.. 

Father in heaven, You are a Faithful God, who always does what is right and good and just.  You will always act in accordance with Your own Word.  We pray with the psalmist - " Adonai, teach me your way, so that I can live by Your truth; make me single-hearted, so that I can fear Your name."  Help us to choose justice and righteousness - according to Your Truth - in all we do.  May we learn to be content with whatever we have and treat others with love and grace.  We need You, our God who is "merciful, full of compassion, slow to anger and rich is grace and truth."  We praise Your Name for you alone are God. Thank You for our Savior who clothes us in His righteousness and for Your Spirit who guides us in Your ways.  We pray in Jesus' name. amen. 

 Isaiah 4  Isaiah has painted a picture of devastation and terror, where the women who once walked in high society...with beauty and wealth, had become like Holocaust victims.. wearing sackcloth, smelling putrid, being branded, and their hair plucked out.  They were desperate and frightened and ashamed. 

And, then in the middle of this horror, God gives Isaiah a vision of Zion.. the New Jerusalem.  "In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious and the fruit of the earth will be the pride and the adornment of the survivors of Israel."   There will be a remnant of believers who will see the glory of the Messiah who will come to reign!

The Lord will wash "away the filth of the daughters of Zion." 

He will "purge the bloodshed of Jerusalem .." 

Jesus will come to Zion! There will be a "cloud by day, even smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy. And there will be a shelter to give shade from the heat of the day, and refuge and protection from the storm and rain." 

Jesus.. Emmanuel, God with us.. will come again to reign on earth. He will come with the "spirit of judgement and the spirit of burning."  And those who will trust in Him fully will see His glory, know His cleansing, and live with Him for eternity.  Hallelujah!

Father in heaven, may Your name be exalted in all the earth!  May we see the Kingdom of Christ come and fill the earth with glory!  We long for that day and thrill at the thought of it. Yet, our hearts break for those who are lost. Those whose hearts are hardened. Those who have listened to the lies of the evil one and forsaken the Truth of Your Word.  Lord, open doors of opportunity for Your people to speak up and to share the Good News of Jesus, the Messiah who comes to wash away the filth of men and women in this world.,. in our country.. in our families.  Help us, dear Lord, to walk in the power of Your Spirit, to live holy and blameless lives before You, and to share the way of Life with those we can.  We ask this in the wonderful and beautiful Name of Jesus. Amen. 

 Isaiah 3 Actions.. choices..have consequences.  The Lord says, "For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their actions are against the Lord, to rebel against His glorious presence. The expressions of their faces bears witness against them. and they display their sin like Sodom; they do not even conceal it. Woe to them! for they have brought evil on themselves." ( v8-9)

"The Lord arises to contend. And stands to judge the people." v13

Because of their sin, the Lord would "remove from Jerusalem and Judah.. bread..water.. the mighty man and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder... " etc.  Every segment of society would be removed. He would allow "capricious children to rule.." (immature;  impulsive..erratic.. rulers.. imagine that! ) All the people would be oppressed. Neighbor against neighbor.  Children against parents. "And the inferior against the honorable." 

"Say to the righteous that it will go well with them, for they will earth the fruit of their actions." the Lord tells Isaiah.. but, "Woe to the wicked! It will go badly with him, for what he deserves will be done to him."  

Verse 12 is striking - "O My people! Their oppressors are children, and women rule over them. O My people! Those who guide you lead you astray, and confuse the direction of your paths."  The Lord holds the "elders and princes of His people"  responsible for the fall of Judah.  They "devoured the vineyard.." and plundered their own people.  They crushed the people of God and ground "the face of the poor." 

God also judged the proud women of Judah. They walked with their heads held high, showing off their "bangles" and their beauty.  But, their punishment would be severe - 

Their scalps would be affected with scabs and their hair plucked out.. They would no longer have their "anklets, headbands, crescent ornaments, dangling earrings, bracelets, veils, headresses, ankle chains, sashes, perfume boxes..". etc. ect.  Their men would be killed by the sword... and they would be left, "deserted she will sit on the ground."  What a picture of judgement!

This is what happened to Judah. This is what will happen to America. God will judge justly. He will hold those in leadership or in places of influence accountable for their actions.  Those who lead people into rebellion against God are "wicked" and it will go badly for them.  May we hear the warnings!

But, praise the Lord, our gracious God who will shelter His people who remain righteous, who walk in Truth, and who humble themselves before Him. The message of God's Word to us is always consistent and true.  God will raise up those who bow before Him. He will save.  "For Adonai, God, is a sun and a shield; Adonai bestows favor and honor. He will not withhold anything good from those whose lives are pure." ( Psalm 84:11 CJB). 

Father, we live in a day and age.. in a place.. where wicked choices are being made.. where rebellion against You is prevalent everywhere.  We see the devastation that those choices are bringing as "You arise to contend "with us.  People are being led astray, confused, and oppressed.  Sin is being displayed and there is no longer an attempt to conceal it. Lord, help us! Let Your Word be preached across our nation. Open ears to hear and hearts to receive.. before it is too late. You know those who are Yours, gracious Father, and we trust You to be" our sun and shield." We testify with the psalmist that "Better a day in your courtyards that a thousand days elsewhere."  When we seek You, we find You and we are so grateful for Your love and grace. May Your name be praised in all the earth! May many more turn from wickedness to Truth, to the glory of Jesus Christ the Redeemer and King.  In His name we ask this. Amen. 

 Isaiah 2  In the first 5 verses Isaiah describes what he "saw" - what would happen in the "last days" - when the "house of the Lord will be established as the chief of the mountains.."  It will be a time when the Lord will teach all the nations His ways.  There will be no wars and all the weapons of war will be turned into "plowshares and pruning hooks".   Isaiah exhorts Judah to "walk in the light of the Lord" - to be prepared for that great day when the Lord will reign over all the earth.  (This is considered to be a vision of the Millennium rule of Jesus.) 

The rest of this chapter is a stark revelation of what was happening in Judah during Isaiah's day and what will happen when God brings His judgement.. " a day of reckoning"  upon the earth. 

Judah was practicing divination and other  occult activities. They were obsessed with their silver and gold. They were proud of their horses and chariots.  They were worshiping the works of their own hands.  Pride and arrogance are particularly offensive to the Lord.  Over and over again the Word of God tells us that those who are proud will be brought down, while those who are humble will be exalted.  This passage proclaims this truth loud and clear.

Verse 11 " The proud look of man will be abased, and the loftiness of man will be humbled, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day." 

Verse 17 "and the pride of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men will be abased, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day." 

"From the terror of the Lord and from the splendor of His majesty" -  Men will hide.  They will throw down all their cherished possessions. They will run to caves and caverns in order to hide from God's judgements.  

God will cause the whole earth to tremble. Everything that man thinks is permanent and unshakable will be destroyed - the "cedars of Lebanon.. the oaks of Bashan.. the lofty mountains.. every high tower.. (imagine what that will look like .. think about the twin towers on 9/11.. multiplied .."  every fortified wall.. all the ships.. all the beautiful craft.. the idols will completely vanish.." 

The final statement is so vital - "Stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils; For why should he be esteemed."  

Father in heaven, how great is Your glory! You alone are God and You will always be sovereign over all of heaven and earth.  Every man and woman is subject to Your perfect will.  You determine our last breath.. our lives are in Your hands.  Open our eyes, Father, to see that You will bring judgement on those who are filled with pride and arrogance.  You will judge those who look to other sources for life.  Many today are looking to a man or a government, or to their material goods, or to armies and weapons - but none of those things will last.  As Your Word tells us - You will come and the whole earth will tremble.  You alone will be exalted.  Help us, Your people, to walk in the light of the Lord.  Help us to trust and obey.. and to exalt Your name only! May the Word of God run rapidly and be glorified in all the earth so that many more will turn back to You and find true life in Jesus Christ the Lord.  In the name of our glorious King, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. 

 Isaiah 1:21-31 This section of Isaiah 1 has the sub-title of "Zion Corrupted, to be Redeemed" in my Bible. The Lord has spelled out the indictment against Israel already.. their lack of knowledge and understanding,  their complete corruption by sin, and their blood covered hands that made their worship disgusting to Him.  

He has given them a call to holiness, telling them to repent.. to cease evil and do good... to obey His Word.. so that their sins that are like scarlet can be made "white as snow." 

Zion - the city of God- was meant to stay holy and set apart.  This is the place where God would put His Name, where His Presence would be found.  It was to be "full of justice".  A faithful, righteous city.  His city. 

But, He says, it had "become a harlot."  Zion harbored murderers.  Its rulers were rebels. It was full of thieves and those who wanted bribes for their own reward.  They abused the needy, the orphans and the widows, instead of helping them.  And because of these things.. the Lord would bring judgement. 

God was about to purge Zion of His enemies. He would "avenge" Himself. He would turn His own hand against His people and "Smelt away [their] dross as with lye." 

 God will remove the sinners from His sight.  He will redeem His Holy City. 

There is a New Jerusalem that is coming.  It will be called "the city of righteousness, a faithful city."  There will be no sin there. No corruption. No rebellion. No abuse.. and no more tears!

Those who still rebel against God will be "crushed".  They will be "ashamed".  They will be "embarrassed".  They will be burned.. "and there will be none to quench them." 

Jesus spoke about this "unquenchable fire".  Mark 9:43 "And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire."  There is no sin, no pleasure, no desire.. nothing that is worth having.. if it keeps us from Jesus. 

Father in heaven, we pray for a new awareness of Your holiness, that we might reverently fear and worship You. We pray that You might show us grace and give us faith to walk in obedience and trust, doing the things that You have commanded us to do, with clean hands and pure hearts.  You alone are God of heaven above and earth below and there is no other. Your Word is Truth.  No other has the authority to say that sin is not sin.. Those who do it,  condone it and promote it.. are in rebellion against You and will be judged. They will be crushed.  They will be ashamed. They will be thrown into the unquenchable fires of hell.  This is what Your Word says, and it is Truth.  God, help us! Turn  our nation from all wickedness.  May we humbly bow before You in repentance.   We plead for Your redemption.  In Jesus' name. Amen.