Isaiah 3:1- 26 Judgment on Jerusalem and Judah
“For behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts is about to remove from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: the whole supply of bread and water, the mighty man and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the soothsayer and the elder, the commander of fifty and the dignitary, the counselor, the cunning magician, and the clever enchanter.
“I will make mere lads their leaders, and children will rule over them.” The people will oppress one another, man against man, neighbor against neighbor; the young will rise up against the old, and the base against the honorable. A man will seize his brother within his father’s house: “You have a cloak—you be our leader! Take charge of this heap of rubble.” On that day he will cry aloud: “I am not a healer. I have no food or clothing in my house. Do not make me leader of the people!”
For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen because they spoke and acted against the LORD, defying His glorious presence. The expression on their faces testifies against them, and like Sodom they flaunt their sin; they do not conceal it. Woe to them, for they have brought disaster upon themselves.
Tell the righteous it will be well for them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor. Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done. Youths oppress My people, and women rule over them. O My people, your guides mislead you; they turn you from your paths.
The LORD arises to contend; He stands to judge the people. The LORD brings this charge against the elders and leaders of His people: “You have devoured the vineyard; the plunder of the poor is in your houses. Why do you crush My people and grind the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.
A Warning to Jerusalem
The LORD says, “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty— walking with heads held high and wanton eyes, prancing and skipping as they go, jingling the bracelets on their ankles—the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will make their foreheads bare. ” In that day the Lord will take away their finery: their anklets and headbands and crescents; their pendants, bracelets, and veils; their headdresses, ankle chains, and sashes; their perfume bottles and charms; their signet rings and nose rings; their festive robes, capes, cloaks, and purses; and their mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, and shawls. Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, shame. Your men will fall by the sword, and your warriors in battle. And the gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground.”
Isaiah is tramping through the streets of Jerusalem, trying to warn its citizens, but nobody is listening. Here, a military commander is passing in a chariot. There a bevy of young lovelies are prancing and skipping down the streets, making sure that their ankle bracelets jingle particularly loudly whenever they see a handsome young man. These ankle bracelets have chains between them, limiting the length of the step the wearer can take and forcing the wearer to walk with a particularly mincing and provocative gait. These Judean fashionistas know they are looking FINE, and they intend to make the most of it. They are decked out with “anklets and headbands and crescents; pendants, bracelets, and veils; headdresses, ankle chains, and sashes; perfume bottles and charms; signet rings and nose rings; festive robes, capes, cloaks, and purses; and mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, and shawls.”
Seated on one portico in a corner of the market place are “the mighty man and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the soothsayer and the elder, the commander of fifty and the dignitary, the counselor, the cunning magician, and the clever enchanter.”
These men are meeting together, determining the matters of Jerusalem. These worthies feel their positions are unassailable and they revel in the power they wield. Why worry about the God of Israel when you have clever soothsayers and diviners to advise you? Never mind that Moses warned the Israelites not to allow such people to even live in Israel, let alone to practice their satanic arts there.
On the other side of the street, there are honest shop keepers, farmers coming in from the country, fishermen from the coast, all who have come to worship in Jerusalem. Now these men are wondering: Is this REALLY the holy city of Jerusalem? Those familiar with Tyre and the Philistine cities feel that Jerusalem just looks like another pagan center. Is righteousness really worth it?
It is the righteous in Jerusalem who give Isaiah a hearing. God knows this and gives Isaiah a comforting message for the faithful. “Tell the righteous it will be well for them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.”
APPLICATION: There are many parts of the Christmas celebration that have deteriorated into gross commercialism. Go to any shopping mall and you can see many of the same sights Isaiah describes, including the groups of young ladies prowling for young men for whom they can show off. Those wielding power tend to meet behind closed doors, as they likely did in Isaiah’s day.
Back in 2002, I wrote a Christmas song entitled “Jesus, I’ve searched for you everywhere.” Here is the first verse and the chorus:
Jesus, I’ve Searched For You Everywhere
Jesus, I’ve searched for You everywhere, and still not a trace do I see.
I’ve been through all the shops buying presents, all the things that I see on T.V.
But Christmas is only a few days away; I’m not ready for it to come now.
There must be a way I can find you, but Jesus, I don’t know how.
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Chorus:
It isn’t the presents, it isn’t the tree. It isn’t the things that you see on T.V.
If you want to find out where Christmas must start, It’s not far-it begins in your heart.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to worship You and not stuff, not power, not influence, not authority. You are the only Eternal God. You alone deserve praise and worship. In the mighty and matchless Name of King Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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