Isaiah 3:1-12 "For, behold, the LORD, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the stuff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, the mighty man, and the man of war, the judge and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, the captain of fifty, and the honorable man, and the counselor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator. And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. And the people shall be oppressed, everyone by another, and everyone by his neighbor; the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honorable. When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying. Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand:
In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people. For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of HIS glory. The show of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul ! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked ! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him. As for MY people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O MY People, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths."
Those who insist upon having their own way rather than GOD's way will pay the price for their pride and rebellion. In our text, Israel was paying just such a price, and things were about to get worse. GOD warned that "babes" would rule over Israel's "mighty men," and HIS judgment would likewise be upon the prophets, warriors, judges, counselors, orators, and "the ancient" (vv.2-4). Israel was suffering oppression by their own neighbors, and juvenile haughtiness and delinquency abounded (v.5). The LORD described the pitiable state of those who should have been abounding by HIS power and provision: "As for MY people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them" (v.12a Pictured above). What a shame ! Yet, how can we fail to see the similar situation that exists today -- with rebellion and lack of respect for authority among many youths coupled with adults who reject the need for moral standards and the reality of absolute truth ? The world has become terribly mixed up. As was true of Israel, the so-called "Christian nations" of our day have turned their backs on the LORD.
Was there a reason for Israel's sorry situation ? Indeed there was. GOD revealed that "their tongue and their doings are against the LORD" (v.8), and HE went on to warn about the false leaders who caused the people to err (v.12b Pictured above). The people had become so hardened in their sin that they made no effort to even hide it. The prophet Isaiah declared, "Woe unto their soul ! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves" (v.9). We must cautiously heed GOD's warnings while joyfully accepting HIS promises (vv.10-11); to do otherwise is to invite HIS chastening hand and forfeit HIS blessings. MHR
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.featoday.org
https://fivestarchristianministries.com/salvation
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