In Chapter 28 I see many references to drunkenness. Clearly the leaders and the priesthood were both drinking to excess, along with all the people of the region. It seems obvious to me that God is very upset because the leaders were drunk. I won’t go into all the contemporary reasons why those who lead should’t drink, and in my opinion why no one should….because that’s not what this passage is about. However, it does scream out two things: 1. The leaders have been so drunk that they haven’t led the people responsibly. They have become more interested in parties and celebrating than they are in governing. 2. In their drunken stupor they have failed to recognize the warning signs that their community was falling apart. God has spoken clearly, but they have ignored it.
Today I noticed the reaction of the rulers when they heard Isaiah’s prophecy. “Why keep telling us the same thing, again and again? What are we, children?” I wonder how these intelligent men didn’t come to the conclusion that they needed to change their behavior? How could someone receive so many warnings and yet make no course adjustments? The way that happens to me is by distraction. I become aware of the “good thing” that I need to do, or the “bad thing” I need to stop doing….but before I make a conscious decision to do it, I become distracted by something else. In my case it’s usually a tempting thought that takes me away from the moment. The Lord has said the battle for spirituality is fought in the mind, and I believe it. In the case of these folks, I think alcohol and “good times” were enough to keep them so distracted they never changed course. Knowing what lies ahead of them, a part of me is sad for them. Maybe I shouldn’t be…after all, they clearly had this coming.
Chapter 29
“Ariel” means “the lion of God” and is used in Isaiah and Ezekiel to refer to either Jerusalem, or the altar, respectively.
In the last Chapter we were talking about Israel north, Jerusalem lies in Israel south, so Isaiah has changed focus here. Now he is condemning Judah, which for the most part was righteous under Hezekiah. The condemnation of Judah is different from the north. Here, God is saying that the rulers don’t want to hear messages that “bring them down”. They only want to hear happy and optimistic prophecies. Of course, that isn’t what God is saying, so they aren’t listening.
What makes the south different is their attempt at righteousness. At the moment, Israel south knows the Assyria (Iran) is far more powerful than they are, so they have paid tribute, hoping to avoid conflict. As that becomes impossible, they look to the south and try to pay Egypt to help them. Egypt agrees, for a steep fee…but just as God says here, their help will amount to nothing. They will be soundly defeated by Assyria in battle.
But (and this is really important) God promises to deliver Israel himself, without the help of any other nation. He says here that when the enemy has surrounded the city and the people are in mourning, crying out with their faces in the dust, he will come in like a flood, or earthquake and wipe the enemy out completely with no help from anyone.
It was so incredible, that the people simply couldn’t believe it. They knew how large and invincible the army from Assyria was, and they didn’t know (because they had drifted so far) how powerful God was. They believed more in Assyria or Egypt than they did in their own God. (that’s sad). I think that’s what’s being said in 29:15-16.
Toward the end of chapter 29 and in chapter 30 God reveals that He will restore, even multiply everything He takes away. This is a beautiful picture of God pouring out rich blessings on the people, the land and all creation. Even the sun will shine brighter, water will stream down from every hill and the ground will be fertile again. People will rejoice in God, and many children will be born. The nation will brim over with success and God’s favor.
I don’t think all of this has happened, but it did happen in part when the people returned from exile. There was much celebration, a new temple was built to replace the one Solomon built. It was a happy time for everyone. But I don’t know that the sun was brighter…or that more streams were created. That might be a glimpse of end times, when Israel will be the center of all life, and God himself will rule from within her.
Chapter 30
In this chapter God confirms that the treaty with Egypt will not stop Assyria from attacking. It’s incredible to know that tiny Israel knew the future before anyone had fought a single battle. What would that information be worth today? Judah is in trouble because they sent great wealth to Egypt (apparently to buy horses and favor) and they never asked God first. Why do we always take matters into our own hands and not begin by asking God to help us?
The chapter shifts in verse 18 to speaking about how God is going to bless the people with deliverance and His favor, and He is doing it so they will know that He is the truly God. He is the only one powerful enough to deliver them from their enemies. (Sadly, within a few years they will have forgotten the lesson….I know, it’s hard to believe).
As I read today I think that our great disadvantage is the measure of time. We think that because something happened long ago, it’s forgotten. But there is no “long ago” for God. In the same way, we think that if it’s going to happen in the distant future, then who cares? It’s happening to someone else…not me. But there is no “future” with God….with Him, everything is “present”. God sees our disobedience in the past as if it happened today, and our rejection of Him in the future in the same way. It’s hard to imagine what we look like from God’s perspective, and it’s even harder to imagine why God keeps putting up with us.
But I’m sure glad He does.
Faithfully,
PR