~ Sinfulness in Chapter 5 of the Book
of Isaiah ~
Irresponsible Luxury
~ “Moreover
the Lord says: ‘Because the
daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and wanton
eyes, walking and mincing as they go, making a jingling with their feet, therefore
the Lord will strike with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of
Zion, and the Lord will uncover
their secret parts.’ In that day the Lord will take away the finery: the
jingling anklets, the scarves, and the crescents; the pendants, the bracelets,
and the veils; the headdresses, the leg ornaments, and the headbands; the
perfume boxes, the charms, and the rings; the nose jewels, the festal apparel,
and the mantles; the outer garments, the purses, and the mirrors; the fine
linen, the turbans, and the robes. And
so it shall be: instead of a sweet smell there will be a stench; instead of a
sash, a rope; instead of well-set hair, baldness; instead of a rich robe, a
girding of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty. Your men shall fall by the sword, and your
mighty in the war. Her gates shall
lament and mourn, and she being desolate shall sit on the ground. And in that day seven women shall take hold of
one man, saying, ‘We will eat our own food and wear our own apparel; only let
us be called by your name, to take away our reproach’” (3:16-4:1). “Woe to those who join house to house;
they add
field to field, till there is no place where they may dwell alone in the midst of the
land! In my hearing the Lord of hosts said,
‘Truly, many
houses shall be desolate, great and beautiful ones, without inhabitant’”
(5:8-9).
Drunkenness
~ “Woe to those who rise early in the morning,
that they may follow intoxicating drink; who continue until night, till wine
inflames them! The harp and the
strings, the tambourine and flute, and wine are in their feasts; but they do
not regard the work of the Lord, nor
consider the operation of His hands” (5:11-12). “Woe to men mighty at
drinking wine, woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink” (5:22).
Also
note what the prophet Isaiah says later in his book: “Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose
glorious beauty is a fading flower which is at the head of the verdant valleys,
to those who are overcome with wine! Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one,
like a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, like a flood of mighty waters
overflowing, who will bring them down to the earth with His hand. The
crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, will be trampled underfoot; and
the glorious beauty is a fading flower which is at the head of the verdant
valley, like the first fruit before the summer, which an observer sees; he eats
it up while it is still in his hand” (28:1-4).
Confusing Good with Evil
~ “Woe
to those who draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as if with a cart
rope; that say, ‘Let Him make speed and hasten His work, that we may see it; and
let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, that we may know
it.’ Woe
to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and
light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and
prudent in their own sight! Woe to men
mighty at drinking wine, woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink, who
justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away justice from the righteous man!” (5:18-23).
Rejection of God’s Law
~ “Therefore,
as the fire devours the stubble, and the flame consumes the chaff, so their
root will be as rottenness, and their blossom will ascend like dust; because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of
the Holy One of Israel. Therefore
the anger of the Lord is aroused
against His people; He has stretched out His hand against them and stricken
them, and the hills trembled. Their
carcasses were as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this His anger is not turned away, but
His hand is stretched out still” (5:24-25).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
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