Isaiah 5:20-30

I have long thought that (20) has major relevance for our culture and not just Isaiah’s world. People who scoff at God (18, 19) also scoff at his values. Leaders will stand up today and say that what God calls sin is for society’s good. They will applaud perversion. Reading these words in Isaiah should cause us to fear (and weep) for our nation and drive us to prayer. Why? It is because we are like this, and God pronounces a ”Woe” (a curse, a word of judgment) on those who say and do such things. I believe we will face serious trouble if we do not repent.

We also need to be wary of becoming ‘clever-dicks’ (21; see Prov.3:7). In the foolishness of our wisdom we dismiss God. ”Doom to you who think you’re so smart, who hold such a high opinion of yourselves!” The Message. We need to remember that ”The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge…” (Prov.1:7). We only really learn true knowledge when we humble ourselves before the all-knowing God and learn from Him. We must submit our minds to His. The people described here could have been wise, but refused to drink at the Fount of wisdom (24b).

In (22-25) God scoffs at the scoffers, as someone said. Really, we have a recapitulation of the injustice of (8 -10) in (23), and of the drunkenness of (11, 12) in (22). There could not be a clearer statement of the judgment that is coming than the one we find in (24a). It will be as rampant and as real as fire ravaging through dry grass. All the woes and judgments in this section of Isaiah are because of (24b). If we choose God’s way and follow His Word we will be safe. If we go against it (Him) we will be in the greatest danger.

God is going to use ”distant nations” (26-30) such as Assyria and Babylon to punish His disobedient people. He only has to ”whistle” for the great superpowers of the earth and they will run to do His bidding. (In ancient times a ”banner” was placed on a hill to mark the location where troops were to muster for attack.) Isaiah goes on to describe the speed and power and ruthlessness of these invaders who would soon overwhelm Judah.

The descriptions of judgment in the prophetic books are truly frightening. The good news of the gospel tells us that God, in His love for us, does not want to punish us for our sins, even though we deserve it. Jesus, at the cross, got ‘burned’ (24a) for us; so that we don’t have to face this. That is amazing love. We just have to trust in Him and we will be saved. But if we don’t, it remains true that God is judge of all the earth, and if we will not receive His mercy we will face His wrath against sin.

Prayer: Holy Lord, please help me to see sin as You do; let me hate it and turn from it.