Isaiah 3:1-26 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Isaiah 3:1-26. Let’s go!
Isaiah 3:1-3 (NIV)
1 See now, the Lord, the LORD Almighty, is about to take from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: all supplies of food and all supplies of water,
2 the hero and warrior, the judge and prophet, the soothsayer and elder,
3 the captain of fifty and man of rank, the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter.
Verses 1-3: Isaiah warns that in response to Jerusalem and Judah’s sins, God is about to take away from Jerusalem and Judah the things which they used to rely on for supply and support. In addition to a famine (v1), there would also be a leadership drought in Jerusalem and Judah (v2-3), such that everyone that Jerusalem and Judah would otherwise rely on for leadership and guidance will be taken away by the Lord.
When would this happen? This word appears to be specifically for Jerusalem and Judah and points to the day when the Babylonians would besiege the city of Jerusalem in 589 B.C., eventually capturing the city in approximately 586 B.C. Keep in mind that Isaiah is writing down this prophecy over 100 years before these events would occur.
What can we learn from this? Everything good we have comes from God (James 1:17). When we persist in sinning against God, we basically push God away and, along with Him, the good things that He would otherwise bring into our lives.
Isaiah 3:4-7 (NIV)
4 I will make boys their officials; mere children will govern them.
5 People will oppress each other– man against man, neighbor against neighbor. The young will rise up against the old, the base against the honorable.
6 A man will seize one of his brothers at his father’s home, and say, “You have a cloak, you be our leader; take charge of this heap of ruins!”
7 But in that day he will cry out, “I have no remedy. I have no food or clothing in my house; do not make me the leader of the people.”
8 Jerusalem staggers, Judah is falling; their words and deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence.
9 The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.
On verses 4-7: Having pushed God away, the people of Jerusalem and Judah will be so desperate for leadership that they will follow anyone. As a result, boys will lead the people (v4-7) and the result will be a staggering Jerusalem, a falling Judah, where people are unashamed of their sins (v8-9). Indeed, in the years leading right up to Jerusalem’s fall, Judah and Jerusalem would be led by very young kings like Jehoiachin and Zedekiah (see 2 Kings 24). With these “boys” and “mere children” acting as their officials (v4), Judah and Jerusalem would be led further into sin against God before being finally captured by the Babylonians.
Isaiah 3:10-11 (NIV)
10 Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.
11 Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done.
On verses 10-11: God watches what His people do. He is committed to blessing those who do right and punishing those who do wrong.
Isaiah 3:12-15 (NIV)
12 Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. O my people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.
13 The LORD takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people.
14 The LORD enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: “It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses.
15 What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.
On verses 12-15: God goes after the leaders of Jerusalem and Judah for acting corruptly, taking advantage of the poor, and leading the people astray. It matters to God that leaders act with integrity, justice and compassion.
Isaiah 3:16-24 (NIV)
16 The LORD says, “The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, tripping along with mincing steps, with ornaments jingling on their ankles.
17 Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the LORD will make their scalps bald.”
18 In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces,
19 the earrings and bracelets and veils,
20 the headdresses and ankle chains and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms,
21 the signet rings and nose rings,
22 the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses
23 and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls.
24 Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of well-dressed hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, branding.
On verses 16-24: God goes after the women of Jerusalem and Judah who were more into enticing people with their outer beauty than glorifying God with their inner beauty.
Isaiah 3:25-26 (NIV)
25 Your men will fall by the sword, your warriors in battle.
26 The gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground.
On verses 25-26: As a result of this leadership vacuum, Jerusalem and Judah will suffer, lament and mourn, lacking what it needs (“destitute”) and vulnerable to attack.
All of this goes to show how important leadership is. The direction of a nation, a city, a church, an organization, or a family will always be determined, more than anything, by its leaders. Poor, corrupt, unhealthy leaders will eventually result in a poor, corrupt, unhealthy nation, family, church, etc. Great leadership will eventually result in a great nation, family, church, etc. So much depends on leadership.
Father, today I don’t take for granted that every good thing I have in life is ultimately from You. I pray for the leaders of our nations and cities, that they would lead with integrity, justice and compassion. I pray for all of us as well, that we too would lead with integrity, justice and compassion. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
