A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (September 29, 2017)
Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (1 Corinthians 1:20)
Isaiah was one of the greatest prophets of all time. He was a true seer that could see down the corridors of time and proclaim what was going to happen in the future and why it was going to happen. One of the things that he saw and wrote about was the reasons God would remove His hedge of protection from His people. The following is a very brief contemporary summary of the seven “Woes” Isaiah wrote about in Isaiah 5 (some paraphrased). (WARNING: This is not a pretty picture. Woe means trouble is coming and it could involve us.)
GREED – Woe to those that join house to house and field to field until there is no place for others. (Isaiah 5:8-10) In today’s culture we would call that conglomerates. Present day examples could include large commercial farming operations or large businesses like Walmart or Amazon that have caused many small farmers and small mom and pop businesses to close. We call that progress and smart business.
ALCOHOL and ADDICTIONS – Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may pursue strong drink, who tarry late into the night till wine inflames them! (Isaiah 5:11, AMPC) These people love to party and listen to their music. They do not regard (intently care for) the things of the Lord and therefore are slowly led down a road to death and destruction. Isaiah describes it as death (Sheol) opening its mouth wide to swallow people. In 2013 the data for the United States showed that 570,000 people died due to addictions to alcohol, drugs and tobacco.
MOCKING GOD – Woe unto them that draw along iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope. (Isaiah 5:18) What sorrow for those who drag their sins behind them with ropes made of lies, who drag wickedness behind them like a cart! (NLT Version) People are so proud and defensive of the sin they drag around with them that they begin to mock God and make fun of the things of God. It reminds me of the time when Jesus was on the cross and people were mocking Him and saying if He is so great and powerful let Him come off that cross and save himself (Luke 23:35-37).
DECEPTION – Woe unto 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! (Isaiah 5:20) One does not have to look very far today to see clear examples of this such as the removal of prayer from schools, the removal of the Ten Commandments from Government buildings, choice, and on and on it goes. Things that are called an abomination by God are now called alternative life styles.
PRIDE – Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent and shrewd in their own sight! (Isaiah 5:21) I am reminded of all the supposed wise counsel given by Job’s friends for chapters and chapters. All of that wisdom, advice, and talk back and forth between Job and his friends was all for naught when God ask them a question similar to this. Exactly where were you guys when I created the Universe?
WRONG HEROES – Woe to those who are mighty heroes at drinking wine, and men of strength in mixing alcoholic drinks! Who are our heroes today? Are they sport’s figures and movie stars? Are they successful businessmen and politicians? Are you receiving words of life from these heroes? Would your hero lay down their life for you?
CONFLICTED JUDGES – Woe to them that justify and acquit the guilty for a bribe, and take away the rights of the innocent and righteous from him (Isaiah 5:23)! Are we living in a time where our own judges are conflicted by social causes rather than judging based on the written law?
Jerusalem was destroyed in 70AD by the Romans because the hedge of protection had been removed by God. Are we going down that same road? We need to examine ourselves first and see if any of these things apply to us personally. We then need to pray for our country that we wake up and not go down that road to destruction. There is time to change! There is time to repent! That time is now!!!
