Isaiah study & commentary

Isaiah 3:1-12

As an act of judgment, God is about to take both supply and support from Jerusalem.  There won't be any food or water.  Then there won't be a judge or a prophet or any competent leaders of any kind.  He will make boys their officials and children will govern them.  It's pretty thought provoking that the judgment is for idolatry and rebellion against God; and as part of their judgment they were given incompetent leaders.  It makes you wonder if God still works this way in our day.   

Because of the poor leadership, people will oppress each other.  The young will rise up against the old.  The qualifications for leadership will be minimal because no one will desire to lead.  One will appoint another simply because he has clothing.  Yet, the man will reject the idea knowing he can't solve the problems they face.     

The people will defy God; their words (tongue) and works (doings) are against God.  All that they had said and done provoked the 'eyes of His glory'.  Verse nine states that their guilt and shame is evident in the look on their face.  They are smug about their actions against the Lord.  They parade their sins like Sodom.  They are not ashamed of their sin.  "Woe to them!"  This is the first of several woes.  God is allowing them to have what they desire. 

It will be well for the righteous but disaster is on the wicked.  Both the righteous and wicked will get what they deserve.   The men are so depraved in the rebellion of God they can't or won't lead the people.  The fact that women will rule them and children oppress them may be a picture of those two people groups being the only ones left. 

Isaiah 3:13-15

God pleads his case against the people and then He sits as the judge to render His decision about the charges He brought.  It seems unfair at first; He is prosecuting attorney and judge; but in His infinite love and mercy, He is also the defense attorney as well as the payment for the sins of the guilty.  The Jews are fooling around with the ultimate prosecutor and judge without knowing the defense attorning and propitiation.

The judgment is about to begin on these leaders.  These worthless leaders plundered the poor to get rich for themselves.  They consumed the vineyard of Israel under their poor leadership.   

Isaiah 3:16-26
Isaiah now gives us this picture of Judah as vain girls who are consumed with their appearance over all else.  The imagery is along the vein of the unfaithful wife or the daughter disobeying the father.  She is characterized as proud, walking tall with her eyes wandering while drawing attention to herself.  God will steal away all her beauty; she will be struck with a scab (leprous) on her forehead for all to see.  Her secret parts will be uncovered.  It's not clear what the word for 'secret parts' should be translated to.  The speculations range from their forehead to their private parts. 

Verses 18-23 detail the ornamental beauty that will be stripped away.  It is all her jewelry, clothing and perfume.  When it is all taken away it might seem she would be found plain and unremarkable; but instead she is seen for what she is:

Once:

• Sweet smelling
• Wearing a sash
• A hair do
• A rich robe
• Beauty
• Protected by warriors

Now:

• A stench
• A robe
• Baldness
• Sackcloth
• A brand
• Fallen warriors

Jerusalem, this once proud and haughty woman, thought she was special.  Isaiah said the time is coming when they will hear, in the gates of the city, lamentation and mourning.  Jerusalem shall be desolate.  She will like this woman stripped of her beauty.

©2018  Doug Ford