July 19, 2011
How terrible it will be! (NCV) Woe to you! (NIV)
Six times in this chapter the phrase, "How terrible it will be!" is used. The first seven verses explains what has happened to cause God to say this. He tells a story about a vineyard. The vineyard represents His people—the Israelites (and Gentiles who profess him as Lord).
God himself prepared this vineyard. It was on a hill with very rich soil. He cleared the land of any stones. He planted the best grape vines there. He prepared everything. The wine press was built, expecting a harvest. A tower was built in the middle of it (God is our strong tower of safety). However, even though God himself had done everything to provide for a good harvest, only bad grapes grew. God asks the question, "What more could I have done for my vineyard than I have already done?" God goes on to say what he will do: He will remove the hedge (protection) from it (not only removed, but destroyed); He will break down the stone wall (security) and it will be walked on (totally vulnerable); He will ruin the field (no rich soil, no trimming, no weeding); He will let it become useless (overran with weeds and thorns); He will command the clouds to not send rain on it (all hope gone and no chance for somehow "saving" the field yourself). The LORD All-powerful looked for justice and righteousness and all He found was evil. And the "How terrible it will be" consequences began.
1) How terrible it will be—for those who are searching for wealth and prosperity. Greed has taken over. All will come to nothing. Houses will be destroyed or empty. The return on investments—gone. Ten bushels of seed only producing 1/2 bushel of grain. Ten acres of vineyard only producing six gallons of wine.
2) How terrible it will be—for those who think this life is all there is and live to please themselves, partying, drinking and using the very things we should use to praise God as a means to bring pleasure to themselves. It's all about "me" and they don't see what the LORD has done or notice the work of His hands. Because of their lack of understanding they will be taken captive and led away. Rich or poor, common or great—doesn't matter—all will be brought down and the proud will be humbled. There will be hunger, thirst, and death. Instead of hungering and thirsting for righteousness, they instead sought earthly pleasure and the gates of Hell "opens wide its mouth" and people will go down into it. In the punishment of the wicked, "the LORD Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will show himself holy by his righteousness." (Isaiah 5:16) The sheep and the lambs will be free to go anywhere they want and will be allowed to "feed on the land that rich people once owned."
3) How terrible it will be—for those who draw their sins along behind them with cords of deceit. They walk out in front, but they're dragging their guilt, sin, and wickedness behind them. They say one thing, "Let us see God's work; Let us know what the Holy One of Israel's plans are." But it is lip service only. They are not cutting themselves loose from their sins, they instead choose to keep them, pulling them behind.
4) How terrible it will be—for those who call evil good and good evil. Who think darkness is light and light is darkness. Who think sour is sweet and sweet is sour. For whatever reason, whether they are blinded by sin and can no longer see truth, or whether they are willfully saying and doing what they know to be false to further their own agendas, there is no truth in them. Right is wrong and wrong is right.
5) How terrible it will be—for those who think they are wise and believe they are clever. They have no idea. They think they are in control, but they're not. They don't see that the bridge is out, that disaster awaits them. They keep barreling down the tracks.
6) How terrible it will be—for those who will do whatever it takes for money and pleasure. There is no conscience. They will deny justice to the innocent and take money to set guilty people free. It's all about the end result—money—and it doesn't matter what they have to do to get it. They have rejected the law of the LORD All-Mighty and they have spurned the word of God. So, they will be destroyed, like fire consumes straw and dry grass, like a plant whose roots rot or a flower that dies and blows away as dust.
Because of their (His people's) actions, God became angry and He has raised His hand to punish. God has that right. I think sometimes we view God's punishment in an earthly way, a spanking if you will. But it's not always "just" a spanking to temporarily tolerate. God's punishment can also mean destruction. Isaiah 5:25-30 describes God's anger and what He did as a result of Israel's (His people's) choice to serve themselves instead of the Holy LORD. God called for a relentless attack upon them by their enemies. Relentless attacks. The enemy is powerful. The enemy doesn't tire. It doesn't falter. It has all the weapons necessary for its victory and your defeat. The attacks are overpowering and overwhelming. They are vicious. They are uncontrollable. There is nothing you can do to stop the attacks. As Proverbs 29:1 says, "Whoever is stubborn (has hardened their hearts) after being corrected many times will suddenly be hurt beyond cure."
Our choice to turn from wickedness and to turn to Christ (repentance) can alter the outcome of our consequences, but only God determines the final outcome. Only God.
As I wrote yesterday:
Addendum: 4/27/15 ~ The LORD is our strong tower. When we go to HIM we are safe.
Proverbs 18:10 - "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are saved."
II Samuel 22: 2-4 - "The LORD is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. My God is my rock. I can run to him for safety. He is my shield and my saving strength, my defender and my place of safety. The LORD saves me from those who want to harm me. I will call upon the LORD who is worthy to be praised, and I will be saved from my enemies."
Psalm 18:2 - "The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
Psalm 61:3 - "You have been my protection, like a strong tower against my enemies."
Psalm 91:2 - I will say to the LORD, "You are my place of safety and protection, You are my God and I trust you."
Psalm 144:2 - "He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues people under me."
Proverbs 14:26 - "Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.
Proverbs 29:25 - "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD will be safe."
Next Entry: Isaiah 6:1 – 7:25
How terrible it will be! (NCV) Woe to you! (NIV)
Six times in this chapter the phrase, "How terrible it will be!" is used. The first seven verses explains what has happened to cause God to say this. He tells a story about a vineyard. The vineyard represents His people—the Israelites (and Gentiles who profess him as Lord).
God himself prepared this vineyard. It was on a hill with very rich soil. He cleared the land of any stones. He planted the best grape vines there. He prepared everything. The wine press was built, expecting a harvest. A tower was built in the middle of it (God is our strong tower of safety). However, even though God himself had done everything to provide for a good harvest, only bad grapes grew. God asks the question, "What more could I have done for my vineyard than I have already done?" God goes on to say what he will do: He will remove the hedge (protection) from it (not only removed, but destroyed); He will break down the stone wall (security) and it will be walked on (totally vulnerable); He will ruin the field (no rich soil, no trimming, no weeding); He will let it become useless (overran with weeds and thorns); He will command the clouds to not send rain on it (all hope gone and no chance for somehow "saving" the field yourself). The LORD All-powerful looked for justice and righteousness and all He found was evil. And the "How terrible it will be" consequences began.
1) How terrible it will be—for those who are searching for wealth and prosperity. Greed has taken over. All will come to nothing. Houses will be destroyed or empty. The return on investments—gone. Ten bushels of seed only producing 1/2 bushel of grain. Ten acres of vineyard only producing six gallons of wine.
2) How terrible it will be—for those who think this life is all there is and live to please themselves, partying, drinking and using the very things we should use to praise God as a means to bring pleasure to themselves. It's all about "me" and they don't see what the LORD has done or notice the work of His hands. Because of their lack of understanding they will be taken captive and led away. Rich or poor, common or great—doesn't matter—all will be brought down and the proud will be humbled. There will be hunger, thirst, and death. Instead of hungering and thirsting for righteousness, they instead sought earthly pleasure and the gates of Hell "opens wide its mouth" and people will go down into it. In the punishment of the wicked, "the LORD Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will show himself holy by his righteousness." (Isaiah 5:16) The sheep and the lambs will be free to go anywhere they want and will be allowed to "feed on the land that rich people once owned."
3) How terrible it will be—for those who draw their sins along behind them with cords of deceit. They walk out in front, but they're dragging their guilt, sin, and wickedness behind them. They say one thing, "Let us see God's work; Let us know what the Holy One of Israel's plans are." But it is lip service only. They are not cutting themselves loose from their sins, they instead choose to keep them, pulling them behind.
4) How terrible it will be—for those who call evil good and good evil. Who think darkness is light and light is darkness. Who think sour is sweet and sweet is sour. For whatever reason, whether they are blinded by sin and can no longer see truth, or whether they are willfully saying and doing what they know to be false to further their own agendas, there is no truth in them. Right is wrong and wrong is right.
5) How terrible it will be—for those who think they are wise and believe they are clever. They have no idea. They think they are in control, but they're not. They don't see that the bridge is out, that disaster awaits them. They keep barreling down the tracks.
6) How terrible it will be—for those who will do whatever it takes for money and pleasure. There is no conscience. They will deny justice to the innocent and take money to set guilty people free. It's all about the end result—money—and it doesn't matter what they have to do to get it. They have rejected the law of the LORD All-Mighty and they have spurned the word of God. So, they will be destroyed, like fire consumes straw and dry grass, like a plant whose roots rot or a flower that dies and blows away as dust.
Because of their (His people's) actions, God became angry and He has raised His hand to punish. God has that right. I think sometimes we view God's punishment in an earthly way, a spanking if you will. But it's not always "just" a spanking to temporarily tolerate. God's punishment can also mean destruction. Isaiah 5:25-30 describes God's anger and what He did as a result of Israel's (His people's) choice to serve themselves instead of the Holy LORD. God called for a relentless attack upon them by their enemies. Relentless attacks. The enemy is powerful. The enemy doesn't tire. It doesn't falter. It has all the weapons necessary for its victory and your defeat. The attacks are overpowering and overwhelming. They are vicious. They are uncontrollable. There is nothing you can do to stop the attacks. As Proverbs 29:1 says, "Whoever is stubborn (has hardened their hearts) after being corrected many times will suddenly be hurt beyond cure."
Our choice to turn from wickedness and to turn to Christ (repentance) can alter the outcome of our consequences, but only God determines the final outcome. Only God.
As I wrote yesterday:
"We must all choose whether we will obey the gospel or turn away in unbelief and reject its authority. Our choice is our own, but the consequences of the choice have already been determined by the sovereign will of God, and from this there is no appeal." ~ A.W. TozerYou can't have one foot in and one foot out. You are either all in—or you are out.
Addendum: 4/27/15 ~ The LORD is our strong tower. When we go to HIM we are safe.
Proverbs 18:10 - "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are saved."
II Samuel 22: 2-4 - "The LORD is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. My God is my rock. I can run to him for safety. He is my shield and my saving strength, my defender and my place of safety. The LORD saves me from those who want to harm me. I will call upon the LORD who is worthy to be praised, and I will be saved from my enemies."
Psalm 18:2 - "The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
Psalm 61:3 - "You have been my protection, like a strong tower against my enemies."
Psalm 91:2 - I will say to the LORD, "You are my place of safety and protection, You are my God and I trust you."
Psalm 144:2 - "He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues people under me."
Proverbs 14:26 - "Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.
Proverbs 29:25 - "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD will be safe."
Next Entry: Isaiah 6:1 – 7:25
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