We continue with Isaiah's vision. In the previous chapter the idols of Israel have failed. Now God accuses the humans of failure also.
Isaiah 3:1-3, Supply and support
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,
the hero and the warrior,
the judge and the prophet,
the diviner and the elder,
the captain of fifty and the man of rank,
the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter.
Isaiah's vision describes coming military weakness of Israel, losing leaders and soldiers, food and water.
The Hebrew translated "support" is mish'-enah while "supply" is mish'en; like many poetic passages, there is considerable alliteration in the Hebrew.
Isaiah 3:4-7, Collapse
“I will make mere youths their officials;
children will rule over them.”
People will oppress each other—
man against man, neighbor against neighbor.
The young will rise up against the old,
the nobody against the honored.
A man will seize one of his brothers
in his father’s house, and say,
“You have a cloak, you be our leader;
take charge of this heap of ruins!”
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.”
Isaiah describes a collapse of society; no one is honored; people are desperate for leadership. One man grabs another and says, "You take charge!"
Isaiah 3:8-9, Jerusalem staggers
Jerusalem staggers,
Judah is falling;
their words and deeds are against the Lord,
defying his glorious presence.
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.
Judah collapses. The sins of Judah are not even hidden. Their rebellion against God is visible on their faces. As Grogan points out, to be compared with Sodom or Gomorrah is a shocking insult to Israel.
Isaiah 3:10-12, Leaders lead astray
Tell the righteous it will be well with them,
for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.
Woe to the wicked!
Disaster is upon them!
They will be paid back
for what their hands have done.
Youths oppress my people,
women rule over them.
My people, your guides lead you astray;
they turn you from the path.
With a brief word of encouragement to the righteous (as in 1:19), the rest of the passage focuses on the rebellious of Judah, including youth, women, indeed even the guides of the people. The verse on young or female rulers describes (in that patriarchal society), rulers who are completely unprepared for their tasks.
Isaiah 3:13-15, God stands up to judge
The Lord takes his place in court;
he rises to judge the people.
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.
What do you mean by crushing my people
and grinding the faces of the poor?”
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.
God enters into court here as the prosecutor, accusing the people of Judah of ruining His "vineyard" Israel, oppressing and crushing the poor.
Isaiah 3: 16-17, Haughty women of Zion
The Lord says,
“The women of Zion are haughty,
walking along with outstretched necks,
flirting with their eyes,
strutting along with swaying hips,
with ornaments jingling on their ankles.
Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion;
the Lord will make their scalps bald.”
The confident wealthy women of Jerusalem, strutting in fine clothes and jewelry, will be brought down, their beautiful hair replaced by sores and baldness.
Isaiah 3: 18-23, Women of fashion
What a fascinating statement about the women's fashions of 25 centuries ago! Each of the fine articles described here probably exists in some form our nearby malls. Although some Hebrew words are in doubt, the words describe elegant finery the women of that day would use to be fashionable and look attractive.
Isaiah 3: 24-26, Fashion of disgrace
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.
Your men will fall by the sword,
your warriors in battle.
The gates of Zion will lament and mourn;
destitute, she will sit on the ground.
Instead of the rich fashions of verses 18-23, there will death and poverty, the fashion of refugees. The local Walmart stands empty and abandoned, as judgment comes.
Ropes, shaved heads, sackcloth and branding -- these were all typical characteristics of conquered prisoners being led into captivity.
No comments:
Post a Comment