Isaiah 5 - 8

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Have you ever watched the interview of a sinful offender on TV or perhaps a YouTube channel such as thief, sex trafficker, or murderer show absolutely no remorse for their crimes! In fact, the idea of going before a judge who sentences them to life in prison means nothing to them. I can't believe it! It's as though their sense of right and wrong has completely left them. They think nothing of the Lord, His future judgment, nor of how tragically they've hurt others.

In essence, that's exactly what's happened to Judah!  They've lost all interest in the Lord. Their sense of right and wrong has left them. And, in spite of the prophecies of judgement against them for their sinful ways, they just carry on without remorse, without regret, and without fear of what is about to come.  In today's reading, we can see some of the sinful charges God brings against Judah - bloodshed (5:7), oppressing others (5:7), a total lack of interest in the Lord (5:12), lying (5:18), mocking the Lord (5:19), drunkenness (5:22), perverting justice (5:22), letting the wicked go free thus punishing the innocent (5:23), a rejection of God's law (5:24), trusting in men for protection rather than God (7:20), and dabbling in witchcraft (8:19)...just to name a few.

In chapter 5, God gives Isaiah a song to sing before the people of Judah, providing them an analogy of how He views their sin and the damage it's caused. He calls them His "vineyard," designed specifically to produce sweet wine (or righteous living before the Lord).  But God says they are a "wild grape."  In other words, they are useless to Him and to the world. You might think this is harsh language, but God has had enough!  

In fact, 6 times in chapter 5 God warns Judah, "Destruction is certain." And, God describes exactly what He's going to do in "spanking" His wayward children. In fact, God is so angry with them that He says He will raise His fist against them to crush them (5:25), but even then His anger will not be quenched!

-  Famine and the inability to succeed at anything (5:8)

-  Starvation, thirst, and eventual exile in a foreign land (5:13)

-  Death to many and their bodies will rot in the streets

-  They’ll become captive slaves (5:29)

-  They’ll experience greater terror than ever known before (7:17)

If this kind of horrible judgment was pronounced on you, what would you do? Would you do an about face and change the errors of your ways?  Sadly, many people go right on doing what they want to do! And that’s what Judah did. They ignored the warning signs given via the prophet Isaiah.

In chapter 6, God gives Isaiah an amazing opportunity!

The Lord decides to open Isaiah’s spiritual eyes and allow him the unique opportunity afforded by only a few Godly men, and that was to see (in a vision) the glory and splendor of God!  He sees God as sitting on a “lofty throne” where His glory fills the entire space around him. He also sees Seraphims! These heavenly beings (unlike angels) have the unique responsibility of flying above the throne of God, adorned with 6 wings – 2 which cover their face, 2 which cover their feet, and 2 to fly with – because they are in the presence of God’s limitless glory. Isaiah sees them and even hears them as they sing continuously before God, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty! The whole earth is filled with His glory!”  Apparently the singing was SO LOUD that it shook the entire place where they were. Can you imagine sound like that?

While in God’s presence, God asks a profound question, “Who will go for us?” God is wanting to send a warning to His people (6:8). Isaiah responds and says, “Lord, I will go! Send me.”  You know, I believe God is still asking that same question today. In fact, in 2 Chronicles 16:9 God says, “ For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”

While enthused to serve God, Isaiah raises a question before the Lord, “Lord, how long must I do this?”

God’s answer in 6:11-13, tells it all.  He basically says until there is literally no one to preach to anymore, until the cities are left destitute and without inhabitants.

As we move into chapter 7, God gives the king of Judah a warning about impending attacks by two armies – both of which are allies of Judah!  Can you imagine friends turning on each other? But, God assures the king of Judah that He will stop them from hurting anyone. I believe this is God’s warning before true calamity and destruction happens!

How many times has God warned you about the things you’re doing, and you still keep going? God’s patience eventually runs out!

I remember hearing this true statement in my early years – “Sin will take you farther than you ever intended to go, and will keep you longer than you ever intended on staying.”  Sin is deceptive!  An alcoholic is delusional to think that just one more drink is enough. It’s never enough. But it’s that way about many sins – pornography, lying, cheating, stealing…you name it.

In fact, in chapter 7:14, God reveals the fact that His son, Jesus Christ, will be become the king that He’s always longed for. He describes how Jesus will be born of a virgin and be called Immanuel, meaning “God is with us.”

Finally, in chapter 8, God does something very unusual.

God asks Isaiah to name his children (2 sons) by certain descriptive terms. This was done so that Isaiah’s son (as they grow older) will be a constant reminder of God’s warning. The first son’s name was Mahershalalhashbaz. Instead of a name really, it’s a phrase meaning basically “within two years the king of Assyria will invade Judah and carry everyone and everything in it to their foreign land as captives.”

God gives them a hopeful warning too!  One that should have encouraged them, but it didn’t.  In 8:13-14, God warns them not to trust in anything or anyone, because they won’t be able to help. But rather, God warns them to completely trust in Him, because “He will keep you safe.”

If you had received that warning, what would your response have been? 

Well, the answer can be found in what you’re doing now!  God warns us ALL about the consequences of our sin. How we are currently responding is your answer.

Think about it!