ISAIAH LESSON 4
We will begin this lesson in Isaiah 3:1 "For, behold, the Lord,
the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the
stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of
water."
"The Lord, the LORD of hosts", is speaking of Ha-Adon, Jehovah
Sabaoth. This is speaking of the One who is LORD of all. Lord, here,
means sovereign, controller, of all that exists. LORD means self-
existent One. The Lord has always provided the needs of His people of
Judah from Jerusalem. This is just saying that, this will no longer
be. God will remove His help from the mighty of Jerusalem. The Bread
and Water are both symbolic of Jesus. Whether this a spiritual
blessing being taken away or a physical blessing, I cannot say.
Perhaps, again, it is both.
Isaiah 3:2 "The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and
the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient,"
These are all people who had been held in high esteem. The mighty
man of war would probably be of great service in the battle to come.
This is, probably, speaking of the Babylonian captivity, but also is
speaking of the end of the age. The judge and the prophet had great
power with the king and the people. In these days that Isaiah lived
in, there was really no separation of church and state.
Isaiah 3:3 "The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the
counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator."
Again, these were people of authority in their land. God will
bring them low, and they will be ruled by children. All those of skill
were carried away by Nebuchadnezzer. The orator, in the verse above,
was really an enchanter.
Isaiah 3:4 "And I will give children [to be] their princes, and
babes shall rule over them."
This came true very soon after this was said, because the rulers
of Judah were all under 25 years of age after the reign of Hezekiah.
Manasseh was 12, and Josiah was 8, when they began to reign. Babes, in
verse 4 above, means those who act in a baby-like manner.
Isaiah 3:5 "And the people shall be oppressed, every one by
another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave
himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the
honourable."
One of the reasons the youth would act proudly against the aged,
is the fact that youth were ruling the land. It seems all respect for
those in authority was wiped out, as well. This society, Isaiah spoke
of would not be practicing the golden rule to love thy neighbor as
thyself. They would be against their neighbors.
Isaiah 3:6 "When a man shall take hold of his brother of the
house of his father, [saying], Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler,
and [let] this ruin [be] under thy hand:"
No one wanted to be responsible for their brothers. Each was
seeking to take care of himself. If one of them seemed to have more,
they would try to get him to lead them, so they could share in his
goods.
Isaiah 3:7 "In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an
healer; for in my house [is] neither bread nor clothing: make me not a
ruler of the people."
The rulers of households were expected to take care of their
servants, as well as their own families. Isaiah is saying, there will
be so little, no one wants to be the one to care for all of them. How
can he feed the servants, if he does not even have enough to feed his
own family? The shortages will be so great that even the meager
provisions, such as bread and clothing, will not be available.
Isaiah 3:8 "For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because
their tongue and their doings [are] against the LORD, to provoke the
eyes of his glory."
We can easily see the reason for the judgement of God against
Jerusalem. They have sinned against the LORD. Notice, their speech had
been opposed to the LORD and their deeds, as well. We will read in
other lessons where God's fury has come up in His face. In Romans
chapter 10 verse 9, we know that confession of the LORD is the very
means to receive salvation. This is speaking of God's people
renouncing Him with their mouths. This would bring about the wrath of
God, not salvation.
"Isaiah 3:9 The shew of their countenance doth witness against
them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide [it] not. Woe
unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves."
The sin of Sodom was the practice of homosexuality. Those, who
are habitual sinners, have a hard look in their faces. Not only, have
their hearts been hardened to sin, but it shows in their faces. This
is speaking, also, of proclaiming their sins as an alternate life
style. God calls this type of sin an abomination. He gives them over
to a reprobate mind. Sin of this kind, in our days, can bring the
plague of A.I.D.S. on you. The sad thing, in the verse above, is they
do not even have a repentant heart. They are proud of their sins.
Isaiah 3:10 "Say ye to the righteous, that [it shall be] well
[with him]: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings."
The best way to explain this is with another Scripture. Galatians
6:7 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap." This Scripture of the righteous is in direct
contrast to those who commit these terrible sins of verse 9. The
righteous are those who have placed their faith in the LORD, and are
made righteous by that faith. Abraham's faith was counted unto him as
righteousness. Christians take on the righteousness of Christ, when
they receive Him as their Saviour. There will be tremendous rewards
awaiting those who put their faith in the LORD.
Isaiah 3:11 "Woe unto the wicked! [it shall be] ill [with him]:
for the reward of his hands shall be given him."
Those who plant the seed of sin will reap sin. The wicked will be
judged, by the Judge of all the world, not fit for heaven and eternal
life with Him. In fact, they will have their place in the lake of
fire. Revelation 20:15 "And whosoever was not found written in the
book of life was cast into the lake of fire." There are only two
places to go, heaven, or hell {the lake of fire}. It is our choice
while we are still alive, but on judgement day, it will be up to the
LORD.
Isaiah 3:12 "[As for] my people, children [are] their
oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead
thee cause [thee] to err, and destroy the way of thy paths."
This is not speaking in a factual sense, but is saying the rulers
will behave as children and will be effeminate. These rulers did not
have the characteristics of strong rulers, but acted as women and
children. The blind leading the blind is what has gotten them into
trouble. In our day, the Scripture above, could be taken literally.
Women should not rule over their husbands in the flesh; in their
homes. The father should be the head of the house. Children should
not be able to oppress their parents either, but both things are
happening in our society.
Isaiah 3:13 "The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge
the people."
The LORD has always stood up for the oppressed. In the verse
above, it, perhaps, means that those in authority have over-stepped
their bounds and are ruling harshly those of lesser wealth.
Isaiah 3:14 "The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients
of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the
vineyard; the spoil of the poor [is] in your houses."
The LORD, back in Leviticus, had told them never to pick the
entire crop, but to leave the edges to the poor and oppressed. It
seems, here, their greed has overcome them, and they have left nothing
for the poor. The part of the crop that belonged to the poor had been
gathered and carried into their houses.
Isaiah 3:15 "What mean ye [that] ye beat my people to pieces, and
grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts."
The LORD always helped the poor, who could not help themselves.
It seems the poor had been mistreated by God's people.
Isaiah 3:16 "Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of
Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes,
walking and mincing [as] they go, and making a tinkling with their
feet:" Isaiah 3:17 "Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the
crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover
their secret parts."
We are now looking at the sins of the women. In the spiritual
sense, this could, also, be speaking of the sins in the church. Zion
many times is speaking of the church. In any case, this is speaking of
lust of the eyes and the flesh. Their "stretched forth necks" mean
that they are puffed up with pride. The wanton eyes mean they are
flirting and desire the men. This type of sin causes a woman to lose
her beauty. This says, the LORD will bring baldness to them and sores
on their body. Their secret part I believe to be their hearts. God
sees their hearts and knows it is stayed on evil.
Isaiah 3:18 "In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of
[their] tinkling ornaments [about their feet], and [their] cauls, and
[their] round tires like the moon," Isaiah 3:19 "The chains, and the
bracelets, and the mufflers," Isaiah 3:20 "The bonnets, and the
ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the
earrings," Isaiah 3:21 "The rings, and nose jewels," Isaiah 3:22 "The
changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the
crisping pins," Isaiah 3:23 "The glasses, and the fine linen, and the
hoods, and the veils."
All of these things are outward adornment which they are trying
to appeal to the men with. God looks on the inward man, not on the
outward. All of the things above are earthly things which will pass
away. I Peter 3:3 "Whose adorning let it not be that outward
[adorning] of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting
on of apparel;" I Peter 3:4 "But [let it be] the hidden man of the
heart, in that which is not corruptible, [even the ornament] of a meek
and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."
Isaiah 3:24 "And it shall come to pass, [that] instead of sweet
smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and
instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a
girding of sackcloth; [and] burning instead of beauty."
This is an explanation of exactly what comes from being a loose
woman. Notice, the punishment from God fits the sin. God is righteous.
Isaiah 3:25 "Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in
the war."
This is speaking of the coming war, when Jerusalem is overcome by
the enemy. When God does not stand up for the Hebrews, they fall to
their enemies.
Isaiah 3:26 "And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she
[being] desolate shall sit upon the ground."
Captivity is not a pretty thing. The city was plundered. It is
too late to lament and mourn. It is done. The "sitting upon the
ground" indicates that everything is gone. They have no chairs to sit
on.
Notes
Isaiah 4 Questions
1. In verse 1, what has the LORD of hosts taken away from Jerusalem?
2. What is "Lord, the LORD of hosts" speaking of?
3. What does Lord mean in verse 1?
4. What does LORD in verse 1 mean?
5. What are the Bread and Water symbolic of?
6. Who are the mighty men in verse 2?
7. What captivity is this probably speaking of?
8. What other time is it probably speaking of?
9. Who are the eloquent orator, counselor, and honorable man speaking
of in verse 3?
10. Who will be their princes?
11. What is "babes", in verse 4, really speaking of?
12. Why were the youth acting proudly against the ancient?
13. Who were they trying to choose to rule them?
14. Quote Isaiah chapter 3 verse 7.
15. What was the reason not to want to be a leader?
16. For __________ is ruined, and _________ is fallen.
17. What was the reason for the judgement of God against them?
18. What city's sin was their's compared to?
19. What was the evil city's sin?
20. What is the saddest thing of all about verse 9?
21. Quote Galatians chapter 6 verse 7.
22. Who are the righteous?
23. What do those who put their faith in the Lord have awaiting them?
24. What chapter and verse, in Revelation, tells us about the lake of
fire being for those whose names are not written in the Lamb's
book of life?
25. What is verse 12 speaking of really?
26. Who should be the head of the home?
27. Who has always stood up for the oppressed?
28. In Leviticus what instruction had been given to God's people about
the poor, pertaining to their crops?
29. How are the daughters of Zion described in verse 16?
30. Verse 16 and 17 are speaking of the sins of whom?
31. What do the "stretched forth necks" show?
32. What are all the things in verses 18 through 23?
33. Quote 1 Peter chapter 3 verse 3.
34. What comes of being a loose woman?
35. What happens to the Hebrews, when God does not stand up for them?
36. What does "sit upon the ground", in verse 26, show us?
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