Isaiah 2 ends with this admonition: Turn away from mortals, who have only breath in their nostrils, for of what account are they? (Isaiah 2:22).
God cannot allow His people to trust human leadership more than Him. It is as wrong to make idols out of humans as it is to rely on false gods like Baal or Asherah. Chapter 3 outlines the remedial judgment God brought on His people in response to their idolatry.
Rock Bottom
I heard a preacher once read the 23rd Psalm. When he read, “He makes me lie down in green pastures,” he turned to the congregation and said, “Sometimes God makes us lie down, because it makes us look up.”
Some people have to reach rock bottom in their lives, because that’s the only way they will look up to their Savior.
Here’s a summary of Jerusalem’s rock bottom:
- They were soon to experience a war that would deprive them of food and water (Isaiah 3:1).
- The human leaders that they idolized were to be eliminated (Isaiah 3:2-3).
- Either an exile would place young men in leadership, or the quality of leaders would be as immature as teenage boys (Isaiah 3:4).
- Rebellion will occur, where customary respect is turn upside down (Isaiah 3:5).
- People will exit all realms of leadership and leave anarchy in its place (Isaiah 3:6-7).
The Source of the Problem
Isaiah has a long list of reasons why God will abandon His people and bring judgment on them. He writes:
- For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their deeds are against the Lord, defying his glorious presence (Isaiah 3:8)
- The look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom, they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves (Isaiah 3:9).
- My people—children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, your leaders mislead you, and confuse the course of your paths (Isaiah 3:12).
- The Lord rises to argue his case; he stands to judge the peoples.
The Lord enters into judgment with the elders and princes of his people: It is you who have devoured the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
What do you mean by crushing my people, by grinding the face of the poor? says the Lord God of hosts (Isaiah 3:13-15).
I encourage you to prayerfully read God’s indictment of His people in this section and throughout the Old Testament prophets. You may arrive at an opinion similar to mine.
If God judged Judah and Jerusalem for the practices outlined in His word, why should He not judge America?
Praying for America and the World
I have outlined the problems listed in chapter 3 without comment, because I want to focus on the solution. The Bible is filled with promises that feature God’s willingness to respond to sincere prayer.
Prayer is our most powerful way of making a positive difference in a troubled world. I have included an old recording of Dr. Frank Laubach in this article.
Laubach was a remarkable man who served the Lord through two world wars, an influenza pandemic, and the Great Depression. Besides being quite effective as a missionary, he was a dynamic man of prayer.
I believe Laubach’s message on prayer will inspire you to devote more time to prayer. He will provide a method of prayer you may want to adopt.
This is an old recording, so the sound quality isn’t up to current standards. The message is fresh and engaging.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 