Judah's Guilt and Judgement...
Verses 8 to 30!
So we move on now to the second section! From the images of a Vineyard, planted, cared for and grown. However the harvest was bitter. It was not as it should be. So the caretaker teares it down and starts again.
Verses 8 to 12 is a reflection and depiction of what the people were acting like in Judah at the time.
Buying up houses until there was no one left in the land surrounding. This is a story of greed in possessions through the use of great wealth. Often the bible talks about loving your neighbour and not saving up earthly treasures. But here the people are not loving their neighbours. They are buying up all the land they can own until there is no one left around them. 9 and 10 are a response to these actions. God swears an oath! A binding promise and God never breaks his promises in the bible. They have always been fulfilled. God is consistent and why should he be different here? God's oath is to destroy the prosperous empty houses, he will cause the vineyard to stop producing as much as it was built to and the crops will not grow. He is hitting them at their livelihood. Verses 11 and 12 speak of the people being constantly drunk, thinking only of drink and music and parties but not of the Lord. They do not even notice what he is doing to the lands he gave them.
13 to 15 God's people will be sent into exile from the land that he gave them because they have turned away from him. The great and honored will starve and the common people will die of thirst - possibly a reference to their loss of lively hood first and then the situation they will end up in during exile. The picture of the grave in verse 14 is strong. "Licking its lips in anticipation" -> death will come soon and swiftly and it will be satisfying to the grave. A large number of people will die. Death will not distinguish between classes or types of people they all face the same fate. Verse 15 confirms this "Humanity will be destroyed, and people brought down." The arrogant will be humiliated they will have nothing to be arrogant about and will acknowledge how their actions have brought them shame.
16 and 17 is a bit more positive. The Lord's armies will be exalted and Gods holiness is displayed. "The lambs will find good pastures" and they will "feed among the ruins" So there won't be nothing left and God will allow some to remain. Often lambs and sheep as used to represent God's people in the bible. I'm not sure if that's what it is here but it well could be.
18 to 23 has the recurring word 'Sorrow'. This section describes the way that the people think and how it is so backwards from God. The people are mocking God and not understanding his ways. Thinking 'evil is good,' 'dark is light' and 'bitter is sweet'. They do not focus on the things of God but on themselves, putting themselves higher than God. 'Wise in their own eyes.' They are drunks and boastful about it. They take bribes and 'punish the innocent.' These actions are all self-fulfilling and not God fearing or God following at all.
24 through to 30 is again about God's response to these wicked actions from wicked people. God's response again is described as total death and destruction. It interesting to note in verse 29 that 'no one will be there to rescue them.' Its interesting because God rescues his people often in the bible but here he does not. It important to note that only God can rescue them but he does not because of the evil they have done in his eyes.
My God is a vengeful God and his ways are Right!
Showing posts with label Judgement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Judgement. Show all posts
Sunday, 25 August 2013
Thursday, 15 August 2013
Isaiah Chapter Three
So after another day of feeling sick, sleeping, catching up on online lectures, dropping a unit of study and baking chocolate cookies... its finally time for me to sit down with my bible.
The headings consist of - 'Judgement against Judah' and 'A warning for Jerusalem's Women'
I'm guessing that the Judgement outlined in Chapter Two is being extended here in chapter 3.
Judgement against Judah
The first paragraph I find here (3 verses 1 - 5) seems to be a changing of order. GOD ACTS - he gets rid of the food and water supplies - two vital things for human life! Then he destroys the leaders of the nations - people who are often looked up to and trusted to keep the peace and provide safety for the citizens. Then God appoints children. Here's something fundamental about children compared to adults. A lack of knowledge and life skills. I'm not sure if it means God will appoint actual physical children or if he is appointing people who act like children. People who are not equipped to lead a nation, people who don't have the skills or knowledge of what it means to lead a nation. (verse 4 - 'anarchy will prevail)
In verse five it seems that no one will respect each other, everyone will be out for their own interests and there will be no order. Almost like the survival of the fittest. Seems a bit like how we live today don't you think?
I like verses 6 and 7. The fact that someone who has a cloak is asked to rule is amusing to me. I'm guessing that the idea of a cloak is big for this prophecy. It kind of shows how people will have nothing, everything is in "ruins" so asking someone who has a cloak to rule is interesting. I'm guessing that in this scene being able to keep a cloak means you are a thoughtful person, who is able to conserve things that are needed - cloaks for warmth etc... they think ahead. Compared to the "childish" leaders someone with a cloak must look admirable and capable. The only problems is that this person only has one cloak, they have only cared for them self; they are lacking the capacity to help or look after anyone else. How can a person lead a nation if all they have is a cloak on there back?
Verses 8 and 9 form another little paragraph for me. The theme of this is the open sin and unashamed way that the people are acting against God. Their cities are in ruins and their relationships are in ruins and they openly defy God. They bring about their own destruction!
10 and 11 - contrast what life will be like for those who follow the Lord compared to those who won't. Those who follow God and are Godly will receive a reward. Imagine being rewarded by the biggest God! The most powerful being in the Universe! However those who don't follow the Lord and don't seek to be Godly in this passage will be punished.
Verse 12 - It kind of stands out on its own and links back into the beginning of the section. The leaders of the nation - women and children. The bible is very clear on the roles of Men, Women and Children. In this time Men were the one who were educated so I can understand why it says that women shouldn't rule here. How can someone who is uneducated rule and lead a people to prosperity. It was a very different time to what we experience now (however I will leave my opinions on Women's roles in this time to another post). I enjoy the image of a pretty garden path here. The contrast between the pretty and the destruction that awaits. What looks pleasing now and what looks like a good idea doesn't always end up being so. This is one of those times.
Verses 13 - 15 -> A scene involving the Lord. A court room scene, a place of judgement and trial. The order of Judgement is set - the leaders of the people. The leaders who are supposed to lead the people in the ways of the Lord. A people set apart to follow God especially. These leaders have taken advantage and led the people astray. They have not followed the Lord and it seems only right and just that they be judged first.
A Warning for Jerusalem's Women
Its interesting here the way that the women are judged next. Their actions show their priorities surely! They view themselves as first and most important. Their appearance is what is most important and gaining the affections of men is part of that. The plague of scabs and baldness is interesting. It changes their physical appearance to something unpleasant. God takes away all their jewels and fine clothing and perfumes. They will smell, wear ropes and their hair will fall out. Sackcloth is mentioned as the new dress. Sackcloth was warn in times of mourning and grief. Only fitting here. I wonder if they will be grieving not only their lost beauty but their choices to turn from the Lord. Only shame will be left to them (verse 24).
Lastly it says that the men will die in battle, the city will be in mourning and weak.
A reflection: Having never looked at these passages before I find myself linking the scenes to today's world. Our leaders (in Australia particularly) spend a great deal of time bickering like children, looking out for their self interests. And the actions of people are selfish. We however don't live in such a desperate time as this prophecy of Jerusalem shows. However I am struck with the depiction of the dress and attitudes of the women of Jerusalem. I can see this as a priority of the women in today age. Being a 20 year old woman myself I do fall prey to this sort of thought. Beauty and appearance are very important to women these days and is often the first thing we are judged on. And not just by men but other women. This passage is a good reminder to me to follow the ways of the Lord and not worship clothing and make-up. Not to want the eyes of men to fall on me for my body but to fall on me for my heart for the Lord.
To strive for the Lord is my goal and this passage is a good reminder of what will happen if I don't.
In God I trust!
The headings consist of - 'Judgement against Judah' and 'A warning for Jerusalem's Women'
I'm guessing that the Judgement outlined in Chapter Two is being extended here in chapter 3.
Judgement against Judah
The first paragraph I find here (3 verses 1 - 5) seems to be a changing of order. GOD ACTS - he gets rid of the food and water supplies - two vital things for human life! Then he destroys the leaders of the nations - people who are often looked up to and trusted to keep the peace and provide safety for the citizens. Then God appoints children. Here's something fundamental about children compared to adults. A lack of knowledge and life skills. I'm not sure if it means God will appoint actual physical children or if he is appointing people who act like children. People who are not equipped to lead a nation, people who don't have the skills or knowledge of what it means to lead a nation. (verse 4 - 'anarchy will prevail)
In verse five it seems that no one will respect each other, everyone will be out for their own interests and there will be no order. Almost like the survival of the fittest. Seems a bit like how we live today don't you think?
I like verses 6 and 7. The fact that someone who has a cloak is asked to rule is amusing to me. I'm guessing that the idea of a cloak is big for this prophecy. It kind of shows how people will have nothing, everything is in "ruins" so asking someone who has a cloak to rule is interesting. I'm guessing that in this scene being able to keep a cloak means you are a thoughtful person, who is able to conserve things that are needed - cloaks for warmth etc... they think ahead. Compared to the "childish" leaders someone with a cloak must look admirable and capable. The only problems is that this person only has one cloak, they have only cared for them self; they are lacking the capacity to help or look after anyone else. How can a person lead a nation if all they have is a cloak on there back?
Verses 8 and 9 form another little paragraph for me. The theme of this is the open sin and unashamed way that the people are acting against God. Their cities are in ruins and their relationships are in ruins and they openly defy God. They bring about their own destruction!
10 and 11 - contrast what life will be like for those who follow the Lord compared to those who won't. Those who follow God and are Godly will receive a reward. Imagine being rewarded by the biggest God! The most powerful being in the Universe! However those who don't follow the Lord and don't seek to be Godly in this passage will be punished.
Verse 12 - It kind of stands out on its own and links back into the beginning of the section. The leaders of the nation - women and children. The bible is very clear on the roles of Men, Women and Children. In this time Men were the one who were educated so I can understand why it says that women shouldn't rule here. How can someone who is uneducated rule and lead a people to prosperity. It was a very different time to what we experience now (however I will leave my opinions on Women's roles in this time to another post). I enjoy the image of a pretty garden path here. The contrast between the pretty and the destruction that awaits. What looks pleasing now and what looks like a good idea doesn't always end up being so. This is one of those times.
Verses 13 - 15 -> A scene involving the Lord. A court room scene, a place of judgement and trial. The order of Judgement is set - the leaders of the people. The leaders who are supposed to lead the people in the ways of the Lord. A people set apart to follow God especially. These leaders have taken advantage and led the people astray. They have not followed the Lord and it seems only right and just that they be judged first.
A Warning for Jerusalem's Women
Its interesting here the way that the women are judged next. Their actions show their priorities surely! They view themselves as first and most important. Their appearance is what is most important and gaining the affections of men is part of that. The plague of scabs and baldness is interesting. It changes their physical appearance to something unpleasant. God takes away all their jewels and fine clothing and perfumes. They will smell, wear ropes and their hair will fall out. Sackcloth is mentioned as the new dress. Sackcloth was warn in times of mourning and grief. Only fitting here. I wonder if they will be grieving not only their lost beauty but their choices to turn from the Lord. Only shame will be left to them (verse 24).
Lastly it says that the men will die in battle, the city will be in mourning and weak.
A reflection: Having never looked at these passages before I find myself linking the scenes to today's world. Our leaders (in Australia particularly) spend a great deal of time bickering like children, looking out for their self interests. And the actions of people are selfish. We however don't live in such a desperate time as this prophecy of Jerusalem shows. However I am struck with the depiction of the dress and attitudes of the women of Jerusalem. I can see this as a priority of the women in today age. Being a 20 year old woman myself I do fall prey to this sort of thought. Beauty and appearance are very important to women these days and is often the first thing we are judged on. And not just by men but other women. This passage is a good reminder to me to follow the ways of the Lord and not worship clothing and make-up. Not to want the eyes of men to fall on me for my body but to fall on me for my heart for the Lord.
To strive for the Lord is my goal and this passage is a good reminder of what will happen if I don't.
In God I trust!
Wednesday, 14 August 2013
Isaiah Chapter Two
So after a day of... being sick, dizzy, watching Dexter/Friends, eating soup, catching up on lectures and completing part of a Uni assignment... it's finally time to sit down with my bible -> before my parents return home to being their karaoke practice. (Ask me about that later!)
Isaiah Chapter Two - lets see how my brain goes, since my vocal chords won't work.
The headings I come across are: The Lord's future reign and a Warning of Judgement.
My first impressions of these headings without actually reading the text are -> well that's a pattern I see in the bible often. The Lord - I'm assuming Jesus - is continually looked toward as the king of all creation, the heavens and earth. We are now in the time where we wait for his return to become the reigning king forevermore. God always provides a warning of judgement before it comes. Part of me thinks it is so we can't turn and say "well you didn't tell us what to expect!" Also humanity likes predictability - it creates a feeling of stability.
The Lord's future reign: Another vision (verse 1). From the passage I am hoping that my interpretation of the text to mean after Jesus return, however the words "last days" (verse 2) could mean before his return. I do not possess enough biblical theology knowledge to feel confident about this. Although I think some scholars may feel similarly to me. Moving on...
The idea of the temple of the Lord being the most important place on Earth is mind boggling. This would mean that every human being would be focused on the Lord! That the Lord God would be the center of all human life - which he should be but since the fall we all know that isn't the case right now.
People from all over the world coming to the temple - its almost a reversal of the tower of Babel (Genesis 11: 1-9). The people of the world focused on one goal. However instead of selfish gain and a great name for themselves they would be coming together in worship of the Lord!
Verse 3 - "he will teach us his ways, so that we may obey him." -> this is something that God has called for many times over in the Old Testament before the book of Isaiah. Mainly in Genesis and with the calling of his people Israel. The idea of God teaching his people at the temple means contact with God, relationship with God. The ability to converse with God! Isn't that INCREDIBLE?
Further in verse 3 it says "the Lord's teaching and his word will go out from Jerusalem" Is this a prophecy of the ascension of Jesus, the giving of the Holy Spirit and the spread of the Gospel from the Jews and to the Gentiles? That's what it looks like to me. We have to remember that in the Old Testament - which is where we are reading right now - the message of God was mainly and pretty much exclusively for the people of God alone. That is the Israelites who were the Jews. Its not until Jesus but mainly after Jesus that the MESSAGE OF SALVATION is shared with the Gentiles. (Note: Gentiles just means non-Jewish people.)
The beating of swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks is significant.
The word beating is a forceful word, giving the idea of hard work, breaking a sweat. So behind this action is intent, its is meaningful.
So a plowshare is for creating, growing crops and a pruning hook is for maintaining crops.
Its pretty cool how the tools used for war are in this passage changed for farming. Instead of warring against one another the nations are coming together to work the ground. This is possibly reflective of the beginning purpose of humanity to rule and care for the earth (see Genesis chapters 1 and 2). These tools are helpful if we are in a pre-Jesus return era since we would still act under the curse of the ground being hard to work (Genesis 3).
Wars stopping and military training ending is significant because in the text there will not longer be a need for such things. People working in harmony together under the will and care of the Lord God.
LET US WALK IN THE LIGHT OF THE LORD! (verse 5)
A warning of Judgement:
Here's the flip-side of the chapter. We leave the bliss of the imagery of a people following one God together and enter the images of what happens to a land who does not unite under God.
In these verses we notice that the people are breaking some of the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20). They are not worshiping the Lord but the idols of the nations around them. In creating alliances with other nations they are being infiltrated by the cultures and practices of these nations also. The influence and love of God is being rejected for the pleasures and fleshy desires of the other nations. Here's something that has happened over and over again throughout Genesis and Exodus. The people of God turning from him, their focus is not on the ways and wills of the Lord but on the ways and wills of their minds and their wrongful, lustful desires.
AND THIS MAKES GOD ANGRY!
HE REJECTS THEM!
The Lord cannot simply ignore their sins! (Verse 9)
The imagery here is extremely powerful. The call for people to hide from the wrath of God. The crawl into caves in rocks. To take cover from what is to come.
It really gives you a sense of God unending, undeniable power!
The people will be afraid and ashamed. What they built that wasn't under the Lord will be destroyed so the GLORY of the Lord will come through. The Lord will not stand for their disobedience.
The idea that the earth will shake is scary. Earthquakes kill thousands of people! The Lord has this power and no one can manufacture it. Only the Lord has the capacity to control the earth and everything in it.
This is something people often forget.
Final thoughts: When I read passages like this - with such stark contrasts in content - I come to a feeling of fear of the Lord. Seeing his power and Glory, but it is a fear that come in hand with admiration. I should fear the Lord, he has the power to smite me down at any second. But he is also a loving and caring God. He offer redemption - which we saw in the first part. We should live under him and there will be a day when we do. But for now I am content to live in fear and admiration of my God.
And on that note:
Stop putting your trust in mere humans. They are frail as breath. How can they be help to anyone? (Chapter 2 verse 22)
Isaiah Chapter Two - lets see how my brain goes, since my vocal chords won't work.
The headings I come across are: The Lord's future reign and a Warning of Judgement.
My first impressions of these headings without actually reading the text are -> well that's a pattern I see in the bible often. The Lord - I'm assuming Jesus - is continually looked toward as the king of all creation, the heavens and earth. We are now in the time where we wait for his return to become the reigning king forevermore. God always provides a warning of judgement before it comes. Part of me thinks it is so we can't turn and say "well you didn't tell us what to expect!" Also humanity likes predictability - it creates a feeling of stability.
The Lord's future reign: Another vision (verse 1). From the passage I am hoping that my interpretation of the text to mean after Jesus return, however the words "last days" (verse 2) could mean before his return. I do not possess enough biblical theology knowledge to feel confident about this. Although I think some scholars may feel similarly to me. Moving on...
The idea of the temple of the Lord being the most important place on Earth is mind boggling. This would mean that every human being would be focused on the Lord! That the Lord God would be the center of all human life - which he should be but since the fall we all know that isn't the case right now.
People from all over the world coming to the temple - its almost a reversal of the tower of Babel (Genesis 11: 1-9). The people of the world focused on one goal. However instead of selfish gain and a great name for themselves they would be coming together in worship of the Lord!
Verse 3 - "he will teach us his ways, so that we may obey him." -> this is something that God has called for many times over in the Old Testament before the book of Isaiah. Mainly in Genesis and with the calling of his people Israel. The idea of God teaching his people at the temple means contact with God, relationship with God. The ability to converse with God! Isn't that INCREDIBLE?
Further in verse 3 it says "the Lord's teaching and his word will go out from Jerusalem" Is this a prophecy of the ascension of Jesus, the giving of the Holy Spirit and the spread of the Gospel from the Jews and to the Gentiles? That's what it looks like to me. We have to remember that in the Old Testament - which is where we are reading right now - the message of God was mainly and pretty much exclusively for the people of God alone. That is the Israelites who were the Jews. Its not until Jesus but mainly after Jesus that the MESSAGE OF SALVATION is shared with the Gentiles. (Note: Gentiles just means non-Jewish people.)
The beating of swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks is significant.
The word beating is a forceful word, giving the idea of hard work, breaking a sweat. So behind this action is intent, its is meaningful.
- But what's a plowshare? -> Thanks to the invention of Google I found out that a plowshare is the cutting blade of a plow and a plow is a tool used for farming. A tool to help in the planting of crops.
- Pruning hook? -> A cutting tool used from pruning trees and other crops.
So a plowshare is for creating, growing crops and a pruning hook is for maintaining crops.
Its pretty cool how the tools used for war are in this passage changed for farming. Instead of warring against one another the nations are coming together to work the ground. This is possibly reflective of the beginning purpose of humanity to rule and care for the earth (see Genesis chapters 1 and 2). These tools are helpful if we are in a pre-Jesus return era since we would still act under the curse of the ground being hard to work (Genesis 3).
Wars stopping and military training ending is significant because in the text there will not longer be a need for such things. People working in harmony together under the will and care of the Lord God.
LET US WALK IN THE LIGHT OF THE LORD! (verse 5)
A warning of Judgement:
Here's the flip-side of the chapter. We leave the bliss of the imagery of a people following one God together and enter the images of what happens to a land who does not unite under God.
In these verses we notice that the people are breaking some of the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20). They are not worshiping the Lord but the idols of the nations around them. In creating alliances with other nations they are being infiltrated by the cultures and practices of these nations also. The influence and love of God is being rejected for the pleasures and fleshy desires of the other nations. Here's something that has happened over and over again throughout Genesis and Exodus. The people of God turning from him, their focus is not on the ways and wills of the Lord but on the ways and wills of their minds and their wrongful, lustful desires.
AND THIS MAKES GOD ANGRY!
HE REJECTS THEM!
The Lord cannot simply ignore their sins! (Verse 9)
The imagery here is extremely powerful. The call for people to hide from the wrath of God. The crawl into caves in rocks. To take cover from what is to come.
It really gives you a sense of God unending, undeniable power!
The people will be afraid and ashamed. What they built that wasn't under the Lord will be destroyed so the GLORY of the Lord will come through. The Lord will not stand for their disobedience.
The idea that the earth will shake is scary. Earthquakes kill thousands of people! The Lord has this power and no one can manufacture it. Only the Lord has the capacity to control the earth and everything in it.
This is something people often forget.
Final thoughts: When I read passages like this - with such stark contrasts in content - I come to a feeling of fear of the Lord. Seeing his power and Glory, but it is a fear that come in hand with admiration. I should fear the Lord, he has the power to smite me down at any second. But he is also a loving and caring God. He offer redemption - which we saw in the first part. We should live under him and there will be a day when we do. But for now I am content to live in fear and admiration of my God.
And on that note:
Stop putting your trust in mere humans. They are frail as breath. How can they be help to anyone? (Chapter 2 verse 22)
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