Isaiah 5:18-30.  This part of chapter five continues the prophecy of Judah’s destruction.  The first part of the chapter was full of “woe’s”.  Warnings of doom because of the selfish partying lifestyle of the people of Jerusalem and Judah.  The people had been living fairly safe rich lives and God was going to judge them for their disobedience.  He would be honored when the world saw his seriousness and power.  Eventually God’s plan of restoration of his relationship with mankind, at least part of it, would be accomplished (v. 17).

Now the woe’s continue (Remember the chiasmus idea that I explained in the 4/14/12 post) as the structure of chapter five reflects back to the idea of the destruction of Judah for their wrong doing.  Now though, the attitudes that displease God are being described differently. The fist woe (VV. 18-19) was because the people of Israel were burdened with disobedience to God but challenging Him to prove himself.  The second woe (v. 20) was because the people of Judah were reversing God’s standards, calling evil good and good evil (sound familiar).  The third woe (v. 21) was because they had substituted their own wisdom for God’s; they were making up their own standards and rejecting God’s.  The fourth woe  addresses the party attitude and social injustice.  Instead of putting their resources to work helping others they were wasting them on partying, like the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32).

Because they have rejected what God has told them they will be destroyed (vv. 24-25).  Verses 26-29 tell of a fierce army that will come and conquer them.  Later in the book of Isaiah this army will be identified but here in chapter five their imaginations are left to dream, and the dream is a nightmare of fear. The promised land will be shrouded in darkness, distress and gloom.

For me verse 24 contains the worst part and yet the best part of the prophecy.  It says their root will rot and their blossom will blow away, because they have rejected the word of God.  There is hope because the fact that they once had root and flowered reminds be that God is able.  They were a wandering people, slaves in Egypt and God made them one of the greatest nations in the world under Uzziah.  But they had disobeyed and judgment was on the way.  They could have that greatness back if only they would return to God.  IN fact that is what verses 17 the point at the center of the chiasmus tells me.  The lambs will graze in the pastures and strangers will eat where the rich once dined.  Those who had rejected God would be destroyed just like the people who had once lived in the land but were disobedient and destroyed.  But the faithful, even strangers, would enjoy a place in God’s kingdom.  The point is will we accept of reject what God has to say to us.  God will be honored even by those who reject Him (Philippians 2:9-11) but then comes destruction for those who rejected Him in life.  For those who accepted God in life there is an eternity with him ahead (John 1:12).  Lord help me be careful to honor you with my life, not to avoid punishment but as a token of appreciation for your love for me.  Let me never forget though that you are completely holy, separate, special.  You will not let sin go unpunished.  Thank you for Jesus who took care of my sins and also the sins of the whole world.  Help all of us not substitute our own plan for yours, only yours works.  Thank you for being clear with us all, help us open our eyes to you.