Isaiah continues to prophecy more judgment against more nations in today’s reading. As we read through these judgments, they can become very heavy. Sin always produces awful destruction.
How did God’s people, in particular, respond to the judgments against them? Did they find them heavy? Were they humbled in spirit and heart? Did they reach out to a merciful God to ask for forgiveness? Notice Jerusalem’s response to God’s calls for repentance. In that day the Lord God of hosts called for weeping and mourning, for baldness and wearing sackcloth; and behold, joy and gladness, killing oxen and slaughtering sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine. “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” (Isaiah 22:12–13, ESV) When God’s people heard the prophecies against them, they responded by partying on!
What do we typically find humanity doing during times of great sin against God, just before God’s judgment on mankind? And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank…until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank…But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. (Luke 17:26–30, KJV)
What a picture of the utter blindness and insanity of sin! What a reminder of how sin hardens the heart unto judgment despite God’s warnings. Let us heed God’s conviction in our lives, turning from sin daily and receiving His grace and strength to overcome!
Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Isaiah 18-22.