7. COMING JUDGMENT ON JUDAH - Isaiah 3:1-12

 

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The previous chapter dealt with God’s judgment upon Judah within the context of the final universal judgment. This passage focuses more on the situation regarding Judah and Jerusalem. It reveals much information about the judgment that God will now bring to bear upon Judah for their rebellion (3:8,9).

But there is also a connection with the previous chapter, for in Isaiah 2 the people were warned of the foolishness of trusting in man. This folly is further highlighted in Isaiah 3 by the swiftness with which God deals with men in judgment.

 

Please Read Isaiah 3:1-12

 

Verse 1: Following the warning of Isaiah 2:22, Isaiah seeks to gain the attention of the people, so that they might focus their thoughts on what is about to be said. The people of Judah are told to look at the reason why trusting in man is foolishness (2:22). The reason is because God will remove from the nation the backbone of society and would remove all that held Jewish society together. All of Judah’s supports will be removed. All the basic needs of Judah the Sovereign Lord would be taken away, including the bread and water (Lev 26:26; Ezek 4:16; 5:16; Ps 105:16).

Isaiah identifies God as the one who does in fact have the ability to do these things, for He is ‘the Lord of Hosts.’ Because God is sovereign, this judgment will most certainly take place.

QUESTION: How does the mention of God’s sovereignty make these events certain?

 

Verses 2,3: The entire backbone of Judean life will be removed and society will crumble. Not only the basics of life in the area of food, but also the heart of Judean society will be removed by God when He judges. The military, civil, spiritual (Amos 8:11; Hos 3:4), political, and even the tradesperson (2 Kings 24:10ff; Jer 24:1; 29:2) will be taken away.

QUESTION: For what reason will God take these classes of people away from the nation of Judah?

 

Judah had sinned by trusting in anything and everything but God for deliverance, and that deliverance being not only from military threats. By taking away these classes of Judean society, God is taking away those things in which the Judean people trusted apart from God, including military arms and false gods.

Verses 4,5: The Lord in His providence would bring about this reduction of Judah, and in place of those that He removes, God will appoint inexperienced and incapable rulers. The inexperienced and immature youths that begin to rule in Jerusalem will not be fit to run the country, and as a result disaster will surely follow. The text of the original language suggests that these rulers may not necessarily be literal children, but rather be those who lead in and with childish passions and ways.

With inexperienced and weak government, comes a weak approach to crime and justice also. The complete breakdown of society seems to be pictured in this description. Those actually deserving respect in the land would be overlooked and even despised, for those who are ungodly and disrespectful would have the upper hand.

Verses 6,7: Men will seek to force people who they feel are qualified for the most foolish of reasons to be their leaders, and to bring order out of the chaos. Even the mere possession of certain clothing will seem a good enough reason for a person to rule. So they will seek to compel such people to rule and to bring order to the anarchy that then will exist. The word used to describe the ruin of Jerusalem and Judah can be translated as ‘mass,’ a lump of matter.

But these men will refuse, not wanting the job, because they are not capable of solving the nation’s troubles. They reject the office of leader out of hand, for they recognize that they do not have the means for delivering the nation from its extreme state (1:6). These men are not able to even provide for their own families let alone the entirety of Judah.

Verse 8: Burdened under her weakness and wounds, Judah first stumbles and then falls. It is all but over for Judah, with no man wanting to rule over the mess that is the nation of Judah. Its ruin is certain, because in both word and deed, the people have rebelled against God and that in full view of Him.

Verse 9: The very facial expressions demonstrated that the people were guilty of this rebellion, for they have paraded their sin and glorified in it. These expressions were witness against the people, condemning them for their crimes. In their sin they were like heathen nations, even as Sodom (1:10; Gen 19), that city which shamelessly broadcast its depravity in sight of all. What a tragedy, for the people have brought this disaster upon themselves, reaping what they have sown.

NOTE INDIVIDUAL DISCOVERY QUESTION HERE: Do the righteous have reason to fear God’s coming judgment on Judah and Jerusalem? How did you arrive at this conclusion? See Isaiah 3:10.

 

Verse 10: Yet not all will be destroyed, for those who have remained faithful to the Lord, even a remnant, these shall survive. The Lord has not forgotten those who are truly His, the people of God within Israel. They have sought the Lord in order to obey Him, and God has been gracious to them.

QUESTION: Are these people saved by works? Explain your answer (Hint: Think about James).

 

Verse 11: But what a tragedy for those who do not turn to the Lord in true repentance, for these will face the judgment and wrath of the Sovereign Lord of Hosts. These shall reap a reward for their toil, and that will be destruction (Rom 6:23).

Verse 12: Judah is ruled by kings who have behaved as children, and the women of the court hold sway over the rulers. They don’t rule well, and they allow themselves to be led astray. They oppress their own people, giving no heed to how they should rule under God. In turn the rulers turn the people away from the Lord (9:15; 2 Kings 21:9), and down the road to destruction.

QUESTION: How do the leaders of a nation lead their people away from God?

 

Individual Discovery

In your own words describe the scene being painted by Isaiah in Isaiah 3:16-24. Do you see any comparisons for today in these verses?

 

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17/10/2006

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