Isaiah - Verse By Verse | Isaiah

Isaiah - Day 65

versebyverse | July 31, 2008 22:48

Scripture: Isaiah 3:12 (NIV): "Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. O my people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path."

Thought: To me, we are living today in a world that displays symptoms of poor government, as this verse describes.

Question: Have I been turned from the path of righteousness?

In verse 5 of this chapter we have seen similar wording: "People will oppress each other...The young will rise up against the old..." Again in verses 2, 3 and 4 we see all types of leaders being "taken away" by God, no doubt because, as it states here in today's verse, "your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path."

The chaos of poor government is upon the people. Weak men and weak leaders are replaced with inexperienced youth who turn to oppressive methods to have any weight with and over the people. "Women rule over them" is a criticism as well. Women were not ordained by God to lead men, and though sometimes thrust into a position of leadership over men by default, God indicates this is symptomatic of deterioration of society--not a sign of improvement.

The unfortunate result is that the people are led "astray." They are turned "from the path"--the path of righteousness as ordained by God to be worked out upon society through the order of Christ as head and man as head over his family, which includes the women and youth. (See Ephesians 5:22-24 and 6:1).

Prayer: Sovereign Father, give me Your wisdom rgarding what comprises the best kind of government. Keep me from trusting in the ways of men. Amen.