Isaiah - Verse By Verse | Isaiah

Isaiah - Day 89

versebyverse | September 02, 2008 17:39

Scripture: Isaiah 5:9 (NIV): "The LORD Almighty has declared in my hearing: 'Surely the great houses will become desolate, the fine mansions left without occupants.' "

Thought: To me, "great houses" and "fine mansions" have too much consumed the minds and hearts of the people in our country.

Question: Will desolation and lonliness characterize my life's end?

Why is God bringing desolation and death to the Israelites?

Let's review the reason for God's judgment against the Jewish people: from Isaiah chapter 2 we saw these sins: failed leadership (verse 6), practice of superstitions and divination (verse 6), too much, and apparent love of, money (verse 7), and idolatry (verse 8). Also in chapter 3 we saw a list of "transgressions" committed by Israel: oppression of the poor (verse 5 & 12 & 15), "words and deeds against the LORD" (verse 8), and pride (verse 16).

Thus we see here in their lives without God that lonliness and death intensifies: they have fine, luxurious surroundings but no one to fill them. It's not so much that God gets up and plots desolation, following through to bring it about with His mighty, supernatural acts. No. All He has to do is let the natural consequences occur. The people have done this to themselves. "Surely", He says. As the night follows the day, desolation will follow in natural course on the heels of greedy wealth accumulation. To ignore God and live for self will reap an empty existance.

Prayer: Father, each day help me to see Your "investments" of my time, my talents and all that I have been blessed to receive from You. Amen.