ISAIAH

Isaiah 9:8-17

quote:

"The Lord sends a message against Jacob, And it falls on Israel. 9 And all the people know it, That is, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, Asserting in pride and in arrogance of heart: 10 "The bricks have fallen down, But we will rebuild with smooth stones; The sycamores have been cut down, But we will replace them with cedars." 11 Therefore the LORD raises against them adversaries from Rezin And spurs their enemies on, 12 The Arameans on the east and the Philistines on the west; And they devour Israel with gaping jaws. In spite of all this, His anger does not turn away And His hand is still stretched out. 13 Yet the people do not turn back to Him who struck them, Nor do they seek the LORD of hosts. 14 So the LORD cuts off head and tail from Israel, Both palm branch and bulrush in a single day. 15 The head is the elder and honorable man, And the prophet who teaches falsehood is the tail. 16 For those who guide this people are leading them astray; And those who are guided by them are brought to confusion. 17 Therefore the Lord does not take pleasure in their young men, Nor does He have pity on their orphans or their widows; For every one of them is godless and an evildoer, And every mouth is speaking foolishness. In spite of all this, His anger does not turn away And His hand is still stretched out."

Israel knew that God's message would accomplish its goal, as His word always does. However, Israel was too proud and arrogant to change. Their prideful response in their losses was "we will rebuild, and this time even better"! There was no humility or repentance for their sin.

Israel's enemies would come from opposite directions to attack them. Since there is no record of the Philistines attacking northern Israel in history, "Israel" in verse 12 probably refers to the entire land. The Syrians attacked Ephraim and the Philistines attacked Judah. This is not the end of God's judgment, but only the beginning of more to come.

Judah was being led astray by their leaders and false prophets, but those who followed were not completely without fault. Without discernment and the absence of their seeking the Lord, they permitted themselves to be led astray.

"Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near" had been the watchword of Isaiah throughout his entire ministry to Israel. (Isaiah 55:6) What was it that the Lord expected of Israel? The Hebrew word "teshuvah" means "turning", and is the scriptural word for repentance, which involves several acts –

1. Humbling one's heart. "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18)

2. Self-examination of one's thoughts and actions with prayer. "You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways." (Psalm 139:3)

4. Distress arising from a sense of guilt for having committed sin. "For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death." (2 Corinthians 7:10)

5. Confession of your sin. "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." (James 5:16)

6. Restitution with those you have hurt. "Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much." (Luke 19:8)

7. Not repeating the sin. "Straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?" 11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more." (John 8:10-11)

God's response is forgiveness and healing. "For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." (Jeremiah 31:34b)

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you;" (Matthew 6:14)

"And My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land." ( 2 Chronicles 7:14)

Let us learn to follow the Lord in true repentance. We must first with humble hearts seek the Lord and see if there is any way in us that is contrary to His, confess our sin asking for forgiveness, and resolve in our hearts to change. Our wonderful God will respond with forgiveness and healing!