DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Isaiah
3:1-14 (02/19-3/04) Reading at Sixth Hour: Friday of
the First Week of Great Lent
The Lord Does
Pass Sentence: Isaiah 3:1-14 SAAS,
especially vs.14: “The Lord will enter into judgment with the elders of His people
and His princes: ‘For you set fire to My
vineyard; the plunder of the poor in your houses.’” Having
indicted His people because “...they are disobedient to the Lord,”
with the result that “Now their glory is humbled” (vs. 8), the Lord
ends His presentment with a severe sentence. But God’s full judgment, with
additional indicting facts and details, continues until the first verse of the
next chapter. What’s
significant is that most of the present passage describes a society we know.
Thus, what Isaiah records of the Lord’s indictment
shows that he is a true Prophet.
For if we squirm reading what he received from the Lord, it is because
his words hit close to home - compare
our society’s conditions!
What makes a nation and society robust and
strong? It is men and women of
stature (vs. 1). To be mighty men (vs. 2) Leaders of a nation
at all levels must have strength of character, whether presiding sagely from
the bench, serving congregations, advising wisely concerning the future,
teaching budding generations, commanding the military, giving counsel in
life’s struggles, producing worthy art and music, or guiding us in the
spiritual life (vss. 2,3).
Too often we read of immature, self-indulgent,
and petulant leaders - persons seeking their own enrichment, satisfaction, or
comfort in the style of infants and little children! There is mocking of the spiritual values
and standards that earlier produced great statesmen in
this nation (vs. 4). Isaiah
speaks of people collapsing, which would seem to mean mental and physical
breakdowns. Free-expression has
become idolatrous, so that we have repeated instances in which the
“...child will be arrogant toward the elder, and vulgar toward the
honorable” (vs. 5).
If these trends in society continue among us,
be sure of what Isaiah wrote: we may go begging for good public servants and
professionals (vss. 6,7). Poor leadership comes home to
haunt! If
God’s indictment is fearful to read and
horrendous in implication, especially when used as a window to examine what we
are experiencing. The declaration
and exhibition of the sins of
Is Isaiah’s voice and our interpretation
just the cry of the stodgy and the up-tight? No!
It is merely holding up God’s truth like a mirror so that we may
examine ourselves. Beloved in
Christ, we are a holy people. We
are meant to be leaven in whatever society we find ourselves, not mere casual
bystanders. Be cautious of those
who bless but lead astray (vs. 12).
We have a sufficiency of punishers
gathering us together and making demands as they rule over us (vs. 12).
Of this you may be sure, and history affirms
the point: “The Lord stands up to plead, and stands to judge His
people” (vs. 13). He will have
His say about us and for us, as He did with
Be
gracious to us Thy servants, that we may persevere unassailed
and ever glorify Thee.
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