I. The Lord Humbles Proud Jerusalem (1-4)
Ariel means Lion of Judah. Ariel has been celebrating its feasts every year, but God promised He will encamp against Jerusalem to bring it down. Instead of boasting about the legacy of David, their voice will be brought low, groveling from the ground.
II. The Lord Protects Jerusalem (5-8)
But when Jerusalem have been humbled, God promises that those who attack Jerusalem will be made like fine dusts, chaff that passes away suddenly.
III. Jerusalem the Blind and Illiterate (9-12)
Because of stubborn sin and pride, the prophets and seers in Jerusalem are blinded by the Spirit of God. They are no longer able to see the signs and be warned of the coming judgments, even with the teachings of Isaiah. Amos said the same thing:
“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord GOD, “That I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, but shall not find it.” (Amos 8:11-12)
How do we make sure we are not blind? Even today, there are people who are blind to the Gospel. Jesus said: "Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.” John 12:39-40
Jerusalem was not only blind, but illiterate. They are unable to read the Word and understand their own sins. Many of us may know how to read the bible, but we just don't get what God is saying to us personally. We are blind to the His promptings through the Word.
IV. Hiding Sins (13-16)
There is another problem with Jerusalem - they think they can hide their sins from God. They believe that they can change the spirit of the law but creating new rules. They believe that they can ally with Egypt without God knowing, or even if God knows, God can't do anything. There is a spirit of pride and independence against God.
God said: "“In as much as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men" (v13).
Jesus quoted this verse in Matthew 15:7-9. It means they are just following a set of "dos" and "don'ts" from the traditional teachings and rules. They don't understand the heart of God. Jesus rebuked them for preventing Him from healing people on Sabbath, but allows a lamb who falls into a ditch to be rescued.
Instead of understanding that God is the potter, the pot has taken over how it should be shaped. They believe God doesn't understand their situation. Or perhaps God no longer cares. These are the deception that lies beneath their routine rituals and traditional rules.
V. Sight for the spiritually blind, justice for the wicked. (17-24)
Despite the horrible state Jerusalem is, God is still faithful. He promised: "In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.
The humble also shall increase their joy in the LORD, And the poor among men shall rejoice
In the Holy One of Israel." (v18-19)
God was not just talking symbolically, but also literally, when Jesus came and open the ears of the deaf and eyes of the blind, and many of whom He healed, believed Him to be the promised Messiah. Jesus opened up the scriptures to show that He is the one Isaiah and other prophets were speaking about.
Eventually, the whole of Israel will come to realise God's plan and worship Jesus. God said: "These also who erred in spirit will come to understanding, And those who complained will learn doctrine.” (v24)
VI. Summary
This chapter is rich in it's analysis of the problem of Jerusalem and are very relevant to us today. The problems, in summary are as follows:
1. Holding on to a past glory. (v1: the city where David encamped). The people were proud of David, and his achievements and the Glory of God hundreds of years ago. They have lost the fresh sense of God's presence in their lives. We have often enjoyed God's glory once in our lives, probably when were were students. We called upon God and He answered us! We saw how God saved friends and strangers among our midsts. But as we became busy with our jobs, have children and even marital struggles, God's glory departed from us. We no longer have that relationship because we no longer goes to Him, but to our own intellect. God didn't move away from us, but we moved away from Him, and He still waits for us to return.
2. Following a life pattern without thinking (v1: year to year; let the feasts run their round.) We need to take stock often on whether we have been doing things that God does not approve or no longer wants us to do. This includes how much time we spend on our jobs, our hobbies, and neglecting other responsibilities that God wants us to pay attentions to - such as our spouses, children, parents, christian brothers and sisters or other people that God wants to reach. Just like in business, we have to be agile. We need to be agile in God's service so we can change our focus upon His calling, even when they are outside of our comfort zone.
3. We are blind and asleep (v9-10: Astonish yourselves and be astonished; blind yourselves and be blind!). As a result of our empty rituals, we became blind to what God is trying to do to our society and to our own self. Different people who needed God and we just walked by without thinking, because we are thinking about the present job problems or where to go next for vacation. The world is moving, changing under God's hands, but we think nothing of it and it doesn't affect us nor cause us to pray for those suffering or those who are still lost, such as parents or friends. God wants us to be part of His salvation plan, here or abroad, but we are blind to His calling. Sometimes, God has to bring in a crisis into our lives, such as a health problem, to "wake us" from the slumber and misleading dreams.
4. We are illiterate to the Word. (v11: And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed.) There are two types of people Isaiah referred to. One are those who read, but cannot understand because they refuse to understand. The Word is "sealed" to them. Then there are those who just don't read. These people are not illiterate because they are not educated, but they are illiterate to the spirit of the Word. Isn't this exactly what is happening to many Christians? They are either too lazy to read, or when they read, the Spirit is unable to speak to their hearts. It is only mental knowledge. We study whatever we need to do a good job at the office, but we do not study the basic life manual - the Bible. We need to read, understand and be convicted by the Word - it is not easy, that is why a serious study, discussion and meditation is required.
5. Our hearts are not in it. (v13: "their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men") At the end of the day, it's all about our hearts. It is not about how we sing, preach, go to church or do good to others. In fact, before we do all those things, we should make sure our hearts are next to God's. Once that happens, then we can understand the Word with our hearts, we can be awaken to our sins and complacency, we can sense the direction of God in our lives, and we can be refreshed with His presence every day. How do we become near to God's heart - I believe it is simply to pray. Praying is not merely asking God to help me when in trouble, but merely trying to get closer to God and to listen to Him. God is always there helping me without being asked, but I won't know it and I won't appreciate it until I can pray "unceasingly" regardless of the practical outcomes in my life.
6. Living in deception. (v15-16: "Who sees us? Who knows us? He did not make me. He has no understanding") We shudder when anyone says these things. Though we would never say it, we live it this way. We do many things that we know is wrong, but we don't think God knows. But intellectually, we do know He knows, but perhaps he doesn't care. He got more important things to worry about. Or perhaps He doesn't know my situation enough. I am in trouble or I am lonely and I need to do all kinds of things to get out of trouble, or to make enough money, or to make myself happy. Instead of going to God, we go into "Egypt" - the symbolic "world" we run to. God has no more important things to do but to take care of each of us. He is the cornerstone and counselor we should run to.
Charles Spurgeon's listed six deceptions or lies we believe in:
i. The lie that we are, or can be good enough.
ii. The lie that fate or predestination determines all, so there is nothing for us to do.
iii. The lie that places confidence in new, false teachings.
iv. The lie that religious profession is enough.
v. The lie that one can have a saved soul and an unchanged life.
vi. The lie that trusts an old experience instead of an ongoing relationship.
Which of these still run our lives today?
Pastor Edmund Chan said: "The crisis is not to know we have a crisis." This chapter helps us to realise some of the crisis. May God give us the courage to repent and take the right steps to return to Him.
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