SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 5:8-30
OBSERVATION:
A word of judgment against those who love wealth and pleasure more than the Lord (v.12).
In times of wealth, people often forget the Lord and His moral law, but ultimately they will regret it.
A time when people twist the truth to justify their own deeds, who call evil good and good evil, who think highly of their own petty opinions.
One day, if people do not “wake up” and realize that God is God, that His Law is good and right, and that we need Him to survive… one day they will “wake up” and realize too late that they were wrong.
God is calling and calling and calling, but one day He will give people what they have wanted, life without Him… and then they will regret it.
This message is spoken especially to people who ought to know better, religious hypocrites who act piously and religiously but actually use their religion as a cover for pride, greed and immorality.
APPLICATION:
Does this prophecy describe the Christian west, in love with pleasure and wealth more than with God, building bigger and better homes, running after all kinds of immoral lifestyles, justifying our behaviours by calling good evil and evil good?
How do we justify our big houses, properties, and abundant wealth; we call it blessing, but is it really?
Like the religious leaders of Jesus day, I wonder whether many of us Christians today will be surprised when we discover that Jesus does not support our opinions and practices, and instead judges us for being worldly and disobedient – under the guide of pious religiosity?
I need to search my own heart in this, as I know that in many ways I have succumbed to this religious hypocrisy, acting and looking very religious yet living selfishly and contrary to God’s will.
PRAYER:
Lord, please expose the hypocrisy and immorality in my own life, rather than pointing it out in others. And help me to change, to become more like You. Amen.
I remember this verse and others with the same message hounding me during and after my trips to the Phillippines and to Mexico. In both those places, there are such strong Christians who have almost nothing and yet, they are so comfortable, so confident in Christ, and so faithful. I’ve often wondered if I was put in their position from birth, if I would be able to put my faith into God as they do. I have so much and I can still find something to complain about. Since my mission trips, I’ve definiltey made a conscious effort to be more content with what I have, to want less, and although a struggle, I do feel much better when my money is spent on others, rather than myself. If only I could do it completely now….
Isaiah here describes a people who have replaced God with their gods. the gods of pleasure and wealth, doing what is right in their own eyes. The people have perverted justice that even their music defies created laws, They have become a law unto themselves. Their is no distinction between good and evil. They are right in their own eyes.
Oh Lord, help me to live each day with the refrain – to do right in the eyes of the Lord. Help me always to focus on Your Ways. Help me to seek You diligently each day. As I start this Sonday with You, be my Guardian and Guide in all I do and say. May Your banner be lifted high.