ISAIAH 3:16-26, 4:1

                                                       ISAIAH CHAPTER THREE, con't

OBSERVATIONS: & INVESTIGATIONS:

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3:16-26 & 4:1 - Haughtiness & Extravagance

V. 16-26, 4:1 – In this passage we have another “because” and a “therefore.”  In verse 8 the consequence came “because their speech and deeds are against the LORD.”  In verse 16, the coming consequence is “because the daughters of Zion are haughty.”  Once again, the theme of haughtiness (pride, arrogance) is brought up as a reason for God’s anger.  

Over and over, God is reminding His people that they are not remembering their proper place.  They are considering themselves more highly than they ought (Romans 12:3), forgetting who has been the Provider of all they have, and arrogantly choosing for themselves right in their own eyes (main theme in Judges; cf Is. 5:21), instead of inquiring of the LORD (cf. Is. 8:19).  

Their haughtiness specifically consisted of a posture that drew attention to themselves (outstretched necks, tinkling with the bells/ornaments on their feet), looking down on others (outstretched necks), highlighting their wealth (bells on feet), and the words “wantonly” and “mincing along” give a sense of sensuality.  

Therefore, the consequence described in verse 17, strikes them with a scab on the heads and laying bare their secret parts.  Thus, they would be in shame instead of haughty, and not want to show themselves, instead of mincing along with tinkling feet. 

It is the LORD’s character to counter the sin of the proud - He brings low the haughty, he reverses their seeming self-exaltation (even from the tower of Babel, Gen. 11 - dispersing them as they are attempting to literally build themselves up to Heaven).  This chapter 3 passage, echoes the false loftiness that the LORD was against in Is. 2:11-17). 

The passage continues with a specific list of how the LORD will undo their haughty, self-exaltation.  Verses 18-23, list everything from foot (finery of anklets) to head (veils) that the daughters of Zion use in drawing attention to their beauty and wealth - a list of 21 ( 3 x 7 ) excessive luxuries (jewelry, perfume, festal robes, handbags, mirrors, etc.)  Items they flaunt as a symbol of their importance, rather than highlighting their Lord God as the glory over them.  (Our only boast is Christ, 1 Cor. 1:31).

And thus God reverses their idolatry (v. 24): 

Rotteness for perfume,

Rope instead of a belt,

Baldness for well-set hair,

Sackcloth for rich robe,

Branding instead of beauty (branding as sign of slave?)

Consequence continues (v. 24-26, 4:1):

Men shall fall by sword

Mighty men in battle

Her gates shall lament and mourn (not walk with outstretched neck)

Empty, she shall sit on the ground (not mincing along with tinkling feet)

And because so many men have fallen,

Seven women shall take hold of one man (4:1)

Begging to be called by his name, only that they would take away her reproach

She would eat her own bread and wear her own clothes, he would have no financial responsibility, if only she is not her own…to be single or widowed at that time, meant not having a protector or provider, which would leave her extra vulnerable.  For some, it was a fate worse than death.  These women wanting “only… to be called by his name” represents their desire for protection.  

The problem is, so many men have be killed in judgment that there are seven women to one man.  These women who were so haughty walking around in extravagant luxury are now begging for their well-being.  Of course this is sad.  And it makes sense that there are consequences for poor choices.  People won’t want to be your friend if you walk around looking down on people.  You may not get a job, if you don’t have a professional demeanor.  Choices to enjoy the momentary pleasures of illicit drugs may lead to unpleasant consequences down the road.  

Unfortunately, these people mistreated others (3:12, 14-15), misled them (3:12), and were arrogant with their wealth (3:16-23).  This offends God and His command for justice and holiness.  He desires that His people treat others rightly and seek to reflect his holiness by living lives of integrity.  Sadly, people had to experience consequences for these misdeeds.  But, thankfully, we know we have a just God, who we can trust to right the wrongs.  And, ultimately, He sent a Righteous Redeemer to make all things right!  We read more about Him in chapter 4!

SUMMARY

3:16-26 & 4:1

This passage concludes the chapter with yet another reason the LORD’s anger is kindled, this time their haughtiness and arrogant, luxurious living.

In light of the summary, I’d like to point out a couple of phrases that tie into the conclusion and the chapter theme.  

We continue to have themes to tie sections together and point to different emphases…Here we have two themes (“take away” & “In that day”).  What all is being taken away & what is happening in that day?:

3:1 - The LORD will take away support and supply

3:18 - In that day, the LORD will take away ornate luxuries

4:1 - They will beg the remaining men to take away their reproach

(And yet again, and still, they are turning to others, instead of turning to the Lord their God.)  

3:18 - In that day…the Lord will take away from His prideful people, ornating themselves with beauty…AND…

4:2 - In that day…the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious (the true and lasting source of beauty)

We continue to read of the contrasts that God is laying before His people. 

And Wow…4:1 seems to wrap up this section of “take away” and 4:2 is the contrasting verse with 3:18 of what will happen in that day – 

3:18 - ruin of the rebellious

4:2 - the HOPE of the riches of the righteous remnant restored!  The branch of the LORD…(this verse contrasts 3:18 and begins a new section of hope for the remnant describing the results of this branch of the LORD…but we have to wait until the next section to read more about this branch of the LORD!...)

PRAYER

LORD God, we praise You for being our Ultimate Protector and Provider.  We confess that there are many luxuries and comforts that distract us from full dependence on and trust in You and lead us to put our hope and comfort in beauty and wealth.  May You please convict us, Holy Spirit, refine us, and enable our true beauty and delight to be in glory and Hope of Christ!

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Isaiah 3:10-15 Observations & Investigations

                                               ISAIAH CHAPTER THREE, cont'd

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ISAIAH 3:10-15  – Good deeds vs. Misdeeds

V. 10 - “Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.” 

“Tell” is our imperative/command verb in this section.  The LORD wants Isaiah to “tell the righteous” that it shall be well with them.  This gives HOPE in the midst of woes and ruin!  How will it “be well” with them?  They shall eat the fruit of their deeds.  This idea pictures that there will be a fruitful harvest for the work done in seeking to remain faithful to the LORD.

Here “deeds” connects back to verse 8, that Jerusalem and Judah had stumbled and fallen b/c their “deeds” are against the LORD and foreshadows to a bookend in Isaiah 64:6, where the prophet proclaims, “all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment” and pleads to the LORD for mercy (64:9 - “Be not so terribly angry, O LORD, and remember not iniquity forever.”)  

The LORD responds declaring the sins of His people and demonstrating His mercy - “...so I will do for my servants’ sake, and not destroy them all…” (Isaiah 65:8).  The distinction is between those “who have sought me” (65:9) and you who forsake the LORD (65:10) (One of the repeated themes of Isaiah).  

The LORD judges this distinction of “those who have sought Him” and “those who have forsaken Him.”  They are judged on His terms (not our terms, not based on our feelings, or our justification for our sins/the why’s of our forsaking the LORD and His ways.)  From the beginning of Isaiah (Ch. 1-3) through the end (Ch. 64, 65), we read of this theme: God will judge those who are against His ways, and He will graciously preserve a remnant for His good purposes.  

The 26 verses of chapter three consist of many woes to the wicked…EXCEPT for THIS verse, verse 10!  A ray of hope for the righteous! And that ray of hope continues to shine all the way through the end chapters (64, 65).  Hang on dear remnant, there is the fruit of righteousness coming your way.  Keep trusting the LORD, keep walking by faith!

(v. 10 - HOPE, sandwiched between the two verses of woe (v. 9, 11).

V. 11 - Woe to the wicked - it shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him.  

They have brought evil on themselves (v. 9) and the wicked shall have done what their (wicked) hands have dealt out (v. 11).  This is not karma, this is personal knowledge, response, and action of a God who sees, and hears, and knows His creation, and who remembers His covenant, and who has the specific holiness, justice, and power to respond in judgment and deliverance (Exodus 2:24)! 

V. 12 - “My people — infants are their oppressors, and women rule over them.  O my people, your guides mislead you and they have swallowed up the course of your paths.” 

(cf. v. 4-7) - Verse 12 echoes verses 4-7, where the rulers are not as they should be – they are infants (unable, unqualified, ill-equipped) and they are oppressors.  “Women rule over them” echoes the curse of Gen. 3:16 that says, “He (your husband) shall rule over you” so here the infants oppressing and women ruling reflect an unraveled order.  The guides, who are supposed to lead, are misleading.  The guides themselves have swallowed up (gives the idea of an animal swallowing up, devouring, eliminating) the course of their path, so they do not have a clear path or know which way to go, as the role of a leader or guide is to help show the course of the path!

V. 13 -15 “The LORD has taken his place to contend; he stands to judge peoples. (14) The LORD will enter into judgment with the elders and princes of his people: ‘it is you who have devoured the vineyard, the spoil of the poor is in your house. (15) What do you mean by crushing my people, by grinding the face of the poor?’ declares the Lord GOD of hosts.”

 

This is the LORD’s response to the wickedness → it is righteous judgment.  He has come to be the prosecutor and judge.  They have brought this judgment  upon themselves by not caring for what the LORD has entrusted to them (the vineyard, the people).  They oppress the people (crush, grinding - actions that the servants would do, crush and grinding the grain, that is what the leaders are doing to them, crushing and grinding them under the hard labor and unjust wages, yet living off the “spoils” themselves (“the spoils of the poor are in your houses.” (v. 14)).  The poor have labored,  but the spoil of their labor is found in the homes of the leaders - evidence that they have not been caring for the people, as God desires, thus He stands to judge them.  

May we take care to consider whether our deeds align with God’s righteous ways or whether we have been misled and possibly deceived by how our deeds are being influenced wrongly leaving others to be treated unjustly or even setting ourselves up to be judged because we have done or allowed what God considers wicked.  

3:10-15 SUMMARY

In chapter three, we read about the ruin that the LORD of hosts is bringing on His rebellious people because their speech and deeds are against the LORD.  They have brought these woes upon themselves and these verses of 10 to 15 continue explaining the woes of unraveled order: infants are oppressors, women rule over them, guides mislead, devoured vineyards, crushing the poor, taking spoil from God’s own people. The LORD will judge and the wicked will receive ill, BUT one verse (verse 10) in the midst of the ruin reminds us of the fruitful hope for the righteous!  We later learn that this righteousness and this rightness with God, ultimately comes through the Messiah, and Old Testament verses like these give us these glimmers of hope in the midst of all the uncertainty and pending judgment.

PRAYER

O LORD God, who takes your place (3:13).  We know that we cannot stand before you, without the righteousness of Jesus covering us.  So, thank you.  Thank you for the hope for the righteous, that it may be well with us.  That we may eat the fruit of our deeds.  May you continue teaching us the fruitful deeds of righteousness that you desire for us to do in order to honor you, reflect your glory, demonstrate our gratefulness and allegiance, and to bless those around us.  May we seek to correct oppression (1:17, 3:12).  May we seek to not mislead (3:12).  May we have mercy on the poor and laborers (3:14,15), and may we seek not to mistreat others.  Would we be aware of the subtle ways we may do this as we are caught up in our own ways and our own little worlds of “American independence.”  May you grow our understanding and application of good deeds versus misdeeds that we may bring you more glory on earth as it is in heaven.  In the name and power of Jesus, we ask.  Amen.

NEXT

NEXT: In verses 11-15, the author unfolds the misdeeds of oppression, leadership misleading (v.12 & 14), and mistreatment of the poor and their labor (v. 14, 15).  Then in verses 16-26,and 4:1, we read of the misdeeds of haughtiness and abundant luxury.  Join us next time for details on these misdeeds and then hang on for the rest of the short chapter 4 (4:2-6), which is an   awesome passage of Hope! 

  Click Here to Print Study Guide for Isaiah 3:16-26, 4:1. - Observations, etc.

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Isaiah 3:1-9 - Observations & Investigations

ISAIAH CHAPTER THREE

OBSERVATIONS & INVESTIGATIONS: 

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ISAIAH 2:22, 3:1-9  – Defying God’s Glorious Presence

Let’s remind ourselves of our context:

• Ch. 1 - Current report (This is what has been happening…)

• Ch. 2 - In the latter days… (This is what is coming…)

• Chapters 2 & 3 seem to have a structure set up by five imperatives/commands

• 2:2 - Come (Nations)

• 2:5 - Come (House of Jacob)

• 2:10 - Enter the rock (People of God)

• 2:22 - Stop regarding man (People of God)

• 3:10 - Tell the righteous

Although 2:22 is the last phrase of chapter, based on the commands, it seems to be setting up this next section,

which is the beginning of chapter 3.  The structure of this next section is:

2:22 - 3:9

3:10 - 3:15

3:15 - 26, 4:1 (4:2 shifts themes, beginning with significant phrase “In that day,” which we will look into more

later.

So, let’s dive into this passage.  Ideally, I would read all of chapter three, so if you’re studying along with me,

I encourage you to take the time to do that, but since I’m aiming to keep these recordings to ten minutes,

I will just read the passage we are focusing on.

Isaiah 2:22, 3:1-9 TEXT

22 Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he? 3:1 For behold, the Lord GOD of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all support of water; 2the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, 3 the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms. 4And I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them. 5nd the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable. 6 For a man will take hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying: "You have a cloak; you shall be our leader, and this heap of ruins shall be under your rule"; 7 in that day he will speak out, saying: "I will not be a healer; in my house there is neither bread nor cloak; you shall

not make me leader of the people." 8 For Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence. 9 For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it.

Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.

Usually, there has been one “for” reason following each imperative/command, but in this section there are six, which we will briefly highlight and then summarize at the end.

The command of 2:22 begins our section:

2:22 - Stop regarding man… (stop putting weight into his ways and his opinions and following him,) “for of what account is he?”  Man is described as “in whose nostrils is breath.”  Here the author is reminding the

reader of Genesis 2:7, “then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils

the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”  For the Lord Himself gives man breath in His nostrils. 

Man is not even in control of His own breath. “For of what account is he?” How much power or regard is he truly

worthy of?  Not much.  

 

Stop regarding man…

3:1 - For the Lord GOD of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and Judah support and supply (cf. Job - for the

LORD gives and takes away).  Stop regarding man, forit is the LORD who has the power to give and take away…and right now, He is taking away from Jerusalem and

Judah…because their speech and their deeds are against the LORD (v. 8)

V. 1 - 3 : Lord GOD of hosts is taking away support and supply from Jerusalem and Judah (He is their Provider,

but “because their speech and deeds are against the LORD” (v. 8), He is demonstrating His power as the Provider,

by not providing.) 

Taking away support of supply of:

• Bread and water (v. 1) (Food, sustenance)

• Mighty man and soldier (v. 2) (military power)

• Judge and prophet (v.2) (legal realm, leaders)

• Diviner and elder (v. 2) (religious leaders)

• Captain of 50 & man of rank (v. 3) (military leaders)

• Counselor, skillful magician, expert in charms (v. 3) (spiritual powers)

V. 4 - 5: rulers will be ill-equipped (boys will be princes, infants will rule); people will be oppressive and

insolent (even to neighbor, elder, and honorable…not as it should be)

Stop regarding man…

3:6 - For a man will take hold of his brother in the house of his father…

3:7 - “In that day…”

V. 6-7 - Brothers will try to force brothers to be leaders, but “in that day” they will reject

The LORD will take away and not allow proper leadership or proper respect.  He knows this leads to chaos,

which leads to the unraveling of this “self-made” lofty people…to remind them who is truly responsible for and in

control of their life and breath and everything else (Gen. 2:7, Job 33:4, Acts 17:25).  I’m noting here the “in that

day” phrase that we will look at in a later section.  

Stop regarding man…

 3:8 - For Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence.

Here we get the “for” and the “because” reasons.  For Jerusalem has stumbled, Judah has fallen, because their speech and their deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence...we can stumble and fall because what we say and do is against the LORD, it defies His glorious presence. God’s people are intended to give Him glory and reflect His

glory, not defy His glory.

Stop regarding man…

3:9 - For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it.

Stop regarding man…

For they have brought evil on themselves.”

Woe to them - they have brought evil on themselves, the look on their faces bears witness against them

(like a guilty toddler), they proclaim their sin like Sodom, do not hide it (calling and justifying what is

evil as good.)

Verse nine points back to 1:9-10, where the author compares to the pervasive and destructive sin of

Sodom and Gomorrah.  Specifically, that they do not hide their sin, their faces bear witness against them.  

Then this section ends with “For they have brought evil on themselves.”  The ruin that Judah and Jerusalem will experience, they brought on

themselves.  This is not unfair destruction, but the result of them defying the glory of God.  This is the

result of a God who is true to His word, who is just and cannot let sin go unpunished, how unfair and

unsettling would that be…to have a God who establishes rules for His people’s good, but then does not

give consequences when those rules are broken!?!  Such consequences are never fun and hard to

experience or watch others go through, but that doesn’t mean they are not fair, just, or actually good to

maintain expectations, order, and trust.  

So, let’s review the ideas of this passage, which begins with a command to “stop regarding man” and then gives

us six reasons why:

Stop regarding man (following his ways and putting weight in his opinion)…”for of what account is he?” 

God alone gives breath to his nostrils.

Stop regarding man…for the Lord God of hosts is taking away…support and supply. (All the good He had given in food and military and legal realm and spiritual realm, he is taking away…the LORD gives and the LORD

takes away).

Stop regarding man…for there will be no suitable leader.

Stop regarding man…for Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen… 

Stop regarding man…for the look on their faces bears witness against them.

Stop regarding man…for they have brought evil on themselves.

Stop regarding man, for the LORD gives and takes away, there will be no suitable leader, they have stumbled and

fallen, their faces bear witness against them, they have brought evil on themselves.  Stop regarding man.  Trust in

and exalt the LORD.

(2:22) 3:1-3:9 SUMMARY

Chapter 2 has called God’s people to enter the rock for protection from God’s rightful wrath we read about in

chapter 1.  Chapter 2 ends with a command for them to stop regarding man and launches into chapter 3 where it is

explained why they should stop regarding man, in whose nostrils is breath.  God is the one who gives even breath

to the nostrils and He is also taking away support and supply - a list of bread, water, soldier, judge, prophet, diviner,

elder, etc.  They will not find a suitable ruler - boys as princes, infants ruling, brother attempting to force brother to

lead, followed by rejection.  Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen because their speech and their deeds are

against the LORD, defying his glorious presence.  They do not hide their sin and have brought evil on themselves.   

PRAYER

Oh God of Heaven, You are above all and before all.  You give life and breath and hold all things together. 

We praise Your power and Your grace that you regard men enough to give us breath and leadership and the

blessings to live well.  We confess that we defy your glory with our fallen speech and deeds and deserve Your

judgment.  We ask for Your grace to convict us, lead us to repentance, and grant us the strength to resist worldly

temptations, that we may live for You and the glory of Your ways.  Thank You that Jesus’ perfect speech and deeds

and perfect sacrifice on the cross and powerful resurrection made a right relationship with You possible.  May

You continue to use the messages of Isaiah to teach us more of Your holiness and more of how to walk humbly

with You.  In the righteous name of our Redeemer, Jesus, we pray.  Amen.  

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