Isaiah 2:5-9 - Observations, Investigations, etc.

 ISAIAH CHAPTER TWO, cont’d

ISAIAH 2:5-9 -- OBSERVATIONS: & INVESTIGATIONS:

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ISAIAH 2:5-9 - House of Jacob invited to come (back) to God because of their idol-filled lives

        5 O house of Jacob,

come, let us walk

in the light of the LORD.

        6 For you have rejected your people,

the house of Jacob,

because they are full of things from the east

and of fortune-tellers like the Philistines,

and they strike hands with the children of foreigners.

7 Their land is filled with silver and gold,

and there is no end to their treasures;

their land is filled with horses,

and there is no end to their chariots.

8 Their land is filled with idols;

they bow down to the work of their hands,

to what their own fingers have made.

9 So man is humbled,

and each one is brought low—

do not forgive them!

In my ESV Bible, the editors seem to group verse 5 in with verses 1-4.  There is a space after verse 4, then verse 5, and then a new title “The day of the LORD” before verse 6. 

I chose to include verse 5 with the next section for two reasons.  

  1) There is a shift in audience.  In verse 3, the nations and peoples are the ones saying, “Come”.  In verse 5, the call to “come” is for the house of Jacob. 

“O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD.”  

2) Secondly, there seems to be a pattern that forms four sections by using an  “imperative/command verb,” then the conjunction “for” to explain “why” they should do that command.

   V. 1-2 : Introduction

                         V. 3 - 4: Come nations…for out of Zion shall go the law

                         V. 5 - 9: Come house of Jacob…for YHWH has rejected his people because of your sin

             V. 10-21: Enter….for the LORD of hosts has a day

                        V. 22 - 3:1: Stop…for….”Lord GOD of hosts is taking away” 

V.5 - As noted above, verse 5 is a call for the house of Jacob to “come.”  In verse 3, the nations are being invited to come, learn the ways of God, to walk in them.  In verse 5, the house of Jacob is being called to come and walk in the light of the LORD.  The house of Jacob already knows the law, commandments, and teaching of YHWH, so they don’t need to be called that “he may teach us his ways.”  Here there is the imperative verb “come, let us walk.”  They haven’t been walking in the light of the LORD.  They have been living in rebellion and darkness, so they are being called to come, as in “come back.”  

I was struck by the phrase, “let us walk.”  I found a fascinating word study on the word “walk.”  It is found 347 times throughout the Bible…I want to pause quickly in Leviticus 26.  It is used 10 times in 8 verses of that one chapter.  And what is that chapter talking about?  Blessing for obedience and consequence for disobedience.  There is this fascinating connection between walking with the LORD, walking in His ways, walking in obedience and receiving blessing.  This has been God’s desire since the beginning!

V. 6 - The “for” here is verse six seems two-fold:

1.     The nations are being called to come, “for” (because) you (LORD) have rejected your people

                    and

2.           The House of Jacob is being called to come back , “for” you have rejected your people…and we know there are a few survivors being protected from the coming ruin (1:10)...so come back and be rescued!

            Why has the LORD rejected his people?

“because they are full of things from the east.”  Again, a fascinating word study on the word “East” will point you to ways that are away from the LORD.

Then “fortune-tellers” are mentioned.  Interestingly, there are only a few references to fortune-tellers throughout Scripture.  Two sent me into a cross-reference party!

The first is in Micah 5:12, that says, “and I will cut off sorceries from your hand, and you shall have no more tellers of fortunes….”  The context of this passage is the remnant being delivered, which is interesting because both Isaiah 2 and Micah 5 are calling a remnant to be rescued in the Day of the LORD.  

The second cross-reference brings to light this significance

             Why are fortune-tellers not a way of the LORD? Why will they be cut off in the Day of the LORD’s judgment?

Because of one of the few other references to “fortune-tellers”...found in Deuteronomy 18:10!  What is the context of Deuteronomy 18?  Moses is telling God’s people, “When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations.  There shall not be found among you anyone who…tells fortunes…The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you…it is to him you shall listen…”!!!  We don’t need fortune-tellers because we will have a “prophet like Moses”, but even better!  We will have a perfect prophet who not only speaks on behalf of the LORD, He.Is.The.Word.Of.God!  (John. 1:1-17)  Jesus!

The last phrase of verse 6 is “and they strike hands with the children of foreigners.”  Matthew Henry indicates that this refers to marrying foreigners, which would entwine with a culture not following YHWH.  God has forbidden marrying foreigners in order to protect his people from temptation of turning from His ways.  This passage refers to practices of the foreigners (things from the east and fortune-tellers) as well as the consequences those actions have caused (spelled out in verse 7 & 8)

V. 7 - 8 -         land filled with silver and gold, no end to treasures (wealth)

                       land filled with horses, no end to chariots (military)

                       land filled with idols (empty religion, rebellion to YHWH)

V. 6 reminds them that they have been rejected because they are full of things from the east.  Then verses 7-8 describe what they are full of…”their land is filled with…” these three things: wealth, horses/chariots (picture of military strength), and idols.  Each of these three things represent what the people are trusting in instead of YHWH, their Creator, Father (1:2), the Mighty One of Israel/Lord of hosts, with supreme military strength (1:24), the personal God of their people (God of Jacob, 2:3) who sees and hears and knows and delivers (Exodus 2:24,25), unlike powerless idols they make with their own hands. 

This is foolishness and long-standing rebellion that needs to be held accountable and continue no longer, so that God’s intended purposes for righteousness and peace may prevail.

The term “there is no end to” is repeated twice, referring to their treasures and their chariots.  This indicates that the idolatry runs deep.  It’s not that they have just started to collect wealth and military power, there is so much of it, the author uses the metaphor “there is no end to it.”  It also gives the idea that this is not a one-time sin in need of repentance, but a habitual sinful lifestyle and pattern that has built up a fullness with “no end.” 

V. 9 - “SO…” So, what is the result…

We learn of God’s response to this sinful way of life…

              “So, man is humbled, and each one is brought low - do not forgive them!”

             Since Adam and Eve in the Garden, pride has been at the root of rebellion to God.  Doubting God’s goodness, thinking one knows better than Him.  We will continue to read in Isaiah of how the pride and arrogance of God’s people are called out and lead them to ruin.  Here in 2:9, the theme of being humbled and brought low is introduced after explaining the vain rituals (1:11-15), the unfaithfulness (1:21-23), and the displaced trust (2:6-8).  And a proclamation, “do not forgive them!” Wow, what hope is there?

                                   SUMMARY 

                                    (2:5-9)

After the nations are called to walk in God’s ways (2:1-4), the house of Jacob is called to walk in the light of LORD, for they have been rejected because their lives are full of idol worship – trusting in wealth, military strength, and self-made images, instead of trusting and worshiping YHWH, so they are warned that they will be humbled without forgiveness.  

They have been walking in the darkness of idolatry.  The warning of being brought low without forgiveness seems grim, but even their invitation, “O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD,” (v. 5) is an indication that there is still hope for God’s people, if they choose to turn from their ways of darkness and come walk in the light of the LORD. (Repentance)

                                   

                                 PRAYER

O LORD of light, you humble us in our rebellion, following ways of the world: trusting in wealth, false strengths, and false comforts.  We need your forgiveness.  May we learn to repent and be humble and seek your forgiveness through Jesus: the One who is the source of true & lasting riches, strength, and comfort.  The One who is better than any fortune-teller because He knows the beginning from the end.  He is the Word become Light to tell of and show your way. May we learn to listen to Him so we may humbly resist idols of darkness and walk in your strength and your light. AMEN.    

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Isaish 2:10-22 -- Observations, Investigations, Etc. To Print 2:10-22 Study Guide, Click HERE