Preparing for Deliverance
Reflection on Isaiah 5:8-23
Here we have the second of 3 prophecies written in Isaiah 5, which address the social injustices of Israel. Isaiah’s prophecies concerning the wrath of God are a response to Israel’s own idolatry.
These prophecies if received and accepted by Israel are in fact an extension of God’s mercy as they are a warning to God’s people to repent and return to righteousness. Let us see what warning we can heed from Isaiah for our own lives today, for the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12)
Concerning social justice, there are many theological arguments that proclaim that God is on the side of the strong and the powerful, and that the weak and the poor in society are lacking because God is punishing them. But ever since Moses and the Israelites were delivered from slavery in Egypt, it has been revealed that God hears the cry of oppressed people. And many times throughout scripture we see God’s righteousness specifically being accredited to those who care for the poor, orphan, widow, and disenfranchised.
Yet in Isaiah 5 it seems that for a time God’s people had become the same kind of people that God delivered them from.They once roamed through the wilderness with no food and no water, no gold and no silverd, and no land to call their own. But when they were finally blessed with abundant prosperity, the poor and lowly among them multiplied in number. Perhaps what this prophecy teaches us most is that to neglect the needs of the poor and to oppress those who are powerless is idolatry and unrighteousness in God’s sight.
Isaiah 5:8-9 directly addresses the rich in Isrealite society, those who have enough wealth to add house to house and to add field to field to systematically push out the poor from among them. Isaiah writes that these large and beautiful houses will be left desolate and without inhabitants. When we consider the gentrification that is so prevalent in society, here is an antidote to our frustrations; an awareness that God has seen this before and can deal with it according to His justice.
In Isaiah 5:10 the prophecy deals with the imbalance of wealth because it proclaims that God will disrupt the Isrealite economy. It says, “For ten acres of vineyard shall yield but one bath (9 gallons), and a homer (65 gallons) of seed shall yield a mere ephah (9 gallons).” Vineyards normally produce between 2-10 tons of grapes per acre, so ten acres would normally produce 200-1,000 tons of grapes. One ton of grapes usually produces 120 gallons of wine, so for ten acres to yield only 9 gallons is a supernatural market crash that would have decimated the Isrealite economy. And for a homer (65 gallons) of grape seed to yield a mere ephah (9 gallons) would have done the same; making even the most wealthy people in this agrarian society instantly dirt poor.
1.The pursuit of riches truly proves its vanity when markets crash, because even the rich can become familiar with poverty. How has the economic aches due to the coronavirus outbreak affected the way that you view your financial pursuits?
Isaiah 5:11-12 again directly addresses the privileged but also those who give the rich their wealth. The alcoholics who fuel the wine market, those who rise early to drink wine and linger at evening to drink strong drinks, would be sorely disappointed to hear that the wine market crashed (v.10). It is interesting to take note that this society made its wealth on alcohol addiction, much like our societies prophet off of addictions to gambeling, drugs, and sugar today. Yet, although feasts and celebrations were often commanded by God for His people to celebrate what He had done for them, Isaiah points out that Israel was now known for holding celebrations without regard for the deeds of the LORD. But if all things come from God, what could anyone celebrate without acknowledging Him? Here we see Israel’s pride, for they must have thought themselves so great to have accomplishments that they achieved on their own.
In this neglect of God’s deeds toward Israel is an identity crisis and a slap in the face to the One who gave them all that they have, so in God’s judgement of them in Isaiah 5:14, Sheol (place to which people descend at death) will swallow them up, and those who survive will go into exile without their nobles and the knowledge that they lead the people with. A great humiliation is the basis of this prophecy for when it comes to pass everyone is brought low, and the eyes of the haughty (prideful) are humbled, leaving the land desolate with only animals to run freely through it. Yet in this great humiliation of Israel, God proves that his judgements are good.
2.When you have been prideful and neglected the deeds of the LORD, how did God humble you?
Finally Isaiah prophesied against the “justice” system of Israel. We often pass by scriptures of judgement because they convict our hearts, but for an oppressed people like us who are subject to unjust laws that still discriminate against the poor and people of color today, it should be good for us to be assured that God cannot be bought and that His judgement is just and unbiased as He even judges His own people Israel. In this blessed assurance, the Lord Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will be proved holy by his righteous acts (Isaiah 5:16).
This ”justice” system was not justice system at all because it includes those in Israel who deceive people by condoning sin as they draw sin along with cords of deceit (Isaiah 5:18), and it is implied that this same group says, “Let God hurry; let him hasten his work so we may see it. The plan of the Holy One of Israel—let it approach, let it come into view, so we may know it.” When we read of God’s judgements here in Isaiah as well as God’s final judgement when Christ returns, the last thing we want Him to do is hurry. This suggests that this group may be those who misunderstand the things of God and encourage others to continue with them in the same ignorance; they who call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:21). Yet for all those mysteries of God that we all struggle to fully comprehend, I give God thanks for His patience, for as stated in 2 Peter, “The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance” - 2 Peter 3:9.
Repentance is then the order of each new day that God blesses us to see, for when we look into our hearts and out at the world around us, we see that sin is prevalent. So with penitent hearts let us continue to seek God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, for his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised (Isaiah 5:25).
3.What do you see in your society that might cause a prophecy like the one given to Isaiah concerning Israel to still be a relevant warning to us today?
You are welcomed to pray this prayer with me:
Oh LORD, whose judgements are righteous,
I know that the world has turned away from you, but I give you thanks for preserving the faith of many through your word. I thank you for the convictions of your truth that set me free from self-righteousness when I hear Your word, and from destruction when I walk in Your word. In your judgements you prove yourself to be just, unlike the laws and systems designed by men to oppress me and my children. I do not place my hope in leaders who rule with lies and hypocrisy, but I hope in Your righteous judgement. Help me to know that you are concerned about the conditions that your people live in as we trust in you to fight for us. Have your way in me through the gifts of your grace to bring about the changes that are needed to heal broken hearts and bring deliverance from oppressive conditions. I give you thanks for the many blessings and glimmers of hope that shine through the darkness, yet I continue to hope in promises and wait patiently for your complete restoration. In Jesus Name, Amen!
In memory of Ahmaud Arbery (1997-2020)