Jerusalem's Judgment

    After Isaiah had a vision of Jerusalem, God moved on to show him more.  Then, God came back around to highlight why the city was being judged.  This is the second and third story of the woe series.  It is more why it is sad than focused on the judgment itself.

    Jerusalem is known as the City of David or Ariel (altar hearth).  It was care free until judgment came.  God allowed the ruthless to consume the city until it was burned to dust.  What was once glorious was brought down by hordes of enemy nations.  

    The people of Jerusalem really did have the good life that people dreamed about.  God had always protected it and they felt invincible in the city.  Then God allowed them to become thirsty, hungry, and faint.  They didn't know how to survive without their modern (for their time) world.  God made them rough it which was hard for them because they were soft.  They were just stunned, amazed, and had no idea what to do next.  

    God had warned them plenty of times, but they ignore the warnings.  God eventually made it where no one could read His warnings that had been written.  His written Word had them sealed and hidden and the people who knew where it was all ended up dying.  He was tired of cardinal worship.  God wants our hearts and will not be satisficed with anything less.  Later, Jesus would quote what was sealed and the people would have the opportunity to understand again.

    God allowed the wise people to die out and left everyone else to wonder.  I don't know if they were aware that all intelligence had vanished.  They tried to hide their plans from God, so God made their plans seem ridiculous.  They didn't understand what they were doing which is what is so sad.  God was seeking restoration and His people were just not getting it.  Instead they were challenging Him.

    The humble and the needy were able to rejoice once the ruthless vanished.  They were left when all the rich and powerful were taken away.  They were able to keep God's name Holy.  Their shame disappeared as injustice was removed.  The wayward finally gained understanding and the complainers gained instruction.

Isaiah 29