2013_1106, Church in the home Wednesday evenings Isaiah chapter 3 2013_1106
Isaiah Chapter 3
Bible
verses in black, commentary in green
Isaiah 3
Expanded
Bible (EXB)
Paragraph
Heading: God Will Punish Judah and
Jerusalem
Isaiah 3:1 Understand this [Look/T Behold
now]: The Lord God
·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of
hosts] will [or is
about to] take away everything [every support and supply] Judah and Jerusalem
need— all [supplies of] the
food and water,
“everything” is
also translated “stay and staff”
Stay = supply, and staff = support
"Doth take away ..." "The
present is used here for the future, so certain is the fulfillment."[3]
The use of both masculine and feminine forms in staff and stay seems to
identify this reference as an idiom meaning "every kind of support, great
or small, strong or weak."
The Hebrew words משען ומשענה mashen umashenah come from the same root שען shaan, to lean against, to incline, to support; and here, being
masculine and feminine, they may signify all things necessary for the support
both of man and woman.
stay . . . staff--the same Hebrew word,
the one masculine, the other feminine, an Arabic idiom for all kinds of
support. What a change from the previous luxuries ( Isaiah 2:7 )! Fulfilled in
the siege by Nebuchadnezzar and afterwards by Titus ( Jeremiah 37:21 , 38:9 ).
Isaiah 3:2 the heroes [mighty ones] and great
soldiers [men of war], the judges and prophets, people who do magic [diviners;
fortune-tellers] and elders,
English Translation of the Greek (Septuagint): the great and mighty man, the warrior and the
judge, and the prophet, and the counsellor, and the elder,
Isaiah 3:3 the military leaders [captain/ruler of fifty] and government leaders
[people of influence/high standing], the counselors [advisers], the
skilled craftsmen [or magicians], and those who try to tell the future
[skillful enchanters/astrologers].
English Translation of the Greek (Septuagint): the captain of fifty also, and the honourable
counsellor, and the wise artificer, and the intelligent hearer.
Verses 2 & 3 are a continuation of the “Lord’s taking away” (V 1),
and many people’s are mentioned including in V 2 “people who do magic”, and in
V 3 “those who try to tell the future”. These are forbidden by God in the
bible, yet it is strange that all the other people mentioned are all “good”
people. The English translation of the Greek (Septuagent) calls them “elder” and intelligent hearer”
respectively. The KJV even calls “people who do magic”(EXB), in V 2 “the
Prudent”, and “those who try to tell the future, the “eloquent orator”.
Isaiah 3:4 The Lord says, “I will cause young boys [youths] to be your leaders
[rulers; princes], and foolish children
[or capricious youths] will rule over you [Eccl. 10:5–7, 17].
Young boys and foolish children in contrast to “ancients”, wise elders,
Note Ecclesiastes 10:5- from the Living Bible (TLB)
5 There is another evil I have seen as I have watched the world go by, a
sad situation concerning kings and rulers: 6 For I have seen foolish men given
great authority and rich men not given their rightful place of dignity! 7 I
have even seen servants riding, while princes walk like servants!
Isaiah 3:5 People will ·be against [oppress] each other; everyone will be against
his neighbor. Young people will not respect [arrogantly defy] older people, and
common people [the despised/dishonorable] will not respect important people
[the honorable].”
Isaiah 3:6 At that time a man will grab one of his brothers from his own family [in his
father’s house] and say, “You
have a coat [cloak; a sign of a little wealth], so you will be our
leader. These ruins
will be under your control [charge; rule; hand].”
This is real desperation.
Isaiah 3:7 But [In that day] that brother will stand up [or cry out] and say, “I
cannot help you [L am no binder (of wounds)], because I do not have food or clothes
[cloak] in my house. You will not make me your leader [L leader
of the people/nation].”
No willing, able, and enthusiastic
leadership
Isaiah 3:8 This will happen because Jerusalem
has stumbled, and Judah has fallen. The things they say and do are
against the Lord; they turn against [rebel against; defy] him [his
glory/glorious presence].
This will happen today if we are
willfully disobedient.
The consequences of our conscious
decisions and subsequent actions will either bless us or curse us.
Isaiah 3:9 The look on their faces shows they are guilty [testifies against
them]; like the people of Sodom [Gen. 18–19], they are proud of [flaunt;
parade; declare] their sin. They don’t care who sees [conceal; hide] it.
When sin is concealed it is one thing, there is at least an
acknowledgement that wrong is being done, and guilt is to be apportioned. When
the guilty are proud of their doings then things have reached another level altogether. This has to be resisted
whenever and wherever possible.
… be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
How
terrible it will be for them [L Woe to their soul], because they have brought much trouble
[disaster; evil] on themselves.
There are two types of trouble. Trouble you bring upon yourself, and
trouble others (people, environment, the Devil and his demons) bring upon you.
It will be terrible because the blame is laid fairly and squarely on the
individual.
Isaiah 3:10 Tell those who do what is right [the righteous] that things will go
well for them, because they will receive a reward for what they do [eat the
fruit of their
actions].
What a simple but great lesson?
Isaiah 3:11 But how terrible it will be for [ Woe to]
the wicked! They will
be punished for all the wrong they have done [ Because
the reward/recompense of his hands will be done to him].
Today being “man’s day”, the wicked do
not think it is so terrible, as so often they get away with their wickedness.
“Nothing is hidden”…
Matthew 10:26 (NIV)
“So do not be afraid of them, for there
is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be
made known.
Luke 8:17 (NIV)
For there is nothing hidden that will
not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out
into the open.
Luke 12:2 (NIV)
There is nothing concealed that will not
be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.
1 Corinthians 4:5 (NIV)
Therefore judge nothing before the
appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is
hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each
will receive their praise from God.
1 Corinthians 4:5 (J.B. Phillips New Testament ) (PHILLIPS) (I like this ending to this verse)
5 The moral of this is that we should
make no hasty or premature judgments. When the Lord comes he will bring into
the light of day all that at present is hidden in darkness, and he will expose
the secret motives of men’s hearts. Then shall God himself give each man his
share of praise.
Hebrews 4:13 (NIV)
Nothing in all creation is hidden from
God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to
whom we must give account.
I must admit that I have been unmindful
of these verses in my life, and must contend with all my might, to live for and
with God and Jesus Christ. Wantonness and being sloppy are not admirable
traits. When those who have tasted of spiritual things, who have had their
hearts open by God our Heavenly Father, and by our Lord Jesus Christ, who have
been privileged to have able to catch a glimpse of the wonders of God, and then
do not give their all for Him, from whom nothing is hidden, well there will be
some answering to do.
Isaiah 3:12 Children treat my people cruelly [oppress my people], and women [or
creditors; usurers] rule over them. My people, your guides, lead you in the
wrong way [astray] and turn you away [mislead you; or confuse you] from what is
right [the right road; your paths].
Isaiah 3:13 The Lord takes his place in court [to judge/contend] and stands to
judge the people.
Isaiah 3:14 The Lord presents his case [or comes forward to pronounce judgment]
against the elders and other leaders [rulers; princes] of his people: “You have
burned [ruined; ravaged] the vineyard.
Your houses are full of [In your
houses are] what you took [stole; plundered] from the poor.
Isaiah 3:15 What gives you the right to crush my people and grind the faces of
the poor into the dirt [poor]?” The Lord God All-Powerful [Almighty; of
Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] says this.
Paragraph
Heading: A Warning to Women of
Jerusalem
Isaiah 3:16 The Lord says, “The women of Jerusalem [daughters of Zion]
are proud [haughty; arrogant].
They walk
around with their heads held high [an outstretched neck], and they flirt with their eyes.
They take
quick, short steps […prancing/mincing along], making noise with their ankle
bracelets [jingling with their feet].”
This all sounds like that times were good, look at 2
Chronicles 26, in the days of Uzziah..
2 Chronicles 26 (New International Version)
V. 3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jekoliah;
she was from Jerusalem.
V. 4 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord,
just as his father Amaziah had done.
V. 5 He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who
instructed him in the fear[b] of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave
him success.
Times were good, God gave Uzziah
success. There was a good-feel factor going round. Though favourable, and there
is nothing wrong with prosperity, this can also be deceptive. Remember “the
deceitfulness of riches” Matthew 13:22.
Back to Isaiah 3:17,
17 So the
Lord will put sores [scabs; skin lesions] on the heads of those women in
Jerusalem [daughters of Zion], and he will make them lose their hair [lay
bare/make bald their forehead].
18 ·At that
time [In that day] the Lord will take away everything that makes them proud [their
beauty/glory]: their beautiful ankle bracelets, their headbands, their necklaces
shaped like the moon [crescents],
19 their earrings [or pendants], bracelets, and veils,
20 their scarves [headdresses], ankle chains [or armlets], the cloth belts
worn around their waists [sashes], their bottles of perfume [sachets], and charms
[amulets],
21 their
signet rings, nose rings, 22 their fine robes [festal robes; fine gowns],
capes, shawls [cloaks], and purses,
23 their
mirrors, linen dresses [garments; undergarments], turbans [or tiaras], and long
shawls [or flowing veils].
24 Instead
of wearing sweet-smelling perfume [spice; fragrance], they will stink [there
will be stench/decay]. Instead of fine cloth belts [a sash], they will wear the
ropes of captives [a rope].
Instead of
having their hair fixed in fancy ways [an elegant coiffure], they will be bald
[baldness].
Instead of
fine clothes [an expensive robe], they will wear clothes of sadness [burlap;
sackcloth].
Instead of
being beautiful, they will wear the brand of a captive [Branding
instead of beauty].
25 At that
time your men will be killed with swords [fall by the
sword], and your heroes
[mighty/strong ones] will die in war.
26 There
will be crying and sadness near the city gates [Her gates will
lament and mourn]. Jerusalem
will be like a woman who has lost everything and sits on the ground [Deserted/Destitute,
she will sit on the ground].
desolate . . . sit upon . . .
ground--the very figure under which Judea was represented on medals after the
destruction by Titus: a female sitting under a palm tree in a posture of grief;
the motto, Judæa capta ( Job 2:13 , Lamentations 2:10 , where, as here
primarily, the destruction by Nebuchadnezzar is alluded to).
This is a harsh reality.
Expanded
Bible (EXB)
No comments:
Post a Comment