Isaiah Chapter 5 and America today 543 - 3 - 4

Although what Isaiah wrote in chapter 5 through the inspiration of God originally concerned Israel, it has application to America.

Isaiah 5:1-2. “Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 2 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. “

Historically it's as if America had its own original sins, slavery not only of Africans, also the poor who were in bondage and the cruel treatment of the original occupants of the land. In many cases instead of the good harvest God was expecting, the people were disobedience, rebellion, and practiced idolatry.

In Isaiah 5:5 God said what he would take down His hedge of protection from around His vineyard and command the clouds that no rain would fall. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 shattered America’s complacency. Parts of the country have had extreme droughts and in other parts of the country, there's been massive flooding and mudslides.

Isaiah 5-7, God was expecting fair judgment but instead found oppression rather than righteousness. The balance of the chapter deals with “Woe to the Wicked. CM provided a simplified listing of the six woes mentioned in Isaiah 5:

1. Materialism

2. Hedonism

3. Flaunting Sin

4. Denial of the Word of God

5. Relativism

6. Lack of Justice

Black Friday has long been an example of materialism. This has been upstaged by the riots and looting due to covetousness.

Hedonism is the pursuit of pleasure as the highest good and proper aim of human life. Drugs, drunkenness, sexual deviance and more in the name of “Doing my thing.” Millions of unborn babies have been sacrificed on the altar of convenience.

As for flaunting sin, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) community has hijacked God’s rainbow. They are demanding that their deviant lifestyle to be treated as normal. Sadly, the mainstream church is becoming more acceptance of the LGBT agenda rather than following Scripture.

Denial of the Word of God, Atheists work very hard to prove that the God they don’t believe in doesn’t indeed exist. While not directly denying the word of God, many claiming to be Christians do even greater harm through false teachings. Prideful and arrogant had its start in the garden with the question, “Did God really say that?”

Relativism is the doctrine that no ideas or beliefs are universally true but that all are relative, there are no absolute truths, only what is right in his/ her own eyes.

Lack of Justice due not just only to corruption in the judicial area but with those authoring laws. We are slowly learning the extent of the damage done by the last administration and the existence of a deeper shadow government, minions of the one world government agenda.

God speaking through Isaiah summed it up; Isaiah 5:20, “Woe (H1945) unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

Woe, H1945, an interjection meaning alas! It is used in lamenting a person's death, It is used in prophetic announcements of judgment or threats.

[The Complete Word Study Dictionary]

Sadly the “six woes of Isaiah” in Chapter 5 apply to our country. 625 - 5 - 2

With thanks to CM for a simplified listing of the Six Woes found in the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 5:

1. Materialism

2. Hedonism

3. Flaunting Sin

4. Denial of the Word of God

5. Relativism

6. Lack of Justice

Materialism: Later this month Black Friday will once again be observed. On Thursday Americans, will give thanks and less than 24 hours later thousand will be pushing and shoving each other in stores hoping to get stuff at huge discounts. In past years, there has been considerable damage done to stores and at least one death as people stampeded to be the first through the door. Many people in America feel they must have the latest and greatest whatever while many in Third World countries just want potable water, food and shelter.

Hedonism, “1. The pursuit of pleasure. 2. The ethical theory that pleasure is the highest good and proper aim of human life.” [http://www.hedonism.com/what-is-hedonism/] Hedonism harkens back to the expression eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow you may die. It’s as if our country has lost its moral compass resulting in drug use, alcoholism and sexual perversion. Hedonism can result in boredom and the possibility of disease, plus a very undesirable eternal destination.

As for flaunting sin, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) community has hijacked God’s rainbow. Not to repeat myself, Obama co-opted God’s rainbow to light up the exterior of the While House after the Supreme Court’s decision on same-sex marriage. The LGBT community is having considerable success in getting their deviant lifestyle to be treated as normal. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed not just for the homosexuality of their citizens, also for the acceptance by the communities of the sin of homosexuality.

Denial of the Word of God. Atheists deny the word of God and work very hard to prove the God they don’t believe in doesn’t exist. While not directly denying the word of God, many claiming to be Christians do great harm from within the family by questioning the truth of the Bible. This prideful and arrogant denial had its start in the garden with the question, “Did God really say that?”

Relativism, "The doctrine that no ideas or beliefs are universally true but that all are, instead, “relative” — that is, their validity depends on the circumstances in which they are applied." [American Heritage Dictionary] With no belief in absolute truths one is free to do what is right in his/ her own eyes. This is very apparent in the current presidential election. One example, the Democratic candidate is a proponent of abortion including viable babies. Not only is she doing what is right in her eyes, millions share her “truth.” Proverbs 21:2, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.”

Lack of Justice: Corruption exists in the judicial area and with those creating and authorizing laws plus a POTUS who has a phone and a pen. Prayers that in a few days the electorate in this country will reject the Democratic candidate who seems to have no concern for justice and is supported by a corrupt Department of Justice. Will the election results be in accordance with Psalm 2:10-11, “Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.” Or Proverbs 28:15, “As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

The “Six Woes” mentioned in Isaiah 5, true then and true today 519-1 - 2 - 4

With thanks to CM for a simplified listing of the Six Woes:

1. Materialism

2. Hedonism

3. Flaunting Sin

4. Denial of the Word of God

5. Relativism

6. Lack of Justice

As for materialism today, a recent example would be Black Friday. On Thursday Americans were giving thanks. Less than 24 hours later thousand were pushing and shoving each other in stores hoping to get stuff at huge discounts. Diametrically opposite to unbridled materialism was the apostle Paul. Philippians 4:11, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” [KJV]

Hedonism, “1. The pursuit of pleasure. 2. The ethical theory that pleasure is the highest good and proper aim of human life.” [http://www.hedonism.com/what-is-hedonism/] Hedonism harkens back to the expression eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow you may die. The downside to such a lifestyle, in addition to boredom, is there may be a less pleasant eternal destination.

As for flaunting sin, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) community has hijacked God’s rainbow. They are having considerable success in getting their deviant lifestyle to be treated as normal. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed not just for the homosexuality of their citizens, rather also for the acceptance by the communities of homosexuality.

Denial of the Word of God, Atheists work very hard to prove the God they don’t believe in doesn’t indeed exist. So no surprise that atheists deny the word of God. In my opinion, while not directly denying the word of God, many claiming to be Christians do even greater harm. Higher criticism is "The study of the Bible having as its object the establishment of such facts as authorship and date of composition, as well as determination of a basis for exegesis." [Dictionary.com] This prideful and arrogant denial had its start in the garden with the question, “Did God really say that?”

Relativism, "The doctrine that no ideas or beliefs are universally true but that all are, instead, “relative” — that is, their validity depends on the circumstances in which they are applied." [American Heritage Dictionary] Relativism embraces the belief there are no absolute truths, only what is right in his/ her own eyes. Not so, Proverbs 21:2, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.” [KJV]

Lack of Justice due not just only to corruption in the judicial area but with those authoring laws and the POTUS who has a phone and a pen.

God speaking through Isaiah pretty well summed it up; Isaiah 5:20, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” [KJV]