Pride, Liquor, and Injustice

Six ‘Woes’ have been announced against the wicked.  And, that is the wicked of Judah.  These are woes against the people who have proclaimed themselves to be the ‘People of God’.

The fifth and the sixth we will look at together in this commentary of woes.  There has been one ‘woe’ already announced against them for their seeking after ‘Wine and strong drink’ (v. 11), that was the second one.  These latter two seem to be dealing with men of influence; men who make judgments.  These are people in the courts or some position of authority.  The fifth one basically deals with “Pride” which leads to a fall.  Whether it is the common man or woman, or a person of influence makes no difference when it comes to ‘Pride’; God hates it.

There is an arrogance which Isaiah is speaking to.  Boasting of their drinking, as though it is some heroic thing.  It seems to be that way in American society these days.  There is an arrogance toward alcoholic drink.  If you do not imbibe in the poison you cannot be up with things.  It is as though a man is no man unless he downs a beer, or maybe a case or two a week, and maybe in some instances a case per day.  I hope that would be rare, but fear that it is not.

“Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!  Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right!”  Isaiah 5:21-23 (ESV).

Pride will not only be the fall of individuals who exalt themselves against the will and Word of God, but it will also be the fall of any nation who allows it to continue unabated.  It is pride and arrogance which causes men and women to exalt their own opinions over that of God.  It is also pride and arrogance which will allow men to accept bribes in order to give the one with the money power over those who have none.

These arrogant fools were taking material gain, and depriving the innocent of their right to justice.  Do you ever wonder, “Are these things done in the great nation of the United States of America?”  You and I both know that it is.  The liquor industry pays big dollars in taxes into our government.  They also have a lot of political power with the men and women of Congress, the Senate, and all the national powers.  May God forgive our wickedness.  There is more bribery than that though, where individual judges, and other rulers have taken and are taking bribes so the wealthy can have their way.

May God forgive a nation that gives more rights to those who have and acquit the guilty because of wealth, but condemn the innocent who have no wealth.

Earlier I wrote “…when it comes to ‘Pride’; God hates it”.  I know that because He says He does.  In Proverbs 6:16-19 there are seven things listed which God hates, and it seems that these seven things are a small example of all the things that God hates.  The very first on the list is, “A proud look”.  A proud look is basically being full of one’s self, needing no one (especially God), or nothing else.  Pride will be our own undoing, unless we fall on our knees in full surrender to the God who made all things.  Jesus Christ His Son is the only way to fully acknowledge Him.

Society Double Speaking

“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!” Isaiah 5:20

Isaiah has addressed three other “Woes”.   The first woe in verse 8 tells us they were practicing a modern action of many – “Grab all you can, and can all you grab”, and it does not matter who gets hurt.  The second woe was against those who lived their lives as just a party; living a life of debauchery and rebellion against the Holy One of Israel.  The third woe is against all those who just parade their sin before all, and just beg God to show Himself in judgment; mockingly provoking the justice of the Holy God.

The above verse is one that also fits very well with our society in the good old USA today.  “It depends on what the meaning of ‘Is’ is”; that is one phrase we have heard from so called leaders of our near past.  It also use to be that when we heard the word “Gay” it meant someone who was happy and cheerful; but now it is a term for a sin of perversion. 

God in His Word tells us to stand against immorality of all kinds.  Today when we stand against the sin of sodomy we are called, and I should say very unkindly, “Homophobic”.  “Homo” having to do with the sodomites, and “Phobic” meaning fearful.  There is no fear toward the sodomites as far as I am concerned.  I am fearful of what is happening to our Country, our State, the cities and the world, because of these acts.  Marriage is cheapened when a man can marry a man or a woman marries a woman.  If I speak out against such godless rebellion I am wrong.  “Good is evil, and evil is good”.

It is good for a man to be so intolerant as to tell how bad the Christian’s are.  It is bad for the Christian, even in the love of Jesus Christ, to say that Jesus is the only way to God and eternal life.  There are new words for old sins.  Take for example; Adultery is now an affair; Fornication is now just premarital sex, or cohabiting;  Sodomy is an alternative lifestyle, as is bisexuality, transsexuality, etc.; Drunkenness is a disease, as is depression; you get the picture. 

The word is “WOE”.  That is destruction to those who practice these things.  There is another word that has been forgotten, and that is REPENT.  Turn from your life of sin and rebellion against God.  Trust His Son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.  He will change your vocabulary and give you a new dictionary.

Cords of Vanity

We have looked at two of the “Woes” which God pronounces against the house of Judah – the nation of Judah.  When God pronounces woes it is because He is not pleased with them.  Woe has been announced against them for “Joining house to house” at the expense of the poor and others who are less fortunate.  He has announced woe against them for their licentious, ie., lewd parties, and their worship of demons.

We come to the third “Woe” which Isaiah the prophet names, and it is, “Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope…” (5:18).  It is as though they are taunting God.  They are living vainly, emptily, and throwing their sins up before God, and daring Him to come.  They are unbelieving that He sees their wickedness. 

They do not believe that God will come and judge their evil, so they just go on living in rebellion.  They would rather continue in sin, since they cannot see God working and moving in a way they would like.  Pride in sin, rebellion against the Holy One of Israel.  The rope they use to pull the cart will be used in their hanging.

You might hear them saying,  “If He is going to come and judge us; let Him come; let Him come and do it quickly”.  It is in mockery.  There are those of the world who would say that today, and maybe some who profess to be God’s people, but the people of God cannot live in such mockery.  God will come.  God will avenge His holiness, righteousness, and justness.

How will He find you when He comes?

Read Isaiah 5:18-19