Isaiah 3

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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Isaiah Chapter 3

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: Isaiah

Date Penned: (700-681 BC)

Overview: To Tell of God's Salvation through the Messiah (c 1-66)

Theme: Words of Judgment (c 1-39)

Message: Isaiah warns of Judgement on Judah (v 1-26)

Isaiah 3 Commentary

(3:1-3) Disobedience - Jerusalem besieged, her leaders destroyed--this unhappy picture would soon become a reality. Disobedience would bring serious affliction and great destruction, as God had warned (Deuteronomy 28).

(3:2-3) A Nation Far From God - The prudent could be translated "diviner" or "fortune-teller," and the eloquent orator could be rendered "enchanter." Isaiah was not condoning the use of diviners and enchanters by including them on this list. He was showing how far the nation had sunk. (See the note on 2:6.)

3:4-9. This section describes what happens when a nation--in this case, ancient Israel--loses its leadership.

(3:4-9) Forgetting God - People lose a vital ability when they can no longer see their own sinfulness. The results are broken relationships, authority out of control, blindness to people who are in need, and worst of all, forgetfulness toward God. Spiritual blindness is a matter of life and death, not merely an inconvenience.

(3:4-7) Leaders - The people were depending on their leaders instead of on God. So God said that he would make children their leaders. This could be referring to young leaders or leaders who would be as inexperienced and unwise as strong-willed children. All nations and organizations require competent leaders. Ineptitude or corruption at the top leads to deterioration throughout a whole culture or society. Conditions can get so bad that nobody wants to take on leadership responsibilities. Christians should not avoid taking on leadership responsibilities but should instead work to prevent corruption, uphold justice, model competence and excellence, and help to rebuild our neighborhoods and communities.

(3:9-11) Sin is Self-destructive - The people were proud of their sins, parading them out in the open. But sin is self-destructive. Today, sinfül living often appears glamorous, exciting, and clever. But sin is wrong, regardless of how society perceives it, and eventually it will make us miserable and destroy us. God tries to protect us by warning us about the harm we will cause by sinning. Those who are proud of their sins will receive the punishment from God they deserve. Having rejected God's path to life (see Psalm 1), the only alternative is the path to destruction.

(3:10-11) God Gives Hope - In the middle of this gloomy message, God gives hope: Eventually the righteous will receive God's reward, and the wicked will receive their punishment. It is disheartening to see the wicked prosper while we struggle to obey God and follow his plan. But let us keep holding on to God's truth and take heart! God will bring about justice in the end, and he will reward those who have been faithful.

(3:14) Elders and Princes - The elders and princes were responsible for helping people, but instead, they stole from those who were poor. Because they were unjust, Isaiah said the leaders would be the first to receive God's judgment. Leaders will be held accountable. If you are in a position of leadership, you must lead according to God's just commands. Put the needs of others before your own. Fulfill the purpose God intends. Don't seek your own advantage. Corruption will bring God's wrath, especially if others follow your example. According to Gods true commands, Put the ma chu la be the 3:14 Why is justice so important in the Bible? (1) Justice is part of God's nature; it is the way he runs the universe. (2) It is a natural desire in every person. Even as sinners, we all want justice for ourselves. (3) When government and church leaders are unjust, people who are poor and powerless suffer. Thus, they are hindered from worshiping God. (4) God holds people who are poor in high regard. They are the ones most likely to turn to him for help and comfort. Injustice, then, attacks God's children. When we do nothing to help the oppressed, we are, in fact, joining with the oppressors. Because we follow a just God, we must uphold justice.

(3:16-26) Ignoring the Poor - These dramatic descriptions show how the people of Jerusalem loved their refined way of life. They openly displayed their proud self-reliance, power, and prestige. Yet they ignored the real purpose for their lives. Instead of being concerned about the oppression around them (3:14-15), they were self-serving and self-centered. People who abuse their possessions will end up with nothing. These verses are not an indictment against clothing and jewelry but a judgment on those who use them lavishly while remaining blind to the needs of others. When God blesses you with money or position, don't flaunt it. Use what you have to help others, not impress them.

Dave Burnette's Life Application
A Holy God Must Judge Sin

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today, we continue in the Book of Isaiah with Chapter 3. In our text today, we see how Isaiah warns of the upcoming judgment on Judah as a result of their sin. What catches my eye is verses 5-9, where the people no longer see their sinfulness. In applying, we see that our world is a parity now. Society has accepted sin and feels like there are no consequences for their actions. Lying, cheating, stealing, fornication, homosexuality, abortions, etc., are accepted in our society as normal behavior. The truth is that a Holy God must judge sin, so judgment will follow when society embraces sin. How about you? Do you see how a Holy God must judge sin? Let us learn from our text today and the warning of Isaiah that a Holy God must judge sin, so as a society, we must embrace the Bible as truth and yield to its teachings of what is right and wrong.

Isaiah 3

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Isaiah 3

¹For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water.

²The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient,

³The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.

⁴And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.

⁵And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.

⁶When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand:

⁷In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.

⁸For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory.

⁹The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.

¹⁰Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

¹¹Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

¹²As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

¹³The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.

¹⁴The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.

¹⁵What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

¹⁶Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:

¹⁷Therefore the LORD will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts.

¹⁸In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,

¹⁹The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,

²⁰The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,

²¹The rings, and nose jewels,

²²The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,

²³The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.

²⁴And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.

²⁵Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.

²⁶And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.

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