In this section, we will read of how God is tearing apart Judah’s support and supply including her leaders, and taking away every indulgence and pride in self. This is meant to lead them to repentance, and to turn them back to God himself. As God pronounces judgment, He also promises that it shall be well for the righteous, offering hope despite the rebellion of his people.
In time, God sends Christ, the perfect king that Judah doesn’t have, the one who is most beautiful and fully righteous. He is the one who doesn’t oppress, who is humble, who will take away our sin and reproach. When all is stripped away, we are led to lean more fully on the good and faithful promises of God in Christ, who died to make us righteous and well.
(A) God Taking Away All Support and Supply (Isa 3:1-7)
To understand today’s passage, we will need to be clear about the context of the passage. Isaiah 2 starts off this section with a description of what will happen in the latter days. Nations will flow to the dwelling place of the LORD (“mountain of the house of the Lord”) (Isa 2:2). God will teach them his ways and that they may walk in his paths (Isa 2:3). God will judge and there will be peace; an end to war (Isa 2:5)
However, Jerusalem is far from this ideal that is described at the start of Isa 2. God rejects his people for their worldliness: full of things from the east, filled with worldly treasure (silver and gold) and security (horses and chariots) (Isa 2:6-7). Above all, the people committed idolatry and worshipped false gods (Isa 2:8). The LORD will humble all the pride of men, and He alone will be exalted in the day of the LORD (Isa 2:11, 17). The splendour of His majesty will terrify the earth (Isa 2:19, 21).
At the end of Isa 2, Isaiah calls the people to stop regarding man (Isa 2:22). This is a call to stop human reliance (Isa 2:22). Human breath and life is given by the creator God (Gen 2:7). Humans are creatures and not a reliable pillar of security
Isa 3:1 starts with a “For behold”. This signals how Isaiah will give a reason why man is not to be regarded. “Behold” is also a call to look, pay attention and see.
In this verse, we see that the main actor is the "Lord GOD of hosts” (Isa 3:1). He is Adonai Yahweh, the covenantal name of God revealed. The sovereign and powerful creator will be the actor in the following verses. God is mighty with his army (“of hosts”).
God will act against Jerusalem and Judah and we are told that He takes away support and supply: there will be nothing for them to lean on. This takes the form of severe physical deprivation (Isa 3:1b). There is a removal of all support of bread (food) and all support of water. All that they need to survive on is taken away. It’s a stark contrast with the prosperity of the previous chapter.
God will also remove all levels of leadership (Isa 3:2-3). He will remove the mighty man and the soldier or captain of fifty and man of rank. This is a removal of their military power, and high officials. Law and order seem to collapse with the removal of judges. Even the prophets who brought God’s word to them will be removed, together with the elder or counselor, people in power and influence. Even the illegitimate leaders in society will be taken away: diviner, skillful magician, expert in charms).
God replaces their leaders with boys and infants (Isa 3:4), boys without experience and maturity. This came to pass, example Manasseh in 2 Kings 21 started ruling when he was 12. Imagine being ruled by an infant, who often displays sudden changes in mood or behavour. There is no stability nor pattern with an infant and it is no fun being ruled by one.
As a result of this weak leadership, there will be oppression and a breakdown in societal hierarchy (Isa 3:5). Everyone will try to “one up” his neighbour. Ruthless oppression will happen; there will be no charity. The youth and the despised in society will be insolent, proud and disrespectful to the elder or honourable. There is an upheaval of society.
There will also be a situation where no one is willing to lead for the good for others. Man will be desperate for a leader for a “heap of ruins” (Isa 3:6-7). The mere qualification of having a cloak will be enough for one to be made leader (Isa 3:6). However, no one will want to take up responsibility to lead (Isa 3:7) — “I will not be a healer”: “I cannot fix your problems”.
This reads like a messy and unstable society. Bible teacher Ray Ortlund points out that “one way God judges his people is by depriving them of worthy leaders”.
Thus, one application for us is to heed Paul’s words to Timothy in 1 Tim 2:1-2. Paul tells Timothy to pray for good leaders! As Christians, we are called to pray “for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions (1 Tim 2:1-2). God is the one who provides good leaders for us. We ought not to take it for granted in Singapore! And this principle also holds for churches too. Churches can collapse quickly without leaders, if there are no pastors, elders and leaders willing to step up for the people of God. Eph 4:11-16 says that God “gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,…”. God gives leaders for the good of His people and it will be devastating when we don’t have leaders! Society and an organisation can quickly fall apart without leaders.
As we read these verses too, we see how God is taking away everything that stabilises the nation and society. They relied on supplies and support on men for their society to function, but these were all taken from them, because their hearts were so far away from God. This reminds us to remember that every part of our physical needs met is from God. Whenever we pray before a meal, and thank God for the food that we have, we recognise our reliance on him to provide for us; meal after meal. It is easy for us to take these things for granted in our comfortable society and setting.
(B) God Taking Away Every Indulgence and Pride in Self (Isa 3:16-4:1)
In Isa 3:16-23, we read of the daughters of Zion. The daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with outstretched necks, in a prideful manner. They appeared to be proud of what they looked like. They also go about glancing wantonly with their eyes, glancing in a flirtatious manner, in a sexual manner and they were proud of how they looked. They are mincing along as they go, tinkling with their feet, strutting along with their anklets to attract.
God will strike their heads with a scab. This related to leprous disease described in Lev 13:2 (Isa 3:17a). He will also lay bare their secret parts and their private parts will be exposed; they will be shamed (Isa 3:17b). God will also take away all their finery — all their fine jewelry, external luxuries and allure will be taken away (Isa 3:18-23). Their false beauty and security (pride) will be taken away from them, so that their sin will be fully exposed. Their arrogance and pride will be torn apart by God as he removes everything they could pride themselves in. Their true self will be exposed.
Now, there's nothing wrong w wanting to look nice or dress-up!It's about how Zion could go on decorating herself while being blind, willfully, to oppression all around her. No amount of nice decor will conceal for long, the rot of the heart. And when it is stripped bare, the rich ornate-ness of what you covered yourself with will only make the stench all the more foul.
Are we haughty like the women of Zion? Do we take pride and security in outward appearances? Do we exhibit an arrogant and self-indulgent spirit? Of course, the women are mentioned here, but if we are honest with ourselves, men too are susceptible to the allures of external beauty, luxuries, and comfort. In our day, it could be “flexing” the latest and coolest clothing, brands, sneakers, etc. It is all over social media, people showing off what they wear and what they own, and as we look at these “things”, we just want it cause it looks cool. How many people are taken into “hype” things? People will queue long hours just to make a purchase. We all love looking good, and if we are honest with ourselves we are prideful about it and make an idol of it.
Instead, true beauty for godly women is seen in good works (1 Tim 2:9-10) and a gentle and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:3-4). God cares about our hearts. Our deeds show who we are.
As a result of God’s judgment, they will have:
Rottenness instead of perfume (Isa 3:24a)
Rope instead of belt (Isa 3:24b)
Baldness instead of well-set hair (Isa 3:24c)
Skirt of Sackcloth instead of rich robe (Isa 3:24d)
Branding instead of beauty (Isa 3:25d). Notice here how branding is good. How different it is in our day! It is comparing with slave branding, to mark someone, and that is dehumanizing.
Thus, God says that their luxury and indulgence will be replaced with tragedies. God is going to replace everything on the outside. God will judge and we see how Zion’s men shall fall by the sword in battle and they will be defeated Isa 3:25). Zion’s gates (centre of life of the city) personified as an abandoned woman will lament and mourn (Isa 3:26a). Zion will be emptied as they suffer casualties (Isa 3:26b). Like the men in Isa 3:6-7, women are described with desperation to seek a man, one that could take away their reproach and shame (Isa 4:1). All in all, we see in the first 2 sections that God is taking away everything that stabilises their lives: their leaders, and their false beauty.
Why does God allow for suffering? When we read these passages, sometimes we wonder if this is really God? What will it be like to live in this situation and have everything stripped bare? This is why we have to stop regarding men and rely on these things. Have you ever been in this position where God takes away in a sweeping manner? It is also good for us to pause and ask what we look to for stability. Could it be relationships or bank balance? Could it be insurance policies for times when things go south? (Sid’s example of kidney condition and insurance rejections).
What can we fall back on when things go south? Nothing is more stable than trusting in the Lord GOD of hosts, who can take it all away and for good reason which we will see next. None of our current stabilities can help us because He can easily take it away.
(C) Reason for God’s Judgment and Promise to the Righteous (Isa 3:8-15)
In Isa 3:8-15, we read of the reason for God’s judgment. They have stumbled and fallen (Isa 3:8a, c.f. 2 Ki 24 for Exile to Babylon if needed). Their words and actions are against the Lord. They are brazenly and unapologetically sinning and living in rebellion against God (Isa 3:8). They are not neutral people but are hostile against God!
They also defy his glorious presence: they defy God’s presence and deny his existence (Isa 3:8c). They live lives apart from God and denied his relevance in their lives. They are like the fool in Psalm 14:1 who says in his heart “there is no God”. Are like them in our lives? Do we deny God’s existence? As you go through your day, how is it different that you know God and are walking with Him? Every day we make a decision to rest and delight in God’s presence or we live apart from Him. As Ray Ortlund puts it, we either delight in God’s glorious presence or we defy and deny his existence.
Their sin is blatant and outward: they don’t even feel a single ounce of guilt for the sin they commit against God. Sin is no longer sin to them (Isa 3:9a). Woe to them for sinners are rightly cursed and they have brought evil on themselves. There is no one to blame (Isa 3:9b).
What type of society? It is one rampant with sin. They are not nearly on the fence about sin, they are blatant and outward, and feel no shame. Their moral compass is completely off, society has collapsed. They who are meant to be God’s people rebel against him in word and deed, deny his existence. As we read this, we realise that it is a blessing to have a conscience and feel guilt and shame, or that we live in a world where people respond to guilt and shame. A world where we no longer respond is a world which God has given over to sin.
But, what hope is there for sinners like Jerusalem and Judah? What will God do? God makes a promise to the righteous (Isa 3:10). God says that it shall be well with the righteous. They shall eat the fruit of their deeds. The righteous might not be spared from suffering now, but they “shall be well”.
Another hope lies in God’s Judgment of the Wicked. We read of how God will judge the wicked and they are cursed (Isa 3:11a). God will give them what they themselves have dealt out (Isa 3:11b). God stands to judge those who oppress, mislead, devoured, crush, grind “his people”. See God’s love for his people in these verses where he repeatedly points out that these are “my people” (Isa 3:12, 14, 15). God has a personal stake in this, he saved them so that they are his. It breaks God’s heart to see his people oppressed.
Their leaders and the wealthy have oppressed and misled God’s people. In Isa 3:12, we read of how they were oppressed by infants who were irresponsible, a spoiled brat, inexperienced. The reference to women ruling could refer to the influence of prideful women within their society (Isa 3:16-4:1). Their guides (those meant to lead them) swallow up their paths.
God also spoke against elders and princes who devoured the vineyard, the spoil of the poor: the wealthy extract from the poor and plunder them. They did not provide for the poor but instead crush/grind the face of poor. In Lev 19:9-10, God’s people are meant to help the poor in their society. Judah’s leaders were meant to lead them to worship God alone. Instead, they sought their own selfish gain and comfort by crushing the poor. Isaiah reminds us that God will judge and call to account those who oppress and plunder the poorGod’s people can be sure of justice.
God’s people and leaders are never characterised by selfish gain at the expense of the weak. How have we sought to help the poor and weak? To reflect our saviour well today, we cannot turn a blind eye to the poor or weak among us.
One might wonder what God is doing when He is the main actor tearing apart the entire society. God’s intention of taking away all support and supply, every indulgence in external beauty, every ounce of pride in us is meant to lead us to repentance. In Lev 26:14-46, as God lists out the punishment for disobedience, there are also many instances where God is continually looking out for his people to turn back to him (Lev 26: 18, 21, 23, 27). Lev 26:40 is where the passage turns: “But if they confess their iniquity…”. God will remember his covenant (Lev 26:42), will not spurn them (Lev 26:44). He will be their God (Lev 26:45). From the New Testament in 1 John 1:9, we see the same promise: If we confess our sins in repentance and turn back to God, we can be sure that God who is faithful and just will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God does this by sending his Son Christ to die for our sins.
If we are honest with ourselves, we know we are just like Judah, preferring our own comforts and luxuries with little regard for the poor, trusting in worldly security. When God takes away, we are just like the desperate men and women of Judah, looking for a leader and one to take away our reproach.
In time, instead of the lousy rulers of Judah, God sent another King, he who came to give life abundantly and who lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:10-11). Because Christ died for us, we can confess our sins, repent, and know it shall be well for us who are righteous in him.