Yesterday I talked to a friend I hadn’t seen for quite some time, and I have to confess, it was kind of distressing. His family life is maximum stress and awful and in his own life, he has started drinking/getting drunk. It seems like we are all falling apart at the seams. Lord, have mercy.
Israel/Judah was also falling apart. Drunkenness was a real problem and not only a problem, but a source of pride. That has always been the case with alcohol–pride on how much one can drinks, pride that people are partying and “enjoying life,” and “I’m not afraid of death, let it come.” Priests and prophets alike were among the boasting.
“These also stagger because of wine and stumble under the influence of beer: priest and prophet stagger because of beer, they are confused by wine. They stumble because of beer, they are muddled in their visions, they stumble in their judgments. Indeed, all their tables are covered with vomit” (v. 7).
Drunkenness stops credibility and trust. Especially when it is from leaders (v. 9).
“Who is he trying to teach?
Who is he trying to instruct?
Infants just weaned from milk?
Babies removed from the breast?”
If you are drunk, you can help no one. And when you have the reputation of getting drunk, no one trust you.
The people of Israel did not believe trouble would come to them because of it. They were just “having fun.
And here in the middle of this mess, Isaiah talks about the Messiah (v. 16-17).
“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who relies on it
will never be stricken with panic.
17 I will make justice the measuring line
and righteousness the plumb line;
And then on to a “decree of destruction” (v. 22). What???
The Israelites thought they were invincible, that judgment and death wouldn’t touch them. When this Scripture of the Messiah comes, it is talking about the righteousness and justice of God. For those that rebel against him, their false refuge will be swept away (v. 17). It says that they too will face judgment.
In this instance it was to be a decree of judgment and destruction on the land for their sin. They were sure it wouldn’t ever come to them, but it did. Too often a nation thinks it is invincible and everything for the most part will stay the same.
The illustration given next is that of a farmer. He doesn’t just plow allow the time but he plows, plants, tends and harvests. And even at harvest the different crops are treated differently. Black cumin is beaten out with a rod (v. 27), bread grains are crushed, and more.
What the Lord is saying here is that he uses different things for different seasons. Some seasons he has to use judgment. But there is hope.
“Though the wheel of the farmer’s cart rumbles, his horses do not crush it. This also comes from the LORD of Hosts. He gives wonderful advice; He gives great wisdom” (v. 28-29).
