Isaiah Prophecy 2700 Years Ago
Isaiah 2:5-11
5 Come, descendants of Jacob,
let us walk in the light of the LORD!
6 For the LORD has rejected his people,
the descendants of Jacob,
because they have filled their land with practices from the East
and with sorcerers, as the Philistines do.
They have made alliances with pagans.
7 Israel is full of silver and gold;
there is no end to its treasures.
Their land is full of warhorses;
there is no end to its chariots.
8 Their land is full of idols;
the people worship things they have made
with their own hands.
9 So now they will be humbled,
and all will be brought low—
do not forgive them.
10 Crawl into caves in the rocks.
Hide in the dust
from the terror of the LORD
and the glory of his majesty.
11 Human pride will be brought down,
and human arrogance will be humbled.
Only the LORD will be exalted
on that day of judgment.
Isaiah 3 (New Living Bible Translation)
1 The Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies,
will take away from Jerusalem and Judah
everything they depend on:
every bit of bread
and every drop of water,
2 all their heroes and soldiers,
judges and prophets,
fortune-tellers and elders,
3 army officers and high officials,
advisers, skilled sorcerers, and astrologers.
4 I will make boys their leaders,
and toddlers their rulers.
5 People will oppress each other—
man against man,
neighbor against neighbor.
Young people will insult their elders,
and vulgar people will sneer at the honorable.
6 In those days a man will say to his brother,
“Since you have a coat, you be our leader!
Take charge of this heap of ruins!”
7 But he will reply,
“No! I can’t help.
I don’t have any extra food or clothes.
Don’t put me in charge!”
8 For Jerusalem will stumble,
and Judah will fall,
because they speak out against the LORD and refuse to obey him.
They provoke him to his face.
9 The very look on their faces gives them away.
They display their sin like the people of Sodom
and don’t even try to hide it.
They are doomed!
They have brought destruction upon themselves.
10 Tell the godly that all will be well for them.
They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned!
11 But the wicked are doomed,
for they will get exactly what they deserve.
12 Childish leaders oppress my people,
and women rule over them.
O my people, your leaders mislead you;
they send you down the wrong road.
13 The LORD takes his place in court
and presents his case against his people.
14 The LORD comes forward to pronounce judgment
on the elders and rulers of his people:
“You have ruined Israel, my vineyard.
Your houses are filled with things stolen from the poor.
15 How dare you crush my people,
grinding the faces of the poor into the dust?”
demands the Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
16 The LORD says, “Beautiful Zion is haughty:
craning her elegant neck,
flirting with her eyes,
walking with dainty steps,
tinkling her ankle bracelets.
17 So the Lord will send scabs on her head;
the LORD will make beautiful Zion bald.”
18 On that day of judgment the Lord will strip away everything that makes her beautiful:
ornaments, headbands, crescent necklaces,
19 earrings, bracelets, and veils;
20 scarves, ankle bracelets, sashes,
perfumes, and charms;
21 rings, jewels,
22 party clothes, gowns, capes, and purses;
23 mirrors, fine linen garments,
head ornaments, and shawls.
24 Instead of smelling of sweet perfume, she will stink.
She will wear a rope for a sash,
and her elegant hair will fall out.
She will wear rough burlap instead of rich robes.
Shame will replace her beauty.
25 The men of the city will be killed with the sword,
and her warriors will die in battle.
26 The gates of Zion will weep and mourn.
The city will be like a ravaged woman,
huddled on the ground.
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Isaiah 2:5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD!
Isaiah, son of Amoz, was a Prophet of God. His prophetic ministry began around 740 B.C. and continued about 40-65 yrs. The first verse of the Book of Isaiah states that Isaiah prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah (or Azariah), Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, the kings of Judah (Isaiah 1:1). Uzziah's reign was 52 years in the middle of the 8th century BC, and Isaiah must have begun his ministry before Uzziah's death, probably in the 740s BC. Isaiah lived until the fourteenth year of Hezekiah's reign (who died 698 BC) and possibly into the new century under King Manasseh. He was a contemporary of the minor Prophets: Amos, Hosea and Micah. It's possible that he was from a noble family as his father is named and he had access to the kings of the period. But it's not known. He was married and had sons. Jewish tradition has it that he was martyred under King Manasseh by being sawn in half.
In researching, I found Isaiah's birth and death are widely ranged because of the kingdoms and kings he mentions in his prophecies. But it would all be in the 8th century B.C. (700's). So he was prophesying at least 700 years before Jesus Christ. He had to at least have been an adult when he began his ministry of prophecy and possibly educated and practised in the Jewish religion and traditions. Generally we need a little maturity in the spirit to give a submitted voice to God. But we don't know. We don't know exactly when he was born, into what family situation he was born into, what his education and spiritual life was before his career began for God, how he lived, where he lived or when he died. We can suppose he lived most of his life in Jerusalem, again because he had access to the kings to give his prophecies. But did he live in a tent or a palace? All we know is that he was an honorable Prophet and his prophecies have come true. He was faithful to give his prophecies even when they weren't popular, even if he was hated, maybe even martyred, for them.
The united monarchy of Israel and Judah under King Saul, King David and King Solomon split into two countries under King Rehoboam about 930 B.C. The Kingdom of Israel (including the cities of Shechem and Samaria) in the north and the Kingdom of Judah (containing Jerusalem) in the south. The prophecy we read above is about the kingdom of Judah and it's capital city of Jerusalem.
"Descendents of Jacob" are the Jews. The Jews are descendants of Abraham via his son, Isaac. Isaac had Jacob, who was later re-named by God to Israel. So the Jews are called descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They are also called Israelites (descendants of Jacob/Israel). Jacob/Israel had 12 sons, thus the 12 tribes of Israel.
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Isaiah 2:6 For the LORD has rejected his people,
the descendants of Jacob,
because they have filled their land with practices from the East
and with sorcerers, as the Philistines do.
They have made alliances with pagans.
Isaiah 1:2 Listen, O heavens! Pay attention, earth!
This is what the LORD says:
“The children I raised and cared for
have rebelled against me."
Isaiah 1:21-23 21 "See how Jerusalem, once so faithful,
has become a prostitute.
Once the home of justice and righteousness,
she is now filled with murderers.
22 Once like pure silver,
you have become like worthless slag.
Once so pure,
you are now like watered-down wine.
23 Your leaders are rebels,
the companions of thieves.
All of them love bribes
and demand payoffs,
but they refuse to defend the cause of orphans
or fight for the rights of widows".
The people of Judah had become heavily influenced by kingdoms to their east: Syria, Assyria, Philistines. In adopting their idolatrous practises they were losing their relationship with the only true God, Jehovah. They had built high places, carved images, and created sacred "groves." They began burning their children in honor of the idol, Moloch/Molech. This practise was to heat a bronze statue of Molech until it was glowing red and then dropping children into it's outstretched arms to burn to death. They had begun the use of divination and enchantments. All of these things were strictly forbidden by God and was highly offensive to Him.
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Isaiah 2:8 Their land is full of idols;
the people worship things they have made
with their own hands.
And it wasn't just in their worship. The farther they got away from Jehovah God, the worse their behavior became in everyday life. They were liars, cheats, bribe takers, with callused hearts. Their greed and selfishness were leading them to deny justice and benefits to the most vulnerable of society and they could care less! They didn't have any sympathy for the widows, orphans, sick, elderly or disabled. God used Isaiah to warn them.
Isaiah 1:11-20 11 “What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?”
says the LORD.
“I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams
and the fat of fattened cattle.
I get no pleasure from the blood
of bulls and lambs and goats.
12 When you come to worship me,
who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony?
13 Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts;
the incense of your offerings disgusts me!
As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath
and your special days for fasting—
they are all sinful and false.
I want no more of your pious meetings.
14 I hate your new moon celebrations and your annual festivals.
They are a burden to me. I cannot stand them!
15 When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look.
Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen,
for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims.
16 Wash yourselves and be clean!
Get your sins out of my sight.
Give up your evil ways.
17 Learn to do good.
Seek justice.
Help the oppressed.
Defend the cause of orphans.
Fight for the rights of widows.
18 “Come now, let’s settle this,”
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson,
I will make them as white as wool.
19 If you will only obey me,
you will have plenty to eat.
20 But if you turn away and refuse to listen,
you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies.
I, the LORD, have spoken!”
God warned them and was telling them He would forgive them if they would soften their hearts and return to Him in repentance.
Isaiah 2:7 Israel is full of silver and gold;
there is no end to its treasures.
Their land is full of warhorses;
there is no end to its chariots.
Judah was blessed at the time with silver, gold, treasures, and an army (warhorses and chariots). This did several things. One, it made them rely on their riches and army to protect them rather than relying on Jehovah God to protect them. Two, it made their life easy and soft and they had no wish to change their comfortable lifestyle. Three, although God had allowed them the blessings of such treasure, they were not thankful to Him for it. Four, it produced pride, arrogance, greed and selfishness. Fifth, it made them a target because other countries wanted what they had and, without God's protection, they were ripe for the picking. Their overindulged, soft, spoiled, easy lifestyles made them easy pickings. They didn't want to fight, they couldn't fight, they didn't want to undergo the rigors of being in an army or training to fight. They were looking like a big, ripe, rotten, oozing plum on a tree. The hornets around them were about to begin buzzing and fighting over this land and it's people.
Our world today is the same.
American mansion - Los Angeles, CA 16,700 square feet $42 million dollars
American mansion - Paradise Valley, AZ $22 million
American mansion - 40,700 sq ft in Tennessee
Russian mansion
An opulent wedding reception in Dubai
Dubai jewelry stores have walls and cases full of gold.
These Tom Ford custom made shoes went for $2 million dollars.
These Air Nike Mag Back To The Future shoes sold for $26,000 in 2016.
These Nike Air Force One tennis shoes are $50,000.
Must have shoe closets for all those expensive shoes!
A sunglass closet
The Barbie doll has fueled cosmetic surgeries for decades now. People don't seem to mind dropping thousands, hundreds of thousands on cosmetic procedures.
Designed by Phillipe and David Blonde, this Barbie doll is worth $15,000.
This dress by British designer, Debbi Wingh, is sewn with black and white diamonds and went for $5.6 million dollars.
American military parade
Chinese military parade
North Korean military parade
Russian military parade
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Isaiah 2:9-11 9 So now they will be humbled,
and all will be brought low—
do not forgive them.
10 Crawl into caves in the rocks.
Hide in the dust
from the terror of the LORD
and the glory of his majesty.
11 Human pride will be brought down,
and human arrogance will be humbled.
Only the LORD will be exalted
on that day of judgment.
******************************************
Isaiah 3:1 (New Living Bible Translation)
1 The Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies,
will take away from Jerusalem and Judah
everything they depend on:
every bit of bread
and every drop of water,
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Isaiah 3:2 all their heroes and soldiers,
judges and prophets,
fortune-tellers and elders,
3 army officers and high officials,
advisers, skilled sorcerers, and astrologers.
4 I will make boys their leaders,
and toddlers their rulers.
North Korea's Kim Jong-un was supposedly in his 20's when he became President of North Korea.
King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV rules over 2 million people in the Toro Kingdom, one of four kingdoms in Uganda, East Africa. He became king at 3 years old on 8/26/1995.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democrat, New York's 14th congressional district. She was 29 years old when she was elected in 2018 becoming the youngest woman ever to serve in the United States Congress.
Leftists on college campuses have begun violent protests under "Antifa". These college students and young people think they know what they are talking about and are making demands on our government with the threat of violence. What is shocking to me is our leaders on every level have been caving to their childish bullying. They listen to them and give in to them. All commonsense has gone out the window while children are running amuck.
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Isaiah 3:5 People will oppress each other—
man against man,
neighbor against neighbor.
Young people will insult their elders,
and vulgar people will sneer at the honorable.
Young Antifa men beat up old men. -
Megan Rapinoe, forward and co-captain of the U.S. Women's soccer team, had initially knelt during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” while she played in the National Women’s Soccer League. She later had vowed not to put her hand over her heart or sing the lyrics while the national anthem played. President Donald Trump said he does not think it is appropriate for Rapinoe to protest during the national anthem. During an interview with Eight By Eight Magazine, Rapinoe scoffed at a question about whether or not she's "excited" about going to the White House saying, “I’m not going to the f---ing White House". “I don’t think anyone on the team has any interest in lending the platform that we’ve worked hard to build and the things that we fight for and the way that we live our life,” Rapinoe said. Rapinoe's teammate, Ali Keiger, expressed support for Rapinoe, "I refuse to respect a man that warrants no respect".
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Isaiah 3:6-7 6 In those days a man will say to his brother,
“Since you have a coat, you be our leader!
Take charge of this heap of ruins!”
7 But he will reply,
“No! I can’t help.
I don’t have any extra food or clothes.
Don’t put me in charge!”
Who would want to become President of the United States? For someone to become President they have to have money, wads and wads of money. If you don't have it yourself, then you can only get it from others and what do they expect in return for their money? You are making a deal with the devil to fundraise in order to run. And everyone will comb through your past and the past of your whole family looking for anything to discredit you. If you dressed in a dog Halloween costume as a child dog lovers will hate you and call you a racist! How many people do you know have absolutely nothing in their past that could be embarrassing or even misconstrued. If they don't find something, they just make it up! Then there are all the sharks in the waters in Washington. Every single one of the them wants you to fail for one reason or another. They have one job and it's to zero in on you and cut you off at the knees, use you and make you into a puppet or get rid of you. You have to play ball with these people every day from the time you get involved in politics until the last day in office when you are helicoptered out to your retirement. You cannot trust a single person. There are those who politically want to assassinate you. There are those who emotionally want to assassinate you. There are those who slobber at the chance to make you cry on camera. There are those who want to assassinate your family relationships. There are those who want to plain ole assassinate you! You are hated, ridiculed, plotted against, mocked and caricatured. You cannot please anyone. The American people are totally unreasonable in their desires and demands. You will be hated by one and loved by another and that will change on a dime. The ones who lauded you as a prince on Monday are calling you a double crosser on Tuesday.
There isn't enough money in the world for me to take the job. So if reasonable, normal, good people can't, or won't, run for President, who will? Let me tell you who will. There are people out there who like the politics and thrive on power and games. They learn quick and have mentors who know how to sweep things under the rug and can manipulate all the strings in order to get their candidate in. They do it for the money and power it gives them. The candidate likes having his/her peccadillos cleaned up after, they like having people with money slavering over them and they love the feeling of power they get. But they are really puppets to the funders. These politicians love having women/men falling all over them because they are a politician. The higher they go, the more god-like they are treated and that makes them feel invincible. They soon have personal assistants, chiefs of staff, consultants, public relations experts, drivers, security, etc falling all over them to take care of their every need. They get hair style experts, makeup artists, wardrobe experts, personal trainers, cosmeticians staff. They are taught how to speak, what tone of voice to use, how to hold their hands, how to stand, when to be deferential and when to assume control, etc. It's all carefully choreographed. Those who like that kind of thing are in heaven. It's all about them and they love it. But you can see how that may not be the kind of person you want to be our President... or your Governor, or your Mayor, or your County Councilman! These types of people are political animals. But political animals are rarely decent, honorable men. Thank God, some are and I really appreciate those who can take charge and do some of the jobs that politicians at all levels do. But far too many are political animals who thrive on pride, adulation and power and they are not adverse to making money from their position too.
So, no matter who makes it to the Democrat and Republican candidacy for President, the odds are you have two political animals who have been groomed and have solid puppeteers behind them. At least as far as the Democrat and Republican candidates for President are concerned they are probably bought and sold, tied up with power mongers already. And they owe them big time. The closer they get to the seat of President, the more they owe. And, even if laws were passed to restrict any and all of this, it wouldn't stop. The Presidency is too juicy, too full of potential. They would find ways around any law. We've seen people killed and it chalked up to "suicide". There is nothing they wouldn't do.
Feeling this way, who do I vote for? I have struggled with this question. I am a Christian and my primary citizenship is Heaven. God is my King. But, while alive, I live in America, in little ole South Carolina. Should I even vote? Is my vote lending support to a man/woman I feel is probably corrupt, unethical, and beholden to others? Do I just give up and not vote? I've decided that I must vote if I live here and I've always voted. I see it as a responsibility as a citizen to support my country, it's laws and leaders. So I have to look at the party platforms. I can't look at the man/woman so what about the party platform? Which one best coincides with my values and beliefs. There is nothing in the Democrat platform that I can support. To me, every plank is ridiculous, dangerous, against all commonsense and without a doubt against every Biblical belief I hold. So I vote Republican in most cases. That's the best I can do.
But we are at the point where it's so bad in our country that no one wants to take charge. A leader cannot win, they cannot please everyone and some of the people don't mind using violence. Take, for instance, our police. Why would anyone want to become a policeman the way they are being treated and targeted on the streets? So if good people are afraid to take the jobs, that leaves the jobs wide open to those who might not make the best policemen. I mean, what does a good man get out of putting their lives on the line for ungrateful people? They are asked to do the impossible and even that isn't good enough. Their every move is microscoped. So who would take the job? Bullies. Those who want to make money through graft. Those who are looking for ways to have power or make money are the only ones left to take the jobs. That's what we are coming to. I am so thankful for all those men/women who have done a good job and have tried to be good policemen. I respect you from the bottom of my heart. But as times have gotten harder and harder for policemen and as more and more are targets, we lose a lot of good men/women who can't take it any more and go on to other things. We are losing a lot of good people by requiring unrealistic perfection and their leaders aren't standing behind them. There is little support and no commonsense and decency. All too often, their leaders are looking at how to deflect criticism and hang their policemen out as scapegoats. I thoroughly acknowledge the good ones but I'm not blind to the bad ones in the bushel. The bad ones do need to be dealt with. But don't let the good ones go without support and respect for the good job they are doing.
Let's say there were 100 people. Out of the 100 people only about 20 could do the job. I know I faint at blood and have nervous breakdowns if faced with any conflict. So I KNOW I'm not cut out for the job. Out of that 20 people, who is perfect? Who is in perfect health, has a perfect credit score, a perfect family, a perfect past, a perfect work record, a perfect relationship with everyone in the squad? Well, you might get 2 out of the 20 that fit all the perfection requirements but then those 2 are expected to effectively (and PERFECTLY) police 98 people who hate them and at least 5 of those 98 who want to downright kill the poor policeman if given the chance. Get them drunk enough, mad enough, high enough and they would. We invest so much taxpayer money selecting, training and outfitting police (their uniforms, weapons, equipment, cars, training, personnel time, benefits, wages). When those 2 poor policeman realize they are hated, can't please anyone, and are targets to the criminal element, they probably won't stay on the job long. They quit and who could blame them? But that means 100 people have spent a lot of time and money and they still don't have any policemen. All chaos will erupt without a policing force. And we've done it to ourselves.
I don't know what the answer is and I don't really see much change in the future. All I can do is try to be a good citizen and show respect to those in authority over me. Then I have to leave it to the Lord and know I am His child and one of His people. He is in control and not one child of His is out of His Hands. We are engraved upon the palm of His right Hand. He knows each of us personally and intimately so I must trust that He knows what He's doing and how to take care of each one of His children.
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They look real peaceful and loving don't they?
Isaiah 3:8-9 8 For Jerusalem will stumble,
and Judah will fall,
because they speak out against the LORD and refuse to obey him.
They provoke him to his face.
9 The very look on their faces gives them away...
Just look at the love! Their faces (and their signs) betray them. They hate "hate mongers". SMH.
Isaiah 3:9 ...They display their sin like the people of Sodom
and don’t even try to hide it...
A drag queen dressed as a satanic goddess reads to children about gay pride in a public library. We are supposed to accept it and like it.
Isaiah 3:9 ...They are doomed!
They have brought destruction upon themselves.
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Isaiah 3:10-12 10 Tell the godly that all will be well for them.
They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned!
11 But the wicked are doomed,
for they will get exactly what they deserve.
12 Childish leaders oppress my people,
and women rule over them.
O my people, your leaders mislead you;
they send you down the wrong road.
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Isaiah 3:13-15 13 The LORD takes his place in court
and presents his case against his people.
14 The LORD comes forward to pronounce judgment
on the elders and rulers of his people:
“You have ruined Israel, my vineyard.
Your houses are filled with things stolen from the poor.
15 How dare you crush my people,
grinding the faces of the poor into the dust?”
demands the Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
These photos are taken in AMERICA
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Isaiah 3:16-24 16 The LORD says, “Beautiful Zion is haughty:
craning her elegant neck,
flirting with her eyes,
walking with dainty steps,
tinkling her ankle bracelets.
17 So the Lord will send scabs on her head;
the LORD will make beautiful Zion bald.”
18 On that day of judgment the Lord will strip away everything that makes her beautiful:
ornaments, headbands, crescent necklaces,
19 earrings, bracelets, and veils;
20 scarves, ankle bracelets, sashes,
perfumes, and charms;
21 rings, jewels,
22p arty clothes, gowns, capes, and purses;
23 mirrors, fine linen garments,
head ornaments, and shawls...
This is suppose to be a Prom dress?
Isaiah 3:24 Instead of smelling of sweet perfume, she will stink.
She will wear a rope for a sash,
and her elegant hair will fall out.
She will wear rough burlap instead of rich robes.
Shame will replace her beauty.
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Isaiah 3:25 The men of the city will be killed with the sword,
and her warriors will die in battle.
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Isaiah 3:26 The gates of Zion will weep and mourn.
The city will be like a ravaged woman,
huddled on the ground.
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Isaiah 1:18-20 18 “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson,
I will make them as white as wool.
19 If you will only obey me,
you will have plenty to eat.
20 But if you turn away and refuse to listen,
you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies.
I, the LORD, have spoken!” #God #HolySpirit #Bible #JesusChrist
