Slices
Prepare
There are times when everything seems to be against us. Like a cruel game of dominoes, the pieces of life seem to fall down, despite our best efforts. Remember and reflect: God is for us, not against us.
Bible passage
The Lord’s anger against Israel
8 The Lord has sent a message against Jacob;
it will fall on Israel.
9 All the people will know it –
Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria –
who say with pride
and arrogance of heart,
10 ‘The bricks have fallen down,
but we will rebuild with dressed stone;
the fig-trees have been felled,
but we will replace them with cedars.’
11 But the Lord has strengthened Rezin’s foes against them
and has spurred their enemies on.
12 Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west
have devoured Israel with open mouth.
Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,
his hand is still upraised.
13 But the people have not returned to him who struck them,
nor have they sought the Lord Almighty.
14 So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail,
both palm branch and reed in a single day;
15 the elders and dignitaries are the head,
the prophets who teach lies are the tail.
16 Those who guide this people mislead them,
and those who are guided are led astray.
17 Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men,
nor will he pity the fatherless and widows,
for everyone is ungodly and wicked,
every mouth speaks folly.
Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,
his hand is still upraised.
18 Surely wickedness burns like a fire;
it consumes briers and thorns,
it sets the forest thickets ablaze,
so that it rolls upwards in a column of smoke.
19 By the wrath of the Lord Almighty
the land will be scorched
and the people will be fuel for the fire;
they will not spare one another.
20 On the right they will devour,
but still be hungry;
on the left they will eat,
but not be satisfied.
Each will feed on the flesh of their own offspring:
21 Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim on Manasseh;
together they will turn against Judah.
Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,
his hand is still upraised.
Explore
This uncomfortable passage is connected to one of the most popular readings of Christmas time (9:1–7). But this is the other reading, the one that is rarely heard. The earlier words of comfort have given way to judgement. The focus has shifted. The first seven verses of the chapter are addressed to people groups who feel abandoned; although they walk in darkness, a great light is about to shine upon them. But this reading speaks of judgement.
These verses are addressed to the northern kingdom of Israel, established after civil war around 930 bc. After the death of Solomon and the accession of his son, Rehoboam, the unity of the kingdom dissolved into warring factions. Ten tribes formed the new nation of Israel, leaving Judah and Benjamin as the only tribes in the south.
But why this unremitting judgement? Part of the answer appears in verse 9: their national characteristic is pride and arrogance. Instead of seeking the Lord and affirming the covenant he made with them, they have courted new political friends. If pride comes before a fall, then Israel’s collapse will be deadly. How might these verses speak to our own times?
Respond
Pray: Lord, I’m not as strong as I think I am. I need to know your great light breaking over me, so I humbly open my heart to you.
Deeper Bible study
Give me, Lord, a softness of heart, so that when you speak into my life I am ready to say, ‘Your servant is listening’.1
Isaiah now addresses the northern tribes of Israel (Jacob / Ephraim). In a cheerless passage, did you get a jolt reading that the Lord will not ‘pity the fatherless and widows’ (v 17)? Surely, caring for the disadvantaged was the very thing he was known for, and his main complaint against Judah was their failure to do so.2 Have things really gone so far downhill that the Lord has lost his compassion for those at the bottom of the pile? It seems that even they do not get a ‘get out of jail free card’ enabling them to escape responsibility for their actions before God. Every level of society (‘both head and tail’, v 14) is liable for their proud refusal to listen to the Lord. Frighteningly, after each expression of judgement we are told that ‘for all this, his anger has not turned away’ and his hand is ‘still upraised’ (vs 12,17,21). God is a completer-finisher and will continue to work in the longing that they will return to him (v 13), even when it involves a painful and grievous path involving a breakdown of family relationships (vs 19–21).
Few people perceived God’s hand in their downfall. I guess we can also struggle to live in the light of his presence and purpose. We too can fall into the trap of thinking we can fix things ourselves rather than seek the mercy of God (v 10). We dither around with our schemes and strategies and forget to fall on our faces. Discerning God’s discipline in our lives and responding to it is fundamental to producing a ‘harvest of righteousness’.3 Misinterpreting it has the danger of producing bitterness as opposed to repentance.4 These people have adopted a hard-heartedness which failed to recognise God’s hand.
What experience have you had of God’s discipline? How did it feel? What has it produced in you? Is there someone you see veering into bitterness who needs your help?
1 1 Sam 3:10 2 Isa 1:17 3 James 3:18 4 Heb 12, especially vs 11,15
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Esther 1–3; Psalm 79
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for Gaenor Hall, Senior Fundraising Manager, as she works on the sports ministry campaign, asking that it will inspire people to give and pray. Pray too that she will be able to support and encourage the fundraising team in all they do and that the fundraising quarterly report will come together.
