Out With The Bad - In With The Good Series

If this is the reason for the people rejoicing then my next question would be then ‘why is Isaiah not joining in on the celebration? Why isn’t he putting down on paper words of praise? Why is he downcast? The Scripture tells us that he starts to see a vision of horror in the upcoming future?

Isaiah has nothing to rejoice about. He is fearful of his people’s future as they rejoice in their self-confidence and not in the fact that again it was the Lord’s hand that had delivered them. The people should have been on their knees thanking and worshiping and repenting. However, they would not give God credit for His Wonderful Mercy.

Isaiah reveals that the people are captives and do not even know it. They are captives in their own sinful thoughts.

‘Your slain men are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle. 3 All your rulers have fled together; They are captured by the archers. All who are found in you are bound together; They have fled from afar.’

The people do not know it but their leaders are selling them out. Instead of the thought of God and Country, the leaders think only of themselves and send their money to Swiss banks and flee the country.

Boy can we be so stupid. Do you remember the conversation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ when the Pharisees were giving Him such a hard time? Our Lord in His Own marvelous way informed them that they do not have a clue of what is really going on about being free. We read this interaction in the Gospel of John chapter 8,” 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

So as the partying crowds make their way around Jerusalem they want Isaiah to join in with them. Yet, he will not because he has been given a picture of the future. It is no fun being a prophet for truly the burden of what he sees is God’s version of a horror movie and it is not one of actors but is a vision of the things actually taking place as they occur. He has a hard time bearing this information.

4 Therefore I said, “Look away from me, I will weep bitterly; Do not labor to comfort me because of the plundering of the daughter of my people.” 5 For it is a day of trouble and treading down and perplexity by the Lord GOD of hosts in the Valley of Vision— Breaking down the walls and of crying to the mountain.”

Another prophet of God which had a similar reaction to God’s showing of future conditions was Elisha. We read how greatly he was shocked in seeing what this person, by the name of Hazael, would do to his people. We find this incident in the book of 2 Kings chapter 8, “7 Then Elisha went to Damascus, and Ben-Hadad king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, “The man of God has come here.” 8 And the king said to Hazael, “Take a present in your hand, and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD by him, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this disease?’” 9 So Hazael went to meet him and took a present with him, of every good thing of Damascus, forty camel-loads; and he came and stood before him, and said, “Your son Ben-Hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this disease?’” 10 And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover.’ However the LORD has shown me that he will really die.” 11 Then he set his countenance in a stare until he was ashamed; and the man of God wept. 12 And Hazael said, “Why is my lord weeping?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: Their strongholds you will set on fire, and their young men you will kill with the sword; and you will dash their children, and rip open their women with child.” 13 So Hazael said, “But what is your servant—a dog, that he should do this gross thing?” And Elisha answered, “The LORD has shown me that you will become king over Syria.” 14 Then he departed from Elisha, and came to his master, who said to him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he answered, “He told me you would surely recover.” 15 But it happened on the next day that he took a thick cloth and dipped it in water, and spread it over his face so that he died; and Hazael reigned in his place.”