Isaiah 5. Verses 8 to 30
WOE is now pronounced upon the rejectors of the claims and the mercy of God; these are grouped under six heads, six classes of humanity, and all of them are at least as plainly to be found today as they were when Isaiah wrote.
The first group is described in verse 8. These bring to mind the men of Genesis 11, and the rich farmer of Luke 12; an hour comes for which they are totally unprepared. Men justify such, but God says, “Thou fool!” Israel’s blessings, unlike the Christian’s are connected with this earth, and so we read of the very, very poor return (verse 10), they got for all their work—6 1/2 gallons from 10 acres of vineyard, and of the seed planted only one-tenth harvested.
Verses 11 and 12 describe the second class; pleasure is their object in life. Thus does Satan lure many nowadays to destruction. It will be noticed that the word concerning such, in verses 13, 14 particularly, is especially solemn.
The third class of people is named in verses 18 and 19. Here are they who think nothing of sin, and laugh and sneer at the warnings and pleadings of the servants of God.
In verse 20 is the fourth group whose numbers, or whose boldness, or both, have been growing rapidly of late. These devote themselves to the breaking down of right conduct, and of recognized moral standards, of corrupt mind, they seek to corrupt everyone else. This is very noticeable in the literature of the present time.
The fifth group or class of the enemies of God is singled out in verse 21. These are the learned, or would be learned, the philosophers, professors and teachers, and such like; not all of them, thank God, for there are faithful men of God among the highly educated. But there is a very evident class of thinkers, doctors of religion, scientists, etc., who push aside the Word of God and substitute the conclusions of their own minds—science falsely so-called.
Verse 22 names the sixth and last class of mankind who desire not the knowledge of God. These appear to be the corrupt men in the governments, and judges who accept bribes. Upon these last the judgment of Jehovah of hosts will fall in consuming power.
But because of all this, the anger of Jehovah was kindled against His people; He had stretched out His hand against them, and smitten them, and His hand is stretched out still (verse 25).
He was about to call a nation far off, the Assyrians, or not long after the Babylonians, to execute His judgment upon the despisers of His Word. But the language of verses 26 to 30 cannot be limited to the events of Hezekiah’s reign, and of the last two kings of Judah; evidently the fulfilment of this prophecy awaits the day to which the prophetic Scriptures nearly all point, when Judah will be again in the land of Palestine.
ML 04/16/1933