In Isaiah 28, we get another demonstration where God speaks out against drunkenness. It is once again clear that drunkenness can distance you from God and wreck your personal life and relationships. If it becomes pervasive in a community or culture, it can wreck that as well. In this case, God Himself came against them because of their sin.
Ephraim’s Captivity Predicted
1Woe to the proud crown of the habitually drunk of Ephraim,
And to the fading flower of its glorious beauty,
Which is at the head of the [a]fertile valley
Of those who are [b]overcome with wine!
2Behold, the Lord has a strong and mighty agent;
As a storm of hail, a tempest of destruction,
Like a storm of mighty overflowing waters,
He has thrown it down to the earth with His hand.
3The splendid crown of the habitually drunk of Ephraim is trampled underfoot.
4And the fading flower of its glorious beauty,
Which is at the head of the [c]fertile valley,
Will be like the first-ripe fig prior to the summer,
Which [d]one sees,
And [e]as soon as it is in his [f]hand,
He swallows it.
5On that day the LORD of armies will become a beautiful crown
And a glorious wreath to the remnant of His people;
6A spirit of justice for him who sits in judgment,
A strength to those who repel the [g]onslaught at the gate.
7And these also reel with wine and stagger from intoxicating drink:
The priest and the prophet reel with intoxicating drink,
They are confused by wine, they stagger from intoxicating drink;
They reel while [h]having visions,
They stagger when rendering a verdict.
8For all the tables are full of filthy vomit, without a single clean place
9“To whom would He teach knowledge,
And to whom would He interpret the message?
Those just weaned from milk?
Those just taken from the breast?
10“For He says,
‘[i]Order on order, order on order,
Line on line, line on line,
A little here, a little there.’”
11Indeed, He will speak to this people
Through stammering lips and a foreign tongue,
12He who said to them, “This is the place of quiet, give rest to the weary,”
And, “This is the resting place,” but they would not listen.
13So the word of the LORD to them will be,
“[j]Order on order, order on order,
Line on line, line on line,
A little here, a little there,”
That they may go and stumble backward, be broken, snared, and taken captive.
If a whole nation embraces drunkenness, it wrecks them. We certainly have many living with habitual drunkenness in our culture today, though not as pervasive as I read in Isaiah 28. But there are other sins as well that can overtake a nation. I think selfishness and coveting have overtaken our nation. Selfishness is the root of many arguments and poor choices. Selfishness wrecks marriages and leads to broken families. Selfishness leads to abortion and many other problems. Coveting has practically become a national pastime. There is always someone with something cooler, newer, or better and too many of us are always coveting what others have even when it is beyond what we can afford.
Be encouraged. With God all things are possible. As individuals, communities, or even a nation, we can be restored to God. Repent and turn from sin. Turn toward God and His ways. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
8Come close to God and He will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you [i]double-minded. 9Be miserable, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into gloom. 10Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
I invite you to pray with me:
Father, thank You that You are filled with mercy and grace and provide forgiveness through Yeshua. Thank You that Your word shows us the way we should go. Help our nation repent from sin and return to You! Amen.
Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ
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