Pride of Judah… vs. 1-5

• 1^st – No food… vs. 1-3
  • Not listening…
    • Isaiah had warned JUDAH – the house of JACOB [rebellion]
    • That they had become like SODOM and GOMORRAH – Isaiah 1:9
    • He tried to encourage them to walk in the LIGHT – look to the END [Millennial Kingdom]
    • But they REFUSED to REPENT and come back to the LORD…
    • Therefore – God had a PLAN to get their ATTENTION!
  • God takes… vs. 1
    • For behold the Lord – the LORD of hosts – takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah.
    • The stock and the store – the whole supply of bread and the whole supply of water!
    • The MASTER [הָאָדוֹן] – the LORD [יְהוָה] of the armies of heaven [צְבָאוֹת]
    • An intimidating TITLE – meant to emphasize God is the one in CONTROL…
    • FIRST – He was going to TAKE [hiphil] away from JUDAH [and Jerusalem]
    • ALL [כָּל] – 2x for emphasis – of their extra FOOD and WATER…
    • Because God knows how to get our attention – and NEVER having enough is effective!
    • Deuteronomy 8:12-14 – “Lest when you have eaten and are full…  you forget the LORD.”
    • When we lack NOTHING – have an abundance – we tend to NEGLECT God…
    • In our prosperity we do NOT see our NEED for Him – we have everything we WANT…
    • Therefore – God will allows our lives to be FALL apart…
    • In an attempt to show us that this LIFE is NOT what matters!
  • Mighty and meek… vs. 2-3
    • The mighty man and the man of war. The judge and the prophet. The diviner and the elder.
    • The captain of fifty and the honorable man. The counselor and the skillful artisan.
    • And the expert enchanter!
    • Who would lack FOOD and WATER – EVERYONE who trusted in their own STRENGTH…
    • STRENGTH [גִּבּוֹר] – those who think they do NOT need God [9 categories]
    • [וְ] AND – the man of WAR – who thinks he can JUDGE [participle] others…
    • [וְ] AND – the PROPHET [נָבִיא] – who claims to speak for God…
    • [וְ] AND – the DIVINER [קָסַם] – who thinks he can INTERPRET the will of God…
    • [וְ] AND – the ELDER – who thinks their AGE means they have the answers…
    • [וְ] AND – the EMPLOYER – who has FIFTY people working for him…
    • [וְ] AND – the FAMOUS [נָשָׂא] – that everyone looks UP to…
    • [וְ] AND – the COUNSELOR – who think he can give others ADVICE…
    • [וְ] AND – the gifted ARTIST [חָכָם] – who put their trust in their ABILITY…
    • [וְ] AND – the SPEAKER – who think they can TALK their way out of any problem!
    • It is amazing the number of way people find NOT to put their TRUST in the Lord…
    • They might look to their POSITION – their INTELLECT – their AGE…
    • Their INFLUENCE – their TALENT – or their WORDS…
    • But take away their FOOD and WATER – and they are ALL quickly humbled!
• 2^nd – Bad Leaders… vs. 4
  • I will give children to be their princes and babes shall rule over them!
  • SECOND – God would give [sequential] JUDAH immature LEADERS [שַׂר]
  • Men who acted like CHILDREN – to RULE over them – [וְ] men who were CRUEL [עָלַל]!
  • The one word that a CHILD seems to learn first – is MINE…
  • We do NOT need to teach them to be SELFISH!
  • Because the people were living SELFISHLY – NOT concerned about their ETERNITY…
  • God gave them LEADERS to reflect them – just as short sighted and SELFISH as they were!
• 3^rd – Disrespectful… vs. 5
  • To friends…
    • The people will be oppressed every one by another and every one by his neighbor!
    • THIRD – the people will [sequential] OPPRESS [niphal] one another…
    • The reason is because when people are FAR from God – they do NOT have the LOVE of God…
    • So that even FRIENDS [רֵעַ] stop caring about others – and ONLY looked out for themselves!
    • Matthew 24:12 – “The love [ἀγάπη] of many will grow cold.”
  • Children…
    • The child will be insolent toward the elder – and the base toward the honorable!
    • If the PARENTS do NOT show any respect to OTHERS…
    • It should come as NO surprise – that the children also are DISRESPECTFUL…
    • The CHILD [הַנַּעַר] will act ARROGANTLY towards his ELDER…
    • And those who are DESPISED – will act is if they are better than those who are HONORABLE!
    • The MORAL decline of a society without God is CONTAGIOUS…
    • When we live SELFISHLY – we tend to have KIDS who are DISRESPECTFUL [they follow us]
    • VALUES become inverted – EVIL becomes the NORM…
    • All because without the LOVE of God – there is NOTHING good in us! 
    • Romans 7:18 – “For I know that in me [that is in my flesh] nothing good dwells.”

• 2^nd – Fall of Judah… vs. 6-11
  • 1^st – Rejected… vs. 6-7
    • Rule over us… vs. 6
      • When a man takes hold of his brother in the house of his father saying:
      • You have clothing. You be our ruler – and let these ruins be under your power!
      • BECAUSE [כִּי] – of the MORAL decline of the culture – men look to men for answers…
      • A man will GRAB hold of his brother who still has a [singular] COAT [שִׂמְלָה]
      • COAT – first used when SHEM and JAPHETH covered the sin of NOAH – Genesis 9:23
      • The BROTHER who still can COVER the SIN of their family…
      • The one who still has enough HONOR – that he stands out among his brothers…
      • Will be asked to RULE over the RUINS of his people!
    • Not the answer… vs. 7
      • In that day he will protest saying: I cannot cure your ills!
      • For in my house is neither food nor clothing. Do not make me a ruler of the people!
      • But in that DAY [בַיּוֹם] – he will REFUSE with an OATH…
      • Because he CANNOT [לֹא] bind up [imperfect] their WOUNDS – he is NOT the answer…
      • For he has NOTHING [אִין] to give – neither food of clothing…
      • Therefore – he will tell them he CANNOT be their leader!
      • If someone come and asks us for HUNDRED pesos – we might try and HELP…
      • The problem is they come back the NEXT day – and bring a friend…
      • How many DAYS – how many FRIENDS – do we think we can help!
      • Men tend to look to others for the answer [takes no faith]
      • But the problem is ALL men are limited – they have NOTHING [אִין] to give…
      • Which is why we do NOT look to men to be the SOLUTION…
      • We should be looking up – because God lacks for NOTHING – and can help EVERY time!
  • 2^nd – Not hidden… vs. 8-9
    • Fallen… vs. 8
      • For Jerusalem stumbled and Judah is fallen – because their tongue and their doings.
      • Are against the LORD to provoke the eyes of His glory!
      • Jerusalem and Judah have FALLEN [perfect]
      • BECAUSE [כִּי] – through their WORDS [tongue] – and their ACTIONS…
      • They PROVOKED the LORD [יְהוָה] right to His FACE [before his eyes]
    • Witness… vs. 9
      • The look on their countenance witnesses against them – and they declare their sin as Sodom.
      • They do not hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought evil upon themselves!
      • The EXPRESSIONS on their faces – were the WITNESS against them…
      • It caused [hiphil] their SIN to be exposed – announcing they were like [כִּ] SODOM…
      • They CANNOT [piel] hide their SIN – therefore have PITY of their SOUL…
      • BECAUSE [כִּי] – they have been given [perfect] the reward for their EVIL!
      • We have a great video of Hallel when she was about TWO years old…
      • Jen asked if she ate a cupcake – she was quick to say NO [very guilty]
      • She showed an EMPTY hand – swapped something behind her back then showed the other…
      • Jen demanded she turn around – and Hallel defiantly said NO [backing away]
      • As Hallel backed away and turned OFF the light – Jen asked what was behind her…
      • Turning on the LIGHT – she finally admitted she had the CUPCAKE!
      • People are just like that GUILTY little child – thinking they can HIDE their sin from God…
      • But there is NOTHING hidden to Him – and He will give them their REWARD!
      • Hebrews 4:13 – “Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes – and he is the one to whom we are accountable.”
  • 3^rd– The Reward… vs. 10-11
    • Righteous… vs. 10
      • Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them for they shall eat the fruit of their doings!
      • There are TWO possibilities as to what the REWARD will be…
      • FIRST – say [imperative] to those who are RIGHTEOUS [צַדִּיק]
      • BECAUSE [כִּי] – they are GOOD [טֽוֹב] – they will be BLESSED
      • How does God know they are GOOD – because [כִּי] of their FRUIT [פְּרִי]!
    • Wicked… vs. 11
      • Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him for the reward of his hands shall be given him!
      • SECOND – woe to the WICKED [רָשָׁע] – he will be CURSED…
      • BECAUSE [כִּי] – they are EVIL [רַע] – and will receive [niphal] the reward of their works…
      • NOTE – Isaiah is NOT saying they need to do GOOD – or not do BAD…
      • He is saying they are known by their FRUIT!
      • Matthew 7:20 – “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
      • The point is POWERFUL – FRUIT does NOT lie…
      • All we have to do is look at their FRUIT – and we will see if what they say is TRUE…
      • And from their FRUIT – we know what their REWARD will be [heaven or hell]!

• 3^rd – Wrong way… vs. 3:12 – 4:1
  • 1^st – Broken homes… vs. 12
    • As for My people – children are their oppressors and women rule over them.
    • O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err and destroy the way of your paths!
    • My people [2x for emphasis] – NOT only had GREEDY [poel] leaders – Isaiah 3:4
    • They also had WIVES [plural] who were ruling over their homes [negative connotation]
    • Leading [hiphil] them the WRONG way – a path that would SWALLOW [piel] them up!
    • We live in a world today that has demonized the role of men…
    • If anyone dares to say that a wife is to SUBMIT to her husband – they are in for a fight…
    • They are called CHAUVINISTIC – some will go so far as to say they are EVIL!
    • God calls MEN to be the SPIRITUAL leaders of their homes – Ephesians 5:22
    • That does NOT mean that men are better than women – Galatians 3:28
    • But it does mean that God has created ORDER within families  – I Corinthians 11:3
    • And if we DISOBEY His command – it leads to BROKEN homes!
  • 2^nd – Judgement for leaders… vs. 13-15
    • Pleading… vs. 13-14
      • The LORD stands up to plead and stands to judge the people.
      • The LORD will enter into judgment with the elders of His people and His princes!
      • Seeing His people going the WRONG way – made the LORD stand up [niphal]
      • Like a courtroom setting – He stood to CONFRONT [רִיב] and PLEAD [דִּין] with the people…
      • FIRST – He would JUDGE [מִשְׁפָּט] their ELDERS and LEADERS!
    • His vineyard… vs. 14-15
      • For you have eaten up the vineyard. The plunder of the poor is in your houses.
      • What do you mean by crushing My people and grinding the faces of the poor.
      • Says the Lord GOD of hosts!
      • He would JUDGE them because they had [perfect] DEVOURED [piel] His VINEYARD [Israel]
      • Filling their houses with things they STOLE from the POOR…
      • He asked them: what were they THINKING – by CRUSHING [piel] His people…
      • Surely they did NOT think they were going to get away with it!
      • God does not play around when it comes to stumbling His children…
      • He is a very protective FATHER – and will deal with anyone who threatens His kids!
  • 3^rd – Judgement for wives… vs. 3:16-4:1
    • Daughters of Zion… vs. 16
      • Moreover the LORD says: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty.
      • And walk with outstretched necks – and wanton eyes.
      • Walking and mincing as they go making a jingling with their feet!
      • SECOND – [sequential] the Lord would also JUDGE the daughters [plural] of ZION…
      • BECAUSE [כִּי] – they were [perfect] ARROGANT [גָּבַהּ]
      • Which is why they walked [sequential] with their NECK stretched out [noise in the air]
      • With EYES always looking [piel] for the NEXT best thing [bigger – better – deal]
      • As they ran around with little bells on their feet – so EVERYONE would look at them!
    • No arrogance… vs. 17
      • Therefore the Lord will strike with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion.
      • And the LORD will uncover their secret parts!
      • Therefore [sequential] – God would do take away THREE things to HUMBLE them…
      • FIRST – the MASTER [אֲדֹנָי] will STRIKE [piel] their arrogant heads…
      • And HUMILIATE them – by exposing [piel] them [naked]
      • This does NOT seem to mean COMPLETELY naked – it means no more FASHION!
    • No fashion… vs. 18-23
      • In that day the Lord will take away the finery:
      • The jingling anklets – the scarves – the crescents – the pendants – the bracelets – and the veils.
      • The headdresses – the leg ornaments – the headbands. 
      • The perfume boxes – the charms – the rings – the nose jewels.
      • The festal apparel – the mantles – the outer garments – the purses.
      • And the mirrors – the fine linen – the turbans – and the robes!
      • In that DAY [בַיּוֹם] – the MASTER [אֲדֹנָי] will take AWAY [hiphil]
      • Isaiah goes on to give a DETAILED list of [21] fashion [תִּפְאָרָה] accessories…
      • Their ANKLE bracelets – [ו] their head SCARFS – [ו] their NECKLACES [round]
      • [ו] their EARRINGS [drops] – [ו] their BRACELETS – [ו] their VEILS – [ו] their HATS…
      • [ו] their BELTS – [ו] their hair BANDS – [ו] their PERFUME – [ו] their CHARMS – [ו] their RINGS
      • [ו] their nose RINGS – [ו] their FORMAL wear – [ו] their CAPES – [ו] their COATS…
      • [ו] their PURSES [ו] their MIRRORS – [ו] their PAJAMAS – [ו] their TIARAS – [ו] their SHAWLS!
      • If we ever wondered if ACCESSORIZING was something new – NO…
      • Women have been focused on FASHION for thousands of years…
      • What strikes me is the emphasis – they were ALWAYS looking for something NEW…
      • Because what is FASHIONABLE today – it out of STYLE tomorrow!
      • People spend lots of TIME and MONEY chasing a WORDILY standard of BEAUTY…
      • They buy the latest STYLES – spend HOURS on their hair and makeup in front of the mirror…
      • Just so they can walk out covered in branded accessories – with their heads HIGH…
      • But no matter how hard they try – there is always something NEW…
      • So the question must be asked – why chase something that NEVER ends!
      • I Timothy 2:9 – “Women [should] be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.” [NLT]
    • No beauty… vs. 24
      • It shall be: Instead of a sweet smell there will be a stench. Instead of a sash – a rope.
      • Instead of well-set hair – baldness. Instead of a rich robe – a girding of sackcloth.
      • And branding instead of beauty!
      • SECOND – [sequential] because they lost all their BEAUTY products…
      • INSTEAD of smelling NICE [perfume] – their ROTTENNESS [imperfect] would be revealed…
      • [ו] – INSTEAD of a fancy BELT – they would have a ROPE…
      • [ו] – INSTEAD of expensive HAIRDO – they would be BALD…
      • [ו] – INSTEAD of a rich ROBE – they would have SACKCLOTH…
      • [ו] – INSTEAD of BEAUTY – they would be BRANDED [burned]!
      • In Hebrew culture all of these things were signs of MOURNING…
      • They would STOP taking showers [smell] – and shave their heads – Jeremiah 7:29
      • They would put on sackcloth – sit in ashes – wearing a simple rope…
      • The WHY is answered in their BRANDING – they have become SLAVES…
      • They would be taken CAPTIVE to BABYLON for SEVENTY years!
    • No husbands… vs. 25-26
      • Your men shall fall by the sword and your mighty in the war.
      • Her gates shall lament and mourn and she being desolate shall sit on the ground!
      • THIRD – their MEN [mighty] would all FALL by the sword – DIE in battle…
      • Causing the women to WEEP [niphal] at the doors of their homes…
      • As they collapsed to the floor – knowing their MEN would never be coming back!
    • Desperate… vs. 1
      • And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man saying:
      • We will eat our own food and wear our own apparel.
      • Only let us be called by your name to take away our reproach!
      • AND – [sequential] in that DAY [בַיּוֹם] – SEVEN women would grab ONE man…
      • They would BARGAIN with him – we will cook our own food – wear our own clothes…
      • The MAN did NOT have to do ANYTHING for them…
      • ONLY let them be called by his name [marriage] – to take away [imperative] their SHAME!
      • There is NO limit to what the Lord is willing to take away from us…
      • If He can take away our MONEY – our BEAUTY – our RELATIONSHIPS…
      • He will take away ANYTHING – that is keeping us from looking to Him…
      • He will HUMBLE us – so that He can pour His grace out on us – I Peter 5:5

• 4^th – Restoration… vs. 2-6
  • 1^st – Branch of the Lord… vs. 2
    • The Day…
      • In that day!
      • In that DAY [בַיּוֹם] – the FOURTH and final time this phrase is used in our passage…
      • The word DAY [יוֹם] – is referring to the DAY of the LORD – Isaiah 2:12
      • Recall that it is NOT talking about 24 hours – but a PERIOD of time…
      • That BEGINS with the RAPTURE of the church [thief in the night] – I Thessalonians 5:2
      • And ends with the destruction of the heavens and earth – II Peter 3:10
    • The Branch…
      • The Branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious!
      • In that DAY – the BRANCH of the LORD will be given HONOR and GLORY…
      • One of the titles of Jesus – the ROOT and BRANCH [offspring] of David – Revelation 22:16
      • He is the ROOT – because ALL things come from Him – Colossians 1:16
      • And He is also the BRANCH – because He came to earth in the line of King David!
      • AFTER the Babylonian captivity [500 years] – Jesus came the FRIST time…
      • AFTER the SEVEN years and TRIBULATION – Jesus will come the SECOND time!
      • Revelation 19:11-13 – “I saw heaven opened… His name is called The Word of God.”
    • Escaped…
      • The fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing for those of Israel who have escaped!
      • Then the FRUIT [works] of the earth will be EXCELLENT and HONORABLE…
      • Because the THIRD of Israel who SURVIVE the Tribulation – Zechariah 13:8
      • Will look up and see Jesus coming in the clouds – and MOURN – Zechariah 12:10
      • Their eyes will be OPENED – and they will be SAVED!
      • Romans 11:26 – “So all [of the remnant of] Israel will be saved.”
      • God is NOT in a RUSH – to Him all of these things happen in a DAY – II Peter 3:8
      • But do NOT miss – in spite of the CONTINUAL rebellion of Israel…
      • God NEVER forsakes His people – He will NEVER turn His back on them – Jeremiah 31:36
      • Instead He is PATIENT – because He does NOT want anyone to perish – II Peter 3:9
  • 2^nd – Holy… vs. 3-4
    • Remnant… vs. 3
      • It shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem.
      • Will be called holy – everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem!
      • [Sequential] – it will be on that DAY – that ALL [כָּל] of the REMNANT in Zion [Jerusalem]
      • Will be become [niphal] HOLY [קְדֹש] – set apart – for the LORD…
      • Not BECAUSE they are following a set of RULES…
      • But because they will have the MESSIAH [Jesus] living among them!
    • Pure… vs. 4
      • When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion.
      • Purged the blood of Jerusalem from her by the spirit of judgment – by the spirit of burning!
      • When [אִם] the MASTER [אֲדֹנָי] – washes away the DUNG [צאה] of the daughters of Zion…
      • And cleansed Jerusalem of the BLOOD [violence]
      • Though His SPIRIT – by JUDGING those who reject – and PURIFYING [fire] who believe!
      • 1290 days after the Abomination of Desolation – 30 days after His return – Daniel 12:11
      • Jesus will sit down and JUDGE those who come out of the TRIBULATION – Matthew 25:32
      • ANYONE who takes the MARK will be put to death [goats] – Revelation 19:21
      • But the 144 THOUSAND Jews who are sealed by God – Revelation 7:4
      • The THIRD of Israel who are protected in PETRA – Zechariah 13:8
      • As well as ANYONE who does NOT take the MARK [and were not martyred]
      • Will be FORGIVEN – and enter into the MILLENNIAL Kingdom – Revelation 20:4
  • 3^rd – Presence of God… vs. 5-6
    • The Pillar… vs. 5
      • Then the LORD will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion.
      • Above her assemblies – a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night.
      • For over all the glory there will be a covering!
      • Then [sequential] the LORD [יְהוָה] will CREATE [בָּרָא]
      • CLOUD by day – and FIRE by night over ALL [כָּל] the houses of ZION…
      • BECAUSE [כִּי] – the GLORY of the LORD will again dwell among His people – Exodus 13:22
    • Tabernacle… vs. 6
      • There will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat.
      • For a place of refuge and for a shelter from storm and rain!
      • And once more there will be a TABERNACLE [fourth Temple] among the people…
      • It will be a place of PROTECTION – from the sun of storms of life!