Everything Falls Apart
The Lord Almighty is about to strip Jerusalem and Judah of everything they depend on—every bit of food and every drop of water. He’ll take away their heroes and soldiers, their judges and prophets, their wise leaders and elders. He’ll remove their military commanders, their respected citizens, their advisors, their skilled craftsmen, and their smooth-talking politicians.
'I’ll give them children as their leaders. Immature people will rule over them.' The people will turn on each other. Neighbors will attack neighbors. Young people will defy the old. Nobody will respect anyone.
Things will get so bad that a man will grab his own brother and say, 'At least you still have a coat on your back—you be our leader! Take charge of this mess!' But that same day his brother will protest: 'Don’t look at me to fix this! I don’t have food or clothes in my own house. Don’t make me ruler of these people.'
The Reason for Judgment
Jerusalem has collapsed. Judah has fallen. Their words and actions have been a direct insult to the Lord, defying his very presence. The look on their faces gives them away. They parade their sin like Sodom—they don’t even try to hide it. How terrible for them! They’ve brought this disaster on themselves.
Tell the righteous it will go well for them. They’ll enjoy the fruit of their good choices. But disaster is coming for the wicked! They’ll get exactly what they deserve—the consequences of their own actions.
'My people are oppressed by foolish leaders and ruled by those who should not be in charge. My people, your guides are leading you down the wrong path—they’re destroying you.'
The Lord Takes His Stand
The Lord stands up to make his case. He’s ready to judge his people.
The Lord brings charges against the elders and leaders of his people: 'You’ve stripped the vineyard bare. Your houses are full of what you’ve stolen from the poor.' 'What gives you the right to crush my people and grind the faces of the poor into the dirt?' says the Lord Almighty.
Pride Comes Before the Fall
The Lord also says: 'The women of Zion have become arrogant. They walk around with their noses in the air, flirting with their eyes, strutting along with tiny steps, jangling their ankle bracelets.' 'So the Lord will cover their heads with sores and strip away their beauty.'
When that day comes, the Lord will strip away all their finery—the jingling anklets, the headbands, the crescent necklaces, the earrings, the bracelets, the veils, the headdresses, the ankle chains, the sashes, the perfume bottles, the charms, the signet rings, the nose rings, the fine robes, the capes, the shawls, the purses, the mirrors, the linen garments, the turbans, and the long veils.
Instead of perfume, there will be rottenness. Instead of a sash, a rope. Instead of styled hair, baldness. Instead of fine clothes, sackcloth. Instead of beauty, the brand of shame.
Your men will die by the sword. Your warriors will fall in battle. The city gates will echo with weeping and mourning. Jerusalem will sit on the ground, empty and broken.
Influences
- 13:1 — Isaiah 3:1 (KJV)For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water.
- 13:2 — Isaiah 3:2 (KJV)The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient,
- 13:3 — Isaiah 3:3 (KJV)The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.
- 13:4 — Isaiah 3:4 (KJV)And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.
- 13:5 — Isaiah 3:5 (KJV)And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.
- 13:6 — Isaiah 3:6 (KJV)When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand:
- 13:7 — Isaiah 3:7 (KJV)In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.
- 13:8 — Isaiah 3:8 (KJV)For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory.
- 13:9 — Isaiah 3:9 (KJV)The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.
- 13:10 — Isaiah 3:10 (KJV)Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
- 13:11 — Isaiah 3:11 (KJV)Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
- 13:12 — Isaiah 3:12 (KJV)As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.
- 13:14 — Isaiah 3:14 (KJV)The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
- 13:15 — Isaiah 3:15 (KJV)What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
- 13:16 — Isaiah 3:16 (KJV)Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:
- 13:17 — Isaiah 3:17 (KJV)Therefore the LORD will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts.
- 13:18 — Isaiah 3:18 (KJV)In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,
- 13:20 — Isaiah 3:20 (KJV)The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,
- 13:22 — Isaiah 3:22 (KJV)The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,
- 13:24 — Isaiah 3:24 (KJV)And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.
- 13:26 — Isaiah 3:26 (KJV)And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.