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by Sandy Shaw
Isaiah Chapters 3,4 - We have been reading of how low the people of God had sunk. They were far below what God looked for them to be. Isaiah has described their folly - their stupidity - and their wickedness.
They were so interested in horoscopes and fortune-tellers. They were trusting in money and military might.
They were worshipping idols. Yes, worshipping idols – focussing upon what they should never have even looked at nor considered. They were involved in the Feasts and Festivals which were more important than their commitment to God.
Verse 15 . God demands an explanation. There are times when God wants to know why we are living the way we are living. God wants answers from His Chosen People. He saw this people getting into more and more of a mess.
He has spoken about the men. In these verses God addresses the women - it is an awful picture He sees, when He looks at the women-folks in the nation of Israel.
He sees women strutting around - haughty and proud - with outstretched necks - so sure of themselves. The manners of the women were appalling.
What does God want to say to us through these verses? What does God want to reveal to us or teach us from this passage in His Holy Word?
A degenerate womanhood can wreck a nation. I remember being with Larry Christenson in Minneapolis in 1980 - he was addressing around 1,000 women. He said - "When women become crude - society slides - and it slides faster and faster." Larry had been in the Navy - he had heard a lot - but now he was hearing filthy language and degenerate conversation coming from the mouths of women - from the mouths of wives - from the mouths of mothers, in front of their children.
When the angel visited Mary to announce the coming of Jesus into the world - the words which flow from her mouth are so different.
One cannot help overhearing the conversation of women - even in public in the supermarkets - and I shudder, especially when I see young children accompanying these women.
Verse 16 – Isaiah goes on to describe how the women were flaunting themselves in front of the men - and, instead of being modest - they are flirting with their eyes - tripping along with mincing steps - deliberately seeking to entice men. Isaiah - what a description!
These are married women Isaiah is describing. Aren't they so very different from Mary and her beloved Joseph? Sometimes women are the last stronghold of moral purity and integrity in the nation - but if they follow and flow with the tide of vanity and immorality, the nation is doomed.
This is so different from what God intended Israel to be.
On many an occasion it can be the quality of the women present that can set the mood and tone and temperature and content of a gathering or meeting.
Isaiah says - You want people to look at you - they will - but the Lord will bring sores and scabs on your heads - and they will turn their eyes away in disgust.
Verse 17 – Then Isaiah sees God snatching away all their finery - and he lists their adornments and bangles and decorations - all outward signs of decadent and degenerate heart.
Such preaching was rigorously resented. They laughed at the prophet of God, and ridiculed God's man.
In a few short years - when they were led away captive - they were actually stripped naked - as they were taken off into slavery, in chains.
Isaiah describes so vividly the fashion houses in Jerusalem - which were thriving - as the poor became poorer - and Isaiah also preaches that GOD SAW WHAT THEY WORE. Not only Isaiah saw - but GOD saw as well.
One preacher used to say to his people - "Dress properly when you go out with Jesus - the Lord notices what you wear."
Could these people take God where they went? Would God enjoy their conversations?
Take Jesus with you - and want to be where Jesus is - that's the balance to have.
These women wanted things - and soon, God took all the things away - verse 24 .
Instead of perfume - there came from them a stench.
No nice sash now - but a coarse rope as they were tied up and led away to a foreign land. Instead of soft robes, sackcloth - harsh, rough, itchy, and uncomfortable.
Where they had wanted to be beautiful - they were branded.
In Chapter 4verse 1 – We read that all the men were slain - and the one wish these women had was to have a man. Isaiah sees seven women panicking after one man – saying, "We will pay for our keep".
Again - think of Mary leading up to the birth of Jesus – totally different.
Vanity can produce nothing but vanity - but humility and willing obedience can give birth to what God wants done in the world - and Mary experienced such perfect freedom and enriching blessing.
“Our Creator God – our loving heavenly Father – we do not want to let You down by our words or our dress or our behaviour – if we have, we confess it, and ask for forgiveness. Thank You that You are a God who forgives – sin – all types of sin – You are so merciful and gracious – and that is why we bow and worship You. For these riches – we give thanks and praise, in Jesus’ name. Amen”
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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