Isaiah 3:1-4 says - "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, The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, The captain of fifty, and the honorable man, and the counselor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator. And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them."
In this study, we want to look at Isaiah's words to see what God could possibly be speaking to us as His Church or as a society of people.
However, before examining the passage in Isaiah 3, we must first look at the last verse in Isaiah 2 which connects in thought and says - "Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?" (Isaiah 2:22)
What was the Prophet saying to the people in this statement?
He was admonishing Judah and Jerusalem to stop trusting in man - cease confiding in weak, frail, and dying man...cease putting reliance on any devices or refuges of man...and cease trusting in the gods he has invented.
Do not make the greatest and mightiest of men your confidence.
Don't you know that man is short-lived...has no control over his life...and is unable to afford the help needed?
For life and health...food and raiment... home and friends... and especially salvation - look to the Lord! Let Him be your fear and hope! Your judgment proceeds from Him - and not from any man! Hence, look to His power - to which all other powers are subordinate ...dread His wrath...secure His favor ...and take Him for your help and hope.
Did Judah and Jerusalem heed the warning?
Apparently not! For in Isaiah 3, we read the account of how "the Lord, the LORD of hosts" in His judgment was moved to "take away" all kinds of support - everything on which they relied - all of their creature-confidences.
The words - "the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water" - was an Arabic idiom for all kinds of support. Although it may refer to the loss of "bread" and "water," it most likely symbolized the loss of essential leaders.
In accordance with God's warning in Isaiah 2:22 - admonishing them not to place their confidence in the greatest and mightiest of men - and what follows in Isaiah 3:1-3, we can easily see that God was speaking about leadership here. What He was saying is that - in His judgment - He was "taking away" that which they placed before Him - all responsible leaders. The end result? There would be a lack of capable, mature leaders in every walk of life.
They made their army their support. Hence, "the Lord, the LORD of hosts" took away "the mighty man," "the man of war," and "the captain of fifty."
They made the ministers their support. Hence, "the Lord, the LORD of hosts" took away "the prophet," "the prudent," "the ancient," and "the counselor."
They made the intellectuals their support. Hence, "the Lord, the LORD of hosts" took away "the judge," "the honorable man," "the cunning artificer," and "the eloquent orator."
The officers...commanders of various divisions...or men fit to be generals of their armies were removed or taken away by death. They now had none to go out with their armies.
Those who were ordained by God - to instruct them in religious matters and deliver the mind and will of God...whose opinion was asked in times of perplexity or danger...were qualified to give advice in matters of difficulty... and could judge of the future - were removed or taken away by death.
Those of power and authority through riches and greatness as well as those skillful in the arts and of speech were removed or taken away by death.
What we are seeing here is the Lord taking away the essential resources for survival along with the leadership. In its place, He placed "children" - those who were "babes" in regard to talent for governing... babes in experience...or men ruling with the folly and fickleness of a child.
Read what Matthew Henry had to say in response to this - "When mighty men and the prudent are removed, children shall be their princes...children in understanding and disposition, childish men, such as are babes in knowledge, no more fit to rule than a child in the cradle."
The word of caution was sounding loud and clear to Judah and Jerusalem - "Stop trusting in man!" Don't place your confidence in any Leader. But they did not heed this warning. In doing so, they provoked God to "take away" their "support" - all that they were leaning or depending upon.
Today, the same "word" is sounding out to us as well.
The warning is clear. If we as a society are leaning on any "staff" other than the Lord Himself, He will be sure to take it away. He will take away all that we are trusting in and looking to for help and relief. He will allow that to replace it which will only cause more harm than good.
The Preacher's Commentary offers this explanation -
"...as the quality of leaders declines, the quantity of problems escalates."
"Anarchy is the word that sums up the consequences when leadership is lost."
Look around at our society today. Problems are indeed escalating with the shortage of leaders. We find "babes" in knowledge and experience - childish and effeminate men - running our nation.
Because of this "leadership" vacuum, true courage - the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to stand by his convictions to do what is right when those around him think he is wrong - is hard to find. Men simply do not have the courage to stand up for what is right.
Generally speaking, the men in our society have become "nice." Their masculinity has - in a sense - been neutralized. This is due to the fact that our culture promotes "being nice" as the highest virtue that a man can achieve. Hence, there are many who find it easier to drift along with the current of culture than to try to swim against it.
The truth of the matter is - you cannot be a leader without offending or upsetting some people. In order to accomplish anything of significance in life, you will be required to offend at least some people.
Read what The Preacher's Commentary has to say on this matter -
"One of the signs of a morally bankrupt society is the dearth of qualified persons who are willing to take the risk of leadership."
"A society is in deep trouble when no one has the qualifications of a good name, practical wisdom, and spiritual maturity required for leadership; but it is in deepest trouble when no one is willing to take the risk of leadership."
When a people place their confidence in every kind of "support" other than the Lord, He is then forced to ruin their "creature-confidences" and cause them to meet with nothing but disappointment on all expectations from them. "Leaders" rise up who are childish and incompetent.
What is the answer?
The answer is for the Church - God's Holy people - to walk in obedience to Isaiah 2:22 which says - "Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils..." They must rise up as a people who refuse to confide in weak, fragile, and dying man - or even place their confidence in the greatest and mightiest of men - and depend wholeheartedly on "the Lord, the LORD of hosts" for their life and health...food and raiment... home and friends...and especially salvation. They must be determined to look alone to the power of God...dread His wrath...secure His favor...and let Him be their help and hope. The result?
Courage - true courage - to face uncertainty, difficulty, intimidation, and danger - in the strength of the Spirit and in the wisdom of His Word.
Henry Van Dyke sums up the effects of courage with these words - "Not to tremble at the shadows which surround us, not to shrink from the foes who threaten us, not to hesitate and falter and stand despairing still among the perplexities and trials of life, but to move steadily onward without fear."
That's what happens when a people place their total confidence in the Lord and Him alone!
He raises up great leaders - fearless men who are full of courage and are not afraid to stand up for what is right - even at the expense of being not "nice."
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
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