Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in
their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?
See now, the Lord, the LORD Almighty, is about to take from Jerusalem
and Judah both supply and support: all supplies of food and all supplies of
water, the hero and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the
elder, the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor, skilled
craftsman and clever enchanter. “I will
make mere youths their officials; children will rule over them.” People will oppress each other— man against
man, neighbor against neighbor. The young will rise up against the old, the
nobody against the honored. A man will
seize one of his brothers in his father’s house, and say, “You have a cloak,
you be our leader; take charge of this heap of ruins!” But in that day he will cry out, “I have no
remedy. I have no food or clothing in my house; do not make me the leader of
the people.” Jerusalem staggers, Judah
is falling; their words and deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious
presence. The look on their faces
testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it.
Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves. Tell the righteous it will be well with them,
for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.
Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for
what their hands have done. Youths
oppress my people, women rule over them. My people, your guides lead you
astray; they turn you from the path. The
LORD takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people. The LORD enters into judgment against the
elders and leaders of his people: “It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the
plunder from the poor is in your houses.
What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the
poor?” declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.
The LORD says, “The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with
outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, strutting along with swaying
hips, with ornaments jingling on their ankles.
Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion;
the LORD will make their scalps bald.” In
that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and
crescent necklaces, the earrings and bracelets and veils, the headdresses and
anklets and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, the signet rings and nose
rings, the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses and mirrors, and the
linen garments and tiaras and shawls. Instead
of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of
well-dressed hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of
beauty, branding. Your men will fall by
the sword, your warriors in battle. The
gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground. In that day seven women will take hold of one
man and say, “We will eat our own food and provide our own clothes; only let us
be called by your name. Take away our disgrace!”
Wrath, judgement,
fear of God. There are a lot of
similarities between Israel and the US.
I think we as a people need to pay attention. As a believer in Christ, my debt is paid by
His blood, but for those who don’t know...or want to know Christ...the wrath of
God is coming.
