THE LESSON OF JUDAH’S WOES.
By G.
ISAIAH lived and labored between the two captivities; that is, between the time when Israel was carried away by the Assyrians and the time of Judah’s fall into the hands of Babylon. Through him the Lord gave warnings to Judah of the sure consequences of following in the footsteps of Israel. In the fifth chapter of the book of Isaiah, the unfruitfulness of Israel and Judah is portrayed under the symbol of a vineyard, and this is followed by a series of woes pronounced upon those who so far depart from God. These woes begin with verse 8, the first being against those who covetously increase their land and houses. A similar woe is recorded in Micah 2:1, 2. To offset the inclination to accumulate great land holdings through sharp dealing, the year of jubilee had been provided. See Leviticus 25. As a consequence of the iniquity of wealth-hoarding, in Isaiah’s time there followed the logical result of dissolute living. The excessive use of intoxicating liquors led to frequent and prolonged banquets, in which music and general carousing mingled in profusion. All of these things were in utter disregard of the law of God and His merciful dealings with His people. Persistently rejecting admonition, the only possible means of saving any of them would be through discipline. Having no knowledge, because they refused knowledge through the Spirit of prophecy, they were given over to captivity. This meant the abasement and famishing of those who had lived sumptuously and in worldly honor, as also the humbling of all classes, and the death of vast numbers. But the judgment of God in the matter would be vindicated; it would be made to appear holy and righteous, though appearing harsh in human judgment. A people given over to covetousness and strong drink, with their various concomitants, are prepared to “draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart-rope;”—being actually laden with corruption. And as Judah derided the threatened judgment of God and despised His counsel, what could follow but woe upon woe? In their blindness on account of sin, “strong delusion” (2 Thess. 2:7–12) leads them to “call evil good, and good evil;” to “put darkness for light, and light for darkness;” to “put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.” And the Lord says “woe” upon this also. Prophecy is very specific, especially in dealing with the sins of God’s people. Here we have “Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” These are self-deceived, because they wilfully reject light and walk in darkness. It is well in an endeavor to reform people to tell them plainly wherein lie their defects. So in all the counts brought to view by Isaiah, the charges are explicit; the sins to be forsaken are definitely stated. Here is one, however, that is repeated with emphasis: “Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink.” The sin of intemperance is a root evil; it furnishes inspiration for so much that is corrupting and degrading. To the specification just quoted, there is added, as a strong offshoot, the justification of the wicked for reward—what we commonly call bribery. And the complement of this is, they “take away the righteousness of the righteous from him.” Evidently the reference is to magistrates, who, for a bribe, give unjust decisions, favoring those in the wrong and defrauding the other parties of their dues. Now, while these words of the prophet describe the condition of things in Judah prior to their chastisement in captivity, the lesson is not confined to them. Like the experiences of Israel in the wilderness, “all these things happened unto them for ensamples; and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” 1 Cor. 10:11. So, even to the end of time, we are to expect just such evils among the professed people of God as caused the downfall of typical Israel. But God never has left Himself without witnesses in the earth. In every great crisis, there has always been a remnant saved. And when the last great crash comes, there will be a remnant saved,—a remnant that will be saved “through great tribulation; for the enemy will be making war upon them, because of their keeping the commandments of God, and because of their having the testimony of Jesus Christ, which is the Spirit of prophecy.” Rev. 12:17; 19:10. When at last Judah was taken captive to Babylon, there were some faithful ones that remained true to the law of God. There were some children of the princes, who, confronted by great temptation and great personal danger in case of refusal, determined not to defile themselves with the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank. These became famous in the world, not only for their ability and fidelity to every trust, but as loyal to the law of God, even at the risk of their lives. There is a direct connection between Christian temperance and the keeping of the law of God. Judah departed from the law of God, became grossly intemperate, rejected the reproof of the Spirit of prophecy, and—fell. Shall her example be repeated by us? or shall we heed the lesson? G.