(1) "Wo to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley of them that are overcome with wine! (2) Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one; as a tempest of hail, a destroying storm, as a tempest of mighty waters overflowing; will He cast down to the earth with the hand. (3) The crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim shall be trodden underfoot: (4) and the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be as the first-ripe fig before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up. (5) In that day will Jehovah of hosts become a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of His people: (6) and a spirit of justice to him that sitteth in judgment, and strength to them that turn back the battle at the gate.
(7) "And even these reel with wine, and stagger with strong drink; the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink; they are swallowed up of wine, they stagger with strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. (8) For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.
(9) "Whom will He teach knowledge? and whom will he make to understand the message? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts? (10) For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little.
(11) "Nay, but by men of strange lips and with another tongue will He speak to this people: (12) to whom He said, This is the rest, give ye rest to him that is weary; and this is the refreshing; yet they would not hear: (13) Therefore shall the word of Jehovah be unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little; that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken."
Golden Text.—"And even these reel with wine, and stagger with strong drink." Verse 7.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) Against whom does the prophet pronounce wo? For what reason? Verse 1. Note 1. (2) What chastisement did the Lord have in reserve? With what is this mighty instrument compared? Verse 2. Note 2. (3) What should befall their proud capital? Verse 3. (4) How suddenly will its glorious beauty be destroyed? Verse 4. (5) What gracious promise is given to Judah in that day? Verse 5. Note 3. (6) How closely would Israel's doom press upon the borders of Judah, the "residue"? Verse 6. (7) What was the cause of even Judah's imminent danger at this time? To what extent were even the priest and prophet affected by strong drink? Verse 7. Note 4. (8) To what extent did this evil prevail among the people? Verse 8. (9) What pertinent question does the prophet ask? Verse 9. Note 5. (10) How does the Lord impart His instruction to His people? Verse 10. (11) If Judah would not heed instruction by the Lord's prophet, by whom would He teach them? Verse 11. Note 6. (12) Looking back from this future result, of what are they reminded? Verse 12. (13) Then how does the instruction of chastisement come to them? To what extent? Verse 13. Note 7.
NOTES.
1. "Wo."—This expression was not that of a wish or a prayer for wo, but a warning that wo was coming. "The crown of pride" was the capital city, Samaria, which was situated on the crown of a conspicuous hill. "Ephraim" is specially designated because it was the leading tribe of the kingdom, and often spoken of as standing for the whole kingdom. Samaria overlooked the most fruitful of valleys, where grapes grew luxuriantly; and the people of the proud city had become drunkards through the excessive use of wine, to the manufacture of which the grapes had been extensively perverted.
2. The Lord was using the Syrians as an implement of chastisement for His recreant people. Palestine lay on the highway between the two greatest powers in the world at that time—Assyria and Egypt—which were always jealous of each other, and therefore always hostile. Palestine invariably suffered when active hostilities were going on between them. A great disaster was imminent upon the northern kingdom through an invasion by the Assyrians, and Samaria was threatened with the destruction that came three or four years later. As yet this was only discernible through the Spirit of prophecy, and Isaiah was giving the information to the people of Judah. It was a warning to them of the results of pride and riotous living as illustrated in the sister kingdom.
3. Verse 5 was a gracious promise to Judah if she would heed the warning voice of the prophet. Israel was doomed to overthrow, but there was still hope for Judah. Through repentance and faith, the oncoming scourge would be stopped before entering the kingdom of Judah. The battle would be stopped at the gate, as stated in verse 6.
4. The warning was timely, as there was urgent need for it in Judah, which was fast following in the footsteps of backsliding Israel. Drunkenness, which had so befogged the rulers of Israel, was also prevalent in Judah.
5. It is always a pertinent question, "Whom will He make to understand the message" of warning? The answer is clear, namely, Those who "despise not prophesyings;" for "surely the Lord Jehovah will do nothing, except He reveal His secret unto His servants the prophets." 1 Thess. 5:20; Amos 3:7. No, it will not be those who have turned away from the "milk," the "spiritual milk which is without guile." (The Common Version renders it "the sincere milk of the Word.") See 1 Peter 2:1, 2. The last warning message that goes to this sinful world is understood only by those patient ones who "keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." See Rev. 14:9-12.
6. The Lord must teach His people as little children, a little at a time and often repeated! But if they will not be taught in the Lord's way, they will necessarily have to be taught by the instrumentality of strangers, through bitter persecution.
7. Refusing to hear the Lord's prophet, they must, as a consequence, receive "precept upon precept; line upon line" of the instruction of chastisement until they were utterly subdued. And that was just what did come to pass in due time. It is better to be instructed by peacefully heeding the Word of God by His prophets, than through the judgments that He permits to come upon those who refuse such instruction. Will the Lord's people of to-day heed the warning lesson of Israel's drunkenness?
