“What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever. What sorrow for those who are heroes at drinking wine and boast about all the alcohol they can hold. They take bribes to let the wicked go free, and they punish the innocent. Therefore, just as fire licks up stubble and dry grass shrivels in the flame, so their roots will rot and their flowers wither. For they have rejected the law of the LORD of Heaven's Armies; they have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 5:20-24
These words were spoken through the prophet Isaiah to the people of Judah. God had done everything to bless His people--they were His vineyard, planted “on a rich and fertile hill”. God expected a harvest of sweet grapes but “the grapes that grew were bitter.”
It's hard to imagine how Israel could turn their back on a God that loved them and delighted in blessing them. Or is it? Isaiah says that they rejected the law of the Lord and despised His Word. They became wise in their own eyes, calling evil good, and good evil. They let the wicked go free and punished the innocent. Does this sound familiar? Our country, founded on God’s law, is no better. Once we honored God, now it may soon be a crime to mention His Name. There were consequences for Israel's behavior-- there will be consequences for America. If there was ever a time to pray for revival, it would be now.
