Chapter 5 Part 2 - The Chapter of Woes

In his commentary Matthew Henry writes: The world and the flesh are the two great enemies that we are in danger of being overpowered by; yet we are in no danger if we do not ourselves yield to them. Eagerness of the world, and indulgence of the flesh, are the two sins against which the prophet, in God's name, here denounces woes. These were sins which then abounded among the men of Judah, some of the wild grapes they brought forth (Isa 5:4), and for which God threatens to bring ruin upon them. They are sins which we have all need to stand upon our guard against and dread the consequences of.

There are 21 Woe verses in Isaiah - Lamenting, God is crying out because of the curse Israel has brought upon themselves. God is sorrowfully pronouncing Judgment upon Judah (pleasant plant of His vineyard 5:7)
The two woes in chapter 3 declare that the open sinning and wickedness of Judah and Jerusalem has brought reward, but now reward hoped for by God’s people. Their evil ways brought the only reward evil can bring - judgment.
Pr 22:8 ¶ He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
The six woes of chapter 5 all deal with Judah’s coveting what the heathen had and bring that into God’s city. Those who God expected to be cared for (widows, fatherless) were oppressed and Judah sought to exalt themselves and please their flesh.

Woe #1 - Verses 8-10: - Covetousness - Joining House to house and field to field - buying more and more property until they had it all.
Covetousness is idolatry; and the world envies prosperity. Being prosperous is not a sin and often a sign of blessing by God. But if one gains wealth through coveting what others have it is an abomination to the Lord and here in verse 8 He denounces a woe of drought, barrenness and desolation upon him.
(Isa 57:17 ¶ For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart)
Pr 22:16 ¶ He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

Woe #2 - Verses 11-17: A day wasted with drunkenness and partying. More space is spent on this woe than any other. Why?
Starting the day early for the right reason (to work) is good. But when the reason for an early start ss to allow more time for drunken parting it leads to sin and death.
When wealth is gained through covetousness at the expense and oppression of others it will often lead to a life of seeking pleasures
The children (lambs V17) often grow up without direction proper guidance. [my dad did on days when there was no work to be done his wealth has allowed me to not have to work, but party) they often end up wasting what their fathers gained through covetousness.
Example the wealth of Jacob - This was the lifestyle of his ten oldest sons, instead of storing up for times of drought they had to go to Egypt and Joseph to buy food - the family was saved but the end was slavery for 400 years.
This was becoming how Israel was living
The outcome would be captivity (V13) where the honorable men will suffer right along with the wicked.
Death and hell (V14) - Spiritual decay leads to captivity to sin which brings death - both physical and spiritual.
The sins of the fathers are often passed on the their children - who take them to another level. Several generations were going to pay for Judah’s sin.

Woe #3 - Verses 18-19: latching on to sin and a life lived in vain
Draw iniquity with cords of vanity - A chosen lifestyle with no eternal value because it is couple with iniquity. Pull that life style to you. - go out of your way to
Sin as it were with a cart rope - the cart rope kept the oxen coupled to the cart they had to pull. Their sin kept them coupled to a life of vanity - Judah’s (God’s tender plant) had become so attached to covetousness, oppression, and sin that God’s only response could be judgment.
Judah’s attitude Bring it on Lord - Give us advice - We’re you people, what ever you say we will do. But remember 6:9
Isa 6:9 ¶ And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not
Choosing a life of vanity will lead to ignoring the counsel sent by God. Israel was going to ignore the truth Isaiah was bringing from The LORD.

Woe #4 - Verse 20: Rejecting God’s order and removing the distinctions between righteousness and unrighteousness - - undefined sin
Prov 17:15 ¶ He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
Eze 44:23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. - (The roll of the priest, Levites was to teach the people God‘s definition of sin - they failed)
Judah had determined that they could do no wrong.

Woe #5 - Verse 21: Being puffed up, thinking
Pr 3:7 ¶ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. - Evil and self-righteousness, placing your own wisdom above God’s will always go together
Pr 16:18 ¶ Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Woe #6 - Verse 22:-23 “He can hold his liquor”
Drink a lot and out drink everyone else. Drinking strong drink is an important part of their life
They mix their drink so it would be stronger - spice it up. It does not effect them as it will others - Immune to it’s effect

The outcome of their ability to be strong drinkers - wicked men are considered of value. Their strong drink led to the desire to company of wicked men.

Read Proverbs 1:10-14 - addresses choosing wicked companions. The goal of wickedness is to remove righteousness from the righteous. We say misery loved company. So does wickedness but even more so. Wickedness and righteousness can not be co-mingled and both survive.

Next week 5:24- 30; Read Romans 1:18-25