Oppression and Lewdness Judged

Isaiah 3:13-26 

13 The LORD stands up to plead,
And stands to judge the people.

14 The LORD will enter into judgment
With the elders of His people
And His princes:
"For you have eaten up the vineyard;
The plunder of the poor is in your houses.
15 What do you mean by crushing My people
And grinding the faces of the poor?"
Says the Lord GOD of hosts.

16 Moreover the LORD says:
"Because the daughters of Zion are haughty,
And walk with outstretched necks
And wanton eyes,
Walking and mincing as they go,
Making a jingling with their feet,
17 Therefore the Lord will strike with a scab
The crown of the head of the daughters of Zion,
And the LORD will uncover their secret parts."

18 In that day the Lord will take away the finery:
The jingling anklets, the scarves, and the crescents;
19 The pendants, the bracelets, and the veils;
20 The headdresses, the leg ornaments, and the headbands;
The perfume boxes, the charms,
21 and the rings;
The nose jewels,
22 the festal apparel, and the mantles;
The outer garments, the purses,
23 and the mirrors;
The fine linen, the turbans, and the robes.

24 And so it shall be:
Instead of a sweet smell there will be a stench;
Instead of a sash, a rope;
Instead of well-set hair, baldness;
Instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth;
And branding instead of beauty.

25 Your men shall fall by the sword,
And your mighty in the war.
26 Her gates shall lament and mourn,
And she being desolate shall sit on the ground.

These warnings are to God’s people against oppressing and plundering the poor, taking advantage of others to their own greedy advantage, and against lewd sensual behavior without and decency or shame.  These things are in the physical realm, but point to deeper problems spiritually.  The warnings are addressing the hearts of covetousness in defiance of the commandments to love God and our neighbors instead of wanting and taking from others, of contentment in God’s provision instead of the list of eyes and heart in such pride of life (1 John 2:15-17).  He points out their haughty behavior as women who hunt down men with sexual weapons and show no shame in exposing themselves to attract and gain the desires of men.  Their brash behavior and lustful looks only lead to their condemnation by God as a warning to all of God’s people who seek sensual pleasures while flaunting God’s word for proper living in honor of His created order and purpose.  He would inflict them with visible retribution and expose them naked and cheap for who they are, taking away all their sultry fashion, makeup, and jewelry used in their illicit craft.  The end of such immoral living would be a stench instead of sweet perfume, a rope for a sash and bald heads instead of primped hairdos,  and cheap clothing like rags to replace the high and expensive fashions.  Yes, even the men who supported their behavior and thrived on it in their misplaced desires would fail in battle and lead to the city’s sorrows and desolation.  Sin and its pursuit instead of choosing to live according to God’s word in self control only leads to destruction as it exposes the festering souls.  Righteousness is the true robe of honor and the scent of goodness honoring the Creator.  Israel failed to pursue God and His glory in righteousness and fell under judgment.  This ungodly behavior permeates our society today and creeps into our lives if we are not vigilant.  We will also be judged as a nation and individually if we fail to pursue righteous thinking and behavior based on His word because we run after the world’s titillating desires for what pleases our seeing and wanting of our flesh and pride of living instead of doing the will of God.  May we learn from the example of Isaiah’s warning here and not compromise our Lord and our calling!  Yes, we are not to oppress those unable to defend themselves and not to live for carnal desires which dishonor the Lord who called us in righteousness.  We are to be holy in all things because He is completely holy and we are called to conformity with Christ as we were created and intended to be, shameless in Eden’s garden.