By Ray Gano
Folks, I am concerned over the state of this nation.
I am deeply concerned for the fact that I believe that this nation is going to come under severe judgment from God.
In Isaiah 5 starting with verse 8 we read what is titled "the judgment of nations."
In this portion of scripture Isaiah is warning Judah that God is going to bring judgment upon them for their sins.
He then goes and identifies the sins.
What I find amazing is that these are the very sins our own nation has fallen too.
If you have your bible, please open with me to Isaiah chapter 5 and starting with verse 8….
Isa 5:8 Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!
Isa 5:9 In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant.
Isa 5:10 Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah.
Isa 5:11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
Isa 5:12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.
Isa 5:13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.
Isa 5:14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
Isa 5:15 And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled:
Isa 5:16 But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.
Isa 5:17 Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat.
Isa 5:18 Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:
Isa 5:19 That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!
Isa 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Isa 5:21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Isa 5:22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
Isa 5:23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
In this chapter God shows His people their sins.
There are six woes that God proclaims.
1. 8-10 – This is the first crime, the covetousness and financial greed which shall be punished by famine.
2. 11-12 – This is the second crime, living for rioting, reveling and drunkenness which shall be punished by captivity.
3. 18-19 –This is the third crime, ultimately defying God and His justice. They parade their sins around for all to see and also defy God to hurry up and hasten his work of judgment.
4. 20 –This is the fourth crime, calling evil good and good evil. We know the effects of this, it is prevalent today.
5. 21 - This is the fifth crime specified. It refers to those who are inflated with a false opinion of their own knowledge, and who are, therefore, self-confident and vain.
6. 22-23 – Again drunkenness but also due to their drunkenness they pervert justice rewarding the wicked and punishing the righteous.
I see correlations here. I am reminded of Romans 1: 18 - 32 as well as 2 Tim 3:1-7.
Please turn with me to Romans chapter 1 starting with verse 18…
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Rom 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Now let's turn to 2 Timothy 3 starting with verse 1….
2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
In my observations it appears that both the Romans and the Timothy sections are kind of a "close up" or "zoomed in" view of what is taking place in Isaiah 5 and I do not mean this literally for Isaiah 5. But the people of nation in Isaiah 5 are sinning, living decadently, selfish, covetous, ETC. I see this same sort of description in the Romans and Timothy Verses but with a lot greater detail.
Fast forward to today and what do we see?
Covetousness and financial greed
Rioting, reveling and drunkenness
Parading their sins around for all to see. The first thing that comes to my mind when I read this is the Sodomite or Gay parades that take place in many large cities today. Talk about parading ones sins for all to see.
Calling evil good and good evil
Egotistical, self-confident and vain
Pervert justice rewarding the wicked and punishing the righteous. Look how many Christians are being arrested just for sharing the gospel in the public.
Folks the sins of the nation are here, but we as a "Christian nation" have taken it even further.
We allow over 2 million innocent babies to be killed every year
Hedonism and sexual perversion is at an all time high
In fact it is infecting our own churches.
The lack of true love for our fellow man.
Forget giving to the church, missions, and ministries because we don’t have enough money, but on the other hand we have enough money for the big screen TV.
Most singles groups in church are just another pick up joint where most of the members have slept with at least one other member.
We are more worried about our best life now and how "purpose driven" we can be. But as for sharing the gospel and living a just and holy life, well that is for those guys in the old testament.
It's not relevant to today's world.
So you want to know what God does to judge the nation?
Turn with me again to Isaiah chapter 5 starting with verse 25…
Isa 5:25 Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
That is just famine, but that is not all…
Lets continue on with verse 26
Isa 5:26 And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly:
Isa 5:27 None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken:
Isa 5:28 Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind:
Isa 5:29 Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it.
Isa 5:30 And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.
The nation in Isaiah 5 was judged by an enemy; an enemy with purpose, drive and motivation. An enemy who does not seek sleep, is not weary, and always ready for the attack. Their weapons are at their side and at they are ready to be used at a moment's notice.
If we as a wicked and sinful nation were to fall to this portion of judgment, who do you know in the world that can quiet possibly meet these guidelines?
Who in the world have such a hate that they would not sleep, have high motivation and just waiting for the attack?
I personally see Muslims, but more than that, I see this as a clear description of a Muslim terror cells waiting for that telephone call to action.
We need to repent as a nation, but to repent as a nation, it needs to start in the home and it begins with the leaders of the home, the godly husbands and fathers.
I fear that we are losing this nation. I fear that we cannot turn the ship without a miracle. But to see a miracle, it starts with us on our knees.
2 Chron 7:14 says…
2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
That is the answer folks, but how many will heed the answer?
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