Does God bless the spiritually blind and proud or the humble? Which are we? Let’s look at how God will deal with Jerusalem in Isaiah 29.
Though her annual festivals will continue, will Jerusalem be humbled? Is the term Lion of God used sarcastically of Jerusalem’s pride?
Ariel, Ariel, [Lion of God, Jerusalem] the city where David camped! Continue year after year; let the festivals recur. I will oppress Ariel, and there will be mourning and crying, and she will be to Me like an Ariel. I will camp in a circle around you; I will besiege you with earth ramps, and I will set up my siege towers against you. You will be brought down; you will speak from the ground, and your words will come from low in the dust. Your voice will be like that of a spirit from the ground; your speech will whisper from the dust. (Isa 29:1-4 HCSB)
Will God suddenly move to defend Jerusalem from her enemies, who will become like fine dust?
But the hordes of your enemies will become like fine dust, and the hordes of tyrants like flying chaff. Then suddenly, in an instant, you will be visited by the Lord of the Heavenly Armies—with thunder, an earthquake, and great noise, with a windstorm, a tempest, and flames from a devouring fire. Then the hordes of all the nations that fight against Aruel, all that attack her and her fortification and besiege her, will become like a dream, with its visions in the night—as when a hungry man dreams—he eats, but wakes up still hungry; or when a thirsty man dreams—he drinks, but wakes up faint, with his thirst unquenched. So will it be with the hordes of all the nations that fight against Mount Zion. (Isa 29:5-8 ISV)
Was Jerusalem acting like a drunkard, in a state of spiritual sleep?
Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. (Isa 29:9-10 KJV)
Will people look at the Bible and claim it’s sealed (closed) or that they can’t read? Is that a familiar excuse people make today for not reading the Bible?
The entire vision will be to you like the words of a sealed book, which when they give it to the one who is literate, saying, “Please read this,” he will say, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” Then the book will be given to the one who does not know how to read a book, saying, “Please read this.” And he will say, “I do not know how to read a book.” (Isa 29:11-12 LSB)
Did Jerusalem have another problem, familiar today? Do the traditions of men seem to dominate church culture, overshadowing the commandments taught by Jesus?
Then the Lord said, “Because this people approaches Me with their words And honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of the commandment of men that is taught; Therefore behold, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous; And the wisdom of their wise men will perish, And the understanding of their men who have understanding will be concealed.” (Isa 29:13-14 NASB)
Do we delude ourselves that God doesn’t see our deeds like ancient Israel did? Do people still say that God did not create us?
Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the Lord, who do their work in darkness and think, “Who sees us? Who will know?” You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, “You did not make me”? Can the pot say to the potter, “You know nothing”? (Isa 29:15-16 NIV)
Is there a time of restoration, where the poor will rejoice and tyrants will be brought to nothing?
Is it not yet a very little while Till Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, And the fruitful field be esteemed as a forest? In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. The humble also shall increase their joy in the Lord, And the poor among men shall rejoice In the Holy One of Israel. For the terrible one is brought to nothing, The scornful one is consumed, And all who watch for iniquity are cut off—Who make a man an offender by a word, And lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, And turn aside the just by empty words. (Isa 29:17-21 NKJV)
How will Israel feel towards God as a time of restoration comes?
That is why the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, says to the people of Israel, “My people will no longer be ashamed or turn pale with fear. For when they see their many children and all the blessings I have given them, they will recognize the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob. They will stand in awe of the God of Israel. Then the wayward will gain understanding, and complainers will accept instruction. (Isa 29:22-24 NLT)
Did Mary quote a similar sentiment in her words of praise to God?
He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. (Luke 1:52 CEB)
Does God bless the spiritually blind and proud or the humble? Which are we? You decide!
