Ancient Alarm

Words storm, blaring off the page - an ancient alarm to rouse and startle a sleepy soul. God's recorded voice -- warning signals reverberating through time.

History testifies to God's faithfulness to His Word. History, the seen for a faith in matters unseen. History, the visible that girds belief of the invisible.

History, when aligned with His prophetic Word, tells of God's dealings in response to man's actions. History should serve as our warning from past judgments delivered.

God gave prophetic warnings. Left unheeded, the forecast came to be. That same forecast, come and gone, now a matter of factual record, stands for us today. And the devastating resulting events sounded an alarm. Do they fall upon deaf ears? Hardened hearts?

A particular chapter of God's judgment I read over and over this week was Isaiah 5. Judah failed - mainly in their relationship with God. He spoke through His servant, Isaiah.

"Now I will tell you

what I am going to do to my vineyard:

I will take away its hedge,

and it will be destroyed;

I will break down its wall,

and it will be trampled.

I will make it a wasteland,

neither pruned nor cultivated,

and briers and thorns will grow there.

I will command the clouds

not to rain on it."

[Is 5:5-6]

God had gone to great lengths to restore the relationship He cherished. He did so with Judah then. He has done even more so in the coming, dying, and raising of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He reasonably expects sweet fruit from His vineyard -- not "sour grapes."

"So man will be brought low

and mankind humbled,

the eyes of the arrogant humbled.

But the LORD Almighty will be exalted by his justice,

and the holy God will show himself holy by his righteousness."

[Is 5:15-16]

We extol the grace and love of God, and rightfully so. We tend to neglect His holiness and justice of equal and infinite measure. The Lord Almighty, Jesus, will be exalted by His justice. He has told us when He judges His decisions are right for He stands with the Father.

It can't be rightly denied that God has acted justly. Continues to act justly. Will forever act justly. It is of great comfort to our peace to know, also, that God responds to injustice.

"Woe to those who call evil good

and good evil,

who put darkness for light

and light for darkness,

who put bitter for sweet

and sweet for bitter."

[Is 5:20]

Judah was guilty of corruption, of perverting truth. Our nation is in just such a woeful state. Would you agree? I am of the opinion that we are of similar guilt, of making the Great Exchange. World-view over Biblical-view. Man's reasoning over God's wisdom. Lie for Truth.

I read further in Baker's Commentary that Isaiah spotlighted six woes: social and economic elitism; drunkenness; corruption of justice; corrupt religious values; they exchanged godly wisdom for the folly of man; further drunkenness. Two guilty charges that stood prominently above the rest before my eyes:

"Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes

and clever in their own sight.

....for they have rejected the law of the LORD Almighty

and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel."

[Is 5:21, 24b]

Sound all too familiar? Does it resemble the reflection of your neighborhood? Personally, I am guilty of being just such a sinful creature.

Empires have risen, empires have fallen. Look closely into history in the Biblical record. Hear those sirens yet? Sirens to blaze a fear of God? God never acts outside of His character. He can't. And it is well within His pronounced will to reveal His glory to bring people to Himself to exalt and revere Him. To see His justice, His holiness, His righteousness, in perfect balance with His mercy, grace, and love.

He gave fair and repeated warning that bore no fruit. Doesn't a warning once given still stand? Shouldn't the result carry even more weight? Is what happened in ancient history alarming enough to wake from a long slumber?



Holy God of Glory; Jesus is the Hedge around Your Vineyard, the Church, and I give thanks. Forgive us for rejecting You, Your Word, Your Beloved Son. I offer praise for Your grace and Your mercy. Help me to remember there will be a judgment by the Perfect Judge of All Righteousness, Jesus Christ. Help us to have a humble and proper fear of You, at the same time being confident of our salvation in Christ and Your faithfulness to Your Word of Promise. In the Name of Jesus, may more hear daily; take heed; then turn to warn and perpetually share the Good News. Amen.