Isaiah 3-5: Tell the Righteous

What a terrible picture Isaiah paints, both of the circumstances leading up to the downfall of God's people and the calamity that will most certainly befall them because of their rejection of God's ways.  He describes a time when the people are governed by mere children, when the elders plunder the poor and women are more concerned about their finery than being godly.

Youths oppress my people,
women rule over them.
O my people, your guides lead you astray;
they turn you from the path.
The LORD takes his place in court;
he rises to judge the people...
The LORD enters into judgment
against the elders and leaders of his people:
"It is you who have ruined my vineyard;
the plunder from the poor is in your houses. - Is. 3:12-14 NIV

Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field
till no space is left and you live alone in the land....
Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks,
who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine....
Woe to those who draw sin along with cords of deceit,
and wickedness as with cart ropes,
to those who say, "Let God hurry, let him hasten his work
so we may see it. Let it approach,
let the plan of the Holy One of Israel come, so we may know it."
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.
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and clever in their own sight. - Is. 5:8-21 NIV

What a stunning condemnation of Israel, and of all of God's people down through the ages; of all of those who are more concerned with their own position, possessions, comfort, health, safety and pleasure, than they are of God's commands.  Woe to them.

Yet, all is not lost.  Hidden in these chapters of calamity and woe is one promise.

Tell the righteous it will be well with them. -Is. 3:10 NIV

Tell the righteous that no matter what happens, no matter how wicked it gets, no matter who is in control, it will be well.