Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"There will be no atonement for you"
Text: Isaiah 22:14
GRAVE CONSEQUENCES
The invasion of the Babylonians should have caused Judah to turn to the LORD in humble prayer. But instead of supplications, Judah chose a fatalistic approach! The consequences of rejecting the LORD were dire!
“And in that day the Lord GOD of hosts
Called for weeping and for mourning,
For baldness and for girding with sackcloth.
But instead, joy and gladness,
Slaying oxen and killing sheep,
Eating meat and drinking wine:
‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!’
Then it was revealed in my hearing by the LORD of hosts,
‘Surely for this iniquity there will be no atonement for you,
Even to your death,’ says the Lord GOD of hosts.”
Isaiah 22:12-14
1. God’s call for repentance.
a) This came from the LORD God of hosts.
b) The prophets were sent to call people to do the following:
i) To weep and mourn.
ii) To put on sackcloth.
iii) To be deeply concerned that “baldness” came (a figure of speech).
c) But this call from God went unheeded.
2. The choice of the people in Judah and Jerusalem.
a) They chose “joy and gladness”.
b) They slew oxen and sheep for feasting.
c) They continued to make merry though facing a war with the Babylonians.
d) Their attitude summarised:
“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
e) This approach was meaningless!
3. The LORD’s Judgment.
a) God gave His verdict to Isaiah.
b) Judah had gone too far.
c) The judgment of the LORD delivered to Judah.
i) There will be no atonement for this rejection of the LORD’s call to repentance.
ii) Judah and Jerusalem will perish when the Babylonians attacked.
iii) The people had only themselves to blame for this judgment!