Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"Pause and wonder"
Text: Isaiah 29:9
THE UNFORTUNATE PLIGHT OF ARIEL
The LORD spoke mightily to Ariel seeking to encourage and strengthen the faith and courage of the people. But Judah did not give heed to the LORD’s word.
“Pause and wonder!
Blind yourselves and be blind!
They are drunk, but not with wine;
They stagger, but not with intoxicating drink.
For the LORD has poured out on you
The spirit of deep sleep,
And has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets;
And He has covered your heads, namely, the seers.”
Isaiah 29:9-10
1. “Pause and wonder”
a) The words of the LORD are surely worth some consideration.
b) Would the people actually “pause and wonder” over what God had spoken
through the prophets.
2. Spiritual blindness.
a) Unfortunately, many were spiritually blind.
b) Sadly, more were becoming blind.
c) They were blind to God’s truths.
3. Staggering around.
a) Many were staggering around.
b) But those who were staggering were not drunks!
c) Nevertheless, their movements were like those of a drunkard,
uncertain in his walk.
d) The spiritually blind cannot walk with any certainty.
4. The spirit of deep sleep.
a) Drunkards are capable of “deep sleep” (“dead to the world”).
b) Judah would be in “deep sleep” too.
c) In sleep, the eyes are closed and thus nothing can be seen.
d) The prophets were supposed to be able to see the hand of God in action.
e) But many prophets had largely failed.
i) Drifted away
ii) Drawn to the world.
iii) Deep sleep had come to them.
f) The prophets were called “seers”.
i) They were supposed to be able to see the future.
ii) These seers could not even see and understand the present.
iii) The LORD had now closed their eyes so that they cannot see anymore.