Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"Woe to those who call evil good"
Text: Isaiah 5:20
SEVERE WORDS OF WARNING
The pronouncement of “Woe” must not be misunderstood. Each message carries a word of mercy and hope. If there is repentance from sin and wickedness, forgiveness will be available from the LORD.
“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 prudent in their own sight!”
Isaiah 5:20-21
1. Woe to those who do perverse things.
a) Evil and light are diametrically opposite.
i) Yet, there were some who justified and promoted evil.
ii) Evil is not condemned as egregious.
iii) It is lauded as something good.
iv) Woe was pronounced upon those who promote evil as something good.
b) Symbolic language:
i) The imagery of darkness was used to describe that which was wicked.
ii) There were those who perverted the meaning of darkness
and sought to substitute that with light.
iii) This brings about confusion.
iv) Woe was pronounced upon those who promoted evil as light.
c) Interpreting things perversely.
i) Bitterness and Sweetness are tied to the idea of “consequences”.
ii) One does not know if something is bitter or sweet till it is tasted.
iii) There were those who perversely interpreted things to suit their agenda.
iv) The bitterness of abandoning faith in God was promoted as something “sweet”.
v) There were many who promoted “freedom” from obeying the LORD as something “sweet” and to be desired!
2. Why would people do perverse things?
a) The reason is because there were some who saw themselves as “wise”.
b) They themselves as “prudent”.
c) They promoted many wrong teachings that caused people to lose their faith in God.
i) They promoted human wisdom above God’s word.
ii) They promoted self-belief rather than faith in God.
iii) They taught people to consider idolatry instead of the worship of the LORD.
iv) Woe was pronounced on all the false teachers and their followers.