Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"You were not grieved"
Text: Isaiah 57:10
THE EFFORTS OF THE IDOLATERS
Idolatry was not just practised. It was promoted by many. Great efforts were made by the idolaters.
“You went to the king with ointment,
And increased your perfumes;
You sent your messengers far off,
And even descended to Sheol.
You are wearied in the length of your way;
Yet you did not say, ‘There is no hope.’
You have found the life of your hand;
Therefore you were not grieved.”
Isaiah 57:9-10
1. Reaching out to the king.
a) Great effort was made to reach the king.
i) Gifts for the king were offered.
ii) The personal appearances of the emissaries were enhanced by the use of perfumes.
b) Reaching out to the king was not easy but every effort was made.
2. Messengers of the idolaters.
a) They sought to send out their messengers.
b) The word “Sheol” is not to be taken literally.
c) This word represents “the grave”.
d) This word probably described the occultic practices of the idolaters.
e) They even sought to contact the dead (“necromancy”).
f) Sorcery and other occultic practices were expressly forbidden.
3. Weariness was felt by the idolaters.
a) The idolaters worked very hard to promote idolatry.
b) But they refused to be discouraged.
c) They found their work enabled them to get great gain financially.
d) Thus, they felt that they had “found life”.
e) They were not grieved though the work was very difficult.