Isaiah chapter 2-4, NIV
MM
Fearful God’s judgment…arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled…LORD alone..exalted in that day…idols will totally disappear…, ..flee to caves…splendour of his majesty….rises to strike the earth….(Chap 2 vs 17-21)
Stop trusting in man who has but a breath in his nostrils. (vs 22).
People will oppress each other-man against man, neighbour against neighbour….
But in that day he will cry out, I have no remedy. I have no food or clothing in my house…(vs 7);…parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves. Tell the righteous it will be well with them for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds (vs 9-11).
The LORD enters into judgment….fragrance versus stench,..well-dressed hair versus baldness,..fine clothing versus sackcloth…,..men will fall by the sword…,..gates of Zion will lament and mourn..
Isaiah Chapter 4-5
MM
The Branch of the LORD…beautiful and glorious…the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel…the LORD will wash away the filth of the women of Zion, he will cleanse the bloodstains of Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. Full cycle-wickedness reaches its maturity…God’s judgment..resets..restarts on a new clean slate.
Summary Reflection
God’s judgment fearful..appears very hard, heavy-handed, even cruel…seen in Tophet, Ben Hinnom, and the Valley of Slaughter…hell on earth…difficult to comprehend and swallow. The alternative is even more fearful: lawlessness, filth, evil, and wickedness of men dominate the earth…no room and hope for the weak and marginalised-Ed, 16/07/2021.