Woe Against The Schemers

Isaiah 29:13–24
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)

In this third “woe” the Lord exposes the political tactics of the rulers of Judah (vv. 13-14). They were trying to turn things upside down and thought that God would not hold them accountable for what they were doing. The people professed to know God as they were formally involved in acts of worship, but their hearts were far from Him. They were more concerned with man-made rules than with God’s laws. They thought they could hide their plans from God by doing things at night (v. 15).

Isaiah asked the people to look ahead and consider what God had planned for them. Their formal, external, petty religion was inconsistent as far as God was concerned. As they depended on their own devices instead of surrendering to the Lord it pointed to the fact, they did not think God had the wisdom or ability to help them (v. 16).

God will one day turn everything around by establishing His glorious kingdom on earth. The devastated land will become a paradise (v. 17), the disabled will be healed (v. 18), and the outcasts will rejoice in the Lord (v. 19). The founding fathers (Abraham and Jacob) will see that their many descendants will be glorifying the Lord (vv. 20-24).

Application

Thinking that God couldn’t see them and didn’t know what was happening, the people of Jerusalem tried to hide their plans from Him. It is easy for me to do the same thing today. In Psalm 139 we find that God knows everything about us. I need to be constantly asking myself the question: would I be embarrassed if everyone knew my personal thoughts? It is for sure that God knows my every thought and that is what counts most!