Browse Bible Study Resources

Daily Devotions

Isaiah

Isaiah 
Day 
Day 216

"Because you despise this word"

Text: Isaiah 30:12

THE SIN OF DESPISING GOD’S WORD

Israel did not think much of the word of God that was sent through His servants, the prophets. The people did not fully comprehend the grave consequences of despising God’s word.

“Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel:
‘Because you despise this word,
And trust in oppression and perversity,
And rely on them,
Therefore this iniquity shall be to you
Like a breach ready to fall,
A bulge in a high wall,
Whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant.
And He shall break it like the breaking of the potter’s vessel,
Which is broken in pieces;
He shall not spare.
So there shall not be found among its fragments
A shard to take fire from the hearth,
Or to take water from the cistern.'”
Isaiah 30:12-14

1. A candid word.

a) God stated that He knew Israel had despised His word.

b) The alternative Israel chose:

i) Trust in oppression.

ii) Trust in perversity.

iii) Reliance on wicked activities means to an end.

2. “Iniquity”

a) Iniquity speaks of evil that underlies all sins and transgressions.

b) Imagery employed to describe “iniquity”.

c) It is compared to a bulge in a strong city wall.

d) A city wall can be 2-3 storeys high.

e) It can be one or two metres thick.

f) A bulge in the wall may be dismissed as a small problem.

g) But that little bulge in the wall can cause it to collapse.

h) The collapse of the wall would be ruinous to the whole wall.

3. When God Himself is personally involved in the attack of the city.

a) Strong walls are compared to mere pottery ware.

b) When He dashes the cistern that holds much water.

i) A broken cistern cannot hold water.

ii) The earthen wares would be rendered useless.

c) Those who have chosen to despise the LORD and His word would not be spared!