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Daily Devotions

Isaiah

Isaiah 
Day 
Day 41

"Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of vanity"

Text: Isaiah 5:18

A SERIES OF “WOES” PRONOUNCED

The word “woe” suggests great misery. And misery would indeed fall on those who do not take the matter of sin seriously.

“Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of vanity,
And sin as if with a cart rope;
That say, ‘Let Him make speed and hasten His work,
That we may see it;
And let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come,
That we may know it.'”
Isaiah 5:18-19

1. The imagery of pulling a cart.

a) A cart was used to haul goods from one place to another.

b) Carts were used for commercial purposes.

i) Merchants bring their goods to the marketplace.

ii) Carts were the main means of transport in the ancient days.

2. The imagery applied to the problem of sin.

a) Sinful people were plying their trade of iniquity.

b) They were buying and selling iniquitous activities.

c) They had no thoughts about God viewing their lives of iniquity.

3. Their arrogant attitude towards the LORD.

a) They challenged the LORD to fulfil His word of warning.

b) They had heard that God would judge their sinful activities.

c) They were taunting and baiting God.

i) Why would God delay in fulfilling what He threatened to do.

ii) They challenged God to hasten and to fulfil what He had said He would do.

d) There was no regard for the counsel of God.

i) They rejected the prophets and their prophecies.

ii) They did not believe in God much if at all.

e) The state of unbelief in ancient Judah was deep and dark.

f) The first pronouncement of “Woe” was given to:

i) The arrogant.

ii) The defiant.

iii) The ones steeped in unbelief.