God’s responses to our prayers – Part 10

(2) No judgment is worse than God giving a person over to his or her own sinful desires; such a person will plunge into degradation and perversion and end up becoming a slave to evil and even to demons (Rom 1:21-32).
Are there things wrong going on in our lives? (Read Isaiah 5:8-32)
Impending Judgment On Excesses
In this section, God condemns six sins:
• Exploiting others (5:8-10).
• Drunkenness (5:11, 12).
• Taking sarcastic pride in sin (5:18, 19).
• Confusing moral standards (5:20).
• Being conceited (5:21).
• Perverting justice (5:22-24).

It is because of these sins that God punished Israel by allowing Assyria to overrun it (5:25-30). A similar fate awaited Judah if they had not turned from these sins.

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Is 5:20).
“Call evil good.” On the one hand, society often exalts calling depravity manly strength, or calling immorality and perversion true virtue and commendable freedom. On the other hand, society opposes righteousness by calling it evil. Note these two common examples where this pattern occurs: (1) Sexual perversion (e.g., homosexuality and lesbianism) is called a legitimate alternative lifestyle that should be openly accepted, while opponents of such conduct who accept the Biblical standards of sexual morality are called bigots who perpetuate oppressive prejudice. (2) Pro-abortion advocates are called “sensitive” persons with a deep commitment to the rights of women, while active pro-life supporters are called “extremists” or “religious fanatics.” Believers, however, must commit themselves wholeheartedly and irreversibly to God’s standards of good and evil as revealed in His written Word.

“Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, and the flame consumes the chaff, so their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom will ascend like dust; because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.” (Is 5:24).

“They have rejected the law of the Lord.” Isaiah teaches the doctrine of just retribution for sin. Rejecting God’s laws and despising His word will result in people being given over to the consequences of their sins and to divine punishment (v.25; cf.Hos. 4:6).

Right And Wrong Fasting (Read Isaiah 58)
Is 58:1,2: “Cry aloud, spare not lift up your voice like a trumpet; tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. 2: Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching God.”
58:1: “Cry aloud.” The prophet cries out against the people’s sins like a mighty trumpet blast; the transgressions and hypocrisy of God’s people must be revealed.