Normally we think of God as the One Who “blesses!”

He is The “Adder” of good things to our lives!

He can even (and often does) … “open the windows of Heaven and pour out blessings” upon us! Essentially His Very Words, from Malachi 3:10.

God’s Biblical Testimony/Reputaion: “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits.” Wow, Psalm 68:19 … the sharing of systematic, habitual “gifts” from above!

Even James, our Lord’s “late-coming-to-the-faith” brother (half-brother to be exact) wrote: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness.” James 1:17

The Psalmist agrees: “The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.” What a great (magnanimous) God we serve, Psalm 145:15-16.

Yes indeed … GOD GIVES!

But (in light of what has just been said) our Isaiah chapter 3 Text today astounds us!

“For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, DOTH TAKE AWAY …!”  Isaiah 3:1, the chapter’s very first line, King James Version.

GOD, TAKING AWAY?

Yes, because of sin, rebellion, disobedience!

And this “taking away” is framed in an astute, militant sense!

God’s Name used here, “the LORD of Hosts,” literally means the “Commander of all the armies of Heaven!” This is tantamount to God “attacking” His wayward people and taking from them “spoils” of battle.

In actuality, taking back gifts He had lavishly (and previously) send their way, back when they diligently obeyed His Word, His Law!

Thus, theologically speaking … sin robs mankind!

Wow!

But, in our specific Isaiah context this Saturday morning, what does God “take away” from these people, from His erring people?

The list is significant, even fundamental to life itself!

Read it please … “For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, the mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, the captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.” Isaiah 3:1-3

The “stay” and “staff” … both represent things on which humanity depends for sustenance, for nourishment! Folks, I am talking (as our Text continues to specify) “bread” and “water!”

Resulting in famine and dearth!

Then God removes from Israel (Judah) their military leaders … “the mighty man, and the man of war.” No longer any brilliant strategists to ward off the enemy!

Then the Judiciary suffers! Skilled men of jurisprudence … gone! (Think of the United States of America these days, with many godless people now occupying the “bench” in our land!) Such a condition would probably lead to legalized baby-murdering, among other immoral things! Yes, “the (good) judges” are gone, dead!

Taken by God, in judgment.

And get this, even godly Preachers have become scarce! ““For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah … THE PROPHET.” Isaiah 3:1-2

And in the vacuum thus created, here come “false-prophets” aplenty!

Yet God continues on His “depletion” campaign!

Next He “gets” the “wise men,” the “prudent.” (Leaving a bunch of “fools” to run Israel/Judah, senseless men in God’s Eyes!) Yes, “foolishness” is the polar opposite to “prudence/wisdom” in Scripture. I am not being unduly crass.

But who are the “ancient?” Has longevity of life been affected too? They surely represent the older men and women who have much experience and counsel and sagacity to share … had they been spared! (Or the line could as well imply that the then extant older people “lacked” such understanding!)

The list is exhaustive!

More are mentioned … removed by God is His righteous judgment!

” … and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.”  A Nation wrecked, ethically bereft!

Crooks now run the country’s affairs … men of no honor! (I am thinking of several recent Congressional witch-hunts!) Double standards everywhere!

Even “skilled laborers” (in our verse “cunning artificers”) had become scarce! Here’s an example … “Now there was NO SMITH found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears. But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.” 1 Samuel 13:19-20

Even the art of “public speaking” is bereft (or would become so) of its once skilled “orators!” Think of the late night so-called (television) comedians in today’s culture! Irreverent, unpatriotic, reprobates to the core!

Oh yes, the God Who “gives” can also “take away!”

Plenty to ponder today, isn’t there?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Who would have ever thought this sobering “civics lesson” would be imbedded in Isaiah chapter 3?