Theological Commentary: Click Here
Isaiah 28
begins another section of judgment. These
verses are primarily directed at the leadership of the Hebrew people. It isn’t fair to place the entirety of blame for
each individual’s sin upon the shoulders of the leaders. We are all accountable for our own sinful
rebellion. It is fair to place the blame
of the culture and its ethic upon its leaders.
This is the
point of the Lord’s reprimand. The
leaders of the Hebrew people have been granted much power and position. They have been blessed. Yet they have no wisdom and will not listen
to it. Their judgment is like a
drunkard, unable to think rationally.
They are interested in fulfilling their own desires, not handing out
true justice.
God expects
those in leadership to encounter a little blessing. After all, leading people is hard work, there
is need for some compensation. However,
the Lord expects such a leader to embrace a greater burden for those they are
leading in exchange for the blessing.
Leadership is not meant to be a route to extravagant life at the expense
of others. Neither is leadership meant
to be a route to wealthy living while neglecting others. Leaders are meant to lead for the sake of others.
This is why
we come across the idea of justice in the prophets. The Hebrew culture had become much like every
other human culture in the world.
Instead of the leadership of the culture looking after the people and
guiding them towards God, the leaders used their power and position to
accomplish their own desires, often at the expense of others.
There is a
serious lesson to learn for leaders. No leader
is perfect, of course. All leaders will
make mistakes simply because no person can accurately know the future. But leaders must try their best. They must lead with what’s good for the
people – not necessarily the popular opinion.
They must lead with truth and justice, not an eye for their own selfish
leisure.
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