Politicians cannot be trusted to solve the problems that only God can solve.

Isaiah 22

“The oracle concerning the valley of vision.  What do you mean that you have gone up, all of you, to the housetops, you who are full of shouting’s, tumultuous city, exultant town?  Your slain are not slain with the sword or dead in battle.  All your leaders have fled together; without the bow they were captured.  All of you who were found were captured, though they had fled far away.  Therefore I said: “Look away from me; let me weep bitter tears; do not labor to comfort me concerning the destruction of the daughter of my people.”

There are two points that we should be concerned with; the valley of vision is referring to Jerusalem and the mention of the housetops is a place to watch a besieging army leaving. Isaiah sees a people who are boisterous and victorious, though many have been slain but not in battle, maybe from sickness brought on from the long siege.  It is not clear about the leaders fleeing before the battle and being captured without putting up a fight. These leaders will be captured, even those who have fled far away.  Isaiah cannot join the party, for many people died in the long siege from the Assyrians.

As the siege became stronger the people of Jerusalem began to look to their weapons, yes they, like us began to put false trust in weapons and not in God.  When the people began to see the many breaches in the walls of Jerusalem, they began to build a reservoir within the city and they also began to demolish homes to fortify the city walls.  They were depending on self and never looked to the Lord as their protector.  We know from history that God found pleasure when His people looked to Him and repented by acknowledging God as their provider and protector and would put on sackcloth, shaving their heads and weeping for the sinful life of looking to little gods, gods with no power to save.  But they, like many in our time, were full of self, and did not look to God, did not give God the glory for the siege ending, but foolishly believed they had won a victory, and they threw a party. 

If we take this into our day, the “talking heads” the ungodly politician, and businesses that 

profit from war, are proclaiming victory, but listen to Isaiah.  “The LORD of hosts has 

revealed himself in my ears: “Surely this iniquity will not be atoned for you until you die, 

says the Lord GOD of hosts.”  (Isaiah 22:14 ESV)

We have seen such abuse of the office of President in the USA, just like Shebna, whose 

life has much in common with our President. They were more concerned about themselves 

and they’re own glory than the well being of the country.  Now we have not seen the results 

of the current President, but we do know God removed Shebna, and replaced him with 

Eliakim but the burdens of this high office also took him down.  The message is clear 

politicians cannot be trusted to solve the problems that only God can solve.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice