Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight. – Isaiah 5:21
The fifth chapter of Isaiah calls out “woe” to a number of individuals, including those who call evil good and good evil, who say that darkness is light and light darkness, and that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter (Isaiah 5:20). There is woe for the intoxicated person (verses 22-23) and, in today’s verse, there is woe to the one who is totally self-reliant. The word “woe” is seldom used in today’s vocabulary, but it has great depth. It is defined as “grievous distress, affliction, or trouble.” Jesus, in Luke 6:24-26, listed additional woes, calling out woe to the rich, to those who are full, to those who laugh, and to those when all people speak well of them. The woes may be considered danger signs.
It might be fair to say that the cautions are all against a mindset that is at odds with the ways God wants you to think. The mindset of the world, which calls things other than what they are, parties hard, is confident in personal wealth, and seeks popularity, does not bring what a person needs most—real joy, true peace, and honest hope. Romans 15:13 offers the solution to the world’s woes. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Like the ancient Greek philosopher, Epicurus, who sought a life of sensual pleasures, many in American society are wandering about seeking something to satisfy them. It is only Christ who satisfies. Pray that a true revival would sweep across the land, drawing many to Jesus, and restore the nation to one that recognizes light as light because they have met the Light of the World for themselves.
Today’s Verse: Isaiah 5:21
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
and shrewd in their own sight!
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Isaiah 5:8-12, 18-24
8 Woe to those who join house to house,
who add field to field,
until there is no more room,
and you are made to dwell alone
in the midst of the land.
9 The Lord of hosts has sworn in my hearing:
“Surely many houses shall be desolate,
large and beautiful houses, without inhabitant.
10 For ten acres of vineyard shall yield but one bath,
and a homer of seed shall yield but an ephah.”
11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning,
that they may run after strong drink,
who tarry late into the evening
as wine inflames them!
12 They have lyre and harp,
tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts,
but they do not regard the deeds of the Lord,
or see the work of his hands.
18 Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood,
who draw sin as with cart ropes,
19 who say: “Let him be quick,
let him speed his work
that we may see it;
let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near,
and let it come, that we may know it!”
20 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!
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
and shrewd in their own sight!
22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine,
and valiant men in mixing strong drink,
23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe,
and deprive the innocent of his right!
24 Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble,
and as dry grass sinks down in the flame,
so their root will be as rottenness,
and their blossom go up like dust;
for they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts,
and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
