SIX SIGNS OF A WEAKENED NATION

SIX SIGNS OF A WEAKENED NATION

SIGN NO. 1: MEN ARE WEAKENED BY VICES AND MADE INUTILE, OBSOLETE, AND EFFIMINATE:

Like the experience the nation of Israel who backslid and followed the way contrary to God’s 10 Commandments and statutes,

• What used to be a faithful city has become full of harlots (Isaiah 1:21) of all kinds!
• What used to be full of justice and where righteousness once dwell is now full of murderers! (v. 21). Both those who directly kill and those who use the system to dry up the supplies and sources of life of the fellowman!
• The leaders have become rebels of God’s government (v. 23)
• And companions of thieves or are themselves thieves! (v. 23)
• They love bribes and chase after gifts (v. 23)
• They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them (v. 23).

Like the experience of Israel and Judah, because of sins and wickedness, the Lord will allow that our supply of life and strengths will be taken from us:

• “The Lord Almighty will take from [us] both supply and support: all supplies of food and all supplies of water, the hero and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the soothsayer and elder, the captain of fifty and man of rank, the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter.” OUR NATION HAS BEEN LOSING HER MEN OF STRENGTH THROUGH THE ONGOING BRAIN AND SKILL DRAIN, as more and more of them are abandoning the county for a safer place [greener pasture] abroad. Our nation is also losing her men of strength in the persons of the farmers; this backbone sector of our society is fast fading as the succeeding generation is shunning agriculture. When the farmers are gone, then, the stable supply of food and life will be gone!
• LEADERSHIP CRISIS: MEN CANNOT LEAD, BECOME COWARDS: “A man will seize one of his brothers at his father’s home, and say, ‘You have a cloak [that is, you are the financial better off], [therefore] BE OUR LEADER; TAKE CHARGE OF THIS HEAP OF RUINS!’ But in that day, he will cry out [reply]: ‘I HAVE NOT REMEDY [solution]. I have no food or clothing in my house; do not make me the leader of the people” (Isaiah 2:6-7).

SIGN NO. 2: CHILDREN’S EVIL WILL DOMINANT AT HOME AND OUTSIDE. “I will make boys their officials and mere children will govern them” (verse 4). Results of adult leniency and lack of visionary adult leadership:
o (1) “People will oppress each other – man against man, neighbor against neighbor (v. 5).
o (2) “The young will rise up against the old, the base against the honorable” (v. 5)

SIGN NO. 3: YOUTH & WOMEN TAKE OVER LEADERSHIP ROLES:

• “Youth oppress My people, WOMEN rule over them [at home and in organizations and government]” (verse 12). Women usually rule by charm; they use their sexual appeal to pressure or cause their men to transgress God’s law of neighborly love and so exploit their fellowmen. Thus, many men of great intellect invented methods and schemes to circumvent God’s 10th commandment “You shall not covet thy neighbor’s house, thy neighbor’s land, thy neighbor’s livestock or any property that belongs to your neighbor”. Because of women’s skill in using their sex as a strong bargaining tool as well as a powerful motivator of men, men are forced to do short cuts just to achieve the dreams, desires and high ambitions of riches, honor and luxury of their women (most specifically, wives).

SIGN NO. 4: WOMEN’S SELFISH SELF-LOVE DOMINATES & CAUSES GREAT HARM

• Women are said to be either angel or devil. Blessed are we if our women are angel – to lead us to heaven. But woe we are if our women exert wrong influence on us. This influence is often subtle, hard to detect, but if we are not careful will led us do things not pleasing to God and harmful to our neighbors. What is the danger of female influence? “O My people, your [female] guides lead you astray; they turn you from the [right] path” (verse 13). The woman’s love is called self-love. If not matured into love [gratitude] for God and love [pity] for the poor, this love of self is good only for the family and self, and discriminates everyone who does not belong to the self, and classify them as “others”, “strangers”, “competitors”, “enemies”, etc. Included in this category are the true poor deserving of our pity and compassion; but this type of women reject and scorn them. This is the real origin of injustices and oppression. Self-love is the cause. But Jesus said of this, “The righteous feeds the hungry, gives drink to the thirsty, clothes the naked, treats the sick, shelter the homeless, helps the prisoner. Whoever cares for the least of these My brothers, he does that to Me” (Matthew 25:37-40).

WOE TO THE SELFISH WOMEN WHO URGED THEIR HUSBANDS AND SONS TO EXPOIT THE POOR:

“The Lord takes His place in court; He rises to judge the people. The Lord enters into judgment against the elder and leaders of his people: ‘IT IS YOU WHO HAVE RUINED MY VINEYARD [that is, His people whom he nurtures like a garden]. THE PLUNDER FROM THE POOR IS IN YOUR HOUSES!” (v. 14).

Take NOTE of this very carefully. They have plundered the poor and their loot is in their houses and inside their houses! In the Philippines, they have the following schemes to extort and exploit the people: (1) the taxation system; (2) the nationalized and institutionalized gambling; (3) making all vices into businesses, exploiting the people’s weakness and tendency to lust and pride. “‘What do you mean by crushing My people and grinding the faces of the poor?’ declares Jehovah, Jehovah Almighty” (v. 15). And then the Lord proceeds to accusing the proud women of the country and forewarning them of what is going to befall upon them because of their role in today’s world topsy-turvy state:

“The women of Zion are haughty,
walking along with outstretched (read: ostrich) necks,
flirting with their eyes,
tripping along with mincing steps,
with ornaments jingling on their ankles.

“Therefore, Jehovah will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion;
Jehovah will make their scalps bald.

“In that day, Jehovah will snatch away their finery:
the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces,
the earrings and bracelets
and veils, the headdresses and ankle chains and sashes,
the perfume bottles and charms,
the signet rings and nose rings,
the fine robes and the capes and cloaks,
the purses, and mirrors,
and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls.

“Instead of fragrance there will be a stench [e.g., STDs];
Instead of a sash, a rope [e.g., desperation, suicide];
Instead of well-dressed hair, baldness [e.g., cancer’s chemotherapy];
Instead of fine clothing, sackcloth [e.g., grieving];
Instead of beauty, branding.

“Your men will fall by the sword
[e.g., war that is caused by selfishness of the women]
your warriors in battle.
The gates of Zion [e.g., capital cities] will lament and mourn;
Destitute, she will sit on the ground [widowed].”

“In that day, seven women will take hold of one man
[i.e., population of men decreased by war casualties]
and say, ‘We will eat our own food
and provide our own clothes;
only let us be called by your name.
Take away our disgrace!”


MATERIALISTIC, AMBITIOUS, SELFISH WOMEN ARE OFTEN THE CAUSE OF WAR AND SUFFERINGS: THEY’D SWAYED THEIR MEN, SONS OR HUSBANDS, TO GRAB, EXPLOIT OR OPPRESS UNTIL THE OPPRESSED POOR REVOLTED & DESTROYED THEIR OPPRESSORS. They shall be taught with a hard lesson from experience that they can never forget, namely: the lesson to love God above all in the persons of the poor and to love their neighbor as themselves.


WARNING AGAINST WOMEN COMPLACENCE & INDIFFERENCE
DUE TO THEIR LIFE OF LUXURY

“You [rich] women who are complacent (self-satisfied),
rise up and listen to Me;
you daughters who feel secure.
Hear what I have to say:
In little more than a year,
You who feel secure will tremble;
The grape harvest will fail (e.g., financial failure),
And the harvest of fruit (i.e., profits) will not come.
Tremble, you complacent women;
Shudder you daughters who feel secure!
Strip off your clothes,
Put a sackcloth around your waists
[That is, stop your rejoicings. Mourn].
Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields,
For the fruitful vines
And for the land of My people,
A land overgrown with thorns and briers –
Yes, mourn for all the houses of merriment
And for this city of revelry.
The fortress will be abandoned,
The noisy city deserted;
Citadel and watchtower will become a wasteland forever,
The delight for donkeys, a pasture for flocks…”

God is displeased with the merriment of women living in luxury, merriment and revelry, who put their trust on the material riches that abound towards their granary or treasury. These, God said, will stop in a twinkle of an eye, and their feeling of security will be replaced with fear, worry, sorrows and insecurity!

That is the fate of those who put their trust not in God and those who acquire their riches, not as a gift of and blessing from God, but by plundering the poor and the weak. There dishonest riches will fail them!

SIGN NO. 5: SHAMELESS AND UNSCRUPULOUS:

• “The look on their faces testifies against them; THEY PARADE THEIR SIN LIKE SODOM; THEY DO NOT HIDE IT! Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves!” (v. 9).

SIGN NO. 6: ONGOING COLLAPSE
• Our present state is like that which Israel went through: “[The nation] staggers. [The nation] is falling. Their words and deeds are against the Lord, defying His glorious presence” (verse 8).


HOPE FOR THE RIGHTEOUS AND WOE FOR THE WICKED:

“Tell the righteous that it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds. Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done.”