Confusing Evil for Good

Scripture:
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.
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
    and clever in their own sight.

Isaiah 5:20-21

 

Observation: As Isaiah begins describing the sins against Israel, and eventually Judah, he focuses on those primary issue ... failure to obey the word and teaching and law of God. In this section, he calls out the nature of such failing as being those who are in complete opposite understanding of "good". These are people who declare that evil acts are good, but that good acts are evil. These individuals ignore God's teaching, and instead rely upon their own wisdom and understanding in order to establish good and evil.

 

Application: 2,700 years later, this pretty much summarizes our society. We have our own 'norms' by which we evaluate what is good, and our own values that define what is evil. On the "good" side of the scales are now sexual tolerance, free love, the 'right to choose' ... and on the "evil" side of the scales are absolute truth, and any type of moral judgments.

 

It is wrong to judge, but it is not wrong to understand right and wrong within the context of God's law. It is good to understand the truth about light, love, good, and the source of wisdom. And it is evil when those items that are dark, bitter, and earthly are elevated.

 

We - our American society - is on a path that cannot end well.

 

Prayer: Lord, may your people, including me, rise to the challenge you have placed before us. Help us to find the words, and your wisdom, to turn eyes back to you. You are the only source of truth, love, and goodness. May we find you again. Amen.