"Do Not :Put Your Trust in Nobles"

"DO NOT put your trust in nobles,  nor in the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs. . . .Happy is the one who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in Jehovah his God, the Maker of heaven and earth."  (Psalm 146:3-6)  If only the Jews living in Isaiah's day would do as the psalmist counseled! If only they would place their confidence, not in Egypt or in any other pagan nation, but in "the God of Jacob"! Then, when Judah's enemies come up against her, Jehovah would act to protect her. However, Judah has refused to turn to Jehovah for help. As  a result, Jehovah will allow Jerusalem to be destroyed and the inhabitants of Judah to be taken into captivity in Babylon.

Judah has no one to blame but herself.  She cannot rightfully claim that her destruction comes about because Jehovah has dealt treacherously with her or has neglected his covenant with the nation.  The Creator is no covenant breaker.  (Jeremiah 31:32; Daniel  9:27;  Revelation 15:4)  Underscoring this fact, Jehovah asks the Jews:  "Where, then, is the divorce certificate of the mother of you people, whom I sent away?  (Isaiah 50:1a)  Under the Mosaic Law, a man who divorces his wife must giver her a certificate of divorce.  She is then free to become another man's.   ( Deuteronomy 24:1, 2)  (To make this clear for you. this divorce is only if the woman  or man has either committed adultery or was physically abusing his/her spouse. There are no other reasons other than this for a divorce, in God's eyes and it is what God wants that counts, not what we want)  In a figurative sense, Jehovah has issued such a certificate to Judah's sister kingdom, Israel, but he has not done so to Judah. He is still her "husbandly owner."  (Jeremiah 3:8, 14)  (Jehovah has the right to disown any city or country he wishes, when they are being wicked and disobedient, because he is God and is perfect) Judah is certainly not free to consort with pagan nations.  Jehovah's relationship with her will continue "until Shiloh [the Messiah] comes." -Genesis 49:10.

Jehovah also asks Judah:  "Which one of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you people?" (Isaiah 50:1b) The Jews will not be sent  into Babylonian captivity to cover some supposed debt that Jehovah has incurred.  Jehovah is not like a poor Israelite who must sell his children to a creditor in order to settle accounts.  (Exodus 21:7)  Rather, Jehovah points to the real reason that his people will be enslaved:  "Look! Because of your own errors you have been sold, and because of your own transgressions your mother has been sent away." (Isaiah 50:1c) It is the Jews who have forsaken Jehovah; he has not forsaken them.

Jehovah's next question clearly highlights his love for his people:  "Why is it that, when I came in, there was no one? When I called, there was nobody answering?" (Isaiah 50:2a) Through his servants the prophets, Jehovah has come in, as it were, to his people's home to plead with them to return to him with all their hearts. But the answer is silence. The Jews prefer to look to earthling man for support, at times even turning to Egypt. - Isaiah 30:2; 31:1-3; Jeremiah 37:5-7. 

(Now why would they or us want to follow a sinful imperfect human who constantly makes mistakes, and lets face it; does not have a clue as to what they are doing, when Jehovah is Our Lord and Savior; and he is perfect and does not sin; and he actually knows what he is doing; and what he always does is for our own good. Man hasn't got a clue. Think about it!)

Next time: Conclusion of "Do Not Put Your Trust in Nobles

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, Volume II, 2001