Why God Forsook Jerusalem Isaiah 2: 6-9 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

In the last lesson, we saw all the blessings promised to Jerusalem and Judah at the Second Coming of Jesus.  Now, Isaiah switches to a vision in which God forsakes the house of Jacob.  By studying other scriptures, we understand that the Jews are taken captive by the Babylonians, that Jerusalem is destroyed and that Israel still has to go through the tribulation before the promises of v.1-5 come to pass.

God forsook the nation of Israel for centuries because of their:

Foreign Aid – “replenished from the east” – 2 Ki 16:6-9 Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son; 2 Ki 17:15

Divination – “soothsayers” – Deut 18:9-14; 2 Ki 17:17 they used divination and enchantments

Heathen Influence – “they please themselves in the children of strangers” – 2 Ki 16:3 Ahaz made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen; 2 Ki 17:15 they went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them; 2 Ki 17:17 they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire

Prosperity – “their land also is full of silver and gold neither is there any end of their treasures” – Deut 8:12-14, 17-19; Lk 12:15-20; 2 Ki 20:12-13 Hezekiah showed Berodachbaladam all his precious things, the silver, the gold, the treasures

Military – “their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots” – Nah 2:3-4; Deut 17:16, Is 31:1

Idolatry – “”their land also is full of idols” – Jer 2:28; 2 Ki 15:4, 35 they sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places; 2 Ki 16:4 and on the hills and under every green tree; 2 Ki 17:10 they set them up images and groves; 2 Ki 17:12 they served idols; 2 Ki 17:16 they made them molten images, even two claves, and worshipped all the host of heaven and served Baal;

Inventions – “they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made” – 2 Ki 16:10-16; 2 Ki 17:11 they wrought wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger; Ps 106:39-40

False gods – “the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself” – 2 Ki 17:7 they feared other gods; 2 Ki 17:35 ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them

Conclusion: The Lord said, “Forgive them not” – no one is more longsuffering and forgiving than the Lord – and yet he would not forgive them for these iniquities!