Grinding the Face of the Poor – Isaiah 3:1-4:1

The Poor People’s Campaign is an American campaign to bring attention to poverty in our country initiated by the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and has been revived of late. Its research into poverty has revealed that “Nearly 41 million Americans live below the federal poverty line. In absolute terms, White people made up 42.5 percent of this population (17.3 million), and the next two largest groups are Latinx (11.1 million) at 27.4 percent, and Black Americans (9.2 million) at 22.7 percent. In relative terms, Native Americans and Alaska Natives have the highest poverty rate of any racial group, at 26.2 percent. Black people have the second-highest poverty rate, at 22 percent. This is followed by Latinx people (19.4 percent), White people (11 percent), and Asian Americans (10.1 percent). “

Isaiah is speaking into the way Israel was dealing with poverty.

For behold, the Lord GOD of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all support of water; the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms. And I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them. And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable.

For a man will take hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying: “You have a cloak; you shall be our leader, and this heap of ruins shall be under your rule”; in that day he will speak out, saying: “I will not be a healer; in my house there is neither bread nor cloak; you shall not make me leader of the people.” For Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence.

For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves. Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds. Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him. My people—infants are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, your guides mislead you and they have swallowed up the course of your paths.

The LORD has taken his place to contend; he stands to judge peoples. The LORD will enter into judgment with the elders and princes of his people: “It is you who have devoured the vineyard, the spoil of the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing my people, by grinding the face of the poor?” declares the Lord GOD of hosts.

The LORD said: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with outstretched necks, glancing wantonly with their eyes, mincing along as they go, tinkling with their feet, therefore the Lord will strike with a scab the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will lay bare their secret parts.

In that day the Lord will take away the finery of the anklets, the headbands, and the crescents; the pendants, the bracelets, and the scarves; the headdresses, the armlets, the sashes, the perfume boxes, and the amulets; the signet rings and nose rings; the festal robes, the mantles, the cloaks, and the handbags; the mirrors, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils.

Instead of perfume there will be rottenness; and instead of a belt, a rope; and instead of well-set hair, baldness; and instead of a rich robe, a skirt of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty. Your men shall fall by the sword and your mighty men in battle. And her gates shall lament and mourn; empty, she shall sit on the ground.

And seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, “We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes, only let us be called by your name; take away our reproach.”   (Isaiah 3:1-4:1 ESV)

God’s judgment on Israel will include famine from food and a famine from wise leadership.  Authority will be despised and yet people will be desperate for it.  They will try to press into service anyone who looks like a leader, but it will result in greater desperation.

When people flaunt their sin before God there is only woe to expect from Him.  But even in such a sinful nation there will be righteous people.  And Yahweh wants them to know that despite the judgment He is bringing on their nation they themselves will be rewarded for their good deeds.

But the wicked will be punished for their deeds and for following the wrong direction of their leaders, whom God will also judge. Mistreatment of the poor will merit crushing penalty. The haughty attitude of Israel’s women, dressing up in fashionable finery and acting in affected mannerisms, will merit the loss of all the finery and all the men and lead to desperation to find a man who will take care of them.

Any nation that sees this kind of thing happening, the poor being down trod, sin being exalted, and leadership being corrupt and devalued, must know that God is judging it and see that as a call to repentance before it is too late.

Discussion Questions

1. What is the worst moral situation you have witnessed?
2. What affect did this situation have on you?
3. Isaiah speaks of such evil as “defying God’s glorious presence.” What is the evidence of God’s glorious presence in our lives?
4. Isaiah also mentions that sinners bring evil on themselves.  How do you see brazen wickedness being its own worst enemy?
5. What sense do you get of God’s feeling toward the poor from his words of judgment against those who “grind the face of the poor”?
6. How would you describe your commitment to justice for the poor?