Isaiah 9:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: for those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up.

NIV: Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray.

NASB: For those who guide this people are leading them astray; And those who are guided by them are confused.

CSB: The leaders of the people mislead them, and those they mislead are swallowed up.

NLT: For the leaders of the people have misled them. They have led them down the path of destruction.

KJV: For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.

NKJV: For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led by them are destroyed.

In Isaiah's prophecy, the Lord brings swift and crushing response to His people's continued refusal to turn to Him. They have resisted, despite the destruction from invading armies. The Lord will cut off all the leadership from Israel, leaving the people unprotected and without direction. This includes the leaders at every level. It stretches from the elders to the false prophets who advise them (Isaiah 9:14–15).

Now Isaiah reveals the true reason God has wiped these leaders out. Instead of leading His people to put their trust in Him, Israel's leaders have been serving themselves and leading the people astray. Those guiding these leaders, likely the false prophets, have also been leading the leaders astray. The Lord has caused them all to be swallowed up, their power and position brought to an unpleasant end.

This removal of corrupt leadership is normally a good thing for a society (Proverbs 11:10). In this sudden occurrence for Israel, it will leave the nation vulnerable to attack and defeat.

Isaiah 9:8–21 returns to describing the judgment coming upon Israel in Isaiah's time. Despite the arrogance of the people, the enemies of their allies will devour them. When the people do not repent, the Lord will wipe out their leaders. He will have no compassion for the sinful people in every level of society. Wickedness burns through the people like a wildfire, turning human lives into fuel. Sinfulness causes people to devour each other and even themselves in trying to satisfy sin's appetite. The Lord will judge Israel for all of it.

Isaiah 9 begins prophecy about a future when darkness will be lifted from Israel. The nation will be free, prosperous, and at permanent peace. This will happen because God will send a child who will become a king on David's throne. More than a man, this king will be called Mighty God and Prince of Peace and will rule forever. In Isaiah's day, though, God's judgment will soon fall on Israel. He will wipe out their leaders. Wickedness burns through the nation like fire.

Isaiah 9 begins with what may be the conclusion of the previous chapter. Isaiah 8 ended with the description of the darkness experienced by those in Israel who reject the Lord. The prophet describes a day in Israel's far future when the gloom will lift and glory will return. A child will become king of Israel, but He will also be the Everlasting Father who will rule forever. However, In Isaiah's time, the Lord will judge Israel with destruction from other nations. The following chapter pronounces disaster for the people who persist in sin.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).

Accessed 5/5/2024 3:26:37 AM