Isaiah 3:9

The Bible says in Isaiah 3:9-11, “The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.” A very important Biblical principle is given in these Old Testament verses: the law of righteous retribution. We reap what we sow. That is what it says in the New Testament also. It says in Galatians 6:7-8, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” This really is the basic law of cause and effect. This law exists in the physical world a well as the spiritual world. For example, if you stand in front of a wall and throw a ball against the wall, the ball will come right back at you. You reap what you sow. For every action there will be a definite reaction. Whether you do good, or whether you do evil; there will be a consequence. Jesus said in Luke 6:38, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” There will be good results to doing good deeds, and there will be terrible results to doing evil deeds. This happens because God is a righteous Judge who sees all things, and who brings justice into every person’s life. God said to Isaiah, “Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.”

The Bible says in Isaiah 3:12-15, “As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people. The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the LORD GOD of hosts.” This passage points out once again that God’s judgment upon the people was by means of the rulers that God put in place who were not qualified. One of the reasons that God brought this judgment was because of the materialism of the people. They came to love material possessions so much that they would even cheat others when they could. That is what it is talking about in these verses when it says, “spoil of the poor is in your houses.”

The next passage of scripture describes the materialistic and vain women in the nation of Israel. Those descriptions also show similarities to what some women have become in our society today. It says in Isaiah 3:16-26, “Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: Therefore the LORD will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts. In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, The rings, and nose jewels, The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails. And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty. Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war. And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.”

The first thing that the Bible says about these sinful women is that they are “haughty.” Of course, this refers to human pride and arrogance. All sin can find its roots in the pride of man. It may be manifest in different ways, as here it is manifest in the vanity of these women, but it has the same root: the pride of man. It says in Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

Something that is noticeable about these haughty women is their physical appearance. They were trying to attract attention to themselves, but for the wrong reasons. They wore bells on their feet so that “tinkling” would be heard when they passed by. These women had a great love of jewelry and clothing. In general there is nothing wrong with wearing nice jewelry and clothing, but there is something wrong when the motivation or incentive for wearing such items is done for the purpose of enticement, to make a physical or sexual display, or because of lusts for material and social status. The right or wrong in how a woman dresses depends upon why she desires jewelry and multiple “suits of apparel.” The way that women had become in this ancient society of Israel was not a good thing. It was a very bad thing. These women had “wanton eyes.” In other words, they were immoral women.

If this passage in Isaiah chapter three shows us what women should not be like, then where in the Bible does it tell us exactly what women should be like? The truth that we will discern is that what is important about a woman is not her physical appearance. It says in Proverbs 31:10-31, “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.”

This passage tells us the moral and spiritual fiber that God wants a woman to develop, practice, and possess. God emphasizes the value of a “virtuous woman.” Because she is virtuous, she is a very responsible person. Concerning practical matters, she is involved in much more than her share of the household duties. This passage of God’s Word describes a “virtuous woman” as being a shrewd business-person involved in real estate and retail transactions. It says that “She considereth a field, and buyeth it,” and “she maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.”

In addition to praising a woman for modesty and practical wisdom, this passage in Proverbs also emphasizes that a woman should be spiritually minded. She should be a person who has faith in God. It says in Proverbs 31:30, “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.” Similar teachings about women and what God says that a woman should be is found in the New Testament also. The Bible says in First Peter 3:1-18, “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”

Mary, the mother of Jesus, is a good example of what a woman should be like. She was a virgin, and God was pleased with her. Mary said in Luke 1:46-55, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.”

Young girls and women have one sure place to look to find out what kind of a person they should aspire to be: the Bible. Any female who wants to please Jesus will reject the examples of the world, and will pray for grace and for wisdom on how to become more like the spiritual and chaste women of the Bible who served Jesus Christ.

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