It Starts Small

Isaiah 3 explains what the Lord will take away from the people of Judah and Jerusalem. This is in response to their faithlessness to Him. This includes qualified men and all the expensive adornments of beauty worn by women.

The previous chapter ended with a warning from Isaiah to the people. He told them to stop trusting men to provide for and save them. They are one breath away from death (Isaiah 2:22).

Now Isaiah shows the problem with trusting in men. The Lord is going to take away all the powerful men and soldiers from Judah. As well as the judges, prophets, military leaders, counselors, and even the occult magicians and charms experts (Isaiah 3:1–3). When the Lord’s judgment falls, invading armies will arrive. They will kill every man of substance or carry them off.

The leaders left behind will be young, inexperienced, and weak. In the power vacuum that follows, the people will turn on each other. The strong will oppress the poor and the old. Every person will fend for themselves. The people will try to convince any man with a cloak to become their leader. Overwhelmed, those elected will refuse the job (Isaiah 3:4-7).

Why will this happen? The people have been defying the Lord to His face. They sin boldly and out in the open. Isaiah says woe to them for they brought this upon themselves. The righteous will benefit from their good choices. The wicked will receive the same vile treatment they have given to others (Isaiah 3:8–12).

The Lord stands, as if in court, to present His charges against Israel’s leaders. They are guilty of refusing the right path that Israel should be following. These selfish leaders have failed to help provide for God’s people. They have taken the food and belongings from the poor. They have also abused the needy (Isaiah 3:13–15).

Does this sound familiar? It should! Jesus confronted the Pharisees for the same exact thing! In Matthew, Jesus tells His disciples:

¹² Then the disciples came up and told him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?”

¹³ He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted. ¹⁴ Leave them alone! They are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
Matthew 15:12-13

We can safely conclude that even after Jerusalem and Judah were destroyed, they continued on the same path.

Next, the Lord brings charges against the wealthy, haughty women of Jerusalem and Judah. They are not humble before the Lord despite their sin. Instead, they hold their heads high. They constantly look around with seductive eyes. The Lord will take away the glory of their hair, leaving their heads bald and scabbing. He will strip them of their fancy clothes and leave them shamed and naked (Isaiah 3:16–17).

Isaiah provides a lengthy list of the clothes. He notes the jewelry and accessories worn and carried by the rich women of his day. He says the Lord will take away everything from their anklets to their mirrors. This includes their pendant earrings and their occultic amulets. When judgment comes, their perfume will be replaced by stench. (Isaiah 3:18-24).

Isaiah describes Jerusalem as a woman. He writes that her men will die in battle and leave her unprotected. The enemy will carry off everything and everyone of value. This is likely a reference to the eventual conquest of Jerusalem and the captivity of the people.

¹⁴ He deported all Jerusalem and all the commanders and all the best soldiers—ten thousand captives including all the craftsmen and metalsmiths. Except for the poorest people of the land, no one remained.

2 Kings 24:14

This would leave Jerusalem’s remnants to mourn while she sits empty and broken on a hill (Isaiah 3:25-26).

How did all this happen? Because both the kingdoms were being led by blind guides.

How can we ensure that we have a guide who is leading us toward the Lord and not a “blind guide” that Jesus condemns?

© Kimberlee Smith 2026 http://www.itstartssmall.com All rights reserved.