This passage is written specifically to Israel, but applications can be made to any nation. We had our beginnings, not without fault, but with a fear of God. We forgot Him quickly and had to be reminded many times, but we started out fully depending upon the Lord. Now, we have not just forgotten God, but have rebelled against Him.
As I read of things that are going on and read comments on Facebook, Youtube, and other places, I am shocked and saddened by some of the comments. Some of them outright mock God and laugh at Him. That is scary -- for those people and for our whole country. We do not just forget Him but we no longer even want to acknowledge Him and want to throw off His authority. That is rebellion against God, and rebellion always has serious consequences. The ox knows his owner, the donkey knows where his master’s stall is; but many of our people do not even consider God. This is very sad and frightening. It is much more frightening than the Corona Virus. This Covid-19 may only be the beginning of the sorrows we face as a nation because we have forgotten God and rebelled against Him.
“Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.”(verse 4)
Laden – loaded, freighted, burdened.* A nation that has forgotten God is a nation laden with iniquity. Iniquity is weighing it down. But there is a remedy for this heavy weight. Isaiah 30:15 says, “For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength:” The sad commentary for Israel is found at the end of the same verse, “and ye would not.” Let that not be said of America – the remedy is freely made available to us, but we would not.
A seed of evil-doers, children that are corrupters. Can you read the news any morning without seeing articles about all the evil that is being committed? Can you watch any news outlet or read any news report that does not manifest corruption, either among our leaders, our people, or within the organization reporting the news?
What about desiring our own way and forsaking God? What about provoking God with our evil works? What about going backwards? Have we not seen lately that people cannot even reason for themselves in the simplest matters? When we reject God’s wisdom, our wisdom (what we think is wisdom) is really foolishness.
When we forget God, our whole nation is sick and desperately in need of treatment and healing from the Great Physician. “the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” (verses 5b & 6) Matthew Henry remarked concerning these verses, “While sin remains unrepented of the wounds are unsearched, unwashed, the proud flesh in them not cut out, and while, consequently, it remains unpardoned, the wounds are not mollified or closed up, nor any thing done towards the healing of them and the preventing of their fatal consequences.”
But there is a remedy, freely available to all, if it would only be taken. Jesus is that remedy, and His rest is available to all. He says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)