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You never know a good thing until it’s goneYou never see a crash until it’s head onWhy we think we’re right when we’re dead wrong,You never know a good thing ’til it’s gone
As I read this chapter, I am reminded of the song by Kris Allen titled “Live Like We’re Dying.” The song points out how much different our daily decisions would really be if we lived like we were dying. The things that we currently think of as high-priority might not even appear on the radar. The things that we seemingly never think about or act upon will suddenly rise to the top of the list. It’s really an enlightening thought.
The issue for Israel was their indifferent attitude toward the ways of God. This issue was complicated by their embracing of personal comforts and pleasures. In this chapter, Zion receives judgment along with Samaria due to their gluttony, drunkenness, and disrespect. Their decisions were not driven by a love for God but a love of self.
“The greatness of approaching judgment is illustrated by a simple incident. A household of eleven is smitten by plague; ten die, one only survives. So great has been the mortality that no nearer relative than an uncle is left to carry out the dead for cremation; and when the matter of a funeral service is broached, the suggestion is instantly met by the remark, “Those old customs cannot be observed amid the stress of such a time; we do not now mention God’s name.” Funeral rites would pass out of use. God’s dealings with His people had been as useless as plowing rocks would be.”
F.B. Meyer