Complacency is one attitude that will cause one to be careless, excessive, and slothful. In reading Isaiah 32:9-14, complacency seemed to be the case for a good number of women in Judah. But it would not be wrong to say that this probably reflected the general attitude of the people of Judah (as well as many today), and not just the women of Judah. So in addressing the complacent women, Isaiah was also addressing the people of Judah and everyone who adopts a life of indifference.
Shrouded by self-satisfaction, the women apparently were not able to discern the impending calamity. So here Isaiah rang out a warning that within a short time, the supply of grapes from the vineyard would cease. That would consequently cut short the production of wine. This was by way of saying that there would be no more wine for their indulgence. So they were urged to mourn for the impending disaster to be experienced in Judah. In the warning in verse 10, Isaiah indicated that the first sign of judgment would be the cessation of grapes from the vineyard in the land.
One thing about the spirit of
complacency is that it makes one unconcerned about what is happening. People
who are complacent tend not to be prepared for what is coming. They assume that
everything would remain unchanged. But those who take life seriously are more discerning
and more aware of their surroundings and what would soon happen. Hence, they would
be more prepared for the eventuality of the moment. This was why Jesus in Matthew
5:4 said that “Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.” This is
likely also the reason Peter in his second letter tells us to sober up and get
into the posture of prayer.
Isaiah saw the dangers of the attitude
of indifference. So he urged the women to sober up and mourn for the land. He
warned them that there was no time for extravagance, but time to adopt an appropriate
mournful attitude of sobriety and simplicity. In their complacency, the women were
not able to see what was coming. So Isaiah told them what would soon happen to Jerusalem.
This city would be a deserted place and the palace would be abandoned. It would
be a forsaken place and turned into a refuge for animals.
If we are watchful and alert, the
message of these few verses and what we see happening in our world is a wake-up call for us to take the
Lord seriously. This is what Isaiah in 32:9-14 is beckoning us to do. He beckons
us to take a deeper look within our souls. Are we truly satisfied with the way
we are going about life? Now is not the time to be complacent but to take our
pilgrimage seriously. Hear these insightful and challenging words of Benjamin
Elijah Mays, an American Baptist minister, and civil rights leader. He said “The tragedy of life is not found in failure but complacency.
Not in you doing too much, but doing too little. Not in you living above your
means, but below your capacity. It's not failure but aiming too low, that is
life's greatest tragedy.” Beloved, we must not be
complacent and live a life of stunted growth! We must begin to allow God’s purpose
to shape the path of our life. We must learn to cultivate a deepening responsiveness to God’s
leading in our life. With the help of God’s Spirit, we must keep pushing toward
the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. This is God’s invitation to
an amazing journey!
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