Having abandoned God’s ways, Judah can expect to meet His wrath. This sober warning was emphasized in the previous chapter and it continues in Isaiah 3. “The LORD God of hosts” is coming to judge, and the prophet points to the disintegration of Judah’s society not only as the reason for His wrath, but the expression of it. As the entire Bible makes plain, when God abandons people to their sins, He is already judging them. A crisis is coming in which God will take away “support and supply.” Judah will be stripped of life’s basic necessities when an enemy army invades their land. And at the very time when strong men will be needed to inspire courage and provide guidance, the nation’s leadership will collapse. Those who are looked to as the backbone of Judah will be killed or captured (v 1-3). In the resulting vacuum of leadership, selfish opportunists will step forward who only make life worse for everyone. One way God judges a nation is through childish leaders. Yet the people of Judah will be so desperate they will search for anyone, however unqualified, to take responsibility and offer hope. If someone merely owns a distinctive robe, he is nominated to lead. But no one is willing. No one can see a future worth fighting for (v 4-7). And what is the reason for this gloomy outlook? God has been provoked. People are “defying His glorious presence” by the way they talk and behave. Things which should cause one to blush are now being paraded openly and brazenly. Things once done in secret are now made public. Making no attempt to hide sin, they are actually bringing down evil upon themselves (v 8-11). But God does not view their judgment with a cold heart. He is moved with pity for those who suffer and moved with indignation against those who oppress. Local and royal leaders alike (“elders and princes”) are not serving the people, but exploiting them. And the LORD’s heart is broken by such cruel mistreatment of those He loves. “O my people,” He cries, “your guides mislead you and they have swallowed up the course of your paths” (v 12-15). The men are condemned for oppression, but the coming siege will not be kind to women either. Haughty and flashy, their fancy jewelry will be snatched away. Their fragrant perfumes will give way to a rotten stench. The enemy invasion will bring rampant disease, sexual assault, and tragic bereavement. Extravagant self-display, which women could afford and flaunt in prosperous times, is about to be replaced by humiliating loss and sorrow (v 16-26). For further meditation: