Isaiah 1:4–5 — 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.
Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
The severe crisis that nations are facing today cannot be solved in parliament, nor in the institutions. Modern-day calamities cannot be solved in the court of law, nor in the conference halls of peace treaties.
Mental and physical health issues have reached a global crisis point that has captured the attention of most people. From heads of government to the last person in the street, all have become limited in their capacity to help with spiralling health issues. Every day the acute problem is causing a chain reaction of negative thoughts, anxiety and fear that cannot be ignored. The costs are spinning out of control and getting worse each day.
According to Isaiah 1:5, every head and every heart is in decline. After the fall of humanity we have developed this inherent disease, which has the potential of getting worse if it is not rectified.
The head and the heart
We should admit that the human condition is in a crisis. The whole head is sick, and according to Jeremiah 17:9 the heart is desperately wicked.
The head is the seat of intelligence and decision making, and the heart is the seat of affection — but the Bible says that they are sick: humanity is impaired in the head and wicked in the heart.
The human head and heart need a total transformation. Not a slight modification, but a complete makeover — and Christ can remedy our condition.
Romans 12:2 — And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Conformity to this world only intensifies the sin sickness of most people: the struggle for power and pre-eminence and even for existence; the struggle for money to satisfy the earthly desire for trivial material things; the battle against exploitation and other abuse; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life. All are destroying mental, spiritual and physical health.
From politicians to parliamentarians, and all civilians, need a complete turnaround. Humanity urgently needs to come back to God the Creator.
Isaiah 24:4–6 — The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.
Calling evil good
Persons of all ranks and conditions are experiencing the calamities of these last days. It is the folly of the mind and the evils of human hearts that are causing the calamities upon the earth: the departure from the revealed will and counsels of God, the rebellion of mankind against observing God’s Ten Commandments, and the rejection of Christ our only hope.
Mankind has transgressed the laws of God, and then wonders why there is so much crime. The law of nature and health is violated consistently, and then comes the cry about global warming.
Isaiah 5:20–23 — Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
They have changed the ordinances of God’s revealed religion and brought about confusion, calling evil good and good evil, putting darkness for light and light for darkness, and putting bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
All that is coming on the world now are calamities and woe, and none is able to prevent it — from the top right down. Our condition is depraved and lamentable. We are faced with problems in church, in kingdoms and in parliaments. The disease of sin infects all orders and degrees of humanity, and is destroying the mental function of all societies.
Ah sinful nation! In Isaiah 1:4 the prophet lamented over those who would not lament over their own condition.
Sin is affecting every facet of life
Birds, animals, plants and humans alike are dying at a rapid and alarming rate. The mental, the spiritual and the physical are all fast deteriorating.
Isaiah tried to show how aggravating, malignant and contagious sin was.
Isaiah 1:4 — 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.
The wickedness in our day is global. People are ruthless, profane and corrupted. When evil becomes global, one can expect global ruin and disaster.
Disease in the head and heart is most dangerous and contagious. Not just a part of the head, but the whole head is sick; the whole heart is faint, or weak.
The heart that no one can know
Jeremiah 17:9–10 — The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
There is hidden wickedness in the heart which many do not notice. Only God understands the secrets of the deep recesses of the human heart.
The human heart is deceitful above all things. It is subtle, false and desperately wicked. It calls evil good and good evil. The heart deceives people into believing that there is no God. The heart is a self-deceiver, a self-destroyer, and also a self-comforter.
We may disguise the intents of the heart from those around us, but they are open to the inspection of God.
1 Samuel 2:3 — Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
The world has become a place of evil devices, evil imaginations, evil inventions and evil intentions. Everywhere are wickedness, perversity and abomination. God made the human race with perfect faculties — but sick minds and evil hearts are now the sad condition of the race.
Human history has revealed deep cruelty, selfishness and profound wickedness. Many conscious thinkers, writers and observers have wrestled with this darkness in human nature; but God reveals the true source of our suffering and our wounded condition.
If this study has raised something you would like to talk through, the team reads every message: ask a Bible question, or send a prayer request.
To go further, Inspecting Your House takes up Jeremiah 17 and the work of self-examination, and Britain in Trouble applies the same diagnosis to one nation in particular.
Continue studying
Growing Stronger: The Third and Fourth Dimensions of Development
Christ reached up and took hold of Divinity, then reached down and touched humanity. Favour with God and favour with man are the last two dimensions of Luke 2:52 — and they are not separate achievements.
Growing Stronger: The Second Dimension of Development
Christ increased in stature as well as in wisdom. The health of His body and His mind worked in harmony until the day He died — and the same growth is not beyond the reach of any of us.