Written to the people of Israel warning them of the impending Babylonian captivity, Isaiah pleaded and put forth a powerful and very pointed list of sinful ways that the people of Judah were living. He cried out using the word “woe” in six specific situations within chapter five. Let me share the list with you.

Woe #1-Sinful portfolios (5:8). They were driven to get more and more as greedy landgrabbers.
Woe #2-Sinful pleasures (5:11-12). Substance abusive and entertainment that was hellish (5:14).
Woe #3-Sinful practices (5:18-19). Their sinful ways were as obvious as a horse-drawn cart!
Woe #4-Sinful priorities (5:20). Their standards were upside down and backwards, calling evil good and good evil.
Woe #5-Sinful pride (5:21). They acted as if the universe revolved around themselves.
Woe #6-Sinful public office holders and their shame (5:22-23).

For today: Be encouraged! What was written hundreds and hundreds of years ago sounds very much like what you will face as you head out into the world this very day. The same Lord that Isaiah loved and followed is your Lord, if you know Christ as your Savior. I tell people all the time, despite the growing spiritual darkness that we are seeing, this is an exciting time to live for Christ! Be encouraged, indeed.