Sound Familiar??

Isaiah 3

¹⁶The LORD said:^(V) Because^(W) the daughters of Zion are haughty
   and walk with outstretched necks,
   glancing wantonly with their eyes,
mincing along as they go,
   ^(X) tinkling with their feet,
¹⁷therefore the Lord^(Y) will strike with a scab
   the heads of^(Z) the daughters of Zion,
   and the LORD will lay bare their secret parts.

 ¹⁸In that day the Lord will take away^(AA) the finery of the anklets, the^(AB) headbands, and the^(AC) crescents; ¹⁹the pendants, the bracelets, and the scarves; ²⁰the^(AD) headdresses, the armlets, the sashes, the perfume boxes, and the amulets; ²¹the signet rings and^(AE) nose rings; ²²the^(AF) festal robes, the mantles, the cloaks, and the handbags; ²³the mirrors, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils.
 ²⁴Instead of^(AG) perfume there will be rottenness;
   and instead of a^(AH) belt, a rope;
and instead of^(AI) well-set hair,^(AJ) baldness;
   and instead of a rich robe, a^(AK) skirt of sackcloth;
   and^(AL) branding instead of beauty.
²⁵Your men shall fall by the sword
   and your mighty men in battle.
²⁶And^(AM) her gates shall lament and mourn;
   empty, she shall^(AN) sit on the ground.

I'm not sure of the history surrounding the times in the life of Isaiah, but I know he's my very favorite prophet of the Bible. I know he was a prophet for the reign of at least four kings mentioned in the very outset of Ch 1 and that was probably a long time. His writing is bold but poetic in its prose. I am always especially moved by the prophesies of Christ in Isaiah.

As I was reading this passage this morning, I couldn't help but notice how similar the situation Isaiah describes is to our own situation in America. Between questionable wars that have stretched for near ten years and an absolutely ruinous financial situation, our nation is sure to be brought to its knees in the near future. We live in a country where the culture is to buy anything you want right now, whether you have the money or not. Credit is so readily available people in the mid-2000s could get credit to buy houses they couldn't afford to pay the interest on. Just like those women mentioned in the passage, we're covered up in all kinds of fine things. Our government does a good job setting the example with a 13 trillion dollar deficit, too.

I'm not sure this is an altogether bad thing, though. Hard times usually bring people to their knees. And in that there is hope. I believe the end of this passage is really in Ch 4:

 ^1(A) And seven women^(B) shall take hold of^(C) one man in that day, saying, "We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes, only let us be called by your name; take away our reproach."

Jesus, let us be called by Your Name.