Isaiah is distraught to see the destruction coming to Jerusalem. In spite of the warnings he has laid out, he knows the nation will miss its chance for repentance. Although they are given an opportunity to return to the Lord, the prophet foresees that they will squander it instead of taking it.
"In that day the Lord God of hosts called to weeping and mourning, to baldness and putting on sackcloth; but instead there was joy and festivity, killing oxen and slaughtering sheep, eating meat and drinking wine. 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die'" (vs. 12-13).
The Lord had offered His people an invitation to repentance. But instead of taking the chance to reflect upon their misdeeds and reform their behavior, they decided to party like it was 999 [B.C.] The Israelites refused to humble themselves and temper their spirits, choosing instead to forge ahead with the bankrupt philosophy of eating and drinking and fatalism.
Their fatalism will earn them their fatality. The Lord will not hold them guiltless for missing this chance. "The Lord of hosts has revealed himself in my ears: Surely this iniquity will not be forgiven you until you die, says the Lord God of hosts" (vs. 14).
The message for us? Whenever you sense the Spirit of God leading you to a moment of repentance, TAKE IT! Do not turn your back to conviction and plunge ahead with celebration and mirth. Heed the lesson of Jerusalem before its day of destruction: it didn't have to be.
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