Isaiah 3; Matthew 13; Isaiah 5 & 3

You, oh Lord, are the Lord of Hosts. There is a terror from you to those who disobey. There is glory from you to those that are yours. For now you let us grow up together, those who are yours and those who are the enemy’s.

For now sin holds sway in our land. Our people are oppressed. Many are insolent toward elders and rude to the honorable. We pick leaders for the wrong reasons, and we wind up with leaders who err and destroy us.

Our people fall for foolish “wisdom” as if it is true. Woe to those who call evil good and good evil; who put darkness for light and light for darkness; who called perversity glorious.

Many act against God. Many have the gall to provoke you, Lord. They declare their sin as Sodom. They do not hide it. Woe to their soul. They have brought evil upon themselves and upon our nation.

Therefore, Lord, you strike us with sickness. You expose our secrets. You turn the perfume into stench. Please, Lord, guard those who are yours and grant us honorable leaders.