June 24th, 2025: Isaiah 5.11-13

Woe to those who rise early in the morning that they may pursue strong drink,
Who stay up late in the evening that wine may inflame them!
And their banquets are accompanied by lyre and harp, by tambourine and flute, and by wine;
But they do not look upon the deeds of Yahweh,
Nor do they see the work of His hands.

Therefore My people go into exile for their lack of knowledge;
And their honorable men are famished,
And their multitude is parched with thirst.
— Isaiah 5:11-13

Have you ever found yourself pursuing distractions to ignore the situation around you? It can be a normal response when life becomes overwhelming; yet, this response can lead us into a situation of ignorance and judgement from God. We may seek pleasure or things that are loud and distracting so we never process the events around us. How we may be able to help, what actions we should take, or what God says on the matter. This distraction and lack of knowledge led Israel into captivity because they no longer were seeking the Lord and what He wanted. In our world with all of the distractions around us, do we actively seek out Gods voice? Or have we been so distracted that we no longer know what God wants and no longer see the needs of those around us?