good wine, watered.. * (a sign of the times)..

Isaiah says this message* from The LORD,

about God's people and their leaders too,

about some precious things he now abhorred,

now worthless, hated, things he would eschew.

He told about a wife, who was belove’d,
and faithful to her husband and her vows,

that now had gone a-whoring, and was shoved

into a market-place to cry for hours.

A city that was filled with righteous folk,

who cared about it's thriving, justice too.

But now was filled with people who would joke

at the expense of poor (the needy who

could not defend themselves). Inhabitants

who’d murder people just for their own gain.

Jerusalem, you were like silver once,

refined, and treasured, strong and bright, unstained.

But now you are as worthless as it's dross.

You were like good wine, made to celebrate,

as at the wedding before faith was lost;

but you have been so watered, now of late.

Your leaders, they are rebels, friends of thieves,

and rip-off merchants, keeping their control,

by getting/giving gifts and bribes to ease

their power base, but they have sold their soul.

They'd not defend the fatherless in court,

or listen when a widow put her case^.
But when Messiah came his life was fraught

with signs°, and godly leadership & ways.

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* Isaiah 1:21‭-‬23 GNTD "The city that once was faithful is behaving like a whore! At one time it was filled with righteous people, but now only murderers remain. Jerusalem, you were once like silver, but now you are worthless; you were like good wine, but now you are only water. Your leaders are rebels and friends of thieves; they are always accepting gifts and bribes. They never defend the fatherless in court or listen when widows present their case." Isaiah 1:21‭-‬23 Hebrew & various translations...

° John is interested to note that Jesus does the opposite of the (above-mentioned) process of "good wine, watered", he is providing another kind of leadership. ... John 2:1‭-‬11 NRSV  "On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him".  John 2:1‭-‬11 NRSV.

^ James 1:26-27   "Do any of you think you are religious? If you do not control your tongue, your religion is worthless and you deceive yourself. What God the Father considers to be pure and genuine religion is this: to take care of the fatherless and widows in their suffering and to keep oneself from being corrupted by the world." James 1:26-27

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