Israel's Irresponsible Leaders

Isaiah 56

⁹ _o All you beasts of the field, come to devour,
All you beasts in the forest. ¹⁰ His watchmen are _p blind,
They are all ignorant;
_q They are all dumb dogs,
They cannot bark;
₁ Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. ¹¹ Yes, they are _r greedy ₂ dogs
Which _s never ₃ have enough.
And they are shepherds
Who cannot understand;
They all look to their own way,
Every one for his own gain,
From his own territory. ¹² "Come," one says, "I will bring wine,
And we will fill ourselves with intoxicating _t drink;
_u Tomorrow will be _v as today,
And much more abundant."

1. Cross References
   Jeremiah 12:9
   My heritage is to Me like a speckled vulture; The vultures all around are against her. Come, assemble all the beasts of the field, Bring them to devour!
   
2. Cross References
   Matthew 15:14
   "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."
   
3. Cross References
   Philippians 3:2
   Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!
   
4. Cross References
   Isaiah 28:7
   But they also have erred through wine, And through intoxicating drink are out of the way; The priest and the prophet have erred through intoxicating drink, They are swallowed up by wine, They are out of the way through intoxicating drink; They err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
   Ezekiel 13:19
   "And will you profane Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, killing people who should not die, and keeping people alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies?"
   Micah 3:5
   Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets Who make my people stray; Who chant "Peace" While they chew with their teeth, But who prepare war against him Who puts nothing into their mouths:
   Micah 3:11
   Her heads judge for a bribe, Her priests teach for pay, And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the LORD, and say, "Is not the LORD among us? No harm can come upon us.
   
5. Cross References
   Ezekiel 34:2 - 10
   Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
   
6. Cross References
   Isaiah 28:7
   But they also have erred through wine, And through intoxicating drink are out of the way; The priest and the prophet have erred through intoxicating drink, They are swallowed up by wine, They are out of the way through intoxicating drink; They err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
   
7. Cross References
   Psalms 10:6
   He has said in his heart, "I shall not be moved; I shall never be in adversity.
   Proverbs 23:35
   "They have struck me, but I was not hurt; They have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?"
   Isaiah 22:13
   But instead, joy and gladness, Slaying oxen and killing sheep, Eating meat and drinking wine: "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!
   Luke 12:19
   'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."'
   1 Corinthians 15:32
   If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!
   
8. Cross References
   2 Peter 3:4
   And saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.