Choose Wisely 

“All you animals of the field and forest, come and eat! Israel’s watchmen are blind, all of them, they know nothing; all of them are mute dogs, they cannot bark; they dream, lie down, and love to sleep. These dogs have fierce appetites; they never have enough. And they are shepherds who have no discernment; all of them turn to their own way, every last one for his own gain. ‘Come, let me get some wine, let’s guzzle some beer; and tomorrow will be like today, only far better! ‘” (Isaiah‬ ‭56‬:‭9‬-‭12‬ ‭HCSB‬‬)

Somehow, we’ve lost our way. There’s a huge difference between the leaders we choose and the leaders we need. We no longer look for leaders who will do what’s just and right, we choose leaders who will give us what we want. Jesus described them as the blind leading the blind, as men who strain out a gnat while swallowing a camel (see Matt. 23:24). They feign compassion, service, integrity and public devotion while trying to disguise their greed, a lust for position and recognition, and a hunger for power and selfish ambition.

Don’t get me wrong, we believe we’re choosing a good leader who will do what’s just and right but our definition of what’s just and right rends to be based on what’s best for our own needs and desires. While this is certainly true of the political leaders we elect, it is also true of the leaders we choose to guide us through other areas of life – including pastors and spiritual leaders. We’re not looking for the most righteous and godly man or woman to lead us, we’re looking for the one who tells us what we want to hear or gives us what we want.

In this week’s focal passage, Isaiah addresses that very issue facing God’s people. As God works behind the scenes to prepare them for returning to Jerusalem and rebuilding the city, they face the challenge of seeking, choosing and following the right person or persons – someone who will lead them into full fellowship with and obedience to their LORD. You can have the right intentions, but if you choose the wrong person then you can end up far, far from your goal.

The opening verse is God’s declaration of judgment upon the leaders Isaiah will describe in the coming verses, “All you animals of the field and forest, come and eat!” God will use the beasts of the field and forest to judge and devour the beastly leaders who mislead His people. These beastly leaders devour their people, so God sends beasts to devour them. I don’t believe in karma, but I do believe in justice and God IS just in their destruction. Ungodly leaders will get what they give – they will be devoured, eaten up by their own greed, lust and selfishness and left without hope for eternity.

But what defines a bad leader? How do you know an ungodly leader from a godly leader? Jesus said, “you will know a tree by its fruit.” A good tree will not produce bad fruit and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. Oh sure, everyone can and does make mistakes. But a good leader will not consistently make poor, ungodly and selfish choices. In like manner, a bad leader can and will make a few good decisions, but they will consistently make bad decisions and lead poorly. This shows up in the results of their daily living and leadership decisions.

Isaiah initially describes the failed leaders as blind watchmen and mute dogs who cannot bark. In other words, they either can’t or won’t do what they’ve been charged with doing – watch out for and guard over the people in their care. First, he says they are blind and just don’t know anything. You can’t be a good, faithful watchman and be blind and unaware of what’s going on around you. These leaders are charged with being watchful, knowledgeable, aware of and responsive to any potential threat towards the people under their care.

Notice how Isaiah describes them, as guard dogs “they dream, lie down, and love to sleep.” They’re unable to alert the people because they are mute and unable to bark, but they are also lying down, sleeping and dreaming. They aren’t on guard, they’re taking it easy, lying around and sleeping on the job. He continues, “these dogs have fierce appetites; they never have enough.” When they are awake and active, they are always hungry and never satisfied.

If those are the characteristics of poor watchmen and guard dogs, then we can discern that the characteristics needed and desired in good watchmen and guard dogs are likely the opposite. We need watchmen who are constantly watching, knowledgeable of the real dangers and risks we face and aware of their impending approach. They must never be mute guard dogs unable to bark and alert us, sleeping and dreaming lazily in the sun or looking for their next meal. They must be ever alert and vigilant, on guard and ready to respond to any threat or attack against those they’re charged to protect.

Next, Isaiah uses the analogy of a shepherd to address his leadership concerns for God’s people. Sounds familiar, right? Jesus used the idea of a shepherd in describing and illustrating His own leadership style. Isaiah’s example of bad shepherd has no discernment or “just doesn’t know”, like the watchman above. A shepherd with no knowledge or understanding of his assignment will try and do things his own way. That results in unhealthy sheep, lost sheep and dead sheep. And when a threat or challenge appears, he’s looking out for himself and his own needs. Jesus referred to them as “hired hands” and not shepherds. 

Consider His words: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. This happens because he is a hired man and doesn’t care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me, as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep. But I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves Me, because I am laying down My life so I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from My Father.” (John‬ ‭10‬:‭11‬-‭18‬ ‭HCSB‬‬)

We live in a world filled with political, business and spiritual leaders who are accurately described by Isaiah’s words: “they have no discernment; all of them turn to their own way, every last one for his own gain.” International leaders may meet to have peace talks, but lasting peace is ever elusive and always unattainable. Why? Because they wants to turn things “their own way” and each is looking out only “for his own gain.” 

The last verse of our focal passage seems to accurately portray the attitude of many leaders, “Come, let me get some wine, let’s guzzle some beer; and tomorrow will be like today, only far better!” Celebrations of victory or achievement and enjoying life and the good things God has provided are important, but that’s not what this verse is about. This verse is about using alcohol and its effects to mask the threats we face today and blind us to the realities we’ll face tomorrow.

The choices we make today will define our tomorrows. Whether that’s poor personal choices or the choice of choosing and following a foolish, self-centered and ungodly leader who’s only looking out for his or her best interests. Gentlemen, next week is Father’s Day and I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that our families generally follow our lead. If we are leading them poorly, with ungodly and selfish choices then we will be held accountable before our holy and just God. Your inner character is evident in the fruit of your daily living and will be evident in the choices your children make and the way they treat others. 

Those of you who read and follow my posts regularly know, I work in information technology in addition to pastoring this church. As the IT leader for my organization, I oversee and maintain not just the computer systems but also the information security. One of the ongoing challenges I face is providing a work environment that is secure while not being onerous or difficult for the staff. Often, the needs and desires of my staff are at odds with my security goals and policies. As a financial institution, I remind our staff that our greatest asset is our reputation and the biggest threat to our reputation is our own failure to be wise and follow our safety and security protocols. 

We are the biggest threat to our own reputation, our family, our spiritual lives and ministry goals and, especially, our eternal destiny. Like my IT illustration above, the threat is constant and real but our choices today are the biggest threat to our tomorrows. Who we choose to follow today will determine the choices we make and how our tomorrows will turn out. Be careful, choose wisely.