Isaiah 29:8

Attackers were eagerly expecting to seize huge quantities of silver and gold when they captured *Jerusalem and its wonderful *Temple. But reality disappointed the attackers. They could not even enter the city. They too had been merely dreaming.

God’s people cannot see what God is doing

v9 Be as stupid as you like! Be as blind as you like! You are acting like drunks. But it is not because of *wine. You cannot walk properly. But it is not because of beer. v10 All this is because the *Lord has made you very confused. He has shut the eyes of those who should see (know) the future. He has covered the faces of those who should be declaring God’s words.

v11 All Isaiah’s words are like a closed book that you are not able to open. So you cannot read it. v12 So your situation is as bad as someone who is unable to read.

v13 The *Lord speaks: ‘These people come to the *Temple in order to praise me. But they do not mean the words that they say. Their attention is not on me. Their words are merely what they can repeat from memory. v14 In the past I have pleased my people with extraordinary deeds. But this time my actions will give the people a series of unpleasant shocks. Wise people will become fools. Clever people will suddenly become stupid.’

The woman’s situation felt hopeless. The man she loved had returned to her. But she sent him away. And she felt as if he would never return. So, she asked the other women to help her. Perhaps they would show kindness to her. Perhaps they could speak to the man on her behalf. She asked them to take a message to him. They should tell him that she is desperate for his love.