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And He removed the defense of Judah. In that day you depended on the weapons of the house of the forest, and you saw that the breaches In the wall of the city of David were many; And you collected the waters of the lower pool. Then you counted the houses of Jerusalem And tore down houses to fortify the wall. And you made a reservoir between the two walls For the waters of the old pool. But you did not depend on Him who made it, Nor did you take into consideration Him who planned it long ago. Therefore in that day the Lord GOD of hosts called {you} to weeping, to wailing, To shaving the head and to wearing sackcloth. Instead, there is gaiety and gladness, Killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, Eating of meat and drinking of wine: "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die." Isaiah 22:8-13This is a sobering passage. Judah is being besieged and losing ground. So they get to work. They literally did everything but believe. And when everything didn't work, they lost hope and settled down to impending defeat. How often this sort of thing happens. We feel ourselves losing ground so we get to work. We try bible plans, sermons, books, articles, fellowship, and trying to concentrate harder in prayer. All things which are necessary, but worthless if not accompanied with faith. So we end up beat down, worn out, and coasting through life - a shell of what we once were spiritually. And not because we didn't work, but because we won't believe.
