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Isaiah 5: 20 > Calling Evil, good

Woe to them that call evil, good

Isaiah 5: 20 ( King James Version )

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter !

Isaiah 5: 20, 21 ( New International Version )

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, and put darkness for light and light for darkness, and put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

v. 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.

Text Quoted in Spirit of Prophecy

If there were no other evidence of the real character of spiritualism, it should be enough for the Christian that the spirits make no difference between righteousness and sin, between the noblest and purest of the apostles of Christ and the most corrupt of the servants of Satan. By representing the basest of men as in heaven, and highly exalted there, Satan says to the world: "No matter how wicked you are; no matter whether you believe or disbelieve God and the Bible. Live as you please; heaven is your home." The spiritualist teachers virtually declare: "Everyone that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?" Malachi 2:17. Saith the word of God: "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness." Isaiah 5: 20. Great Controversy, page 556.3

God designed to teach the people that they must approach Him with reverence and awe, and in His own appointed manner. He cannot accept partial obedience. It was not enough that in this solemn season of worship nearly everything was done as He had directed. God has pronounced a curse upon those who depart from His commandments, and put no difference between common and holy things. He declares by the prophet: "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness! . . . Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! . . . which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! . . . They have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel." Isaiah 5:20-24. Let no one deceive himself with the belief that a part of God's commandments are nonessential, or that He will accept a substitute for that which He has required. Said the prophet Jeremiah, "Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?" Lamentations 3:37. God has placed in His word no command which men may obey or disobey at will and not suffer the consequences. If men choose any other path than that of strict obedience, they will find that "the end thereof are the ways of death." Proverbs 14:12. Patriarchs and Prophets, page 360.2

To the Israelites were committed the sacred oracles. But God's revealed word was misinterpreted and misapplied. The people despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

"The vineyard of Jehovah of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah His pleasant plant:
And He looked for justice, but, behold, oppression; For righteousness, but, behold, a cry." Isaiah 5:7

   "Woe unto them That . . . regard not the work of Jehovah,
       Neither have they considered the operation of His hands.
          Therefore My people are gone into captivity for lack of knowledge."   Isaiah 5:11-13,

"Woe unto them that call evil good, And good evil; That put darkness for light, And light for darkness; That put bitter for sweet, And sweet for bitter!   Isaiah 5: 20

"Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!" Isaiah 5: 21,

   "Therefore as the tongue of fire devoureth the stubble, and as the dry grass sinketh down in the flame,
   So their root shall be as rottenness, And their blossom shall go up as dust; Because they have rejected the law of Jehovah of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel."
Isaiah 5: 24, A. R. V. {8T 114.2}

"It pains me to say, my brethren, that your sinful neglect to walk in the light has enshrouded you in darkness. You may now be honest in not recognizing and obeying the light; the doubts you have entertained, your neglect to heed the requirements of God, have blinded your perception so that darkness is now to you light, and light is darkness. God has bidden you to go forward to perfection. Christianity is a religion of progress. Light from God is full and ample, waiting our demand upon it. Whatever blessings the Lord may give, He has an infinite supply beyond, an inexhaustible store from which we may draw. Skepticism may treat the sacred claims of the gospel with jests, scoffing, and denial. The spirit of worldliness may contaminate the many and control the few; the cause of God may hold its ground only by great exertion and continual sacrifice, yet it will triumph finally. {1SM 28.2}

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