What follows is a paraphrase of a section of John Owen’s powerful sermon delivered April 11, 1679, born out of his deep love for his city and nation. In it, Owen applied the timeless warnings given to Israel—warnings meant to awaken hearts and bring repentance—to his own time and place, just as Isaiah had done centuries before.

Now, 346 years later, I feel compelled to echo these same warnings to my own time and place. My hope is that by revisiting Owen’s message, we might confront our collective sins with humility and seek God’s mercy while there is still time. This is not merely an exercise in history or theology; it is a call to action—for the love of God, for the love of life, and for the sake of generations yet to come.

The city carried its guilt like a shadow, stretching long and dark across the land. Isaiah’s words hung heavy in the air, accusing without mercy: “For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen.” Their rebellion was not whispered but shouted, displayed openly like wounds they refused to bind.

One by one, the pillars of order crumbled. The wise were plucked away, leaving behind a void that could not be filled. Children ascended to thrones, their small hands trembling under the weight of authority they did not understand. Disarray spread like a contagion—neighbors devouring neighbors, the young mocking the old, the base rising above the honorable.

And then there were the women, adorned in garb so ostentatious it seemed to mock the very fabric of existence. Their laughter rang hollow, echoing off walls soon to crumble. When the end came, it arrived without fanfare, a silent collapse into desolation. The gates stood empty, the streets barren, and the city itself sat upon the ground, stripped of meaning, waiting for oblivion.

Action Step

Spend time in prayer or meditation, asking God to reveal any ways you’ve contributed to disorder in your relationships, workplace, or community. Then, commit to restoring order through reconciliation, honesty, or acts of service.

National Sins And National Judgments

What follows is the original text of this sermon with headings added to enhance structure and readability.

Part 1: Introduction

Isaiah 3:8-9 For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen, Because their speech and their actions are against the Lord, To rebel against His glorious presence. The expression of their faces bears witness against them, And they display their sin like Sodom; They do not even conceal it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.

First, Here is a confluence of sins delighted in.

Secondly, Here is a concurrence of various judgments unregarded. In the ninth chapter of this prophecy, the prophet enumerates, from the 13th verse to the end of the chapter, all sorts of judgments and indications of the continuance of God’s displeasure, concluding every one of them with this: “For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still;” and it will end in their utter destruction.

Thirdly, Here are the preparative causes of ruin, that which would dispose Jerusalem and Judah to ruin and destruction. There are five of them reckoned up in this chapter:

When God makes a nation thin of such persons, it is a preparation and disposition to their ruin.

And what did they do?

Isaiah 3:14-15 “Ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord God of hosts.”

Isaiah 3:14-15 The Lord enters into judgment with the elders and princes of His people, “It is you who have devoured the vineyard; The plunder of the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing My people And grinding the face of the poor?” Declares the Lord God of hosts.

This is the end of it all. So that you have an account of what are those causes whereon God in His Word doth pronounce cities and nations to be ruined and destroyed, even then when they stand in their fullest security, in their own opinion.

Pray Thus

Inspired by Psalms 79 Lament over the Destruction of Jerusalem, and Prayer for Help. A guiding framework for every nation and people to use in their prayers.

O God, the nations have invaded Your inheritance;

They have defiled Your holy temple;

They have laid Albuquerque in ruins.

They have given the dead bodies of Your servants for food to the birds of the heavens,

The flesh of Your godly ones to the beasts of the earth.

They have poured out their blood like water round about New Mexico;

And there was no one to bury them.

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We have become a reproach to our neighbors,

A scoffing and derision to those around us.

How long, O Lord? Will You be angry forever?

Will Your jealousy burn like fire?

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Pour out Your wrath upon the nations which do not know You,

And upon the kingdoms which do not call upon Your name.

For they have devoured Japheth

And laid waste his habitation.

Do not remember the iniquities of our forefathers against us;

Let Your compassion come quickly to meet us,

For we are brought very low.

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name;

And deliver us and forgive our sins for Your name’s sake.

Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”

Let there be known among the nations in our sight,

Vengeance for the blood of Your servants which has been shed.

Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You;

According to the greatness of Your power preserve those who are doomed to die.

And return to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom

The reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord.

So we Your people and the sheep of Your pasture

Will give thanks to You forever;

To all generations we will tell of Your praise.

These paraphrases were created using AI, functioning like a thought thesaurus. Here is a list of available readings.

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