Isaiah 1:29
29 For they shall be ashamed [buwsh] of the oaks ['ayil] which ye have desired, [chamad] and ye shall be confounded [chapher] for the gardens [gannah] that ye have chosen. [bachar] KJV-Interlinear
29 Surely, you will be ashamed of the oaks which you have desired, And you will be embarrassed at the gardens which you have chosen. NASB
Oaks, ‘ayil,’ is a word that stands for anything standing tall, strong, mighty, and is an expression carrying that meaning.
Gardens, ‘gannah,’ refers to an enclosure, or a fenced area that is private and secluded, or something or someplace that offers comfort. Gardens are places where the plants are cultivated and cared for with greater care than crops in a larger field.
Both of these terms combined refer to a peace or prosperity or power or simply things in which people find comfort or some sense of satisfaction, not within themselves but due to the things that have around them.
The oaks also refer to the high places on elevated areas such as a hilltop, where idols were kept, built, surrounded by enclosures or temples and such.
In other words, the things of this world that people seek or pursue or want or desire that they think brings them contentment and meaning or satisfaction. They are the things or objects of which they have placed great care in their attention and have cultivated as permanent attributes, cares, lusts, desires, opinions, of their life.
And so, the wicked, who have actively pursued things of no value (things of this world), and then finally come to some impasse in their life where these things are taken away from them, or in the worst case, where death has permanently removed them from their life, then embarrassment is all that they are left holding.
But why embarrassment?
Generally in this life, when you have possessions which mean a great deal to you, and you lose them for whatever reason, your feelings are generally rage, or sadness or some semblance of mourning over your loss.
But this verse indicates that your loss is not associated with some disaster or event alone, but ends up revealing something of greater value, which you could have had, but instead you chose something of a lesser value. And, you suddenly realize your huge mistake in choices.
So, we have behind door number one, a pile of doggie doo-doo. That represents your best worldly possessions, wants, desires, and so forth.
Behind door number two, we have a mountain of gold.
You know that both choices exist, but going through the first door seems so much easier and the satisfaction seems so much quicker.
Then at the end of your life, you suddenly realize that you have lost the doo-doo, and could have had the gold. And more than that, embarrassment is directed at others, or rather it is a reaction that others could or might see. So you are embarrassed. And, everyone knows of your choice and everyone sees the results of your choice.
Your choice stinks. Any choice from this world comes with a stench.
So, after you have lived your life in this world, and after you have maintained an indifferent toward God, Christ, doctrine and so forth, even having replaced a legitimate relationship with them with something that seems more convenient for you, and then after you arrive in heaven thinking that you are dressed to the nines, but instead your attire is wood, hay, and stubble that has been rolled in the stench of your possessions (doo-doo), and after everyone in heaven sees you, and looks and stares at you, then and only then you realize that you have come to the marriage party not quite dressed as you should have been.
Embarrassment! Shame!
I suppose if a soul can turn red, then that is how you will feel and look. But by then, in heaven, it will be too late to make the changes in your life that you could have changed, but did not.
Unbelievers will go to Torments and therefore this principle does not apply to them. Their suffering is increased greatly, and so they will not have the luxury to be embarrassed, but will have greater concerns on their mind.
This principle applies to believers only, but only to those who have placed themselves in the wicked category due to their disobedience toward Gods mandates for the spiritual life.
Far too many believers create their own version of the spiritual life, which is all tied up in self righteousness and emotion, and their cafeteria selections of what they will or will not do for God, and such, and so do not realize that they have chosen door number one with all of its wonderful aroma. They just refuse to recognize the smell of their life for what it is.
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