National Desolation

How history repeats it self only because we have not learned from our mistakes, that we keep going around and around the merry-go-ground.
The prophecy contained in this first chapter stands single and unconnected, making an entire piece of itself. It contains a severe remonstrance against the corruptions prevailing among the Jews of that time, powerful exhortations to repentance, grievous threatening to the unremorseful, and gracious promises of better times, when the nation shall have been reformed by the just judgments of G-d.
Scripture said the ‘whole head was sick’ meaning: The king and the priests are equally gone away from truth and righteousness. Or, the state is oppressed by its enemies, and the Church corrupted in its rulers and in its members.
[Isa. 1:6] From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.[
7] Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
Country - Israel is compared to "Sodom and Gomorrah," because of the judgments on it by "fire."
Desolated because it may be considered whether those instances of idolatry which are urged in verse 29- the worshipping in groves and gardens- having been at all times too commonly practiced, and introduced it even into the Temple.
Have we too but idolatry above G-d that our economy and government has gone bad?
Their kingdom was almost ruined and burned with fire, like the threats Israel is getting today. So miserable were they that both their towns and their lands were wasted, and yet so stupid that they needed to be told this, to have it shown to them. "Look and see how it is; your country is desolate; the ground is not cultivated, for want of inhabitants, the villages being deserted, Jdg. 5:7. And thus the fields and vineyards become like deserts, all grown over with thorns, Prov. 24:31Your cities are burned with fire, by the enemies that invade you’’ (fire and sword commonly go together); " as for the fruits of your land, which should be food for your families, strangers devour them; and, to your greater vexation, it is before your eyes, and you cannot prevent it; you starve while your enemies surplus on that which should be your maintenance.
Their land as well as our land is devoured by strangers; and is desolate, as if overthrown by strangers. Our president even says we are no longer one nation ‘under G-d’.
Strangers devour who dwell far off, and we open are arms and welcomed them in. Then because they look for no advantage of that which remains destroy all before them. The overthrow of their country and our country is as the overthrow of strangers; it is used by the invaders, as one might expect it should be used by strangers.
Jerusalem itself, which was as the daughter of Zion (the Temple built on Zion was a mother, a nursing mother, to Jerusalem), or Zion itself, the holy mountain, which had been dear to G-d as a daughter, was now lost, deserted, and exposed as a cottage in a vineyard, which, when the vintage is over, nobody dwells in or takes any care of, and looks as mean and despicable as a lodge or hut, in a garden of cucumbers; and every person is afraid of coming near it, and considerate to remove his effects out of it, as if it were a overwhelmed city. Do we want to end up that way, cause we are headed for it.
As the overthrow of strangers, that is, which strangers bring upon a land which is not likely to continue in their hands, and therefore they spare no persons, and spoil and destroy all things, which is not usually done in wars between persons of the same, or of a neighboring nation.
He sadly bewails the judgments of G-d which they had brought upon themselves by their sins and their incorrigibleness under those judgments. L-rd help us!!
In your presence - Which your eye shall see to torment you, when there is no power in your hands to deliver you.
Desolate - literally, "there is desolation, such as one might look for from foreign" invaders.
How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; righteousness lodged in it, but now murderers. Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water. Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, nor does the cause of the widow come before them.”
When we consider the greatness of G-d's cleansing and pardon, it is all the more reason for us to come now. G-d wants the separation between you and He to be gone now. He doesn't want you to continue in your destructive path another moment. He wants the best for us now!
You can find hope in the midst of your chastisement, relief from empty religious ritual, and cleansing from your sin. But you must surrender your heart before G-d, and not refuse and rebel. Instead, you be willing and obedient.
Therefore the L-rd says, the L-RD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, "Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries, and take vengeance on My enemies. I will turn My hand against you, and thoroughly purge away your dross, and take away all your alloy. I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city." Zion shall be redeemed with justice and her penitents with righteousness. The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together, and those who forsake the L-RD shall be consumed. The strong shall be as tinder, and the work of it as a spark; both will burn together, and no one shall quench them.
Is history repeating it self? It is not too late to turn from our wicked ways and call out for mercy, all we need to do is repent.