Isaiah 56:12

Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.

Isaiah 56:12 (KJV)

Context

Isaiah 56:12 records the boastful words of Israel’s leaders, whom the previous verse calls shepherds who cannot understand and who each seek their own gain (Isaiah 56:11). Their speech drips with self-indulgence: they invite one another to fetch wine and fill themselves with strong drink, then presume that tomorrow will be just like today, only more abundant. This arrogant confidence stands in stark contrast to the chapter’s earlier promises of salvation, righteousness, and justice for those who join themselves to the Lord.

Meaning

The verse exposes the spiritual blindness of those consumed by their own desires. The phrase “and much more abundant” reveals insatiable greed and a foolish presumption that they control their future. Their complacency ignores the impending judgment that Isaiah has been warning about throughout his prophecy. This is not merely drinking; it is a boastful rejection of responsibility before God.

Biblical connections

A similar invitation to indulge in wine and strong drink appears in Jeremiah 44:7-8, where the people’s rebellion leads to judgment. That parallel reinforces the biblical theme that self-indulgence and false security provoke divine discipline. The contrast with Isaiah 56:1-8, where God welcomes the outcast and the eunuch who keep His covenant, highlights the leaders’ failure to embody the righteousness God requires.

Application

This verse warns against hedonism and the folly of living only for the present moment. It challenges readers to examine whether their confidence rests in God’s will or in their own plans for endless pleasure. The leaders’ assumption that tomorrow will be “much more abundant” is a timeless caution against presuming upon the future without regard for God’s purposes.

Reflection

True security is found not in self-indulgence but in humble obedience to God. The shepherds’ self-centeredness stands as a sober reminder that those entrusted with spiritual care must guard against the lure of comfort and greed. May we instead seek the righteousness and justice that God delights in, trusting Him for each day He grants.