Stubborn Children...

He removed the protection of Judah. You looked in that day to the armor of the House of the Forest; you also saw the damage to the city of David, that it was great; and you gathered together the waters of the lower pool. You numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses you broke down to fortify the wall. You also made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you did not look to its Maker, nor did you have respect for Him who fashioned it long ago. —-Isaiah 22:8-11

Jerusalem prepared for the battle.  They strengthened the city wall and made sure there was enough water for a siege, but they did not look to the One who made the city.  They did not have respect for Him who fashioned it long ago.  All they did would not prosper or profit, because Judah did not do what was TRULY NEEDFUL.  She did not obey God. She did not turn her heart towards the Lord.

Even in the midst of war and chaos, the safest place for Judah and each of us to be is under our God’s wing of protection. Humility protects and preserves.  Lowliness of mind keeps us from our own wrong desires and settles our mind on what He desires.  His perfect will then covers us.

 "Ah, stubborn children," declares the LORD, "who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for my direction, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame, and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation. For though his officials are at Zoan and his envoys reach Hanes, everyone comes to shame through a people that cannot profit them, that brings neither help nor profit, but shame and disgrace."  (Isaiah 30:1-5, ESV)

OYB Psalm today is perfect here...

Give us help from trouble, For the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.*—Ps 60:11-12