Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
Turn on the television or open the newspaper. These concepts pervade 21st century American culture. How the culture defines evil is not how God defines evil. How the culture defines good is not the way God defines good.
those who call evil good… Take the topic of gay marriage. There are elements of the culture who would tell us this is good. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have protested in the past. They were not getting married until everyone could get married. Gay marriage is a right. Imagine this, Hollywood etiology is at odds with God.
those who call good evil… The culture and the courts have deemed prayer in school to be inappropriate. The argument is the separation of church and state. The state should not be in the business or endorsing a particular religion.
The apostle Paul endorses a lifestyle of prayer in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to pray without ceasing. The Bible would allow for prayer in school.
who substitute darkness for light… This is a black and white issue with God (idiom and contrast intended). The contrast is clear. See 1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
God is the definitive source of light, spiritually and physically. He physically created light in Genesis. In Revelation 22:5 it is stated God is the source of physical light. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.
Spiritually, we know God is morally perfect and without sin. 1 John 3:5 You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. The “He” is Jesus. Jesus is God. Jesus is from the Father. There is no sin in the Son or the Father.
who substitute bitter for sweet… God’s word is compared with sweetness. The context of the verse is God’s law, precepts, rules, and instructions in Psalm 119:103 How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! What God has to say is sweeter than honey itself. Psalm 19:10 says this about God’s commands and judgments. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
According to God, to follow the words of other gods is associated with bitterness.
Jeremiah 9:13-15 The LORD said, “Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them, and have not obeyed My voice nor walked according to it, but have walked after the stubbornness of their heart and after the Baals, as their fathers taught them,” therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “behold, I will feed them, this people, with wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink.
