God's people had become so filled with practices and beliefs from surrounding nations that they were 'replenished' by them. What does it mean to be 'filled' with something in a spiritual sense?
Isaiah uses the word 'replenished' to describe how the house of Jacob had become overflowing with the customs and superstitions of the East and the divination practices of the Philistines. This wasn't just a casual adoption of foreign habits; it was a deep filling, a saturation of their lives with things God found detestable.
A Corrupted Vessel
Think of a cup that is supposed to hold clean water. When it's filled with something else – mud, or poison – it can no longer serve its intended purpose. Similarly, when God's people allowed their lives to be 'filled' with divination, foreign alliances, and pleasing themselves with 'children of strangers' (which can refer to foreign customs, alliances, or even literal foreign partners in marriage or worship), they became corrupted. They were no longer filled with God's ways but with practices that separated them from Him.
The 'East' and 'Philistines' as Symbols
The 'East' often symbolized cultures known for their idolatry and occult practices. The Philistines, historically Israel's enemies, were notorious for their superstitious beliefs, particularly divination. By being 'like' them, Israel mirrored the very people God had commanded them to separate from. This filling was a deliberate turning away from God's unique calling for them.
