* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
According to
Clarke’s Commentary this prophecy is entitled, "The oracle concerning the valley of vision," (Jerusalem),
because Jerusalem, according to Josephus was the seat of Divine revelation; the
place where chiefly prophetic vision was given, and where God manifested
himself visibly in the holy place. The prophecy foretells the invasion of
Jerusalem either by the Assyrians under Sennacherib or by the Chaldeans under
Nebuchadnezzar.
So, Isaiah begins the prophecy with a question: “Why have all of you
gone up on the roofs of your houses?” Houses
in the east are generally, built in the same uniform manner. The roof or top of
the house is always flat and guarded on every side with a low parapet wall. The
terrace is used as much as any part of the house…they walk, they eat, they
sleep, they transact business on the roof. The house itself is built with an inner
court and the entire home’s windows look unto this inner court. So…if anything is
to be seen or heard in the every one immediately goes up to the house-top to
satisfy his curiosity. In the same manner, when any one has to make anything
public, the readiest and most effectivel way of doing it is to proclaim it from
the house-tops to the people in the streets (Matthew 10:27).
So
the idea Isaiah is portraying a lively image of pandemonium. He asks “Why
is your town so full of noise? Why is your city so full of the sound of wild
parties?” How could the people throw a party
in the face of an approaching enemy?
I’d be tempted to criticize the city for a lack of good
order and discipline; for a lack of courage in the face of adversity except we’re
told “the Lord who rules over all brought disorder
and terror to the Valley of Vision”.
Why would God do that?
It’s not like they weren’t trying to react appropriately in
preparation for a siege. The city was teeming with frenetic activity. The people
dug pools to store water. They demolished buildings and used the stones to
fortify the city walls.
Then…they went up to the roofs and looked out over the valley.
The enemy was overwhelming. The people realized there was nothing they could do
to stop the inevitable. At some point they simply gave up. They had a choice to
do one of two things: repent and seek God, or give up.
They chose the latter…
Rather than cry out to God in repentance they chose to throw
one last huge party. After all, who wants their last hours to be filled with
fear and panic? Wouldn’t’ it be far more enjoyable to just get drunk? It didn’t
even occur to them to “pay any attention to the One who planned everything long ago”.
As a result, they would forever live with the consequences of their sin.
How pathetic…
We live in a world today that reminds me of Isaiah’s Jerusalem.
We run about wildly reacting to perceived crises. We live in fear of the
unknown. All of this because our inner sense tells us something is wrong…something
ominous is just over the horizon. Could it be Climate change?
Or…God’s judgment?
We may want to pay attention to the one who planned
everything if we hope to approach life’s struggles effectively.
Live
boldly out there today…
No comments:
Post a Comment