Isaiah 25

Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.

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A curious praise since the reason behind it is "you have made the city a heap of rubble, the fortified town a ruin, the foreigners’ stronghold a city no more; it will never be rebuilt".  Unless, or course, we continue to remember that God has a purpose bigger than all this.
Here's what I think. If God tears down our walls of protection...so we have no defense against the perils of the world around us and...we can never rebuild them, what is our recourse? We could flee to God. Or, we could look to build up alternative defenses.

Which, do you suppose God prefers?

In the end, we're told many will turn to God. Strong people, ruthless people, needy people...all turning to Him for shelter. What will God do in return? The Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples,a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth.
I like this. God will not turn away anybody who comes to Him for refuge. It's a blessed promise for all, even those of us today...not only those in the end.

Live boldly out there today...

Isaiah 24

See, the Lord is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; he will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants—it will be the same for priest as for people, for the master as for his servant, for the mistress as for her servant, for seller as for buyer, for borrower as for lender, for debtor as for creditor. The earth will be completely laid waste and totally plundered. The Lord has spoken this word.

(BACKGROUND) Chapters twenty-four through twenty-seven form one continuous poetical prophecy:

Chapter 24 is descriptive of the dispersion and successive calamities of the Jews...the preaching of the Gospel by the first Hebrew converts throughout the world...and the judgments on the adversaries of the Church and its final triumph.

Chapter 25 expresses thanksgiving for the overthrow of the apostate faction...and

Chapter 26 prophecies the establishment of the righteous in lasting peace

Chapter 27 prophecies judgment on leviathan (sea monster) and purging of the Church

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To this point, Isaiah has referenced several nations in particular--Babylon, Philistia, Moab, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Edom, and Tyre. Commentaries suggest this group is intended to represent the entirety of creation. The next four chapters offer a "Big Picture" of God's intent for His creation and, it's not all good.

Chapter 24 addresses Judah specifically but is a general prophesy concerning the last days of our world. It should wake us up. Many of us prefer to believe the final judgment will come after Christ takes his church. When we read the first three verses of Chapter 24 we clearly see that judgment will come on all, regardless of station in life. This is an important distinction because we, as believers (if we aren't careful), often tend to believe that we have lived a life worthy of notice...so much so that the possiblity of judgment doesn't seem likely. After all, why would God destroy a life as accomplished as mine?

Why? Earth is polluted by its very own people, who have broken its laws, disrupted its order,
violated the sacred and eternal covenant. Therefore a curse, like a cancer, ravages the earth.
This judgment is God's "attention step". It's not about vengeance. It's about shaking our lives until we pay attention. So, when we face a challenge...spiritually, emotionally, physically or relationally...we shouldn't get "put out" with God as though He is treating us unfairly. We need to see it as God speaking.

And...it will be the same for priest as for people.

So...how are we going to respond? Will we "curse God and die?" or, will we respond to our trouble with righteousness? Some will. They raise their voices, they shout for joy; from the west they acclaim the Lord’s majesty. Therefore in the east give glory to the Lord; exalt the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea. From the ends of the earth we hear singing: "Glory to the Righteous One.”

I realize many believe themselves so spiritually actualized that they don't need God to shake them up. Apparently they would be wrong. How do you respond to trouble?

Live boldly out there today...

Isaiah 23: A Message about Tyre

“A time is coming when people will forget about Tyre for 70 years. That’s the length of a king’s life. But at the end of those 70 years, Tyre will be like the prostitute that people sing about”.

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Isaiah's soliloquy over the last couple of chapters began with Babylon, center of the greatest land power in history and ends with Tyre, the greatest sea power in history. Isaiah maintains a common theme with all these prophecies: God hates pride.

Tyre believed she was something special. Because of her commercial notoriety, Matthew Henry refers to Tyre as “the mart of the nations”. If he were alive today Henry would refer to this prophesy as “the fall of Walmart!”

Wikipedia informs us Tyre, located on the southern coast of Lebanon, originally consisted of two towns, Tyre itself, which was on an island just off shore, and the associated settlement on the  mainland. Alexander the Great connected the island to the mainland coast by constructing a causeway during his siege of the city. The original island city had two harbors that enabled Tyre to gain the maritime prominence that it did; the harbor on the north side of the island was, in fact, one of the best harbors on the eastern end of the Mediterranean and is still in use today.

Isaiah’s prophesy concerning the fall of Tyre was fulfilled…concurrent with the fall of Jerusalem. From 586-573BC Tyre was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar II until Tyre agreed to pay a tribute. In 538 BC the Persians conquered the city, and kept it under their rule till 332 BC, when Alexander the Great laid siege to the city, conquered and destroyed it. In 126 BC, Tyre regained its independence and was allowed to keep much of its independence when the area became a Roman province in 64 BC. Tyre remained a city of commercial importance until after the time of Christ.

But, or course, Isaiah saw it all coming…

“Men in the ships of Tarshish, cry out! The city of Tyre is destroyed. Its houses and harbor are gone”. But, the desolation of Tyre was not to be forever. We are told The Lord would visit Tyre in mercy. But when set at free, she would resort to her old prideful ways.

God didn’t punish Tyre because she was wildly successful or because she engaged in maritime trade. God doesn’t care how much we have and…in most cases…what we do with our lives. He does care that we honor Him as Lord of all creation. When the Tyrians were given another chance to honor God as the source of their prosperity they failed.

God constantly appears to be interested in second chances. He wants His discipline to change “us” more than it changes the” things we do”. The next time we feel God’s discipline, let’s not hurry to change jobs or states or investments or spouses. That’s not the point. Let’s hurry to change our hearts. In America almost all of us are unbelievably successful and wealthy according the world’s standards. In itself, that’s fine with God. On the other hand, how long we remain this way depends on us, not Iran, or China, or Russia, or Global warming.

Live boldly out there today…

Isaiah 22:15-25, Prophesy against Shebna

“‘Watch out, you mighty man! The Lord is about to grab hold of you. He is about to throw you away”.

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We probably don’t remember being taught about Shebna in Sunday School. We should have been.

Shebna was "treasurer over the house", meaning comptroller or governor of the palace during the reign of king Hezekiah. Because of his pride he was ejected from his office, and replaced by Eliakim the son of Hilkiah. Shebna also appears to have been the leader of the party who favored an alliance with Egypt against Assyria.

His tomb…referred to here by Isaiah…has actually been excavated just outside the ancient walls of Jerusalem. Shebna had actually bought himself a tomb in the cemetery of Kings.  “Just a bit cheeky” as the Brits would say. Who told him he could do that?  Isaiah asked the same question.  ^“What are you doing here outside the city? Who allowed you to cut out a tomb for yourself here?
Who said you could carve out your grave on the hillside? Who allowed you to cut out your resting place in the rock?”

Prideful people do crazy things. General Custer divided his forces three ways and…

President Nixon thought he could lie to the people who elected him and…

General MacArthur thought he was mightier than the president and…

Kenneth Lay thought he could run Enron according to his rules and…

And…”There you will die”.

We all have a bit of Shebna in us. There’s a lesson here that each of us needs to learn regularly and with some pain. Or, we could try to be more like Eliakim. Isaiah said ‘The Lord will give Eliakim the key of authority in David’s royal house. No one can shut what he opens. And no one can open what he shuts”At his installation Eliakim was given authority over the entire government. He was called "father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah".  

Now, that’s a legacy worth pursuing. But, of course we’re told God honored Eliakim because, He said, “Eliakim is my servant”.

Live boldly out there today…

Isaiah 22:1-14, A Message about the Valley of Vision: Jerusalem

“Let’s eat and drink, because tomorrow we’ll die.”

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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…

Isaiah 21:13-17, Message for Arabia

For Arabia…
“The Lord has spoken. He is the God of Israel”.

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The sentiment of the prophecy is simple - within a year the country of Arabia would be overrun by a foreign enemy. All the glory of Kedar, (a confederation of tribes named for the second son of Ishmael), would fade…and the remnant would be small: for Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath spoken."

 The prophecy opens with a declaration that the caravans that were accustomed to passing peacefully through Arabia would be disrupted by war. The caravans, accustomed to finding safe, hospitable entertainment would be forced to seek lodging in the forests. The Arabians would be overrun by a foreign enemy; they would be unable to show hospitality, or insure safety.

Barnes says the historical context could be Sennacherib or Nebuchadnezzar. Both of them over-ran and destroyed Arabia.  But, unlike most prophesy it would be swift and sure. Most of Isaiah speaks of events that will transpire decades or centuries in the future. This one will be fulfilled in a year.

No “but, if…” no “unless you…” no escape. But, these are the sons of Ishmael. God loved them but knew they weren’t inclined to listen. Things haven’t changed much. We should be careful that old feuds and frustrations don’t prevent us from hearing a word from the Lord. Consequences could be very swift indeed.

Live boldly out there today…

Isaiah 21:11-12, Message for Edom

For Edom…

“Morning is coming. But the night will return.”

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In this great metaphor Isaiah is a night watchman among the nations of the world and responds to inquiries about when the night might be over. The questions don’t bother Isaiah. In fact he says “If you want to ask again, come back and ask.”

 Keil and Delitzsch tell us the answer is intentional and pathetic: even if the morning dawns, it will be swallowed up again directly by night…the night being a metaphor for political domination by foreign powers. History agrees. The Assyrian period of judgment was followed by the Chaldean, and the Chaldean by the Persian, and the Persian by the Grecian, and the Grecian by the Roman. Again and again there was a glimmer of morning dawn for Edom but it was swallowed up directly by another night

And on, and on, forever…

Yet, if our watchman is a metaphor for God, in Christ, we see a blessed promise in the middle of our darkness. Then the watchman says “you can come back and inquire later” he uses the word shūbū (turn back) offering a hint at the idea of “repentance” (turn around).

We are forever dead in our sins…in spite of periods of relief. We can choose to accept the truth and walk away…in despair. Or, we can “turn around” and ask the watchman again. Perhaps the answer will change. Ironically, the key to salvation is acknowledging that God has the answer but…we may have to go back a number of times before we get the answer we seek. The way to salvation for everybody is just the same as for Israel - namely, the way of repentance.

And still its night. God doesn’t mind us asking how long it will last. He encourages to keep coming back…for a different answer. Whatever night you are facing…keep in touch with the watchman.

Live boldly out there…