Isaiah 25:6-8 – O death, where is your sting!

In the first five verses of chapter 25, Isaiah turned to address the LORD, adoring and thanking Him, the perfect God, for His faithfulness in dealing with sin and protecting the needy. Notice here he refers to God as the LORD of armies. This term could either refer to God as the LORD of Israel’s armies or the LORD of the hosts of heaven. Regardless of how one takes this to mean, Isaiah wanted his readers to know that this God is the LORD of all.

This God would prepare a feast for all peoples on this mountain. Which mountain?  Though it is not specified here, we learn earlier in Isaiah 24:23 that the mountain would be Mount Zion. That was where the prophet said, “For the Lord of armies will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and His glory will be before His elders.”  Hence, we conclude that the lavish feast that the LORD would host would be on Mount Zion and Jerusalem. This was no ordinary feast. It would be a grand and lavish feast hosted by the LORD.

 

What exactly does verse 7 mean? Isaiah said, “And on this mountain, He will destroy the covering, which is overall peoples, the veil which is stretched over all nations”? What is this covering that stretches over all nations? Verse 8 sheds light on this. We concluded that he was referring to death. Death had been a threat that had stretched over all mankind since the fall of Adam. Here God is portrayed as removing the sentence of death that had threatened all mankind since the fall. This is substantiated by Hebrews 2:14-15 that tell us that Christ has destroyed “…the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” Through Christ, God not only removed death, but He would wipe away all tears, and remove the disgrace of HIs people from all the earth.

 

Death is a grim reminder that mankind had been under the curse of sin. Many had been subjected to the fear of death. Praise God, in Christ Jesus, He has removed the one who controls death i.e. the devil. In Christ, we no longer fear death, hence we are no longer under the hold of the devil. For in Christ, death has lost its sting! Now we can look forward to the feast in God‘s presence. Hallelujah!                                                          

 

Isaiah 25:1-5 – God is worthy of our praise

Despite the gloomy scene described in chapter 24, Isaiah saw something grander and greater here in Chapter 25. He encountered God in all His perfection. Notice how personally he addressed God. The term LORD refers to the covenant name of God. To Him, this LORD was not just a theological concept but a personal name of God. Whenever the word LORD appears in all capital letters, the Bible is referring to Yahweh, the God whom His covenanted people had a relationship with. When Isaiah thought of Him, he simply could not refrain the flow of adoration, gratitude, and thanksgiving. He also could not see God without realizing His work and perfect faithfulness. So in verses 2-5, Isaiah provided two reasons why he praised God and thanked Him.

Firstly, in verses 2-3, Isaiah acknowledged that God in His faithfulness had to deal with sin. That’s why He turned a city into a heap and a fortified city into a ruin. A faithful God could not allow sin to remain rampant. So that in His judgment, a people who had been dealt with could emerge to bring glory to Him. What God had done would also put ruthless men in their rightful place.  God’s goal in dealing with men is never just punitive but restorative. We get the sense here that God had to deal with evil for if He did not, evil would not be arrested, and righteousness would not be encouraged.

 

Secondly,  in verses 4-5 he praised God for His protection of the helpless, the distressed, and the needy. He became a refuge and a shelter for those who could not protect themselves.  Like Isaiah, we must realize that the God we worship and serve is worthy of praise. Not only must we praise Him, but we must also thank Him for His constant protection. We must not only praise Him in great times but also trust Him in difficult times. Yes, we must praise God regardless!

Isaiah 24:14-23 – Build to last

Isaiah asserted that there would be a day of reckoning and there would be no escaping of it. Both rebellious angels from heaven and kings of the earth would be punished. There was an ancient practice that when prisoners were captured, they were thrown into a dungeon and left unattended until they were summoned for the reckoning. In Jude 6 we are told that “…angels who did not keep their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling place, these He has kept in eternal restraints under darkness for the judgment of the great day….” On that day of reckoning, both the rebellious angels and kings of the earth would be summoned and assembled for the punishment.

In verse 23, Isaiah emphasized that the glory of the Lord is incomparable, so much so that even the brilliance of the moon and the sun will pale by comparison. This would happen on that day when the glory of the Lord of hosts would be experienced before the elders at Mount Zion and Jerusalem.  

 

What then shall we do in the light of the day of reckoning? We take Paul’s admonition in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 seriously. He urged us to be careful about how we build our lives. We must be sure that Christ is our foundation. Then we build on that foundation, materials of gold, silver, and precious stones, and not wood, hay, or stubble. Why? For there in the testing, the quality of our works will be revealed. We must build our lives in such a way so that we pass the test and not suffer any loss. Let us build to last!

Isaiah 24:14-20 – Learn to keep a short account with God.

Earlier in chapter 24 of Isaiah, we discovered that there would be no joy or celebration for the people because their vineyards had dried up and the harvest was not forthcoming. Abruptly, without any transition, Isaiah spoke about voices and shouts of joy. We were not told whose voices were those. But the glory of the Lord, the Righteous One was recognized and the name of the God of Israel extolled. They could well be the voices of the remnant which Isaiah had referred to earlier.  

Tersely, the mood became somber in verse 16. Isaiah lamented exclaiming, “I am finished! I am finished! Woe is me!” He asserted that the treacherous would never change. They would always deal treacherously. Treachery would be the thing that would cut short the voices of glory. While there might be glorious singing unto the Lord, the treacherous would continue to deal deceitfully. 

 

Verses 17-20 showed what would happen at the coming judgment. There would be no way of escaping for the inhabitants of the earth. All efforts to evade it would be futile. Floods and earthquakes would devastate the earth. This is being depicted by the opening of the windows above and the shaking of the earth’s foundation. God’s judgment on mankind is being portrayed here in the destruction of the earth. Laden by sin and wrongdoing, the earth would fall and never rise again.

 

The gravity of sin cannot be ignored. No one can flirt with sin and expect to get away scot-free. Trifling with it only results in death and destruction. God hates sin and so must we. Don’t let a sin-laden life weigh us down. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we must learn to keep short accounts with God. It is always best to remain on God’s side!

Isaiah 24:1-13 – Don’t take the grace of God for granted

In chapters 13-23, Isaiah’s message of judgment was pronounced on the nations. There he specifically mentioned each nation by name. In chapters 24-27, his message of judgment was on the whole world. No nation was specifically mentioned. In these latter chapters, God’s judgment is portrayed as a global one. Ultimately God’s enemies would be destroyed and His people, Israel, would be restored to the land.  

In contrast to the order that God brought about at the beginning of creation described in Genesis 1, here in Isaiah 24, we see order being turned into chaos. The earth would lay waste, devastated, its surface twisted, and its inhabitants scattered. In Genesis God systematically brought everything into order. Here God did the opposite and the whole earth would be decimated. Verses 2-3 indicate that regardless of status, class, or position, no one was spared. So thorough would God’s judgment be that everyone would be affected.

 

Next the prophet described the devastation of the earth and her inhabitants. Verse 3 says that the earth would be “completely laid waste and completely plundered.” Why? Because the Lord had spoken. The earth would be rendered useless because she had been abused by her inhabitants. She could no longer yield her produce to sustain them.  There was a breach to the everlasting covenant till earth’s ecology became topsy-turvy.  There would come a time when the earth could no longer sustain her inhabitants, so they dwindled and the number of people decreased.  

 

Verses 4-13 leave us with a very bleak and gloomy scene. Harvest time was usually a time of joy and celebration. Now with the vine dried up and the harvest was not forthcoming, how could the people celebrate? The community of people would be in chaos. Why? because they cannot escape the judgment that God would bring. Verse 13 implies that the judgment of God would be very thorough. How? Just as an olive tree or a grapevine would be left with no fruit after the harvest, so thorough would God’s dealing be that there would be nothing left after His judgment.   

 

With the description of impending doom, what can we take away? Do not take the grace of God for granted. The privilege we enjoy as God’s people comes with the call to be faithful to the responsibility of the privilege entails. What we do with our life matters! So be responsible and live for the glory of God!     

Isaiah 23:15-18 – The bane of materialism

The figure 70 is roughly the average life span of a person. Moses in psalms 90:10 affirmed this saying “for the days of our life, they contain seventy years….” In Isaiah 23:15, the prophet prophesied that Tyre would be forgotten for seventy years, the average life span of a king. With her destruction described in earlier verses, Tyre was out of business for that duration. The after the seventy years she would restart her shipping trade, but the business would not be as buzzing and lucrative as she once used to be. The client was hard to come by. So mockingly, Isaiah referred Tyre to a forgotten harlot and urged her to pick up her harp to play and sing songs to attract her customers so that they would remember her.

Verses 17-18 speak of Tyre’s revival. Her business picked up  and would return to trade with the other nations and regained her wealth. All these could happen because of the visitation of the LORD. In God’s working with the nations, He would demonstrate His compassion. From here we learn that God judges the wicked, but He also leaves room for compassion in His dealings. We take heart because if He could be gracious to Tyre who was not in a covenant relationship with Him, how much more would He be merciful to those whom He has a covenant with. Here we see Tyre reciprocating to God’s graciousness by dedicating their gains to support God’s ministers.   

The two flaws Tyre clearly displayed were pride and greed. In the past two discussions, we talked about her pride. What about her greed? Being a commercial city, wealth and riches would occupy their minds. Here we see God took away everything they had for seventy years. What’s wonderful here was that when they were restored, they could dedicate their wealth to support the work of God. We too need to have a gentle grasp on wealth. Don’t be overtaken by materialism in life. In our affluence society, it is easy to focus on making money. Let us not be consumed with amassing wealth until we leave little or no time for God. It is disastrous for our spiritual well-being!

 

Isaiah 23:8-14 – Pride will guarantee one’s fall

Having pronounced the destruction of Tyre in verses 1-7, Isaiah asked a rhetorical question in verse 8. He asked: “Who has planned this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose merchants were princes, whose traders were honoured of the earth?” This question was aimed to stir his audience to ponder how Tyre, which was once a prosperous and significant city, ended up in such a predicament. Didn’t it once play a key role in the success of nations around the Mediterranean region? Why then did it become so undone?

The prophet set out in verse 9 to answer his own rhetorical question. He asserted that it was the plan of the Almighty God to bring an end to their pride. Isaiah’s message clearly asserted that God alone deserves the glory. Any nation, regardless, which sought to exalt itself and grab the glory that rightly belongs to God, would be brought to naught. Isaiah’s hope was for Judah and Jerusalem to note what he was saying. He wanted them to know that if they proceeded down the same route as prideful Tyre, and would not turn to rely on God, they too would suffer the same consequence.

Verses 10-11 show that in the judgment of Tyre and Sidon, God had commanded the sea to bring about its destruction. Though the people of Sidon sought to take refuge in Cyprus they could not find rest there. To erase all doubts concerning God’s ability to do it, the prophet in verse 13 asserted that God had done it before to Babylon. Indeed God had once brought down that great Babylon and reduced its cities to ruins. Isaiah’s point was if God had done it before to Babylon, He could also do the same to Tyre and Sidon, and even Judah.

We cannot get away from the issue of pride that Tyre and Sidon displayed. Pride is a stubborn attitude that causes one to lose one’s ability to accurately appraise oneself. It’s an attitude that causes one to inflate one’s importance, wisdom, and ability. Hence, it will make trusting God impossible. So Proverbs 18:12 says, “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, but humility goes before honor.” True wisdom begins when we acknowledge that we are nothing without God. Remember to always stay humble and pliable before God!

Isaiah 23:1-7 – Let our confidence be in the Lord

In Isaiah 23, the prophet brought a message to Tyre. Together with Sidon, they were the key cities of the Phoenicians. Strategically located at the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea, these cities were commercial cities known for shipping. Ships would bring goods from as far as Tarshish to the city of Tyre. During the time of David, Israel had an alliance with Hiram the King of Tyre. David even used building material and workmen from Tyre to build his palace. Into the time of Solomon, Israel still had a peaceful relationship with Tyre. In fact, Solomon solicited the help of builders and skillful artisans of Tyre in building the temple of Jerusalem. There is one notorious fact about Israel’s relationship with Tyre. It is the marriage of King Ahab with Jezebel, the Phoenician princess who introduced and promoted the worship of Baal in Israel. However, we can tell that Tyre was once a very distinguished city.   

Here Isaiah’s message in verses 1-7 describe the sorry state of affairs of Tyre. It would soon be a far cry from the city it once was. Here the prophet began his call to the Tarshish sailors coming to Tyre to wail. Why? For that city together with her houses and harbor would be destroyed. These sailors were purported to have received the news from Cyprus. Both Sidon and Tyre were apparently enjoying prosperity because their ships were used to ferry goods from Egypt to other nations. With their destructions, their wealth and prosperity would soon cease. So here the merchants of Sidon were described as silent, more precisely left speechless. The destructi0n of the city and her shipping industry would cause merchants from Tarshish as well as Egypt to wail. The once jubilant citizens of successful Tyre and Sidon were admonished to wail. There would be nothing for them to be joyful about when what they would soon be ruined 

Reading an account of how the once magnificent Tyre was being brought low lead us to think about the warning given by Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:12. He said, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” The moment we look at our accomplishment as if we had attained it by our own ingenuity, we are poised for pride to strike. Perhaps this was the situation of Tyre. It behooves us to take time to reflect and realize that what we all have accomplished and can potentially accomplish, they all come from the Lord. That will keep our feet ever grounded in humility. So let our confidence be in God not in ourselves!

Isaiah 22:15-25 – It is God who will promote or demote

In this message, Isaiah particularly addressed Shebna by name. Who is Shebna? Where did he hail from? Not much is known of this man. It is believed that he was an Assyrian of some influence and position. He was probably appointed to the position of a steward by King Ahaz, the father of Hezekiah. Hence, he was a steward of the royal household during Hezekiah’s reign. No reason was given why Sheba was appointed to that position. But we surmise from these verses that he was a person of power and authority. And he was not only wicked but also proud and deceitful. Shebna was so audacious and thought himself so highly that he proudly hewed a tomb for himself in the rock. He probably meant it to be a monument to his greatness.

Here Isaiah was sent by God with a message of judgment for him that announced his downfall. He would be taken down and his position taken by Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah. God had high regard for Eliakim whom he would send to replace Shebna to take charge of the royal household. His power and authority would come from God. We can safely conclude that this Eliakim was loyal to the Lord and was faithful and trustworthy. In his humility, he would be raised to be a great officer of King Hezekiah’s court.  

Shebna probably thought that he was in control. But we know better. Nobody can be in a position if God has not allowed it. People are placed in positions to fulfill God’s ultimate plan. If anyone thinks that he or she is rooted in an unmovable position, that person is sorely mistaken. God is the one who determines the outcome. Hence when we are in a position and no matter how much control we have, be sure to grasp it gently. Be sure to act in accordance with the direction of God. No one is indispensable in the program of God. He would put in key positions people who have a heart for Him. Ultimately, one’s rise or fall is controlled by the Lord God Almighty.           

Isaiah 22: 1-14 – Knowing God and seeing from His perspective

 In Isaiah 22, the prophet brought a message concerning Jerusalem. Here Isaiah referred to her as the valley of vision. Though located on Mount Zion he called her a valley. Isaiah was probably being sarcastic. Why? Instead of being able to see clearly and discerningly the reason they were going through all the tough circumstances that God had allowed to fall upon them, they remained totally oblivious, blind, and undiscerning. Giving his messages to those who were sent to Babylon, Dumah, and Arabia was indicative of what he thought of Jerusalem. Spiritually speaking, the people of Jerusalem were no better than the nations which he had pronounced judgments on. For Judah was no better, she had acted like those heathen nations and therefore would share the same outcome as they.

The people of Jerusalem were oblivious of what was coming. Verses 1-2 described them as celebrating boisterously on their housetops. This could be the temporary relief from the oppression of the Assyrians. Undiscerningly and unrepentantly they celebrated and rejoiced, thoughtless of God’s plan for them through it all. However, Isaiah saw no reason why they should be so jubilant. He foresaw a coming siege by Babylon. He saw the people dying of starvation and not by the sword. He saw the rulers fleeing and the people of God taken captives to a faraway land. Seeing what would be happening to Jerusalem, the prophet wept.

Verses 5-7 described what would happen further to Jerusalem. He saw the beloved city besieged, the people dominated, and the place in great mayhem. Walls were seen broken down. Archers from Elam were seen steadying their arrows to shoot, and the army from Kir with their chariots, infantryman, and horsemen with the swords off their sheaths, ready to conquer. All escape routes were sealed. Then in verses 8-11, Isaiah described the desperate people of Jerusalem trying to prepare for the siege. They failed to realize how futile their efforts were because they did not turn to God who was bringing all these upon them.

In verses 12-14, Isaiah seemed to have returned to address their needless jubilation described in verses 1-2. Their couldn’t-care-a-damn mentality caused them to develop a carefree attitude leading to careless behaviours. Their unrepentance had left them unforgiven. Hence, they were virtually living under a death sentence.

Jerusalem could not see clearly because God was not in their hearts. Hence, He was not in their perspective. Without mincing words, Isaiah told them in verse 11 saying “But you did not depend on Him who made it, nor did you take into consideration Him who planned it long ago.” The people had not factored God into all that they were experiencing. Without God in our life, we will have no light and no clear vision. We need to have God in the heart so that we will have bright light and clear vision. Make sure His light is ever shining in our lives!

Isaiah 21:13-17 – What if we have only one year left to live?

Here Isaiah’s word addressed Arabia. He started by addressing the Dedanites who were the descendants of Dedan, a son of Cush. They were mainly nomadic Bedouins and desert dwellers traveling in caravans. They were seen here to be caught in the battle and forced to seek refuge in the thickets of Arabia. As they do the inhabitants of Tema were urged to bring water and supplies to meet the needs of these thirsty and hungry refugees and fugitives, scrambling to escape the sword and bow.

Then in verses 16-17, Isaiah delivered a word of judgment on the sons of Kedar or the people dwelling in the region of Arabia. He prophesied that “In a year, as a hired man would count it, all the splendor of Kedar will terminate; and the remainder of the number of bowmen, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, will be few….” God virtually announced the decimation of the pride and people of Arabia.  

Why do you think God set the timing for the destruction of Kedar?  Could He be giving time for them to set things in order? What would we do if God gives us a year to set our life in order? Thankfully, this is just a hypothetical question. But I think it is a good motivation to get us to start living for God. For sure all of us would want to ensure that we are consistently and constantly connected to the Lord. Then we would want to make sure that we take care of the mission God has entrusted to us. It will do us well to take time to take stalk of our lives. List down our priorities in life and make time to fulfill them. Let’s get going!

Isaiah 21:11-12 – We are God’s envoys on earth

Isaiah’s message in these two verses was for Edom. Seir is another name for Edom. It was likely that with Arabia, Edom had allied herself with Babylon to fight the Assyrians. She would certainly be concerned about the repercussion since she had allied herself with the Babylonians. Their concern would be what would happen when the Assyrians had decided to be more aggressive and come and attack them. This would have caused them sleepless nights. Hence the concern they expressed in verse 11 was how long would their night be?  So they asked:

“Watchman, how far gone is the night?
Watchman, how far gone is the night?”

The word “night” here refers to their distress, anxiety, and worries. How could they sleep when they were anticipating Assyria’s attack anytime? Their minds would be filled with worries and anxieties about the problem that had besieged them. How could they rest when their minds were ruminating on the conflict they had to endure? Edom was going through such a spell. So they turned to Isaiah to enquire about the future, about how long would they have to endure this uncertainty. Isaiah did not give them a specific time but told them to keep inquiring.

The fact that they turned to Isaiah shows us how much they trusted him. They could have turned to their own sages but why didn’t they? Isaiah must have earned for himself a name to be one who would provide accurate information concerning the future. Why wouldn’t he since he was the prophet of the true and living God?

We are all representatives of God’s Kingdom. Remember Jesus said that we are the salt of the earth. Our behavior and conduct should create a thirst in others to desire to know what makes us who we are. Like Isaiah, we should rightly reflect God so that when our friends or associates have an issue, we will be the ones whom they would turn to. Let us make a mark as Jesus’ disciples!

Isaiah 21:1-10 – Be watchful and discerning

Although here Isaiah prophesied against Babylon, he did not name it directly but called it the wilderness of the sea. It was not until verse 9 that Babylon was mentioned when her fall was pronounced. Why Babylon was referred to as the wilderness of the sea? Ancient Babylon was just a plain, filled with lakes and marshes. The two great Rivers Tigris and Euphrates flowed through the plain before emptying its water into the Persian Gulf. It was designated wilderness in the light of what God, using the Elam and Media, was about to do to it. When God’s judgment with them was through, they would be a wasteland.

In verse 2 Isaiah was describing the harsh vision he saw of Elam and Mede’s invasion of Babylon. He called them treacherous destroyers because they were once allies of Babylon. The alliance of Mede and Elam (Medo-Persian empire) finally defeated Babylon in 538 B.C. What Isaiah saw would happen to Babylon troubled him deeply and emotionally. Verses 3-5 describe how the prophet felt when he saw the vision. He described himself as a woman going through the pains of child labor. However, despite the impending invasion and suffering that were coming, Isaiah saw the Babylonians still embroiled and caught up in their banquet.

God then told Isaiah to send a lookout to watch out for the news of what would happen to Babylon. In verse 9, the lookout came announcing, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon.” All the images of their gods were threshed and shattered on the ground. This once again clearly demonstrates the inability of nations to avert God’s judgment. Seeing the Babylonians having to subject themselves to God’s judgment, was a signal that Judah should not seek their help. The concluding lines of verse 10 speak of God’s people being caught in the center of it. They would suffer some threshing in the rise and fall of these world powers.  

Like Isaiah we are called to be God’s watchmen. And like him, we must also learn to listen carefully to God’s Word and discern the sign of the time.  How can we adequately warn the people if we are not attentive to what God is saying as He shapes world events? Watchmen of God, let us rise up to our call!  

Isaiah 20:1-6 – Make our life God’s message

Ashdod was one of the five cities of the Philistines. During the reign of King Sargon of Assyria about 722-715 B.C. he sent his commander to fight Ashdod and had it captured. It was at that time God sent Isaiah with a message to discourage Judah from joining forces with Egypt, and Cush or Ethiopia, to go against Assyria. The mode by which Isaiah was to communicate was drastically dramatic and graphic. God told him “Go and loosen the sackcloth from your hips and take your shoes off your feet.” And he did so, going about naked and barefoot for three years.

The whole purpose of Isaiah’s graphic display of himself naked and barefooted was to show the people of Judah how futile it was for them to turn to Egypt and Ethiopia for help. According to verses 3-5, God wanted Judah to know that “Even as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot three years as a sign and token against Egypt and Cush, so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old, naked and barefoot with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.”

A picture paints a thousand words, so what Isaiah did was vivid and unforgettable. It was to show Judah the hopelessness of turning to Egypt and Ethiopia. It shows obviously that world powers were under God’s control and subjected to what He said. For us today, we need to know that the crisis we face cannot be solved by worldly methods. If we are to accomplish much in life we need to live by the will of God.

One last thought. If we were in Isaiah’s shoes would we have obeyed God as he did? The truth is this: if we want to be effective messengers of God, we must learn to live transparent lives. We can no longer live with our camouflages. Why? How we behave  can either reveal or conceal Christ. Live well and be God's message to the community!

Isaiah 19:16-25 – God’s want all to be saved.

Amazingly in this portion of scriptures, Isaiah saw a turn of event. the Egyptians who were deceived by their leaders now turning to God. It was a case where the people who experienced the discipline of the Lord, realized it was the Lord’s hand and turned to Him. We would have wished this were Judah responding to the Lord, but instead, it was the Egyptians. The Lord was said to wave His hand and they would become as weak as women. How ironic it was for Judah to think of turning  Egypt for help when it was the Lord that they needed. Egypt seemed to have better sense.  

As providence would have it, instead of Judah being terrified of Egypt it was the vice versa. And not only Egypt but also everyone on hearing of Egypt turning to Judah they would be terrified. This could only happen because the Lord’s hand was behind all these. Isaiah assured them that when God dealt with the, five cities would be aligned with Judah and speak the language of Canaan. But one would be set for destruction.

 

God would smite Egypt and then heal them. The Egyptians in large numbers would turn to trust the Lord. He would forgive them as they set up an altar to the Lord in the midst of Egypt and pillars at the border. Here we see God accepting them and delivering them from their enemies. They would in turn pay their tribute to the Lord and make sacrifices to Him. Eventually Egypt. Israel and Assyria would collaborate and become the blessing of the Lord.

 

God is in the saving business. Peter tells us that he desires that none should perish but all to come to repentance. Whether Egypt, Assyria, or Israel God’s ultimate plan is for all to come to the saving knowledge of Christ. That’s the heart of God. What a glorious God!

Isaiah 19:5-15 – God is ever near and ready to help

Egypt’s disaster was not just confined to what was described in Isaiah 19:1-4. It was further described in verses 5-19. Isaiah continued to tell them the depth of what would come upon them. He already told them that their gods would be judged. He then continues to tell them that their economy would be severely affected in the judgment too. The Nile, the main source of income for fishermen, would dry up. Apart from the fishermen,  people whose livelihood depended on water from the Nile would be greatly disturbed too. The water of the Nile could no longer irrigate their fields. Their dependence on the water would affect the supply of flax to weave their linens. Hence the manufacturer of cloth would be in great despair. Their economy would be greatly impacted by the situation in the Nile. Here the implication is obvious. God controls the Nile. The gods that claimed to have authority over it could not do a thing about it.  

Verses 11-15 then went on to describe how Egypt was duped and misled by their own princes and supposed wise men. Zoan was once the capital of Egypt where their princes surrounded by their sages resided. Mockingly, Isaiah told the leaders and wise men,  pointing out their stupidity. How could they be wise when they could not even detect or understand the purpose God had for Egypt. Both the leadership whether from Zoan or Memphis were foolish and clueless on what God was doing. They were touted to be the pillars of Egypt but were leading the country astray. They were creating great confusion for the nation. And there was nothing they could do about it because unlike God, they were not in control.  

 

Though these words were not written about us, they were written for us. Isaiah 19:1-15 described the judgment of God coming to Egypt in three directions. Firstly in verses 1-4, he said that the gods of Egypt would be judged. Secondly, in verses 5-9, he showed how their economy would be judged; and finally, in verses 10-15, he described how their leadership would be judged. God was telling them that just as Assyria was of no help to them, neither would Egypt. How could Egypt help them when they themselves were subjected to God’s judgments? How could they when their own gods could not, and their economy and leadership were all subjected to God’s judgment? The only trustworthy person they could turn to, yet they would not. Isn’t it much like us? Here’s a lesson for us. Don’t waste time seeking solutions to your life’s problem anywhere else but God. He is ever near and ready to see us through any crisis.     

Isaiah 19:1-4 – God is the sure bet in life's crisis

Trusting God and abandoning themselves to Him fully was something that Judah did not do for a long time. Because of His love and concern for them, God would deal harshly with them and seek means to drive them back to Himself. Whether it was through the threat from the Syria-Israel alliance, or later from Assyria, God’s purpose was to get them to return to Him. But they just would not trust God. So here, with the message Isaiah gave concerning Egypt, God was making another attempt to get them to trust Him. The message, though for Egypt, was a way of discouraging Judah from turning to them for assistance. God’s desire was for the people of Judah to align themselves with Him.

The message began with Isaiah highlighting God as riding swiftly on the cloud and about to come to Egypt. This fact underscores the sovereignty of God. Just as He was in control of Assyria, He was also in control of Egypt. Just as He used Assyria in His plan to deal with His people, God would also use Egypt to align His people. Like Assyria, Egypt was also an instrument in God’s hand.

 

Here God through Isaiah was describing what would be happening to Egypt. God was seen here coming to Egypt to deal with them. As He did, both her people and their deities were petrified. That resulted in chaos in the nation that brought about internal strife and civil upheaval. Egypt was seen here as a country divided where the people fought each other, city against city and kingdom against kingdom. The Egyptians would be so demoralized as God brought confusion among them till they were driven to seek the help of the departed spirits of the dead through mediums and spiritism. God would also deliver them into a cruel master. They were scheduled to fall under the control of another king.

 

Nowhere can be more secure than to be in God. When we encounter hard times, who do we usually run to for solutions? Foolishly, there are people who would turn to mediums and spiritism seeking for a solution. Remember that God is our safest bet to a sure solution. It would be foolhardy to run helter-skelter seeking for an answer when God is ever ready to come to our rescue. If we repent and return to Him, be sure that He, like the loving father in the parable of the prodigal son, is ever waiting with open arms for us to come to Him.   

Isaiah 18:4-7 – Our Sovereign God is in control

In Isaiah 18:4-6 God through Isaiah provided a picture of how he would act. In contrast to the frenzy of Ethiopia and Assyria, God would operate from rest. The reason God could operate with calm and tranquillity was that as the Sovereign, He already knew what the result would be. He was seating calmly in His dwelling place watching everything that was going on. God operating from rest did not mean that He was nonchalant about what was happening. Isaiah tells us that God was quietly but sovereignly involved in the judgment. Phrases such as “like dazzling heat in the sunshine,” and “a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest” suggests God’s presence and quiet involvement in what was happening. His presence and involvement were like the heat that could be felt in the sunshine or dew that would certainly fall even during summertime.

Though the name of the enemy was not named, Isaiah was referring to Assyria. Here God through Isaiah gave a glimpse of what would happen to this enemy of Judah. Verses 5-6 show that God would act swiftly at the right time to remove them just like a harvester pruning and removing unwanted branches. What He had pruned would be left on the mountain for the birds of prey to feast on. In the same way, the dead bodies of the enemy would be left on the battlefield and be consumed by wild animals. Verse 7 then concluded with a more positive note. The prophet turned from talking about war to worship. When Assyria had been defeated, Ethiopia would bring homage to God. The tall and smooth people whom we have identified as the people of Cush or Ethiopia would come bringing a gift to Mount Zion to honor God. Ultimately Cush like all nations would acknowledge God’s sovereignty.

 

The lesson is clear, God is sovereign. He is in control of our destiny. His quiet presence will work to deliver us from the plight we may encounter. As sure as heat is felt in the sun and dew would fall regardless of when, God’s presence would be with us in our predicament. Therefore we can absolutely trust Him!  

Isaiah 18:1-3 – God is ever ready to deliver us

Isaiah 18 is probably one of the most difficult chapters in the book. The message of the prophet here was addressing Cush which we know is Ethiopia. Like Assyria, Cush or Ethiopia was a dominant world power then. In verse 1, Isaiah referred to her as “the land of whirring wings” suggesting that she could have taken control of Egypt, the land full of buzzing insects. Being troubled by the Assyrians, it was natural for Judah to pivot to Ethiopia seeking for help. “A nation tall and smooth” in verse 2 is another reference to Ethiopia. Judah was goaded to send envoys to make an alliance with them.     

Verses 3 suggests that God did not approve of Judah’s alliance with Ethiopia. For He, Himself would be more than sufficient to deal with any nation, much less Assyria. Here He called the nations to witness what He would do to deliver His people. As soon as He began His work to deliver His people, what He would do would be made known and obvious to all. God was making clear that Judah should trust Him alone. There was no one who could bring about a more effective deliverance than Him.  

 

Who do we turn to when we need help in times of our difficulty? God is the best deliverer when we are facing tough times in life. Let us not be like the people of Judah who turned to Ethiopia instead of turning to the Lord. Make God our first option in times of need and not our last resort. He is ever ready to help us. Take comfort, He cares!

Isaiah 17:1-14 – Don’t be a tad too late

In Isaiah 17, the prophet began his warning to Damascus. In describing what would happen to that capital of Aram or Syria, he was also sending a message to Israel. He declared to Israel that like Aram and her cities, Israel’s cities would also be abandoned and made desolate. The reason why they would suffer the same end as Aram was that they had forgotten God, their only hope of deliverance. He was the One who alone could give them the refuge they needed, but they chose rather to trust in their own strength and wit.   

Using agricultural language, Isaiah showed how futile it was for Israel to trust in their own wit to do whatever they could to survive. In their effort to cultivate “delightful plants” they had unwittingly incorporated what was foreign in their effort. Allegorically, “the vine of a strange god” implied that they had adopted the strange idolatrous practices of the foreigners whom they sought help from. In verse 11, sarcastically, Isaiah told them that even if they were to succeed to cause the plant to bud in a day, obviously they could not, their yield would be worthless. Why? Because what was coming upon them could not be deterred by human effort. Their best effort simply would not be enough to see them through.

In verses 12-14, we see a message of hope for God’s people. Although they would be caught up in the upcoming uproar, yet they would not be destroyed in the fiasco. These verses indicate that Damascus and Israel would be dealt with. Though Judah would be caught in the middle, God would miraculously protect and deliver her. Isaiah had foretold of the impending terrifying judgment as well as the hope of deliverance from God. It was time for a decision. It was now up to them to respond to trust God and embrace His promised deliverance.  

A passage like this tells us that we do not need a disaster to happen to us before we turn to God. Being steadfast in trusting God remains the best way to avert calamity and ensure a triumphant life. Do not wait until something catastrophic happens before we will turn to Him. By then, it may be a tad too late. Always strike while the iron is hot. That’s the path to a great destiny!

Isaiah 17:1-8 – Don’t take God for granted

In our discussion in Isaiah 7, we discovered that Assyria, the domineering world power then, was menacing the surrounding nations. So King Pekah of Israel and King Rezin of Aram went into an alliance to deal with Assyria. They wanted King Ahaz of Judah to join them in their effort against Assyria, but he refused. This incurred their displeasure and they threatened to punish King Ahaz and Judah for their refusal. The Prophet Isaiah told Ahaz to trust God to protect Judah, but the latter chose to turn to Assyria for help. After helping Judah, Assyria turned to terrorize them. This was the folly of Ahaz and Judah for pivoting to Assyria. In Isaiah 17, the message was a warning to Damascus as well as Ephraim.

Damascus, as we know, was the capital of Aram of Syria. And Ephraim here refers to Israel, the northern kingdom. Here God warned that Damascus would be a fallen city and left in ruin. They would similarly experience the fading glory like Israel. The Assyrians did attack Aram and took many of her people back home and left the state and the cities deserted and desolate. The message of the fall of Damascus was also a warning to Israel as well. God would also deal with them. Here we see a picture of the fallen glory of Israel. As a nation, Ephraim would waste away. However, verse 7 said that man would turn to God on that day of reckoning. Man would have regard for his Maker and would look to the Holy One of Israel. This “man” suggests that some pathetic survivors in those tragic circumstances would then turn to consider God, and not to the idols that they once venerated.   

While the message was to Damascus, God’s primary concern was Israel, His people. It was good to see that some would consider God in their crisis. We wonder why it has to take a tragedy to wake them up from their follies. Here is a warning for us not to take God for granted. While we are basking in the sunshine of God’s love and blessings, we must never take God for granted. We must always know that He is God and seek to fear and revere Him. In the abundance of His blessings, we must not forget that He is the source of all of them.    

 

 

Isaiah 16:6-14 – Pride guarantees one’s downfall

In Isaiah 16:6-11, the prophet pointed to the pride of Moab. That was their main problem. In her pride, she boasted ignorantly. There is something about pride. It blinds people from knowing who they truly were and made them think of themselves more highly than they should. The pride of  Moab resulted in them having a false sense of security. Since pride always has its repercussion, the people of Moab would experience some sad outcomes. Each outcome was introduced by the connective “therefore.”

One outcome was the destruction of the vineyard where the economy of Moab would be affected. The “raisin cakes” referred to were not cakes baked with raisins but rather raisins being pressed into a whole lump like a cake then be put up for sales or exported. So the raisin cake of Kir- Hareseth represents their prosperity. So badly would their prosperity be affected that they would be wailing. The other thing that would affect their prosperity would be the destruction of their vineyards which were cultivated for wine production. The Lord would destroy them by trampling and destroying their choice clusters.  

Another outcome described in verses 9-10 was expressed by the grief Isaiah felt for the plight that Moab would experience. Instead of a joyful celebration during harvest, there would be nothing to celebrate about. In the destruction of the vineyards by the invasion, they could no longer produce wine. Harvest time was usually a time of joy where wine treaders would trample on the harvested grapes to produce wine. There would no longer be such a joyful celebration as the vineyards would be destroyed and no treaders available to tread the grapes. With the destruction of the vineyards, the production of wine would cease. In place of joy, there would be bitter wailing and tears. God was the one that would cause their celebration to cease. 

In verses 11-12, the prophet described his deep anguish for Moab. He felt like a harp tuned to a mournful pitch. e The people of Moab would weary themselves out going to their high places imploring for help. Their cries would largely go unheeded. Verses 13-14 said that within three years the destruction would happen. The prophet was basically saying that in a short while all that was foretold would take place and “the glory of Moab will be degraded along with all his great population, and his remnant will be very small and impotent.”

Moab in her pride had not rightly appraised herself. Her people in their ignorance boasted needlessly. This was also how the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3:17 evaluated themselves. In their pride, they said, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing.” But the Lord saw it differently. He said of them, but “…you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” We take away a lesson on the danger of pride. It has a way of blinding us and making us think that we know better than God. Pride is a sure way to destruction. Do not let pride come in the way to destroy the destiny we have in God. Always stay humble before Him. Be wise!

Isaiah 16:1-5 – What goes around comes around

Isaiah continued with his prophecy concerning Moab in chapter 16. In the first five verses Moab was encouraged to make peace with Judah. Verse 1 exhorts them to “send the tribute of lamb to the  ruler of the land.” They were asked to make an offering of mercy to the ruler of Judah from Sela, probably a town in Moab. With that tribute, the daughters of Moab, meaning her citizens, like wandering birds cast out of their nest, could then gather at the fords of the Arnon. This was a place located at the northern boundary of Moab to escape the coming desolation.

 The Moabites were seen in verse 3 as seeking shelter in Judah and were asking to be compassionately treated. As outcasts seeking refuge in Judah, they were asking that they be not betrayed but to be shielded from their destroyers. The last part of verse 4 envisaged the tail end of the assault on Moab and that the oppressors would soon also disappear. With the disappearance of the oppressor, a vision of the Messiah emerged.  There would come a throne established in mercy. The one who would seat on the throne then would be from the tent or the house of David. He would be administering justice to bring about righteousness.    

Moab was once so cocky. They flatly denied Israel, God’s people request for assistance in their times of need. Now the table had turned. There were at the receiving end and needing the help of Judah. Here they sought to be dealt with compassionately. A good lesson to remember is that one good turn always deserves another. When we treat others kindly, it becomes easier when we need their help in return. There is such a thing as a reciprocal effect. If we choose to be heartless when our assistance is sought for, we must expect that we may be treated the same when we need help. What we do always come back to haunt us. Remember what goes around comes around, and the cock will always return to roost.  

Isaiah 15:1-9 – No one gets away with sin

Isaiah had so far prophesied judgment against Babylon, Assyria, and Philistia. His prophecy in chapters 15-16 had to do with what would happen to Moab.  Let us review a bit of the history of the Moabites. They were the descendants of Moab, a son of Lot’s eldest daughter who gave birth to him as a result of her incestuous relationship with Lot. Genesis 19:30 described how after the destruction of those twin wicked cities, Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot and his two daughters went up to stay in the mountain. His daughters wanted to help their father to preserve his name. They made him drunk and took turns to sleep with him. The eldest conceived and gave birth to Moab. The Moabites had been a thorn in Israel’s side. Though they were distantly related because Abraham was Lot’s uncle, yet they had refused to offer any assistance to Israel in their time of need. Instead, they had sought to trouble them on many occasions. In Numbers 23-24, we saw how they tried to secure the service of Balaam to pronounce a curse on Israel. Then in Judges 3:12-30, we saw how Eglon, the king of Moab, tried to suppress Israel.

In this prophecy, Isaiah brought judgment against Moab. In the first two verses five cities of Moab namely, Ar, Kir, Dibon, Nebo and Medeba were being attacked at night. However, Isaiah did not mention who their attackers were. Their temples and high places were also destroyed. Moab was depicted as in mourning. “Everyone’s head is bald, and every beard is cut off.” Besides, the streets were filled with people wearing sackcloth and in mourning. Whether in the square or on the housetop, everyone was wailing and drowned in tears. People were fleeing as refugees and seeking refuge in the temple. And everyone was in lament whether it was in the cities in the north such as Elealeh and Jahaz or Zoar and Eglath-shelishiyah in the south. The severe and rampant destruction included other places. In verse 9 Isaiah pointed to added future woes that God would release upon them.

God, as the Lord even of pagan nations stands out as we read of the destruction of Moab. We must never forget that God is the Sovereign Lord, and nations whether they know it or not are subject to His power. This God will not take sin lightly, not even the sin of pagans. Hence, we must walk softly and gingerly before God. Remember that all sin will be judged sooner or later unless we repent!  

Isaiah 14:28-32 – God and His Kingdom, our sure place of security

The Bible has much to say of Israel’s dealings with the Philistines, the people from Philistia. Who were the Philistines and where did they come from? Deuteronomy 2:23, Jeremiah 47:7 and Amos 9:7 tell us that the Philistines hailed from Caphtor, which was believed to be Crete. Both the Philistines and the Israelites entered Canaan about the same time. Israel entered Canaan from the plain of Moab, whereas the Philistines came from the Mediterranean Sea. That was why the Philistines were also known as the people of the sea. Palestine took its name from the Philistines who had settled in the coastal plain of Palestine from Joppa all the way south to Gaza. We read about the Philistines during the time of the Judges and more during the reigns of Saul and David. In our reflections of 1 & 2 Samuel, we discovered that Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron were the five great cities of the Philistines.  Goliath, the giant whom David killed with a small smooth stone was a Philistine.

Our reflection today is on Isaiah 14:28-32. Here in these verses, God through Isaiah was sending a warning to Philistia. According to verse 28, the message Isaiah had for them came in the year that King Ahaz died. That would be around 725 B.C. The “rod” referred to in verse 29 was the king of Assyria who was troubling Judah. These verses suggest that he was also giving trouble to Philistia. He was likely to be Tiglath-Pileser who was Assyria’s king from 745-727 B.C. At his death, Philistia was seen here rejoicing. But Isaiah’s message here warned them not to rejoice so soon, for there was coming to a fiercer successor like a viper who would come and trouble the whole land. He would bring them into greater misery. However, whatever he would do, the poor and needy would not be the target. They would probably be spared. But his dealings with the rest would be thorough and there would be no survivor. Isaiah could well be referring to the people of Israel when he talked about “the poor and needy.” Whereas in the dealings of the king of Assyria, he would take away the root of Philistia. His dealing would be so thorough until Philistia would have no survivor. Hence, the words of verse 31:

  “Wail, O gate; cry, O city;

Melt away, O Philistia, all of you;
For smoke comes from the north,
And there is no straggler in his ranks.”

 

While the nation would be dealt with, Isaiah in verse 32 provides the answer to the question that the nation would be asking. Where to find security? The answer Isaiah gave was specific. It could only be found in Zion, the only place of security founded by God. Zion represents God and His Kingdom. There God’s people would find refuge and be secure and safe. Like Israel, our security can never be found in people, positions, or possession. It can only be found in our trust in God. He is the answer to all who are seeking a place of security. It is true: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” In Him, we will always find shelter from the assaults of our unkind world. In our uncertain world, the only place of absolute certainty is in God and in His Kingdom. Don’t run helter-skelter but stay resting in the Lord!  

Isaiah 14:24-27 – Taking God at His Word

Starting from Isaiah chapter 13, the prophet delivered a series of judgments on the nations surrounding His covenant people. He started off by proclaiming the ultimate downfall of Babylon. In Isaiah 14:24-27, the prophet turned to talk about God’s promised deliverance from Assyria again. This was something which he had told them earlier. While Babylon would be the ultimate deliverance, the immediate threat confronting Judah was Assyria. God wanted them to be assured of His deliverance.  

Menacing Assyria was the nation that had carried the northern kingdom into captivity. Earlier in Isaiah 7, we saw how King Ahaz chose to rely on Assyria to deliver them from the threat of the Syria-Israel alliance. Because he chose to trust Assyria, Judah was not spared the agony of the Assyrian threat as well. Having helped Ahaz, Assyria would then turn to intimidate Judah. Here God once again promised to deliver them from Assyria. But the tone of Isaiah 14:24 suggests that the people of Judah were not convinced. They considered Assyria far too formidable and hence were not able to trust God fully.

So we see God graciously descended to their level and gave them a fresh word in an oath, assuring them that He would take Assyria off their back. He promised that the yoke they experienced would be broken off. Nothing could hinder God’s purpose which He had so unequivocally declared. Here Isaiah was probably thinking about what he had proclaimed earlier in chapter 10. He wanted to assure Judah that as he had declared then, the promise God made still stood. And God would not only deal with Assyria, but He would also deal with the threats coming from other nations against His people. Isaiah assured them that nothing and no one could frustrate what God had planned.

These verses reveal how truly compassionate our God is. Having assured His people so many times, one would have expected them to take Him at His word. But this was not the case. They kept refusing to trust Him fully. So here God literally condescended to their level to bring an assurance of His deliverance in an oath. Remember that God has no one greater than Himself. His word is final. Do not test His patience by doubting what He says. We must learn to take Him at His word instantly, not vacillatingly. Let us trust God absolutely!                

Isaiah 14:3-23 – Don’t usurp what rightly belongs to God

In these verses, Isaiah described the fall of Babylon and how its destruction would bring elation to Israel and the world. Babylon at this point was the symbol of the dominating world power. However, the truth is this: no matter how great a nation deems herself to be, it can never rise above the power of God. The Sovereign Lord is in control of every nation and kingdom, and the destiny of nations is determined by Him. We learn from Isaiah that God would use Babylon to discipline His covenant people for their waywardness, but ultimately, they themselves would be dealt with by God for their cruelty. As promised, God would deliver Israel from their oppressors and restore them to their land. Then they could taunt and insult Babylon, their oppressor.

The text made it clear that the prophet was talking about the king of Babylon. This perhaps is a reference to the monarch in Babylon’s glory days.  History tells us that the empire was the domineering power from 625-538 B.C. after the fall of Assyria. Under King Nebuchadnezzar, this nation was brought to its zenith. Now Isaiah foresaw her fall. Isaiah 14:4-6 speak of the fall of Babylon and the demise of the great oppressor. God is seen here as the One who had brought about her downfall. Verses 7-23 describe the sort of responses to the fall of Babylon. Verses 7-8 depict the nations enjoying a time of rest that even the cypress trees in the forest would be left undisturbed by cutters. The destruction of the great oppressor would bring great joy to the earth. Verses 9-10 said that even in Sheol, the place of the departed spirits, there would be some commotions. The past leaders of the earth would jeer the once-great Babylonian king who had once deemed himself to be a “god.” Ironically, he would be brought as low as them, to share the same end as they, languishing in Sheol. This is a timely reminder that death is the leveler of all mankind. No matter how powerful, how mighty, or how rich, everyone will return to ground zero at death. Verses 16-20 describe how the inhabitants of the earth would disdain the once-great monarch of Babylon. They would be astonished at the disrespect shown to his dead body. Verses 21-23 show the kingdom of Babylon destroyed, her followers gone, and the nation left desolate and annihilated.  

There are people who saw the description of this passage as referring to the downfall of Satan. We will not take the time to deal with it. Suffice to say that no one would be left undealt with who tries to usurp the place that rightly belongs to God. It will do us well to always know our position and to honor God’s. He deserves the best we can bring to Him. We must honor Him with our time, our treasure, our talent, our temple (i.e. our body), and with every ticking of our hearts. Let us do it!