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!