365 Reflections

Babylon is more than an ancient nation in the Bible, it's a picture of the system of this world. They are driven to destroy and dominate people. They are motivated by their own glory and self-interest and they set themselves against God's people.  Here's the hard thing to note about Babylon in Isaiah's time. The king of Israel would one day look to them to defend against Assyria - the dominant power of the day. Hezekiah will welcome emissaries and show them all the treasures of God's house. The king who should rely on God is relying on international diplomacy. It's a fool's errand.  To show how foolish Israel will be in this regard, Isaiah uncovers the reality that Babylon is simply another nation under the judgment of God. And God gives Isaiah a good look at it.  In Isaiah 21, Isaiah is instructed to set a watchman to look for it.  Isaiah 21:6–9 (ESV)  For thus the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman; let him announce what he sees. 7 When he sees riders, h...

God's prophets were sometimes crazy.  Isaiah 20:1–2 (ESV) In the year that the commander in chief, who was sent by Sargon the king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and fought against it and captured it— 2 at that time the LORD spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and loose the sackcloth from your waist and take off your sandals from your feet,” and he did so, walking naked and barefoot . Sometimes God asked His prophets to play out the part in the narrative He was proclaiming. Egypt was going to be dragged off as prisoners of war to Assyria. So Isaiah needed to make it clear this course of action would come about. Therefore God ordained him to be a living illustration of their future. Isaiah 20:3–4 (ESV) Then the LORD said, “As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Cush, 4 so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptian captives and the Cushite exiles, both the young and the old, naked and barefoot, wit...

Isaiah 19 continues the oracles of the Lord against the nations around Israel. This time, it's Egypt in the crosshairs. Isaiah 19:1 (ESV) An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them. Notice that God's presence is enough to melt the Egyptians. God's presence is something we seek after but we must always remember we can only have it joyfully when Christ stands as our mediator. The presence of God is a fearful thing apart from the salvation that we have in Christ.  Isaiah 19:2–4 (ESV) And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, and they will fight, each against another and each against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom; 3 and the spirit of the Egyptians within them will be emptied out, and I will confound their counsel; and they will inquire of the idols and the sorcerers, and the mediums and the ...

In Isaiah 18, the prophet rebukes the land of Cush. Why? Because Cush is desperate for protection and so they seek out the help of the very nation that is bent on destroying all others -  Assyria.  Isaiah 18:1–2 (ESV) Ah, land of whirring wings that is beyond the rivers of Cush, 2 which sends ambassadors by the sea, in vessels of papyrus on the waters! Go, you swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people feared near and far, a nation mighty and conquering, whose land the rivers divide. God speaks of surprise from a human point of view here discussing the fact that Cush is busy putting together papyrus vessels that are in a hurry to sail across the sea and enlist the help of Assyria (a nation mighty and conquering).  It's kind of what we do. We chase whoever seems to be most important. We seek the approval or acceptance of worldly powers in hopes that they might make our lives secure. The governments of many nations would love to play the role of our savior....

God often compares His judgment to the reaping of a field. He does this here in Isaiah 17.  Isaiah 17:4–5 (ESV) And in that day the glory of Jacob will be brought low, and the fat of his flesh will grow lean. 5 And it shall be as when the reaper gathers standing grain and his arm harvests the ears , and as when one gleans the ears of grain in the Valley of Rephaim. Why does God use this imagery? Because reaping is a very apt picture. Not all things in the reaping are bad, the grain is gathered and the stalks, flax, and tares are wiped out. The image of a threshed field looks totally destroyed. Nothing there but leftover refuse from the work. But the image is marring reality. From that devastation will soon sprout new buds and stalks of grain to bring a new season of development and growth.  Perhaps this is why God favors this image when referring to judgment. Judgment is not the end, it is a new beginning. It is a picture that God will begin something new in the aftermath of s...

Isaiah calls down firey judgment on Moab in chapter 15. In the last post, we looked at how God wept over the decree while administering it. Now in Isaiah 16, God offers hope to these displaced people with no more boundary markers to define who they are. What is their hope? The Messiah who comes will bring them in.  Isaiah 16:3–5 (ESV) “Give counsel; grant justice; make your shade like night at the height of noon; shelter the outcasts; do not reveal the fugitive; 4 let the outcasts of Moab sojourn among you ; be a shelter to them from the destroyer. When the oppressor is no more, and destruction has ceased, and he who tramples underfoot has vanished from the land, 5 then a throne will be established in steadfast love, and on it will sit in faithfulness in the tent of David one who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness.” We again come to hope in the immediate aftermath of judgment. Moab will be judged and her sins paid for. But the displaced people will have a pl...

It is a good thing to read the Prophets who foretold God's judgment. From them, we learn God's heart as He executes His righteous rule over the nations. The reason we need to learn His heart is that His judgment can confuse so many. For His judgment is fierce and ultimately final.  One such place that reveals His heartbreaking to bring judgment is found in Isaiah 15. It's a short chapter about a small nation that was cousin to Israel, the descendants of Lot's incest with his daughter - Moab.  We do well to remember that Moab had a special place in God's plan for redemption. Ruth was the Moabitess who loyally loved her mother-in-law, married Boaz and gave birth to David's grandfather. Yet like Israel, Moab is laid waste by the Assyrians at the hand of God's judgment for many of the same sins of Israel, and Isaiah details the troubles they endure.  Isaiah 15:1–3 (ESV) An oracle concerning Moab. Because Ar of Moab is laid waste in a night, Moab is undone; becau...

When we think we are in charge we must remember God is ultimately in charge. Even our best plans are only permissible according to the purpose and plan of God. This is the picture we see of Assyria in the time of Isaiah.  Assyria had crushed the northern kingdom by the time we get to Isaiah 14. She was overconfident and proud and standing on the doorstep to the southern kingdom of Judah. Here's what Isaiah has to say about it.  Isaiah 14:24–27 (ESV) The LORD of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand, 25 that I will break the Assyrian in my land , and on my mountains trample him underfoot; and his yoke shall depart from them, and his burden from their shoulder.” 26 This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. 27 For the LORD of hosts has purposed , and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back? Now on the su...

Isaiah 14:1–2 (ESV) For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land, and sojourners will join them and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob. 2 And the peoples will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them in the LORD’s land as male and female slaves. They will take captive those who were their captors, and rule over those who oppressed them. What is the point of God's punishment toward His people? I believe Isaiah illustrates this here in chapter 14. He is humbling them so that He may once again exalt them and accomplish His purposes in the nations.  The purpose of Israel was always to influence the nations, bringing God's truth and light to the dark corners of the world. If necessary, judgment came to bring them back to Himself so that they may do it more fully hereafter.  Isaiah promises that Israel will be the final nation laughing at those who oppress them. And w...