Isaiah 16-20
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· 14 viewsThe Burdens of Moab and Assyria, The Northern Kingdom, Ethiopia and Egypt
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Chapter 16-20 Review
Chapter 16-20 Review
Chapter 16
Speaks of the destruction of Moab. Moab was the first son of Lot. Like Felix and Festus they were close. But rather than turning to the true God, they worshipped idols. The were prideful and it is because of their pride that the Lord will judge them. The Assyrians destroyed them in 3 years.
Chapter 17
The judgment of both the Northern Kingdom called Ephraim and Damascus, Syria. The judgment is based on Israel’s trust in a foreign power rather than relying on the Lord their rock. Isaiah says like a fierce storm at night there is no trace of it in the morning, so in a similar will the destruction of Syria occur
Chapter 18
The 5th burden or judgment is against a people who are beyond the rivers of Ethiopia. This is a microcosm of the Lord’s plan for the world. He rules all the nations (17:12-14), and it would be better for the ambassadors of collective security (1-2) to take a different message to the far parts of the earth: to wait for the Lord (3), for He is planning His sudden intervention (4; cf. 17:13f). The harvest expected from human plans will come to nothing (5-6) but a world remnant will gather to the Lord in Zion (7)
Chapter 19
Egypt is saved and becomes God’s people. The Lord will use Israel to bring many other nations to Him.
Chapter 20
Chapter 20 continues the theme of the previous chapter, the folly of trusting Egypt. Isaiah is providing an object lesson to demonstrate the shame of trusting in anyone other than the Lord for deliverance
Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Overview
Speaks of the destruction of Moab. Moab was the first son of Lot. Like Felix and Festus they were close. But rather than turning to the true God, they worshipped idols. The were prideful and it is because of their pride that the Lord will judge them. The Assyrians destroyed them in 3 years.
Moab’s plea for shelter (16:1-4)
( 16:1-4 ) Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, From Sela to the wilderness, To the mount of the daughter of Zion. 2 For it shall be as a wandering bird thrown out of the nest; So shall be the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon. 3 “Take counsel, execute judgment; Make your shadow like the night in the middle of the day; Hide the outcasts, Do not betray him who escapes. 4 Let My outcasts dwell with you, O Moab; Be a shelter to them from the face of the spoiler. For the extortioner is at an end, Devastation ceases, The oppressors are consumed out of the land.
Helpless Lamb
( 16:1 ) Send the lamb to the ruler of the land
Moabite Refugees
— Helpless Moabites are attacked by the Assyrians
— They are depicted as a poor little bird
— They send a tribute lamb to Judah asking for protection
— God tells sinners what they must do to prevent their ruin
— The same advice He gives Moab, He give us today
— Send the lamb, the best you have (Henry)
— Show submission to the overlord, yourselves as a living sacrifice (Ro 12:1-2)
— When you come to God, the great ruler, come in the name of the lamb
Poor little bird
( 16:2 ) For it shall be as a wandering bird thrown out of the nest;
Matthew Henry
“Those who will not submit to Christ, shall be as a bird that wanders from its nest, which will be snatched up by a bird of prey”
Women at the River
( 16:2c ) So shall be the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon
— Such a sad sight
— The Moabite survivors are now refugees in Zion
— Go to the King of Zion like a helpless lamb
— or a poor little bird
— Women are crossing the river in fear of their safety should break our hearts
Matthew Henry
“Those who will not yield to the fear of God will be made to yield to the fear of everything else”
Shelter Provide shelter like shade at noon
Irony
( 16:3 ) “Take counsel, execute judgment; Make your shadow like the night in the middle of the day;
— They abused justice
— They were fraudulent
— Here is irony: Take counsel, execute judgment
Q: Could this happen today?
Yes Darfur refugees fleeing genocide in Sudan now living in camps in Sudan. 1 Million - 82% women and children
Q: Who is pictured here in 16:5?
Moab’s plea for shelter > One Day Injustice will End (16:5)
( 16:5 ) In mercy the throne will be established; And One will sit on it in truth, in the tabernacle of David, Judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness.”
Christ
— A future time when Christ will sit on the throne and judge rightly.
— He will end all injustice like that done by the Assyrians
Moab’s plea for shelter > One Day Injustice will End > Moab’s pride (16:6-8)
( 16:6-8 ) We have heard of the pride of Moab— He is very proud— Of his haughtiness and his pride and his wrath; But his lies shall not be so. 7 Therefore Moab shall wail for Moab; Everyone shall wail. For the foundations of Kir Hareseth you shall mourn; Surely they are stricken. 8 For the fields of Heshbon languish, And the vine of Sibmah; The lords of the nations have broken down its choice plants, Which have reached to Jazer And wandered through the wilderness. Her branches are stretched out, They are gone over the sea.
Legendary
— Their pride was legendary
— The prophet did his duty and told them their sin which was pride
— He would have healed them but they would not be healed
—Those will not be counseled cannot be helped
Matthew Henry
“More souls ruined by pride than any other sin”
God Forbid
— Because of their pride God forbid Moab from entering into the assembly of the Lord (Dt 23:3)
— The root cause of their destruction was their pride
— “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (cf. 1 Peter 5:5, James 4:6
Asylum
— Judah did not grant them asylum
Motyer
“The scene changes again to wailing. Judah did not rebuff their appeal. The only explanation is that the entry fee was too high. If Judah had asked for money, their pride would have remained intact. But admiring to submit to Zion’s king was tantamount to admitting that only he could save them.”
Today
— Most people want a do-it-yourself religion
— This is pride
( 16:7 ) Therefore Moab shall wail for Moab; Everyone shall wail
— Everyone will wail
— no exceptions
Influence Gone
( 16:8 ) Her branches are stretched out, They are gone over the sea
— Her “raisin cakes” (NIV)
— Picture of influence
— Moab’s vines instead of being on stakes ran along the ground
— “Raisins” are a picture of the “easy life” at home
— The nation enjoyed influence like spreading vines
Moab’s plea for shelter > One Day Injustice will End > Moab’s pride > The Lord grieves over Moab (16:9-12)
( 16:9-12 ) Therefore I will bewail the vine of Sibmah, With the weeping of Jazer; I will drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh; For battle cries have fallen Over your summer fruits and your harvest. 10 Gladness is taken away, And joy from the plentiful field; In the vineyards there will be no singing, Nor will there be shouting; No treaders will tread out wine in the presses; I have made their shouting cease. 11 Therefore my heart shall resound like a harp for Moab, And my inner being for Kir Heres. 12 And it shall come to pass, When it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, That he will come to his sanctuary to pray; But he will not prevail
I will weep with you
( 16:9 ) Therefore I will bewail the vine of Sibmah, With the weeping of Jazer; I will drench you with my tears
— The Lord grieves over the pride of Moab and its consequences
— In ( 15:5 )He wept for Moab
— Here ( 16:9 ) He weeps with Moab
No Joy
( 16: 10 ) Gladness is taken away, And joy from the plentiful field; In the vineyards there will be no singing, Nor will there be shouting; No treaders will tread out wine in the presses;
— There is no joy at the harvest
— Normally a happy time
— Bring in the harvest, press the grapes
( 16:10 ) I have made their shouting cease
— Divine wrath has put this to an end
— “I have made their shouting cease”
Fulfillment
— This is a fulfillment of ( 15:9 ) “I will bring still more”
Deep Sorrow
( 16:11 ) Therefore my heart shall resound like a harp for Moab, And my inner being for Kir Heres
— The Lord’s deep sorrow
— Isaiah expresses intense emotional pain over the destruction of Moab
Lord rejected
( 16:12 ) And it shall come to pass, When it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, That he will come to his sanctuary to pray; But he will not prevail
— They continue to pray to idols and reject the Lord
— No matter how hard they pray it will do them no good
Moab’s plea for shelter > One Day Injustice will End > Moab’s pride > The Lord grieves over Moab > Moab’s imminent ruin (16:13-14)
( 16:13-14 ) This is the word which the Lord has spoken concerning Moab since that time. 14 But now the Lord has spoken, saying, “Within three years, as the years of a hired man, the glory of Moab will be despised with all that great multitude, and the remnant will be very small and feeble.”
Swift
— Judgment is swift
— Within 3 years this judgment will come
— The time is fixed. Assyria destroyed Moab
— Moab had 3 more years until 715 BC when the Assyrian King Sargon overran the nation
McGee
“God doesn’t use a calendar for the church but he does to punish the wicked”
APPLICATION
APPLICATION
When the people of Moab experienced God’s wrath, they sought their own idols and gods. Nothing happened, however, because there was no one there to save them. When we seek our own ways of escape in order to get through our daily troubles the effect is the same: no pleasure, pastime, or man-made religious idea will come to save us. Our hope lies in God, the only One who can hear and help (Application bible)
When the people of Moab experienced God’s wrath, they sought their own idols and gods. Nothing happened, however, because there was no one there to save them. When we seek our own ways of escape in order to get through our daily troubles the effect is the same: no pleasure, pastime, or man-made religious idea will come to save us. Our hope lies in God, the only One who can hear and help (Application bible)
Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Overview
The judgment of both the Northern Kingdom called Ephraim and Damascus, Syria. The judgment is based on Israel’s trust in a foreign power rather than relying on the Lord their rock. Isaiah says like a fierce storm at night there is no trace of it in the morning, so in a similar will the destruction of Syria occur
Damascus
— Capital of Syria
Ephraim
— Another name for the 10 Northern tribes,
— also a man
— a city
— and a mountain
— Israel is the usual name for the Northern kingdom
Near/Far
— Like many of Isaiah’s prophecies there is a near and far fulfillment
An alliance that failed (17:1-3)
( 17:1-3 ) The burden against Damascus. “Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, And it will be a ruinous heap. 2 The cities of Aroer are forsaken; They will be for flocks Which lie down, and no one will make them afraid. 3 The fortress also will cease from Ephraim, The kingdom from Damascus, And the remnant of Syria; They will be as the glory of the children of Israel,” Says the Lord of hosts
The city still stands
( 17:1 ) Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city
— The city was destroyed by Assyria in 732 BC and rebuilt
— This must refer to a future destruction of Damascus, the capital of Syria
Q: Why is Damascus (Syria) and Ephraim (Israel) being punished?
Alliance
— They sought an alliance
— Under the looming power of Assyria they sought security by an alliance ( 7:1,2 ) with Syria
— They abandoned the rock of their salvation the Lord ( 17:10 )
10 Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation, And have not been mindful of the Rock of your stronghold, Therefore you will plant pleasant plants And set out foreign seedlings;
— They placed their strength in something that perishes
King Conquered Damascus
( 17:2-3 ) The cities of Aroer are forsaken; They will be for flocks Which lie down, and no one will make them afraid. 3 The fortress also will cease from Ephraim, The kingdom from Damascus, And the remnant of Syria
— The cities of Syria are conquered
— Aroer
— Ephraim
— Damascus (the capital)
— The king of Assyria, Sargon II, conquered Damascus (Syria) (cf. 2 Ki 17:6 )
6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away to Assyria, and placed them in Halah and by the Habor, the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
Distant Lands
— And along with Syria the Northern Kingdom
— The Jews were scattered and resettled
— That was the end of the Northern Kingdom of Isreal ( 17:6 )
An alliance that failed > Glory reduced to gleanings (17:4-6)
( 17:4-6 ) “In that day it shall come to pass That the glory of Jacob will wane, And the fatness of his flesh grow lean. 5 It shall be as when the harvester gathers the grain, And reaps the heads with his arm; It shall be as he who gathers heads of grain In the Valley of Rephaim. 6 Yet gleaning grapes will be left in it, Like the shaking of an olive tree, Two or three olives at the top of the uppermost bough, Four or five in its most fruitful branches,” Says the Lord God of Israel
False Glory
( 17:4 ) “In that day it shall come to pass That the glory of Jacob will wane
— Judah had glory but it was not a real glory
— Now it wanes because the 10 Northern tribes are coming under judgment
Q: What illustration is used in 17:5,6 to describe the destruction?
Harvest
— First the harvest and then the gleaner
— Nothing is left
— Ripe for ruin
— The people had, by sins, made themselves ripe for ruin;
— and their glory was as quickly cut down and taken away by the enemy
Remnant
( 17:6 ) Yet gleaning grapes will be left in it, Like the shaking of an olive tree, Two or three olives at the top of the uppermost bough, Four or five in its most fruitful branches,” Says the Lord God of Israel
— What is left is the remnant
— They will be like an emaciated person or the leftovers of the harvest
— just a few olives on a branch too high to reach
Matthew Henry
"Those who are partakers in sin, are justly made partakers in ruin"
An alliance that failed > Glory reduced to gleanings > People restored to the Lord (17:7-8)
( 17:7-8 ) In that day a man will look to his Maker, And his eyes will have respect for the Holy One of Israel. 8 He will not look to the altars, The work of his hands; He will not respect what his fingers have made, Nor the wooden images nor the incense altars.
Q: What are they doing in 17:8?
Respect
— In the future these severe judgments will awaken a remnant
— They will return to God, acknowledge his hand in all that’s happened
( 17:7 ) In that day a man will look to his Maker
— They will look to God and ask where is God my maker who gives songs in the night
— “But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs in the night” (cf. Job 35:10)
Repentance
( 17:8 ) He will not look to the altars, The work of his hands; He will not respect what his fingers have made, Nor the wooden images nor the incense altars
— Asherah poles (NIV)
— Sacred Poles (NRSV)
— They will turn from their man-made idols
APPLICATION
APPLICATION
The Asherah poles were images of Asherah, a Canaanite goddess who was the female consort of Baal. Queen Jezebel may have brought the worship of Asherah into the northern kingdom. The cult encouraged immoral sexual practices and attracted many people. The bible warns against worshiping Asherah poles (Ex 34:13; Dt 12:3;16:21) and Manasseh was condemned for putting up an Asherah pole in the temple (2 Kin 21:7).
The Asherah poles were images of Asherah, a Canaanite goddess who was the female consort of Baal. Queen Jezebel may have brought the worship of Asherah into the northern kingdom. The cult encouraged immoral sexual practices and attracted many people. The bible warns against worshiping Asherah poles (Ex 34:13; Dt 12:3;16:21) and Manasseh was condemned for putting up an Asherah pole in the temple (2 Kin 21:7).
Asherah poles are not a problem in our world, but a religion based on sexuality is. Pornography has become an addiction for many people. Media and entertainment industries feed our society’s obsession with sex. The runaway desire for stimulation and gratification often comes from an empty, lonely heart. God offers real joy and lasting love. Be on the alert for how sexual images divert us from God (Application bible).
Asherah poles are not a problem in our world, but a religion based on sexuality is. Pornography has become an addiction for many people. Media and entertainment industries feed our society’s obsession with sex. The runaway desire for stimulation and gratification often comes from an empty, lonely heart. God offers real joy and lasting love. Be on the alert for how sexual images divert us from God (Application bible).
An alliance that failed > Glory reduced to gleanings > People restored to the Lord > Destruction and Explanation (17:9-11)
( 17:9-11 ) In that day his strong cities will be as a forsaken bough And an uppermost branch, Which they left because of the children of Israel; And there will be desolation. 10 Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation, And have not been mindful of the Rock of your stronghold, Therefore you will plant pleasant plants And set out foreign seedlings; 11 In the day you will make your plant to grow, And in the morning you will make your seed to flourish; But the harvest will be a heap of ruins In the day of grief and desperate sorrow.
History repeats
( 17:9 ) In that day his strong cities will be as a forsaken bough
— When Israel took the land, the Canaanites fled
— Israel lived in cities they did not build
— Now, Israel will flee and the Assyrians will occupy their cities
Alliance
( 17:10 ) Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation, And have not been mindful of the Rock of your stronghold
— This is the reason for the punishment described in ( 17:1 )
— They trusted in an alliance with Syria against Assyria
— Trusted in their military alliance more than the Lord who was their rock
Matthew Henry
“The God of our salvation is the Rock of our strength; and our forgetfulness and unmindfulness of him are at the bottom of all sin”
( 17:10 ) Therefore you will plant pleasant plants And set out foreign seedlings
— Not regular plants and seeds
— Idolatry
— A foreign Alliance with Syria
Harvest
( 17:11 ) In the day you will make your plant to grow, And in the morning you will make your seed to flourish; But the harvest will be a heap of ruins In the day of grief and desperate sorrow
— There is a harvest but it is not what they expected
Reap pain — You will reap incurable pain (NIV)
— Your only harvest will be a load of grief and unrelieved pain (NLT)
— It will lead to ruin, grief and sorrow
Q: What kind of harvest in 17:10-11?
Turned from truth
— You forget the God of your salvation ( 17:10a )
— You tried to meet your needs without the Lord
— You set out foreign seedlings (idolatry, or alliance with Assyria) ( 17:10c )
— Made your plants grow ( 17:11 )
Matthew Henry
“Diligence would be used to promote the growth of these strange slips, but all in vain."
The lesson
— See the evil and danger of sin
— and its certain consequences
— Safety is found in the fortress
— In The Lord not in fortified cities
An alliance that failed > Glory reduced to gleanings > People restored to the Lord > Destruction and Explanation > The Remnant (17:12-14)
( 17:12-14 ) Woe to the multitude of many people Who make a noise like the roar of the seas, And to the rushing of nations That make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! 13 The nations will rush like the rushing of many waters; But God will rebuke them and they will flee far away, And be chased like the chaff of the mountains before the wind, Like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. 14 Then behold, at eventide, trouble! And before the morning, he is no more. This is the portion of those who plunder us, And the lot of those who rob us.
Woe to Israel ( 17:12 ) Woe not used as a curse but a word of sorrow
— Isaiah groans
— Great sorrow to see this judgment on Israel
— Paul said it another way
— “For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh” ( Rom 9:3 )
A multitude
( 17:12 ) Who make a noise like the roar of the seas
— There is a multitude
— The Assyrian arm was made up of many people from many nations
— They were a multitude and they were like a roaring sea
Blown away
( 17:13 ) But God will rebuke them and they will flee far away, And be chased like the chaff of the mountains before the wind, Like a rolling thing before the whirlwind
— But when God’s purpose is served the Lord will blow them away like chaff
— Chaff - husks of corn, bran, seed cases
— Chopped hay and straw
Morning comes
( 17:14 ) Then behold, at eventide, trouble! And before the morning, he is no more. This is the portion of those who plunder us, And the lot of those who rob us.
— Like a storm in the evening and when morning comes, there is no trace of it
— This will happen to the Assyrians and God will protect his people
— The trouble for believers and the prosperity of their enemies will be short
Matthew Henry
“The joy of believers and the destruction of their enemies will last forever"
APPLICATION
APPLICATION
God’s message to Damascus (Syria) is that it will be completely destroyed. The Arameans had turned from the God who could save them depending instead on their idols and their own strength. No matter how successful they were, God’s judgment was sure. Often we depend on the trappings of our success (expensive cars, pastimes, clothes, homes) to give us fulfillment. But God says we will reap grief and pain if we have depended on temporal things to give us eternal security. If we don’t want the same treatment Damascus received, we must turn from these false allurements and trust in God (Application bible)
God’s message to Damascus (Syria) is that it will be completely destroyed. The Arameans had turned from the God who could save them depending instead on their idols and their own strength. No matter how successful they were, God’s judgment was sure. Often we depend on the trappings of our success (expensive cars, pastimes, clothes, homes) to give us fulfillment. But God says we will reap grief and pain if we have depended on temporal things to give us eternal security. If we don’t want the same treatment Damascus received, we must turn from these false allurements and trust in God (Application bible)
Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Overview
The 5th burden or judgment is against a people who are beyond the rivers of Ethiopia. This is a microcosm of the Lord’s plan for the world. He rules all the nations ( 17:12-14 ), and it would be better for the ambassadors of collective security ( 1-2 ) to take a different message to the far parts of the earth: to wait for the Lord ( 3 ), for He is planning His sudden intervention ( 4; cf. 17:13f ). The harvest expected from human plans will come to nothing ( 5-6 ) but a world remnant will gather to the Lord in Zion ( 7 ) (Motyer)
The World on its own terms (18:1-3)
( 18:1-3 ) Woe to the land shadowed with buzzing wings, Which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, 2 Which sends ambassadors by sea, Even in vessels of reed on the waters, saying, “Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth of skin, To a people terrible from their beginning onward, A nation powerful and treading down, Whose land the rivers divide.” 3 All inhabitants of the world and dwellers on the earth: When he lifts up a banner on the mountains, you see it; And when he blows a trumpet, you hear it
Woe
( 18:1 ) Woe to the land shadowed with buzzing wings
— same word used in ( 17:12 ) and translated Woe but should be read as “Ah” or “Oh” calling attention to the theme
— Not a burden or judgment but an exclamation
Not Ethiopia
( 18:1 ) Which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia,
— Says this land is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia
— Not sure who this is - but we know who it is not
— Not Egypt because they are judged in ( Chp. 19 )
— Not Great Britain
— Not the USA
Cush
— Some translations use Cush (NIV, ESV) instead of Ethiopia, literal Hebrew word
2 Possibilities
— One in Asia (Gen 2:13) and one in Africa (Ex 2:15,21)
Bone to Pick
— It is unlikely that this is either Egypt or Ethiopia
— But whatever country this is - God has a bone to pick with it
World View
( 18:2 ) Which sends ambassadors by sea, Even in vessels of reed on the waters saying, “Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth of skin,
— Speaking of international diplomacy
— They send ambassadors by sea
— They are tall and smooth of skin, usually a reference to Ethiopians
— Speaks of going to the ends of the earth
Q: When God lifts up a banner who notices it? 18:3
Be Alert
( 18:3 ) All inhabitants of the world and dwellers on the earth: When he lifts up a banner on the mountains, you see it; And when he blows a trumpet, you hear it
— A call to be alert for signals that God is at work in the world
— God is about to do something against the enemies of the church - be alert
The World on its own terms > The Lord’s patience and precisely timed intervention (18:4-7)
( 18:4-7 ) For so the Lord said to me, “I will take My rest, And I will look from My dwelling place Like clear heat in sunshine, Like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.” 5 For before the harvest, when the bud is perfect And the sour grape is ripening in the flower, He will both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks And take away and cut down the branches. 6 They will be left together for the mountain birds of prey And for the beasts of the earth; The birds of prey will summer on them, And all the beasts of the earth will winter on them. 7 In that time a present will be brought to the Lord of hosts From a people tall and smooth of skin, And from a people terrible from their beginning onward, A nation powerful and treading down, Whose land the rivers divide— To the place of the name of the Lord of hosts, To Mount Zion.
God’s Time
( 18:4 ) For so the Lord said to me, “I will take My rest, And I will look from My dwelling place Like clear heat in sunshine, Like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”
— The Lord’s patience and precisely timed intervention
— He watches unobserved
— He is more than a watchman, He presides over the process
— Heat and dew are necessary for a harvest to ripen
— You see them but
— you don’t know where they come from
— they are unobserved
— quite
— but actually driving the process
( 18:5 ) For before the harvest, when the bud is perfect And the sour grape is ripening in the flower, He will both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks And take away and cut down the branches
— He chooses the moment that the harvest is ready
— The enemies watch their plants mature but the Lord reached out His hand first
— The sudden act of the real world ruler (cf. 17:12-14)
— This was perfectly illustrated in Sennacherib, the Assyrian king (Motyer)
Intervention
— ( 18:5 ) As an all-wise farmer, God’s pruning will be neither too early nor too late
—The harvest expected from human plans will come to nothing
Q: What will people do for the Lord 18:7?
A Present
( 18:7 ) In that time a present will be brought to the Lord of hosts From a people tall and smooth of skin, And from a people terrible from their beginning onward, A nation powerful and treading down, Whose land the rivers divide— To the place of the name of the Lord of hosts, To Mount Zion
— And “end sign” will come out of this land
— They will present to the Lord some sort of present
— It is said that when Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon, invaded Judah (605 BC) that the Levitical priests moved the arc to Ethiopia
— Many churches in Ethiopia have murals depicting where the arc of the covenant was in Ethiopia
— It then went to Ethiopia and the city of Aksum in the St Mary of Zion cathedral
— Is this the gift that the people of smooth skin will present to the Lord in that day?
Bring Spoils
— Gifts are brought to the Lord from far and wide
— Ethiopians will bring gifts to the Lord (cf. Ps 68:31)
— So maybe this is Ethiopia
Judgment
— Where is the judgment?
— No mention of a reason for judgment
J Vernon McGee
There is no judgment against Ethiopia. They will say I was “born here” in Jerusalem (Ps 87:4, Acts 8:27)
Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Overview
Egypt is saved and becomes God’s people. The Lord will use Israel to bring many other nations to Him.
Q: What do you think might be the oldest country in the world?
Egypt
— Egypt is probably number #1 or #2
— Always had a special relationship with Israel
Abraham
— Took his family to Egypt
— He said that Sarah was his sister (Gen 12:18,19)
Joseph
— Sold into slavery
— taken to Egypt (Gen 37:18ff)
Jacob
— Took all his sons and servants (70 in all) to Egypt (Gen 46)
Israel
— Israel was born and grew up in Egypt
— Started with 70 and grew to 1.5 million by the time Moses led them out 400 years later
Refuge
— Israel has always seen Egypt as a refuge
— Abraham and Jacob fled starvation and fled to Egypt
— Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Egypt (Matt 2:13,14)
Warning
Isaiah’s warning: don’t place your trust in Egypt
— The Lord will judge them as well
Social Collapse (19:1-4)
( 19:1-4 ) The burden against Egypt. Behold, the Lord rides on a swift cloud, And will come into Egypt; The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst. 2 “I will set Egyptians against Egyptians; Everyone will fight against his brother, And everyone against his neighbor, City against city, kingdom against kingdom. 3 The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst; I will destroy their counsel, And they will consult the idols and the charmers, The mediums and the sorcerers. 4 And the Egyptians I will give Into the hand of a cruel master, And a fierce king will rule over them,” Says the Lord, the Lord of hosts.
Cloud
( 19: 1) The burden against Egypt. Behold, the Lord rides on a swift cloud, And will come into Egypt; The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst
— The Lord is pictured as coming in a cloud of judgment
Idols
— The Egyptians worshipped everything
— bulls
— frogs
— bugs
— fish
— insects
— birds
— When Moses delivered Israel God brought 10 plagues each directed at one of their idols
Judgment came
— Sargon II conquered Egypt
— Judgment came as Isaiah said
Collapse
( 19:2 ) “I will set Egyptians against Egyptians; Everyone will fight against his brother, And everyone against his neighbor, City against city, kingdom against kingdom
— When judgment came there was social collapse. Internal strife.
Wisdom fails
( 19:3 ) The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst; I will destroy their counsel, And they will consult the idols and the charmers, The mediums and the sorcerers
— Egypt was famous for their wisdom
— but it will fail when they turn to magicians and sorcerers
Isaiah is saying
— Don’t put your trust in Egypt
— look what will happen to them
— They are as an unreliable ally against Syria
— Trust in the Lord
Cruel Master
( 19:4 ) And the Egyptians I will give Into the hand of a cruel master, And a fierce king will rule over them,” Says the Lord, the Lord of hosts
— Not only will the nation fail but they will be in bondage under a cruel dictator, master
— There have been several cruel masters
— The fulfillment of this prophecy may have been the Ethiopian Pharaoh (715) Sargon II or Sennacherib (the king of Assyria)
— or the conquest by Esarhaddon (680), Ashurbanipal (668), or Artaxerxes (343)
Social Collapse > Economic Collapse (19:5-10)
( 19:5-10 ) The waters will fail from the sea, And the river will be wasted and dried up. 6 The rivers will turn foul; The brooks of defense will be emptied and dried up; The reeds and rushes will wither. 7 The papyrus reeds by the River, by the mouth of the River, And everything sown by the River, Will wither, be driven away, and be no more. 8 The fishermen also will mourn; All those will lament who cast hooks into the River, And they will languish who spread nets on the waters. 9 Moreover those who work in fine flax And those who weave fine fabric will be ashamed; 10 And its foundations will be broken. All who make wages will be troubled of soul
Foul Water
( 19:6 ) The rivers will turn foul; The brooks of defense will be emptied and dried up; The reeds and rushes will wither
— The rivers will turn foul
— They thought that the river would be a defense but it wasn’t
Papyrus
( 19: 7 ) The papyrus reeds by the River, by the mouth of the River, And everything sown by the River, Will wither, be driven away, and be no more
— They had an abundance of Papyrus and now it is gone
Fishing
( 19:8 ) The fishermen also will mourn; All those will lament who cast hooks into the River, And they will languish who spread nets on the waters
— The fishing industry is gone
Fine Linen
( 19:9 ) Moreover those who work in fine flax And those who weave fine fabric will be ashamed
— The fine linen industry is gone (what we would call the textile industry)
— The foundations of the economy are wrecked, gone, they have collapsed
— Economic collapse follows social collapse
Social Collapse > Economic Collapse > Political Collapse (19:11-13)
( 19:11-13 ) Surely the princes of Zoan are fools; Pharaoh’s wise counselors give foolish counsel. How do you say to Pharaoh, “I am the son of the wise, The son of ancient kings?” 12 Where are they? Where are your wise men? Let them tell you now, And let them know what the Lord of hosts has purposed against Egypt. 13 The princes of Zoan have become fools; The princes of Noph are deceived; They have also deluded Egypt, Those who are the mainstay of its tribes
Fools
— Their political leaders are fools, although they think that they are wise
— A wise man would know that the Lord is behind this
Social Collapse > Economic Collapse > Political Collapse > The Lord’s actions (19:14-15)
( 19:14-15 ) The Lord has mingled a perverse spirit in her midst; And they have caused Egypt to err in all her work, As a drunken man staggers in his vomit. 15 Neither will there be any work for Egypt, Which the head or tail, Palm branch or bulrush, may do
Dizziness
— The Lord will cause dizziness that will result in complete loss of productivity, when the invaders came
Social Collapse > Economic Collapse > Political Collapse > The Lord’s actions > Healing of Egypt(19:16-25)
( 19:16-25 ) In that day Egypt will be like women, and will be afraid and fear because of the waving of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which He waves over it. 17 And the land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt; everyone who makes mention of it will be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts which He has determined against it. 18 In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear by the Lord of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction. 19 In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border. 20 And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them. 21 Then the Lord will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the Lord and perform it. 22 And the Lord will strike Egypt, He will strike and heal it; they will return to the Lord, and He will be entreated by them and heal them. 23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians. 24 In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, 25 whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”
Unbelievable
— Egypt and Assyria will be healed in the future
— They will turn to God and be God’s people
— At one time it was Moses telling Pharoah “Let my people go.” (Ex 5:1)
— Now Egypt will be my people
Q: What does “in that day” refer to in Isaiah 19:16?
Future Time
— This is the future time that Isaiah is talking about
— the millennial rule of Christ not yet fulfilled
Terror
( 19:17 ) And the land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt; everyone who makes mention of it will be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts which He has determined against it
— Egypt will be in terror.
— Instead of Judah fearing Egypt, it will be the other way around
— Egypt will fear Judah
— They will be helpless, defenseless
— Isaiah uses the picture of a women as defenseless (not PC today)
Language
( 19:18 ) In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear by the Lord of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction
— Egypt will speak the language of Judah
Altar
( 19:19 ) In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border
— The altar will be the witness that they belong to Israel
Cry to the Lord
( 19:20 ) And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them
— God will save Egypt as he earlier delivered Israel
Know the Lord
( 19:21 ) Then the Lord will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the Lord and perform it. 22 And the Lord will strike Egypt, He will strike and heal it; they will return to the Lord, and He will be entreated by them and heal them
— And Egypt will know the Lord
APPLICATION
APPLICATION
When Egypt calls to God for help, He will send a Savior, Jesus Christ, is available to all who call upon Him (Application bible)
When Egypt calls to God for help, He will send a Savior, Jesus Christ, is available to all who call upon Him (Application bible)
Strike Egypt
( 19:22 ) And the Lord will strike Egypt, He will strike and heal it; they will return to the Lord, and He will be entreated by them and heal them
— There will be smiting and healing
— The Lord corrects those he loves
— “For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights” ( Pr 3:12 )
Highway
( 19:23 ) In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians
— Egypt and Assyria typify the incoming of the nations into a single people of the Lord (cf. Isa 27:13)
— We will see the highway of the Lord again (35) following the judgment of the nations (34)
Q: What do we think of when we think of a highway?
Movement
— Free natural movement between Egypt and Assyria.
— They are worshipping together
Father of all Nations
( 19:24 ) In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land
— Once the enemies of Egypt, now blessed
— Shows the undeserved goodness of God
Work of my hands
( 19:25 ) whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”
— God will use Israel to draw other nations into the fold
— Our newness of life is nothing to boast about
— It is “the work of my Hands”
Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Overview
Chapter 20 continues the theme of the previous chapter, the folly of trusting Egypt. Isaiah is provides an object lesson to demonstrate the shame of trusting in anyone other than the Lord for deliverance
Q: Who is Judah to trust ? Who are they tempted to trust other than God?
God alone
— They are to trust in God alone
— Instead they made an alliance with Egypt and Ethiopia
The Smiting of Egypt (20:1-6)
( 20:1-6 ) In the year that Tartan came to Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and took it, 2 at the same time the Lord spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and remove the sackcloth from your body, and take your sandals off your feet.” And he did so, walking naked and barefoot. 3 Then the Lord said, “Just as My servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder against Egypt and Ethiopia, 4 so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians as prisoners and the Ethiopians as captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. 5 Then they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation and Egypt their glory. 6 And the inhabitant of this territory will say in that day, ‘Surely such is our expectation, wherever we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and how shall we escape?’ ”
Q: What did God command Isaiah to do in Isa 20:1-3?
Egyptians Runs
— Ashdod was one of five ( 5 ) great Egyptian cities
— Tartan is an officer representing Assyria sent by Sargon the king of Assyria
— Egypt was captured by the Assyrians
— It so frightened the Egyptians that they turned and ran
— Egypt could not be trusted (cf. 2 Ki 18:21 )
21 Now look! You are trusting in the staff of this broken reed, Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
Object Lesson
( 20:2 ) at the same time the Lord spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and remove the sackcloth from your body, and take your sandals off your feet.” And he did so, walking naked and barefoot
— Go and remove your clothes
— This is the shame that you will feel if you place your trust in Egypt and Ethiopia rather than the Lord
Naked
( 20:3 ) Then the Lord said, “Just as My servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder against Egypt and Ethiopia
— Stripped of his outer garments
— Not literally naked, but shameful
— He did this for 3 years
APPLICATION
APPLICATION
God asked Isaiah to do something that seemed shameful and illogical. At times, God may ask us to take steps we don’t understand. We must obey God in complete faith, for He will never ask us to do something wrong. (Application bible)
God asked Isaiah to do something that seemed shameful and illogical. At times, God may ask us to take steps we don’t understand. We must obey God in complete faith, for He will never ask us to do something wrong. (Application bible)
Captive
( 20:4 ) so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians as prisoners and the Ethiopians as captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt
— The Assyrians will take both the Egyptians and the Ethiopians as prisoners both young and old
— The walk of shame
Ridiculous !
( 20:5-6 ) Then they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation and Egypt their glory. 6 And the inhabitant of this territory will say in that day, ‘Surely such is our expectation, wherever we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and how shall we escape?’ ” Their expectation was to be saved by the Egyptians
— Rather than turning to the Lord, they were asking How shall we escape?
APPLICATION
We have been invited by God to look to Him first, but we look elsewhere first
— We are deceived by Satan or our own flesh
— we lie down naked in shame and disgrace
ALLIANCES TODAY
ALLIANCES TODAY
Government ....
Government ....
We rely on government legislation to protect the moral decisions we want made, but legislation cannot change people’s hearts
We rely on government legislation to protect the moral decisions we want made, but legislation cannot change people’s hearts
Science …
Science …
We enjoy the benefits of science and technology. We look to scientific predictions and analysis before we look to the bible
We enjoy the benefits of science and technology. We look to scientific predictions and analysis before we look to the bible
Medical Care …
Medical Care …
We regard medicine as a way to prolong life and preserve its quality - quite apart from faith and moral living
We regard medicine as a way to prolong life and preserve its quality - quite apart from faith and moral living
Financial systems…
Financial systems…
We place our faith in financial “security” - making as much money as we can for ourselves - forgetting that, while being wise with our money, we must trust God for our needs
We place our faith in financial “security” - making as much money as we can for ourselves - forgetting that, while being wise with our money, we must trust God for our needs
Isaiah warned Judah not to ally with Egypt (20:5; 30:1,2 ; 31:1). He knew that trust in any nation or any military might was futile. Judah’s only hope was to trust God. Although we don’t consciously put our hope for deliverance in political alliances in quite the same way, we often put our hope in other places (Application bible).
Isaiah warned Judah not to ally with Egypt (20:5; 30:1,2 ; 31:1). He knew that trust in any nation or any military might was futile. Judah’s only hope was to trust God. Although we don’t consciously put our hope for deliverance in political alliances in quite the same way, we often put our hope in other places (Application bible).
Additional Resources
Young, Edward J. The Book of Isaiah: Volume 1 Chapters 1-18. Eerdmans, 1996.
Young, Edward J. The Book of Isaiah: Volume 2 Chapters 19-39. Eerdmans, 1996.
Young, Edward J. The Book of Isaiah: Volume 2 Chapters 40-66. Eerdmans, 1996.
J Vernon McGee Isaiah 16:6-18:7 https://www.oneplace.com/ministries/thru-the-bible-with-j-vernon-mcgee/listen/isaiah-166187-752229.html
McGee Isaiah 19-20: https://www.oneplace.com/ministries/thru-the-bible-with-j-vernon-mcgee/listen/isaiah-19-20-752230.html
Chuck Missler Isaiah 14:18-19:25: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBx2IXVNA-g
Missler Isaiah 19:25-20:20: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnhiqrm8Po8
Missler Isaiah Bonus starts with Jer 32:18-20; Isaiah 19:19-20 and launches into a fascinating look at the Great Pyramid and Stonehenge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOc_NOM1sCY