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Watchman, What Of The Night?
Isaiah has already been a bearer of many burdens and three more are laid upon him in this chapter 21. The first seems to be a return to the destruction of mighty Babylon, here called ‘the desert of the sea’. Perhaps this burden is repeated to reassure the Lord’s remnant of what must have appeared highly improbable in their day. Then comes a short reference to Dumah. This is Edom or Idumea, a region south of Judah, largely in modern day Jordan. The final burden concerning Arabia likely points to military activity on the Arabian peninsula.
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How Shall We Escape?
Today’s passage is short but sweet for all who have been led to find God’s great salvation by Jesus Christ in the steps of the ancient people of God. A great part of true faith is necessity. Many adopt Christianity as a lifestyle choice and embrace its principles as an act of freewill. God’s elect, however, are driven into the arms of Jesus not because it seems like a good idea but because every other refuge has been stripped away. This is what Isaiah is speaking about. A shocking message Isaiah has been faithfully speaking the prophecies of divine revelation to the people of his age. Now, however, Isaiah himself is commanded of God to testify by his actions and conduct. He is to remove…
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Send Them A Saviour
Today we are in for a pleasant surprise. Egypt, the original ‘auld enemy’ of the Jewish people is next in line for Isaiah’s burdensome prophecy but the end of the matter is not at all what we might expect. True, the Lord’s servant does bring a series of dire warnings of what is about to happen in Egypt but then, unexpectedly, he concludes with a magnificent promise of widespread salvation and gospel blessing, not for Israel only but also for Egypt and Assyria. The God of all grace Let us never forget that the Lord delights to show mercy. It pleases God to be gracious to His covenant people and erstwhile enemies. Christ died for our sins while we were yet sinners. Egypt had long…
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A Present Brought To The Lord
It is not certain which land Isaiah is referring to in these verses though it is generally assumed the African nations of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan are intended. These nations occupied the land of Cush, named after Noah’s grandson. The reference to vessels of bulrushes likely supports this theory. Boats of this structure were used on the river Nile and perhaps along the Red Sea coast. The inclusion of these nations shows the broad scope of the prophet’s ‘burdens’ and ‘woes’. Scattered and peeled! Again, there is a question as to the identity of the people called ‘a nation scattered and peeled’. Some identify it as the Cushites, being descriptive of their tall height and shaved bodies. They have a ‘terrible’ reputation perhaps because they…
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The Holy One Of Israel
Isaiah’s message was delivered seven hundred years before the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. The prophecy’s principle purpose was to confirm Immanuel’s coming and supply details of what His incarnation would accomplish and provide. This series of ‘burdens’ served to reassure the Lord’s elect when their faith in God was tried. Distressing days were coming yet none of the national calamities Isaiah foresaw would hinder God’s covenant promise of grace and glory in Christ. A bigger bully The ancient city of Damascus was to be destroyed. Syria and Israel once bullied Judah, now Assyria, a bigger bully, tormented them all. Their respective capitals Damascus, Samaria and Jerusalem would all feel the pressure of Nineveh. The first two would be destroyed, Isaiah tells us, but…
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Mercy, Truth And Righteousness
We take chapters 15 and 16 together this week because they both contain ‘the burden of Moab’ given to Isaiah concerning the destruction of the Moabites. The Moabites were an ancient people with whom the Children of Israel had a long and uneasy history. They were sworn foes to God and His people. The founder of the Moabite nation was Moab, son of Lot by incest. The shameful legacy of righteous Lot reminds us of the sad and far-reaching consequences of sin. A devious neighbour When Israel came out of Egypt Moab refused passage through their land. Yet, for Lot’s sake, God warned Moses not to go to war with Moab, nor possess their land, nor distress them in battle. That did not stop Moab…
