Isaiah 36 - Assyria Cast Doubt and Discredit Judah's Hope

I. Rasbshakeh's Cast Doubt on Judah's Hope  (1-10)

Hezekiah's last minute tribute of gold and silver (worth $41 million in today's money) to Sennacherib while he was attacking Lachish (72 km from Jerusalem) did not work.  (2 Kings 18:14).  At this time, the Assyrians had already conquered all the fortified cities in Syria and north of Jerusalem. 

Sennacherib took the treasures but sent "Rabshakeh" - a title of the field commander - to Jerusalem with a large number of troops.  Rabshakeh made bold and defiant speech against Judah,  systematically designed to create fear and hopelessness to all who hear. 

Rabshakeh made the following rationale against Judah:

1. You can't trust your friends (v6)

Rabshakeh criticised Judah's ally Egypt. Egypt did not come to Judah's aid as Assyria attack, and had been beaten by Assyria in previous encounters.  Egypt is like a staff made of broken reed that will only pierce those who lean on it. (v6)

Rabshakeh was right about Egypt, as Isaiah had warned Hezekiah before. However, Isaiah's purpose was to turn Judah's trust towards the Lord, while Rabshakeh's purpose was to humiliate them.

2. You can't trust your God (v7) 

Rabshakeh tried to twist what Hezekiah did to the high places as something that had displeased God. Hezekiah tore down the high places, including Moses' staff, because the people we worshipping idols. God was not displeased.  However, the Assyrians did not understand this, and perhaps many of the citizens were also not happy about what Hezekiah did. Rabshakeh tried to take advantage of this confusion.

3. You can't trust your army (v8)

Rabshakeh sarcastically insulted the army of Judah, saying Assyria can give them 2000 horses, but they do not even have enough soldiers to ride them. Judah had depended on Egypt's might and skills and do not have any trained warriors to take on the weakest Assyrian captain.  We recall that David had "great men" who helped him in warfare, but there were none like them now. 

4. God had sent me against you (v10)

Rabshakeh now lied through his teeth, by saying that God is the one who sent them to destroy the land. He tried to turn God against Judah. 

These are words that brings doubt to the Judean people.  This is what Satan does to us when we are under pressure and difficulties. He creates messages that make us doubt if anyone can help us - not our friends, not our God, not even ourselves. In fact, he confuses us to make us think that God is against us and the bad things come from God!

While God were using the Assyrians to punish Judah (and later on the Babylonians), His plan was to bring salvation to them and to all nations through the sacrificed of His own Son, Jesus Christ. History showed that Israel outlived all the mighty nations until today. 

II. Rabshakeh Discredit Hezekiah and God  (11-20)

Rabshakeh was speaking in Hebrew, and not in Aramaic which was the diplomatic language of the region at that time. Hezekiah's officials asked him to speak in Aramaic instead, but he refused. His purpose was to deliberately make sure that the "men sitting at the wall", meaning the soldiers, can hear the demoralising words he spoke. 

"Doomed to eat their own dung and drink their own urine" (v12) refers to the outcome of the siege that the Assyrian lays on Jerusalem.  This is to further terrify the soldiers who hear his words. 

Rabshakeh then humiliates Hezekiah in front of all his people. He called the king of Assyria "the great king", but did not even use the title of "king" before the name Hezekiah.  He said Hezekiah were deceiving them and they shouldn't be listening to him. (v 14-16)

They should not believe Hezekiah to trust God, for up to now, no other gods have been able to protect them from the Assyrians, including Samaria, the relatives of Judah. The conclusion was neither will God deliver Judah from them. (v18-20)

Instead, they should listen to the Assyrian king, who will reward them with their own property, a place with grain and wine, bread and vineyards. (v16)

e) The report to Hezekiah (21-22)

Eliakim, Shebna and Joah did not answer Rabshakeh, as Hezekiah had wisely told them not to do so.  Rabshakeh said things that had lies and truth mixed together to create doubt, to disorient and to discredit them. While his analysis on the physical inferiority was accurate, his analysis on God was a total lie.  There was not point in answering such a man.  Instead, they went back and reported what was said to Hezekiah, with their clothes torn in despair.

In the same way, we should not be challenging the voices of doubt, disorientation and discredit that Satan brings to our mind. We cannot fight Satan's words, other than with God's word.  Furthermore, if we react to what he says, it will bring us more conflict with our family, friends or co-workers and make things worse.  We are to shut up these voices with the name of Jesus, and trust what God had said to us instead, even when inside we do not have a solution to our problem.

Isaiah 35 - The Restoration of God's People

I.  Restoration of the Land and the People (v1-4)

In contrast to Chapter 34, the land of Israel will be restored. Its desert shall blossom like the crocus, a small, purple flower that is the first to emerge from the spring.  It represents cheerfulness and glee as it brings color to the landscape after a long winter.  It is also associated with youth. *

The glory of Lebanon will be given to Israel, possibly symbolizing the restoration of the forests and precious trees such as the juniper, the fir and the cypress which are used to build the temple.  Carmel and Sharon may symbolises the fertile pastures that feeds the farm animals. (Isa 60:13; 65:10).  

The blessing is more than just ecological but a spiritual flourishing in our lives. We will see clearly the glory and splendour of God. 

Hebrews 12:12 quotes Isaiah 35:3  - "Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees."  It is an encouragement to believers to strive for peace and holiness, and to avoid bitterness so that as many as possible will enjoy God's grace. 

Those with "anxious hearts" (v4) - those that want to take actions in haste, can instead be fearless for the vengeance of God will come soon. ("will come" appears three times in this paragraph.) 

This doesn't mean we will see the vengeance in our life time, but we know for certain that there will be a day of reckoning. 

II. Salvation of the Lord (5-7)

"The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped" (v5) is a prophecy of the salvation of God though His son, Jesus Christ. The miracles are a sign of the presence of God.  John the baptist asked whether Jesus is the Messiah, and Jesus answered "the blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear" (Mat 11:4-5) as the visible proof of who He was. 

Isaiah further said that "waters break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert" (v6). While this may refer to the physical healing of the land, which Israel is already enjoying, it is also a spiritual prophecy about the effects of salvation that Jesus brought. "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:38).  

Before we believed, we did not know how parched we were, and we were looking to quench our thirst from "empty cisterns." It was only after we were born again that we realised the true refreshments that Christ brings to every part of our lives. 

III. Way of Holiness (8-10)

Jesus came and established a new way for the Jewish people. In fact, followers of Christ were literally called the followers of "The Way."  Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him” (Jn 14:6-7).

Isaiah said that the Way of Holiness is like a highway (v8). Thr highway is the path to God. The unclean  and the lions (people who wants to do evil or harm) will not walk there. 

Rather, the redeemed shall walk in it - it is not that if you walk, you will be redeemed, but that you are redeemed before you are allowed to walk in it.  Even "fools... shall not go astray" - it is opened to everyone, whether the learned or the illiterate. 

"The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing"  (v10) not only refers to the Jewish people, but to all who were "redeemed" by Christ. 

The "returning"  seem to suggest that even the dead in Christ, and the righteous dead before Christ, will be part of the multitude streaming towards Jerusalem to give praise to the one on the throne. And there will be an everlasting joy and gladness over the people, for there will never be any sorrow and sighing evermore.

*www.flowermeaning.com

Isaiah 34 - Indignation of the LORD

I. Judgment on the nations (v1-7)

The prophecy speaks about "all nations" of the earth. "For the indignation of the LORD is against all nations, And His fury against all their armies;" (v1).  The fulfillment of this prophecy will be at the end times, when God's wrath are filled to the rim and judgment is to be poured out on corrupt nations.

In Matthew 24:21, Jesus spoke about the great tribulation.  Revelation speaks about the fulfillment of that prophecy, where natural disasters and wars will kill one third of the earth.

The mountains are described to be full of corpse and blood. "And His fury against all their armies; He has utterly destroyed them". (v2)  

"All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll." (v4). The tribulation will be supernatural and affects nature. 

Revelation 6:12-14 has a parallel description: "When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place."

God used Edom as a representative of all nations that hated the Jews. His "sword", symbolising punishment, will come down on all such nations. It will be filled with blood. The culmination of deaths will be fulfilled at the battle of Armageddon: "And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1,600 stadia" (Rev 14:20)

II. God's Day of Vengeance

Evil and injustice may rule today, but God has a "day of vengeance" (v8). The lands of the nations will burn for nights and days. The land will be lie waste, such that no one shall pass through them except for the animals. (v11) 

No one will rule those kingdoms. (v12).  Their buildings will be run down with forests and thistles, and dwelled only by wild animals, birds and owls.

Isaiah said that this is something that this scenario is something God had planned, and we are to search His Word to see it is fulfilled. It may be that Edom will be one of such land after the Armageddon (v16-17). 

We can imagine that if one-third of earth's population are dead, and perhaps another billion of Christians have been raptured, many of earth's cities will be empty. Most people will move out to the big cities, and thus leave their towns uninhabited. Animals will come out of the jungle and live in the deserted cities.

Death and destruction are consequences of rejecting God. 

Isaiah 27 - The Restoration of Israel

I. The new vineyard (1-6)

In the last days, the Lord will punish "Leviathan the fleeing serpent", a symbolic name for Satan, and will "slay the dragon in the sea" (v1). The "dragon in the sea" refers to the anti-christ, as described in Revelation 13:1 - "And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads."

God will be the keeper of the "pleasant vineyard", which often refers to Israel. God will protect it and march against those that comes against it.

In days to come, "Israel shall ... fill the whole world with fruit" (v6) - this is already fulfilled: tropical and citrus fruits are the 3rd largest export of Israel today, after diamonds and petroleum.

II.  Expiation and desolation (7-11)

The Lord has not punished Judah as severely as He will strike the enemies. Jacob's guilt will be "atoned for" and the stones of the idols will be crushed into pieces.

The "fortified city", the cities of men, will be deserted. They will be like the wilderness, and can only be used to make fire. Thee people have no discernment and God, their maker, will not have compassion on them. (v11)

III. The Ingathering of Israel (12-13)

In the last days, the Lord will glean Israel's people one by one. A great trumpet will sound, and those who were exiled into Assyria and those who escaped to Egypt, (ie. the northern 10 tribes) will return to Jerusalem to worship God. 

Isaiah 26 - Glory to God for His righteous deeds

I. Praise for the strong city (v1-6)

"In that day" refers to the last days, where there will be a song sung in Judah. The song praises God for making the city strong. The city will be opened up for the righteous to come in - this city is the kingdom of God, opened to those who trust in Christ.

Isaiah calls out for people to trust God, for they have nothing to worry about: "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock." (v3-4)  "Perfect Peace" in Hebrew is "shalom shalom." To gain such peace, we must "stay" on God, as an anchor for our minds.

Paul said the same: "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil 4:6-7)

God will humble the inhabitants of all lofty cities and the poor and needy (those unjustly oppressed) will trample them.

b) The effects of Jehovah’s judgments (v7-10)

The path of the righteous is level, and God will make the way level. (v7) This is a paradoxical statement - I believe the righteous's character looks to walk uprightly and avoid temptations. At the same time, God will bless them and always make a way for them to walk the right path. 

The righteous waits for His judgment and do not avenge the evil doers. The righteous only desire that God's name and remembrance be honored. The righteous earnestly seek after the Lord at night. (v8-9)

The wicked, even if shown favor, will not learn righteousness - they continue to deal corruptly and is not aware of God's majesty.  (v10)

c) Isaiah's Prayer (v11-19)

Isaiah prayed the the LORD will lift up His hands so that the people will see His zeal against their adversaries, so that his people will be ashamed for not trusting Him.  God had in fact done all the work and will bring peace to them. (v11-12)

Judah had worship many "gods" and idols, but Isaiah wants to remember the name of God alone. The other gods are dead and will not raise to life (v13-14).  God had used Hezekiah to destroy them.

Isaiah prophesied that God will enlarge the borders of the land, and that was what God had been doing since the independence of Israel in 1948.  (v15)

The people sought after God when His discipline was upon them. They cried out to God like a pregnant woman cries out in her pangs. But they have given birth to wind; their own efforts have brought no accomplishments. (v18)

But God can raise even the dead. (v19).  Isaiah was more accurate than he imagined. Paul said: "the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 Tim 1:10)

d) Isaiah's Encouragement to the people (v20-21)

Isaiah encouraged those "in the dust", those mourning, to awake and sing for joy. They should just stay indoors and wait until the fury has passed by, for God is coming out to punish the those who commit iniquity. (v21)

Isaiah 25 - Thanksgiving for Divine Mercy

I. Thanksgiving for Victory (1-5)

Isaiah acknowledge God and for that he will praise and and exalt Him for who he is. He is not just God, but He was a God full of wonderful works, and His counsel have been faithful and was never wrong.

God can ruin an evil city and it will never be rebuilt - this reminds us of Sodom and Gomorrah. But God also ensured that Jerusalem was a city that would be rebuilt, even after Babylon and the Romans conquest.

For the poor and needy, God was a strength and a refuge from the passing storm. "For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat;" (v4)

Those that passes by - the Assyrians and all nations that raised up against Jerusalem - are all storms against a strong wall. All their noises will disappear but Jerusalem will stand throughout time.

II. Jehovah’s feast for the nations (6-8)

Isaiah prophesied that on this mountain (Jerusalem), God will make a feast with the best wine and the best of meat for the people. This reminds us of Revelation 19:9 that says: "blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!"

This would be after He has destroyed the nations that covers all people with a veil, so they are unable to see the truth. Paul said: "to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed." (2 Corinthians 3:15-16).

When Christ came, he will "swallow up death forever" (v8) -  "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Cor 15:56-57).  God will wipe away the tears from their faces (v8b), just as Revelation 21:4.

On that day, the Israelite will finally recognize the Lord. They expected the Messiah to save them from the enemies and could not see that He first came to save them from their own sin. But in the last day, they will recognize who He is and say "This is the LORD; we have waited for him;

let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” (v9)

The LORD is said to spread out his hands over the Jerusalem "like a swimmer spreads out his hands to swim" (v11), and He will trample down Moab, a representative of all nations who are proud and rebellious and oppress His people.

Isaiah 33 - The Lord Delivers Zion

I. Isaiah's Prayer (v1-9)

Even before Isaiah say the prayer to ask for God's protection, He already know Assyria will be plundered the same way they plunder the nations. (v1)

The prayer is a prayer of hope, that the people are "waiting" for God's graciousness to be their salvation in times of trouble, and to be their arm every morning. All the nations will scatter when God rises up. (v2-4)

By faith, Isaiah exalted God and to praise Him for giving justice and righteousness, wisdom and knowledge, and the strength to His people in Zion. The "fear of the Lord" is the treasure given to His people. It is not fear as being afraid, but fear in reverence, in honor and in respect of God for He will protect such people. (v5-6)

When God rises up against the nations, all the people will mourn and languishes. God will break all the covenants between man, which is not reliable. The ambassadors of peace will weep for all the allies have been fruitless. (v7-9)

II. God's Response (v10-13)

"Now I will rise; Now I will be exalted" says God, who is about to take action against Assyria. God's wrath will be like fire that burns the enemies. All will hear of what happened, near and far off. (v10-13)

III. The Righteous Will See The King (v14-19)

The sinners in Zion will be afraid of the fire, and wondering who will be with them in the burning. But the righteous - those who speaks uprightly, who refuses bribes, who do not get involve in bloodshed, and who stops looking at evil - they will dwell on high, protected in the fortress of rocks. They will be provisioned with food and water.

The righteous will see "the King in his beauty" - this may refer to Hezekiah after the Assyrians have withdrawn from Jerusalem. However it is also a prophecy of the people recognizing Jesus for who He is when He returns.

"then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn." (Zechariah 12:10)

This is also our longing, to be able to see Christ in His actual self, in reality as we see someone face to face. "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known" (1 Corinthians 13:12). The beauty of Christ will be much more than what we can imagine at this moment. Our righteousness is not from our own doing, but based on the atonement of Christ on the cross.

IV. Zion will not be taken (v20-24)

Isaiah repeats the prophecy that Zion (Jerusalem) will not be taken by the Assyrians. Their quiet home will be preserved and none of its stakes will be taken down. This meant that the Assyrians will not even enter into Jerusalem, which came to pass, for they could only camp near Jerusalem before God's angel strike them.

For the Lord is for them, and was their judge, lawgiver and king. No great ships or galleys will be strong enough to plunder the city. (This is not a literal saying, since Jerusalem is not near the sea.).

In fact their deliverance will not just be from enemies but from their sin as well. Their iniquities will be forgiven, when they trust in the Lord who will send His Son, Jesus, as the appropriation for all our sins.

Isaiah 32 - The Righteous King

I. Promise of a Righteous King (1-8)

"Behold, a king will reign in righteousness" is said to refer to King Hezekiah or King Josiah, depending on when the chapter was written. However, the ultimate righteous king would be Jesus Christ Himself, at the end of days.

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.""(Jer 23:5)

"Princess will rule with justice" - under Christ will be His disciples who will help to rule the nations. "And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth."(Revelation 5:10)

When a righteous king rules, man will find a hiding place and cover from the wind and tempest. It will be refreshing as water in a dry place.The people will have understanding and knowledge. (v2-4)

People will no longer be tricked by the foolish and wicked people who lies to the uneducated. In the same way those who are generous will be recognized as generous. There will be no misunderstanding or injustice. (v7-8)

II. Preparation for Disaster (9-14)

The complacent people are asked to be concerned and troubled by the coming judgement that is coming after a year. People will be mourning and miss the happy times and the fruitful vines. The palaces and the cities will be deserted.

III. Spirit is poured out (15-20)

The tough times will continue until the Spirit is poured upon them. Then the wilderness will become a fruitful field. (v15)  Justice and righteousness will dwell in the land, bringing peace, quietness and assurance. The people will dwell securely and in peace. They are called "blessed" as they plant besides waters and raise domesticated animals in the land.

Isaiah 31 - The Lord Will Defend Jerusalem

I. Rationale for Trust (1-3)

Judah trusted the Egyptian because of their strength and their numbers. But they do not look to the Lord because they can't find the rational reason to.  David said the contrary: "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God." (Ps 20:7) 

However, they forgot that the Egyptians are merely men, and not God; the horses are only flesh and not spirit. God just need to stretch out His hands and both Egypt and those they help will fall. (v2-3)

II. The Lord will save Jerusalem (4-9)

It will not the the Egyptians, but the Lord Himself will defend Jerusalem. (v5).  Judah is asked to return to God and cast away their idols. Assyria itself will fall not from the sword of men, but the sword of God. (v8)

Isaiah 30: Trust in God

I. Making Plans Without God (1-10)

"“Who take counsel, but not of Me, And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, That they may add sin to sin;" (v1)

It wasn't a problem of going to Egypt, it was the problem of not seeking for God's guidance on how to address the crisis. How often we have done this in our lives? We have been trained on jumping to the solutions using our own intellect. Hardly ever have we gone to God on our knees, and waiting several days or weeks even, without a clear answer. We want the solution to be quick, and our minds can give quick answers. But many of these answers are wrong, or at the wrong timing.

The phrase "walk to go down to Egypt"  and "the shadow of Egypt" (v2)  is symbolic of what we do in major decisions - we use the world's method. We partner with worldly people with motives not aligned to God. We may even use questionable approaches, or approaches without God's presence, to achieve our objectives.

For Jerusalem, their trust in Egypt will be their shame and disgrace (v3-5). Perhaps in our lives, making worldly decisions seem to work out for us, but somehow, I wonder if we will be ashamed of it when we see our Creator and realised that we have exchanged his glory for our own.

Isaiah sympathizes with with the donkeys that were used carry Judah's treasures to the Pharaoh, through the dangerous dessert with lions and vipers. All these will be for no benefit, because Egypt is "Rahab-Hem-Shebeth" meaning "Rahab Sits Idle". Rahab is Hebrew for pride (Psa 87:4)

II. Rejecting God's Message (8-11)

God wanted the rebellious nature of Judah to be documented and remembered forever. They were a rebellious and lying  children who tells the prophets to stop prophesying the difficult truth and criticisms about themselves, but to tickle their ears with only good news and complements that were false.  They were sick of hearing about the Holy One of Israel.

This condition is not unique to Judah. Paul predict that there will be a time when the world will reject the truth.   "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." 2 Timothy 4:3-4.

III. Trusting Useless Things (12-17)

Because of they distrust God and instead trust useless allies, God will break Judah like a potter's vessel. (14)  For they believe in that their plans will save them. They may flee on horses but the enemies have faster horses.  This is the fulfillment of Leviticus 26:17 -  "I will set My face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you shall reign over you, and you shall flee when no one pursues you."

Instead of fleeing or fighting, all they needed to do was to fall under God's protection, for "In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." (v15)

IV.  The Gracious God (18-22)

"Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you" (v18) - The Lord is always waiting to bless us. He won't bless us if we are blessing ourselves. It is possible that those who bless themselves can be "successful" on Earth, but he will not enjoy the presence of God. 

But sometimes we will have to wait for his grace "blessed are those who wait for Him" - God wants to train us to be trust and to be patient, to wait for the right timing, and to truly let go of the last straw in our own strength, and to be broken before He brings a break-through.

God answers His people when they cry (v19). Crying before God is for someone who is totally broken. When our hearts are in that posture, and when our pride has totally vanished, and when we cry to God out of our emptiness. then God will surely hear us. This is a promise! Yet, how often have we been able to be sincerely be "nothing" and have no fallback plans, and totally dependent on Him? Hardly ever, if you are honest about it!

The discipline that God is bringing to Judah ("bread of adversity and the water of affliction" v20) is to correct their stubbornness, and to bring them realisation that there is a right way to walk. They will cast out their idols like unclean things. (The Hebrew for "unclean things" are literally menstrual cloth).  We know that after the Babylonian exile, the Jews never again worship other gods or prayed to idols.

V. God's Plan For Judah's Future (23-33)

There will be a time, and is now, when their people will dwell in Zion. Zion will will be blessed with rich produce, and stocks will graze in the large pastures. There will be brooks that provides water. This is what Israel is enjoying today.

What is to come is when the moon will be as bright as the sun, and when the Lord binds up the brokenness of His people and heals the wounds of His discipline.  The Lord will come with anger against the nations and destroy them with His tongue of devouring fire. (v27-28) In those days there will be fire, storms and hailstones (v30). This is a foretelling of the coming of the Lord Jesus!

"From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords." (Rev 19:15)

Isaiah's prophecy has a duality that applies to the Assyrians at that time as well, and God, not Egypt, will be the one fighting for Judah. (v32) This happened in 2 Kings 19, where God sent an angel to kill 185,000 Assyrian soldiers.

Isaiah 29 - Spiritual Blindness

I. The Lord Humbles Proud Jerusalem (1-4)

Ariel means Lion of Judah.  Ariel has been celebrating its feasts every year, but God promised He will encamp against Jerusalem to bring it down. Instead of boasting about the legacy of David, their voice will be brought low, groveling from the ground. 

II. The Lord Protects Jerusalem (5-8)

But when Jerusalem have been humbled, God promises that those who attack Jerusalem will be made like fine dusts, chaff that passes away suddenly.

III. Jerusalem the Blind and Illiterate (9-12)

Because of stubborn sin and pride, the prophets and seers in Jerusalem are blinded by the Spirit of God. They are no longer able to see the signs and be warned of the coming judgments, even with the teachings of Isaiah.  Amos said the same thing: 

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord GOD, “That I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, but shall not find it.” (Amos 8:11-12)

How do we make sure we are not blind? Even today, there are people who are blind to the Gospel. Jesus said: "Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.” John 12:39-40

Jerusalem was not only blind, but illiterate. They are unable to read the Word and understand their own sins. Many of us may know how to read the bible, but we just don't get what God is saying to us personally. We are blind to the His promptings through the Word.

IV. Hiding Sins (13-16)

There is another problem with Jerusalem - they think they can hide their sins from God. They believe that they can change the spirit of the law but creating new rules. They believe that they can ally with Egypt without God knowing, or even if God knows, God can't do anything. There is a spirit of pride and independence against God.

God said: "“In as much as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men" (v13).

Jesus quoted this verse in  Matthew 15:7-9.  It means they are just following a set of "dos" and "don'ts" from the traditional teachings and rules. They don't understand the heart of God. Jesus rebuked them for preventing Him from healing people on Sabbath, but allows a lamb who falls into a ditch to be rescued.

Instead of understanding that God is the potter, the pot has taken over how it should be shaped. They believe God doesn't understand their situation. Or perhaps God no longer cares. These are the deception that lies beneath their routine rituals and traditional rules.

V. Sight for the spiritually blind, justice for the wicked. (17-24)

Despite the horrible state Jerusalem is, God is still faithful. He promised: "In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.

The humble also shall increase their joy in the LORD, And the poor among men shall rejoice

In the Holy One of Israel." (v18-19)

God was not just talking symbolically, but also literally, when Jesus came and open the ears of the deaf and eyes of the blind, and many of whom He healed, believed Him to be the promised Messiah. Jesus opened up the scriptures to show that He is the one Isaiah and other prophets were speaking about.

Eventually, the whole of Israel will come to realise God's plan and worship Jesus. God said: "These also who erred in spirit will come to understanding, And those who complained will learn doctrine.” (v24)

VI. Summary

This chapter is rich in it's analysis of the problem of Jerusalem and are very relevant to us today. The problems, in summary are as follows:

1. Holding on to a past glory. (v1: the city where David encamped).  The people were proud of David, and his achievements and the Glory of God hundreds of years ago. They have lost the fresh sense of God's presence in their lives. We have often enjoyed God's glory once in our lives, probably when were were students. We called upon God and He answered us! We saw how God saved friends and strangers among our midsts. But as we became busy with our jobs, have children and even marital struggles, God's glory departed from us. We no longer have that relationship because we no longer goes to Him, but to our own intellect. God didn't move away from us, but we moved away from Him, and He still waits for us to return.

2. Following a life pattern without thinking (v1: year to year; let the feasts run their round.)  We need to take stock often on whether we have been doing things that God does not approve or no longer wants us to do. This includes how much time we spend on our jobs, our hobbies, and neglecting other responsibilities that God wants us to pay attentions to - such as our spouses, children, parents, christian brothers and sisters or other people that God wants to reach. Just like in business, we have to be agile. We need to be agile in God's service so we can change our focus upon His calling, even when they are outside of our comfort zone.

3. We are blind and asleep (v9-10: Astonish yourselves and be astonished; blind yourselves and be blind!). As a result of our empty rituals, we became blind to what God is trying to do to our society and to our own self. Different people who needed God and we just walked by without thinking, because we are thinking about the present job problems or where to go next for vacation. The world is moving, changing under God's hands, but we think nothing of it and it doesn't affect us nor cause us to pray for those suffering or those who are still lost, such as parents or friends. God wants us to be part of His salvation plan, here or abroad, but we are blind to His calling. Sometimes, God has to bring in a crisis into our lives, such as a health problem, to "wake us" from the slumber and misleading dreams.

4. We are illiterate to the Word. (v11: And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed.) There are two types of people Isaiah referred to.  One are those who read, but cannot understand because they refuse to understand. The Word is "sealed" to them.  Then there are those who just don't read. These people are not illiterate because they are not educated, but they are illiterate to the spirit of the Word.  Isn't this exactly what is happening to many Christians? They are either too lazy to read, or when they read, the Spirit is unable to speak to their hearts. It is only mental knowledge. We study whatever we need to do a good job at the office, but we do not study the basic life manual - the Bible. We need to read, understand and be convicted by the Word - it is not easy, that is why a serious study, discussion and meditation is required.

5. Our hearts are not in it.  (v13: "their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men")  At the end of the day, it's all about our hearts. It is not about how we sing, preach, go to church or do good to others. In fact, before we do all those things, we should make sure our hearts are next to God's. Once that happens, then we can understand the Word with our hearts, we can be awaken to our sins and complacency, we can sense the direction of God in our lives, and we can be refreshed with His presence every day. How do we become near to God's heart - I believe it is simply to pray. Praying is not merely asking God to help me when in trouble, but merely trying to get closer to God and to listen to Him. God is always there helping me without being asked, but I won't know it and I won't appreciate it until I can pray "unceasingly" regardless of the practical outcomes in my life.

6. Living in deception. (v15-16: "Who sees us? Who knows us? He did not make me. He has no understanding")   We shudder when anyone says these things. Though we would never say it, we live it this way. We do many things that we know is wrong, but we don't think God knows. But intellectually, we do know He knows, but perhaps he doesn't care. He got more important things to worry about. Or perhaps He doesn't know my situation enough. I am in trouble or I am lonely and I need to do all kinds of things to get out of trouble, or to make enough money, or to make myself happy. Instead of going to God, we go into "Egypt" - the symbolic "world" we run to.  God has no more important things to do but to take care of each of us. He is the cornerstone and counselor we should run to.

 Charles Spurgeon's listed six deceptions or lies we believe in:

i. The lie that we are, or can be good enough.

ii. The lie that fate or predestination determines all, so there is nothing for us to do.

iii. The lie that places confidence in new, false teachings.

iv. The lie that religious profession is enough.

v. The lie that one can have a saved soul and an unchanged life.

vi. The lie that trusts an old experience instead of an ongoing relationship.

Which of these still run our lives today?

Pastor Edmund Chan said: "The crisis is not to know we have a crisis." This chapter helps us to realise some of the crisis. May God give us the courage to repent and take the right steps to return to Him.