Isaiah 22 is an oracle predicting judgement on Jerusalem for lack of repentance and condemns people for self-trust as opposed to trust in God. It also proclaims the replacement of the proud steward Shebna by Eliakim. "The Lord, the Lord Almighty has a day of tumult and trampling and terror in the Valley of Vision, a day of battering down walls and of crying out to the mountains... you saw that the City of David had many breaches in its defences... you built a reservoir between the two walls but you did not look to the one who made it... the Lord called you on that day to weep and to wail... till your dying day this sin will not be atoned for." Then the Lord says to Shebna the steward in charge of the palace: "The Lord is about to hurl you away you mighty man... you will die you disgrace to your master's house!... I will depose you from office... I will summon my servant Eliakim and clothe him with your robe... and he will be a father to those in Jerusalem... I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David... the Lord has spoken."
Wednesday, 29 April 2026
Isaiah 21 (résumé): Prophecies against Babylon, Edom and Arabia
Isaiah 21 has 3 prophetic oracles against Babylon, Edom and Arabia predicting divine judgement upon them which involves their destruction. First of all comes Babylon: "I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused... Babylon has fallen... all the images of their gods lie shattered on the ground... O my people, crushed on the threshing-floor... I tell you what I have heard from the Lord Almighty." Secondly comes the oracle against Edom: "Watchman, what is left of the night... he replies - Morning is coming but also the night." Finally comes the oracle concerning Arabia: "They flee from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the heat of battle... the survivors will be few... the Lord has spoken."
Isaiah 20 (résumé): A prophecy against Egypt and Cush.
This chapter tells how Isaiah lived out a prophetic message by walking around naked for 3 years! This act symbolized that Assyria would lead away stripped the Egyptians and the Cushites and those who put their trust in these nations will be afraid and put to shame.
Isaiah 19 (résumé): A prophecy about Egypt
Isaiah 19 is an oracle about Egypt which predicts God's judgement on Egypt through civil strife with Egyptian against Egyptian, brother against brother, neighbour against neighbour, city against city and kingdom against kingdom. Egypt will suffer economic failure with the drying up of the River Nile: "The river bed will be parched and dry.... the canals will stink... the fields along the Nile will be parched... the fishermen will be without work". Also Egypt's leaders will be failures: The officials of Zoan have become fools... the Lord has poured into them a spirit of dizziness... in that day the Egyptians will be like women and the land of Judah will bring terror to the Egyptians. But eventually Egypt will turn to the Lord and in that day the Egyptians, Assyrians and Israel will worship together.
Isaiah 18 (résumé): A prophecy against Cush
This prophecy is against Cush which is south of Egypt in what today is Sudan and Ethiopia. It warns Cush "which sends envoys by sea in papyrus boats" to wait for God's timing. "Go, swift messengers, to a people tall and smooth-skinned... when a trumpet sounds you will hear it... I will remain quiet and look on... he will cut off the shoots with pruning knives... at that time gifts will be brought to the Lord Almighty from a people feared far and wide."
Isaiah 17 (résumé): An oracle against Damascus
Isaiah 17 is an oracle against Damascus which includes condemnation of Israel (Ephraim) allied to Syria. The oracle also states that idolatry is worthless before God and so is all human strength. "See Damascus will no longer be a city... the fortified cities will disappear from Ephraim... in that day the glory of Jacob will fade... in that day men will look to their maker... they will not look to their handmade altars or Asherah poles... and all will be desolation... you have forgotten God your saviour... therefore the harvest will be as nothing... in the evening sudden terror and before the morning they are gone!"
Isaiah 16 (résumé): Send lambs as tribute
Isaiah 16 continues the prophecy against Moab which was started in the previous chapter. "Like fluttering birds pushed from the nest, so are the women of Moab... the oppressor will come to an end, and destruction will cease; the aggressor will vanish from the land." Reference is made to Moabite pride: "We have heard of Moab's pride... her pride and her insolence... therefore the Moabites wail... lament and grieve... the fields of Heshbon wither... O Heshbon I drench you with tears... my heart laments for Moab like a harp... within 3 years Moab's splendour and all her many people will be despised, and her survivors will be very few and feeble."