Isaiah 17: 1-3

Prophecy about Damascus

¹ The oracle concerning Damascus.

“Behold, Damascus is about to be removed from being a city
And will become a fallen ruin.
² “The cities of Aroer are forsaken;
They will be for flocks to lie down in,
And there will be no one to frighten them.
³ “The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim,
And sovereignty from Damascus
And the remnant of Aram;
They will be like the glory of the sons of Israel,”
Declares the Lord of hosts.

From Moab, Isaiah steers his prophecy making northward to Damascus, which was (and is) the capital of Aram--or, today, Syria. "Its location NE of Mt. Hermon on the main land route between Mesopotamia and Egypt made it very influential," according to my study Bible. Of course, this week, Syria is the epicenter of world events.

In reviewing the cross-references for our verses this week, I was pleased to have a history refresher and a re-visit to earlier chapters in Isaiah. [In a very long book such as this, a periodic review is helpful in remembering what you have already (supposedly) covered!] This history helps to set up this chapter. 

Since Isaiah's calling to be a prophet, Judah's kings had had to deal with the brewing situation of a power alliance between Syria and northern neighbor Israel. Both nations had banded together with the hope of thwarting takeover threats by Assyria. The countries believed that having Judah on board with them would secure victory. Problem was that Judah's kings would not play ball. So, the two-nation alliance threatened to invade Judah to forcibly bring about their own triune. Recall King Ahaz--King Panic and not one to follow Godly counsel--who disregarded Isaiah's prophecy:

"...Thus says the Lord God: 'It shall not stand nor shall it come to pass. For the head of Aram is Damascus and the head of Damascus is Rezin (now within another 65 years Ephraim will be shattered, so that it is no longer a people)....'"

--Isaiah 7: 7 and 8 

Rather than listen to God, Ahaz did his own force play, aligning Judah with Assyria.

 

Isaiah steps in now, during King Hezekiah's reign, saying that "Damascus is about to be removed from being a city...." (vs. 1) Even before the prophet forthtold its demise, Amos, the sheep-herder prophet to Israel, had already prophesied its fall:

"Thus says the Lord, 

'For three transgressions of Damascus and for four
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because they threshed Gilead with implements of sharp iron.
'So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael
And it will consume the citadels of Ben-hadad.
'I will also break the gate bar of Damascus,
And cut off the inhabitant from the valley of Aven,
And him who holds the scepter, from Beth-eden;
So the people of Aram will go exiled to Kir,'
Says the Lord."

--Amos 1: 3-5

  

The word had been pronounced; it was just a matter of timing. Isaiah's bringing the same word, again, should have alerted people that the time was yet nearer. Damascus would not just face destruction, but would become "a fallen ruin." (The King James' Version uses "ruinous heap.")

In verse 2, not only Damascus will suffer, but also the cities of the areas of Aroer would be "forsaken." 

 

Aroer was the area on Syria's southernmost border, on the Arnon River--just north of Moab's northernmost border. (You can see Jazer and Elealah on the map.) So, we have an appreciation through the text that Isaiah is referring to the larger physical boundaries of Syria and not just the heart of these cities. At one time, Aroer was under possession of Gad, one of the tribes of Israel, who moved into the area seeking to establish a place to raise  families--especially  children--and livestock, of which they were rich in number. (Numbers 32)

 

Given why Gad sought to stay put in the region sheds light on the rest of verse 2: "They will be for flocks to lie down in, and there will be no one to frighten them." The pastoral land of Aroer will continue to host livestock, only there will be no people, or reason to flee--as all will be gone.

 

Damascus will lose its "sovereignty" among other nations (vs. 3), meaning that any power it once held would be taken. We've already read that Rezin's kingly term came with a terminal limit. Damascus held the reigns in instigating the alliance with Israel, for which it would face God's wrath and judgment. If there were any inkling of a thought that Ephraim's (Israel's) "friend of God" status would keep Damascus' toll to a minimum, Isaiah says no way: These cities will be "like the glory of the sons of Israel." (vs. 3)

 

On the surface, you would think that was a good thing. Of course, at one time, it was the best thing! Israel had had a reputation. Israel had a history. Israel had The Glory! But Israel's sin--worshiping idols and the lack of full reliance on God--tarnished the picture of His Glory resting upon His people. Long gone, and it would also seem long forgotten, were the days when the physical presence of the Glory of God (Shekinah) was with His people. As we said in last week's post about the mighty days of Moab, the glory was fading, and judgment was coming--for Israel and for Syria.

"'The remnant of Syria shall be as the glory of the children of Israel; those few that remain of the Syrians shall be in as mean and despicable a condition as the children of Israel are, and the glory of Israel shall be no relief or reputation to them.' Sinful confederacies will be no strength, no stay, to the confederates, when God’s judgments come upon them."

--Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible

 


As with Moab, a similarly sized remnant will be found in Syria, also. ...'Til next Wednesday!

Photo: twilark.wordpress.com, http://bibleatlas.org/regional/aroer_2.htm

* * *

Next week:  Isaiah 17: 4-6
 
Note: I read from the New American Standard Bible translation,
specifically, The MacArthur Study Bible (NASB).
I will quote other sources if used in a post.
I also use Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
(with notes from the King James Version).

Isaiah 14: 28-32

²⁸ In the year that King Ahaz died this oracle came:

Judgment on Philistia

²⁹ “Do not rejoice, O Philistia, all of you,
Because the rod that struck you is broken;
For from the serpent’s root a viper will come out,
And its fruit will be a flying serpent.
³⁰ “Those who are most helpless will eat,
And the needy will lie down in security;
I will destroy your root with famine,
And it will kill off your survivors.
³¹ “Wail, O gate; cry, O city;

Melt away, O Philistia, all of you;
For smoke comes from the north,
And there is no straggler in his ranks.
³² “How then will one answer the messengers of the nation?
That the Lord has founded Zion,
And the afflicted of His people will seek refuge in it.”

We could have covered verse 28 in last week's post. But that would have been like one of those season-ending cliff-hangers. "What?! What did the oracle say? What happens next?!...." So, let's take it all in this week.

It is interesting that this message comes with a timeframe, albeit vague. (And the fact that my study Bible says the year of King Ahaz's death is uncertain adds to that ambiguity!) But, we know the king died when Hezekiah began his term, which puts the time between 727 and 716/15 B.C. The Reformation Study Bible suggests the latter date is "preferable" since it occurs 14 years before the fall of Samaria at the hands of the Assyrians--also, the timeframe in which the Philistines were revolting against Assyria.

Ah, the Philistines. If you caught the fact that this week's passage is divided by a subhead in my study Bible, then you see 'Philistia'. And, if you see 'Philistia,' you can figure out from whence cometh the Philistines. Philistia (see map above) was a territory located in what is now southwestern Palestine. ['Palestine' is derived from Philistia/Philistine. (Encyclopedia of the Bible)] Throughout the Bible, the Philistines are public enemy #1 to God's people (David and Goliath just one of many stories). Just as Assyria faced God's judgment in oppressing God's people, so will the Philistines, according to this prophecy. Their judgment closes out Isaiah 14.

Remember, an oracle is a burden or inspired message of concern. Why was this coming before Judah at this time by Isaiah? Upcoming threats. We must continue to review history in light of prophecy.

King Uzziah was the first king under which Isaiah served. Generally, he was considered a "good" king, in that he followed the Lord, most of the time. God would strike him with leprosy for taking the duties of the priest, but God granted him successes, including a take-down of the Philistines.

"Now he [Uzziah] went out and warred against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath and the wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in the area of Ashdod and among the Philistines. God helped him against the Philistines...."

--II Chronicles 26: 6 and 7a

So a precedent had been established, but, under King Ahaz (king #3 for Isaiah), Judah disbanded its Godly obedience. With the rising of Assyria as a threat to everyone, the Philistines sought to build up alliances for self-preservation. With Ahaz's passing and the torch being passed to his son, Hezekiah, the possibility for a Philistia/Judah coalition remained on the table for consideration. Thankfully, as we have seen in our review of Scripture, Hezekiah was not the man or king his father was. Having Isaiah--and his prophecies--for guidance demonstrated the wisdom of Hezekiah in keeping the nation secure under the ultimate reign of God.

Back to this week's verses, Uzziah appears to be the 'rod' spoken of in verse 29, especially since the Philistines came back to conquer portions of Judah during Ahaz's tenure. Lest the Philistines should gloat too much, the Lord plans to raise up "a viper" [Hezekiah] to squelch the rise of the nation, not to mention put a damper on the Assyrian revolt, at least, for that time.

"And the Lord was with him [Hezekiah]; wherever he went he prospered. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city."

--II Kings 18: 7 and 8

 
Conditions had been so poor under the rule of Ahaz. God says, in verse 30, that when Judah's poorest returned to being able to eat and when its weakest would consider it safe to lie down, then He would strike Philistia with "smoke from the north" (vs. 31)--that being the armies of Hezekiah. Who would have thought the north would rise again? But, Hezekiah "trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel; so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him. For he clung to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him...." (II Kings 18: 5-6, excerpts) And the Lord is the one who sets the world in order. Recall His righteousness and fairness in this from Isaiah, Chapter 11:

"But with righteousness He will judge the poor,
And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth;
And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,
And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked."

--Isaiah 11:4

 

“How then will one answer the messengers of the nation?" (vs. 32) is the question closing out the passage and the chapter. The Philistines were bringing forward their offer, to band together to stand against Assyria. How would Judah respond?

"That the Lord has founded Zion, and the afflicted of His people will seek refuge in it."

--vs. 32, (i.e., the answer)

 

Not the answer the Philistines were looking for, yet they shouldn't have been surprised. How did David answer Goliath? "For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?" (I Samuel 17: 26b) The battle belongs to the Lord, and the Lord has founded Zion, therefore, we're sticking with our God!

 

Zion, being Jerusalem, the home of God's people, was founded with the intent that God's people would be able to return to it, time and time again until the time of the final Zion. God would be found with and by His people.

"By faith he [Abraham] lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God."

--Hebrews 11: 9-10

The story of the Bible is God keeping His people together. The Philistines would never come to grasp this greater truth, and, thus, faced God's judgment. Yes, God is the designer and builder of our earthly homes, but His plan is not just for a structure but for the goal of keeping His people faithful together, to lead and disciple others in the faith. They will then know that they will always have safety, provision, a "refuge," in the presence of God. This is the true hope of the Church--God's eternal presence!

"The poor of his people shall betake themselves to it (so some read it), shall join themselves to his church and embark in its interests; they shall concur with God in his designs to establish his people, and shall wind up all on the same plan, and make all their little concerns and projects bend to that. Those that take God’s people for their people must be willing to take their lot with them and cast in their lot among them. Let the messengers of the nations know that the poor Israelites, who trust in God, having, like Zion, their foundation in the holy mountains (Ps. 87:1), are like Zion, which cannot be removed, but abides for ever (Ps. 125:1), and therefore they will not fear what man can do unto them."

--Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible

  

Judgment on Moab.... 'Til next Wednesday!

Photo: www.accordancebible.com

* * *

Next week:  Isaiah 15: 1-3
 
Note: I read from the New American Standard Bible translation,
specifically, The MacArthur Study Bible (NASB).
I will quote other sources if used in a post.
I also use Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
(with notes from the King James Version).

Isaiah 10: 5-11

⁵ Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger
And the staff in whose hands is My indignation,
⁶ I send it against a godless nation
And commission it against the people of My fury
To capture booty and to seize plunder,
And to trample them down like mud in the streets.
⁷ Yet it does not so intend,
Nor does it plan so in its heart,
But rather it is its purpose to destroy
And to cut off many nations.
⁸ For it says, “Are not my princes all kings?
⁹ “Is not Calno like Carchemish,
Or Hamath like Arpad,
Or Samaria like Damascus?
¹⁰ “As my hand has reached to the kingdoms of the idols,
Whose graven images were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria,
¹¹ Shall I not do to Jerusalem and her images
Just as I have done to Samaria and her idols?”

It has been mentioned quite a few times over the course of our study. But, the "distant nation" has not been mentioned by name until this appearance in Isaiah, Chapter 10: "Woe to Assyria...." (vs 5) Take a good look at the Assyrian Empire in the map above. Staggering is the amount of territory! Thus, powerful be those who controlled it. Or were they?

Back in the study of Amos on these pages (Amos 6 blog), we had an opportunity to look at the beginnings of the Assyrian Empire. Through Noah's grandson came Nimrod who founded Ninevah, the capital city. Of Nimrod, we read in Scripture, "He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, 'Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.'" (Genesis 10:9) The reputation of the nation, later empire, would be that of a hunter and a conqueror--but with self-righteous intentions.

In Isaiah, we just read of Assyria's coming to destroy Israel, which the empire successfully did at the hand of two kings: Shalmaneser, who succeeded Tiglath-pileser, and Sargon, who may have done the actual capturing of the nation after taking over Assyria from Shalmaneser. (Commentary suggests that Sargon's annals were more detailed and complete than Shalmaneser's, which did not actually indicate that he took Israel.) What Isaiah is addressing now in Chapter 10 is the rise of the next Assyrian leader, King Sennacherib, Sargon's son. (According to Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary, his name means "bramble of destruction").

So now, taking in all that background, the first mention of Assyria in the passage comes with two descriptors at the mouth of God: "the rod of My anger and the staff in whose hands is My indignation." The capital 'My's' are critical to our understanding. The One with the wrath here is God, not Assyria. The One who will use Assyria as a tool in His work is God, not Assyria. "I send it...," says God, because He is the One who is in control of all things, regardless of the size of the empire or the impressive, historically powerful leadership structure.

"He [Sennacherib] was but the rod of God’s anger, an instrument God was pleased to make use of for the chastening of his people, that, being thus chastened of the Lord, they might not be condemned with the world.... Sometimes God makes an idolatrous nation, that serves him not at all, a scourge to a hypocritical nation, that serves him not in sincerity and truth."

--Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible

The hypocritical or "godless" (vs 6) nation mentioned by Henry is Judah. [It is interesting, though, to put in the names of other nations to ponder the possibilities of conflicts in certain eras.] The call by God is to take all of their things--those things that the nation became so enraptured with over God Himself. "Trample them" down in their sinful mire. God's intent was to discipline with His rod and staff. Is this the same "Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me" of Psalm 23 (KJV)? If we are believing that the Lord is our shepherd and has the best of intentions for us, then we need to accept that, "All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way...." (Isaiah 53:6) The rod and staff represent the guidance and discipline of a loving God, steering us to Him. But, in lack of "sincerity and truth" in faith, that rod and staff become much stronger in their force, yet still loving in the intent of the One who uses them.

Verse 7 brings the focus of God's providence into full view:

"Yet it [Assyria] does not so intend,
Nor does it plan so in its heart,
But rather it is its purpose to destroy
And to cut off many nations."

Was it Assyria's plan to step into Judah's life for the purpose of bringing spiritual rehabilitation? No. Was it on Sennacherib's radar to go after Judah to add to the Empire? Given what we read, yes, true to historical form, that would be a more proper motive. But the intent to invade Judah and the time frame, (not to mention how it all came about; II Kings has the details), were not born of Sennacherib's heart but of God's greater plan for getting to the heart of His people.

As the passage finishes over verses 8 to 11, Isaiah lets us hear from Sennacherib. [And, I love how Matthew Henry comments on this introduction: "The prophet here brings him in vaunting and hectoring."] Think of a movie monologue from the lead general, a Patton or the like, with the motivational combination of pomposity and trash-talking. Read verse 9 (and its details) from the Amplified Bible:
 

"Is not Calno [of Babylonia conquered] like Carchemish [on the Euphrates]? Is not Hamath [in Upper Syria] like Arpad [her neighbor]? Is not Samaria [in Israel] like Damascus [in Syria]? [Have any of these cities been able to resist Assyria? Not one!]"

Even the idols have been conquered, reading verses 10 and 11. "Jerusalem, why would you want to mess around with an empire that has taken on the idols and won?!" might say the braggart. Although the thought of idols being powerful would be folly to Judah's King Hezekiah down the line (II Kings 19: 17 and 18), the current king of the day, Ahaz, is not wise or believing.

But, as we know, despite Ahaz and company, God would preserve a remnant of believers from Judah, regardless of the unbelieving and unknowing nations of the world that would come up against it. What will be punishment and chastisement in exile will later bring repentance and a new beginning to the faithful. We may not completely understand God's workings--the why's and the means to the works themselves, sometimes--but when we hold to Scripture, we know that His promises are true; that what He deems to fulfill, He will; and that "...God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)
 

Joseph testified to this mystery of "bad" for "good" when he spoke to his brothers over their leading him into slavery: "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive." (Genesis 50:20) There is also the story of the Man who could and would do no wrong, who put Himself on the other side of the Law and was executed:

"...this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power."

--Acts 2: 23 and 24 (Peter speaking, emphasis mine)

The warning for Judah was not to fear the imposing Assyrian Empire on its borders, to build up armaments and prepare for battle. The warning was to turn back to fearing God, a warning not heeded.









Remember, this passage starts out with "Woe to Assyria." God will call out Assyria's pride.... 'Til next Wednesday!

Photo:  standeyo.com

* * *

Next week: Isaiah 10: 12-15

Note: I read from the New American Standard Bible translation,
specifically, The MacArthur Study Bible (NASB).
I will quote other sources if used in a post.
I also use Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
(with notes from the King James Version).

Isaiah 8:9-12

 

Isaiah 8:9-12

from the Amplified Bible

⁹ "'Make an uproar and be broken in pieces, 

O you peoples [rage, raise the war cry, do your worst, and be utterly dismayed]! 

Give ear, all you [our enemies] of far countries. 

Gird yourselves [for war], and be thrown into consternation! 

Gird yourselves, and be [utterly] dismayed!

¹⁰ Take counsel together [against Judah], but it shall come to nought; 

speak the word, but it will not stand, 

for God is with us [Immanuel]!'

¹¹ For the Lord spoke thus to me with His strong hand [upon me], and warned and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying,

^{12 '}Do not call conspiracy [or hard, or holy] all that this people will call conspiracy 

[or hard, or holy]; neither be in fear of what they fear, 

nor [make others afraid and] in dread.'"

I opted for the Amplified Bible's translation of our verses today. The detail included provides great clarity. God is continuing to speak to and through Isaiah, and Judah receives a message of amazing hope. (And, so should we!)

There is a shift in voice with today's passage, in that God is speaking not directly to Judah but to Syria and Israel, and other nations that would make war against Judah in verses 9 and 10. It's a bit of trash-talking, if you will. God says, "Hey, you wanna take on Judah? Sure...get together, plan, organize, rally, call the media, pump yourselves up. Bring it on! Whatever...."

"...Be broken in pieces" (vs. 9); "...It shall come to nought" (vs. 10); ."...It will not stand" (vs. 10). And, the capper: "...For God is with us [Immanuel]!'" Let us remember that there was a very real threat against Judah. We read about this in Chapter 7. King Ahaz was not completely wrong to have concern over the alliance of these powerful nations. God sent Isaiah out to him to speak words of assurance on purpose:

"'Take care and be calm, have no fear and do not be fainthearted because of these two stubs of smoldering firebrands....'"

--Isaiah 7:4 (NASB)

But, we know what happened with Ahaz's decision. Still, Judah receives words of assurance from the prophet in spite of its king's choices, and the stamping out of Syria and the Northern Kingdom by the Assyrians: "For God is with us." This is one of those prophecies that has fulfillment in the earliest of times yet still has yet to be completely fulfilled. No matter who comes to take on God's chosen people, He has said that it will "come to nought," because no power can change God's chosen plan.

"And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us?
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?"

--from "Our God," lyrics by Chris Tomlin

Then, in verse 11, Isaiah says that God had worked a mighty thing in him, so that he would be fortified to bring this strong word to Judah. Obviously, the Holy Spirit strengthened as no one on earth could do. My study Bible further explains the difficulties the prophet encountered in carrying out his ministry: "Many in Israel considered Isaiah, Jeremiah and other prophets to be servants of the enemy when they advocated a policy of non-reliance on foreign powers and complete dependence on the Lord alone." When we think it's hard to explain to someone today that God is in control, imagine being a prophet back in the day, approaching the king of a weak nation with a message so contrary to the belief of the time. Even Immanuel fell upon deaf ears!

God didn't just tell Isaiah that this would be tough. He "warned" and "instructed." Just as God would not leave Judah unaided, He would not leave His man in the field unprepared. And, given the political climate and worldview of the day, God knew Isaiah would need some spiritual bolstering.

"Corruption is sometimes so active in the hearts even of good men that they have need to be taught their duty with a strong hand, and it is God’s prerogative to teach so, for he only can give an understanding and overpower the contradiction of unbelief and prejudice. He can teach the heart; and herein none teaches like him."

--Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible

Verse 12's words to Isaiah from God say, "Do not call conspiracy [or hard, or holy] all that this people will call conspiracy." The King James Version uses 'confederacy' for 'conspiracy'. The Hebrew word is defined as "an (unlawful) alliance, confederacy, conspiracy, treason." [Strong's] Again, Isaiah is told that the word from God is not the "conspiracy" the people will claim it is. What the people are afraid of is not a fear that Isaiah should think twice about, even though it will be a threatening-sounding word to those who will hear it from his lips.

I'm in the midst of a study of Paul right now with my small group at church. We just finished reading Acts, Chapter 19, in which Paul who has been ministering to Ephesus, is kept out of a riotous situation by fellow believers. Demetrius, a silversmith, sees his trade of making idols to the god Artemis coming to ruin with Paul's preaching against other gods. Demetrius begins a public outcry.

"The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater.... So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together."

--Acts 19: 29 and 32

 

No doubt, Isaiah felt the undercurrent of Judah's emotional response as he received his message from God not to respond to the threats of its enemies. What kind of riot might ensue, with the throngs joining together, not even knowing why? But the hand of God came upon Isaiah, to reassure and build him up for the challenge--just as surely as an angel had visited saying, "Do not be afraid!" Indeed, if Isaiah was to be effective in reaching Judah's remnant--which was important--he needed not to be "fainthearted" as Judah's king.

 

"When you are approaching the battle, the priest shall come near and speak to the people. He shall say to them, 'Hear, O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.... Then the officers shall speak further to the people and say, ‘Who is the man that is afraid and fainthearted? Let him depart and return to his house, so that he might not make his brothers’ hearts melt like his heart.'"

--Deuteronomy 20: 3, 4 and  8

 

We'll have to wait quite a few chapters before reading Isaiah's beautiful words about not being faint. But I can close with Jeremiah's words any time:

"'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'"

--Jeremiah 29:11

Whom shall I fear?.... 'Til next Wednesday!

Photo: psiram.com

* * *

Next week: Isaiah 8: 13-16

Note: I read from the New American Standard Bible translation,
specifically, The MacArthur Study Bible (NASB).
I will quote other sources if used in a post.
I also use Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
(with notes from the King James Version).

Isaiah 8: 1-4

 

Damascus and Samaria Fall

¹ "Then the Lord said to me, 'Take for yourself a large tablet and 

write on it in ordinary letters: Swift is the booty, speedy is the prey. 

² And I will take to Myself faithful witnesses for testimony, 

Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.'

³ So I approached the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. 

Then the Lord said to me, 'Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz; 

⁴ for before the boy knows how to cry out ‘My father’ or ‘My mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away before the king of Assyria.'"

Packing a punch with the first four verses of Chapter 8, Isaiah receives more direction from God as well as a second child who will speak His Word to the nation of Judah. Rich text today--don't miss a word. (And, yes, the Hebrew names are definitely important! Be not afraid....)

The Lord tells Isaiah (vs. 1) to get a tablet and write "in ordinary letters" or, more literally, with the stylus of man: "Swift is the booty, speedy is the prey." Commentator Matthew Henry refers to this as the "title" of a book. Goodness, we might even call that a "tweet" today, perhaps!

The background I've read suggests that what Isaiah eventually writes goes beyond just a title (and much more than what I've captured on that sandwich board in the picture). The King James Version uses 'roll' instead of 'tablet,' which definitely implies more text than a headline. The chapters of material that we are reading in Isaiah now, pronouncing what was coming at the hand of Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser, is what God was asking the prophet to record in written fashion for all to be able to access and read.

Not only will this information be recorded for posterity, but God takes to Himself (vs. 2) "faithful witnesses" to affirm His words that Isaiah is bringing forth in this writing. This is almost like having a couple of notary publics present, which falls in line with Scripture's mandate that, "'A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed....'" (Deuteronomy 19:15)

These two "faithful witnesses" are identified by name, and their names are important. The first is Uriah (or Urijah) the priest, whose name means "flame of Jehovah." He was a loyal priest under King Ahaz. The other man is Zechariah (whose name means "Jehovah remembers" or "Jehovah is renown"), who is born of a man named Jeberechiah (whose name means "blessed of God"). We don't really learn anything else about Zechariah or his father, but these are the men God, through Isaiah, chose to serve as witnesses. Burton Scott Easton, writing in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, says, "'faithful witness' means simply 'one whom the people will believe'...."At the time of Isaiah's prophecy, these were the two men for the job. (More on Urijah's faithfulness at the end of this post.)

In verse 3, we switch over to Isaiah speaking, as he says he "approaches the prophetess." This is a term for wife of a prophet, referring to Isaiah's wife. We then learn of Isaiah's second son who, like his big brother (Shear-jashub--"a remnant shall return"--7:3), carries a name that will forever speak to the nation of Judah: Maher-shalal-hash-baz. His son's name--the book's title--"Swift is the booty, speedy is the prey." Or, more thoroughly explained in the Amplified Bible: "...[they (the Assyrians) hasten to the spoil (of Syria and Israel), they speed to the prey]." (8:1)

Every time this boy's mom would call him, a reminder would be issued to Judah that a prophecy was waiting to be fulfilled. Swift and speedy. Recall what we have read before today:

"He will also lift up a standard to the distant nation, and will whistle for it from the ends of the earth; and behold, it will come with speed swiftly."

--Isaiah 5:26

It was only a matter of time before Assyrian forces would come upon Syria (Damascus) and the Northern Kingdom (Samaria). How much time? Look at verse 4: "...for before the boy knows how to cry out ‘My father’ or ‘My mother’...." 'Dada' and 'Mama' were first words for children back in that day, too. Not much time before Isaiah's words on the tablet would mark the demise of Judah's enemies.



Isn't it incredible how God uses the people He chooses? The study of the names and their meanings is also a fascinating one. Everything has so much more significance and points to the foreknowledge of God in all things! As a bonus for today, I have to share a little more about Urijah the priest. Yes, He served God's purposes at the time of Isaiah's prophecy. But, Urijah's loyalty to King Ahaz goes to the extreme after the prophecy against Damascus and Samaria is fulfilled.

The story unfolds in II Kings, Chapter 16. We have been here before, as this is where the alliance between King Ahaz and King Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria is recorded. Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled as Tiglath-Pileser conquers both nations, saving Judah from the threat of her enemies. So, Ahaz meets the Assyrian king at Damascus following the wars. While there, Ahaz sees an incredible altar, most likely one of Assyrian design. In recognition of Tiglath-Pileser's conquest and to honor his new ally [god or idol!], Ahaz sketches a picture of the altar, taking down details and patterns so that Urijah, the priest, might create an identical one for the temple in Judah.

Though loyalty to the king is good in most other kingdoms, being the earthly spiritual leader and guardian of the temple, and not being loyal to God first pretty much negates any sense of true loyalty (especially when the king isn't loyal to God either!). But, Urijah obeys Ahaz and creates the altar. Then Ahaz further changes the temple order by moving the original bronze altar of the temple out and ordaining that Urijah make sacrifices on the newly created [Assyrian] altar. Ahaz takes the former bronze altar for his own private use, which, it is believed by scholars, likely meant sacrificing to the gods of his choosing depending on his needs at the time.



Can God use anyone to complete His purposes? He sure can! Ahaz wasn't the only one whom God used to fulfill His will. Let's not forget the baby of our story today. God used Him, too. When you begin to grasp how deeply God is involved in the things of this world, you might see Him working a bit more in your own life. I know I do!



God speaks further to Isaiah concerning the fall of these nations.... 'Til next Wednesday!

Photo:

* * *

Next week: Isaiah 8: 5-8

Note: I read from the New American Standard Bible translation,
specifically, The MacArthur Study Bible (NASB).
I will quote other sources if used in a post.
I also use Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
(with notes from the King James Version).

Isaiah 7: 17-20

 

Trials to Come for Judah

¹⁷ The Lord will bring on you, on your people, and on your father’s house such days as have never come since the day that Ephraim separated from Judah, the king of Assyria.
¹⁸ In that day the Lord will whistle for the fly that is in the remotest part of the rivers of Egypt and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.  
¹⁹ They will all come and settle on the steep ravines, on the ledges of the cliffs, on all the thorn bushes and on all the watering places.
²⁰ In that day the Lord will shave with a razor, hired from regions beyond the Euphrates (that is, with the king of Assyria), the head and the hair of the legs; and it will also remove the beard.

Ahaz made his stand, God offered up deliverance for Israel through a coming child and, now, Judah stands to face trials in the face of its faithlessness. How bad? 

"...Days as have never come since the day that Ephraim separated from Judah...." This refers to the separation of Israel, with 10 tribes forming the Northern Kingdom and the remaining the Southern Kingdom. But, as if that weren't bad enough, the trials would come at the hand of "the king of Assyria." (vs. 17)

Judah was like the old woman in the shoe--she had so many enemies, she didn't know what to do! So, she reached out to Assyria. King Ahaz must have figured that if he had the Assyrian Empire on his side, what enemy could stand? But, how to get Assyria on his side without turning Judah over completely.... Powerful leaders need powerful, persuasive presents! 

"So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, 'I am your servant and your son; come up and deliver me from the hand of the king of Aram and from the hand of the king of Israel, who are rising up against me.' Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king’s house, and sent a present to the king of Assyria."

--II Kings 16: 7 and 8

 
Tiglath-pileser does appear to have taken the gift sincerely, waging war on Damascus, taking its people into exile and killing Rezin. But the verses from this chapter today tell us that the bribe doesn't stick. God has humbled Judah, and Ahaz's plan isn't going to go down the way he thought.

Verse 18 brings us another look at an earlier reference in Isaiah: the fly and the bee [see blog on Isaiah 5:26], and the whistle. When the Lord whistles, there is a speedy sense of urgency to His call. Remember, it's like the tea kettle on high boil! He is calling to order the fly, common to Egypt, and the bee, common to Assyria, to be His armies putting the move on Judah. They will be prolific, filling in the region's heights and lowlands, thickets and secret crags (vs. 19).

"They shall come and rest in the low grounds like swarms of flies and bees, and shall render themselves impregnable by taking shelter in the holes of the rocks, as bees often do, and showing themselves formidable by appearing openly upon all thorns and all bushes; so generally shall the land be overspread with them."

--Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible

Our last verse for today, verse 20, gives us yet another indication of God's hand in the trials to befall Judah, and it's holding a razor! God will "hire"--not in the literal sense--attackers to bring Judah down. He is orchestrating the circumstances and wooing the enemies, all to bring about His purposes. To understand the kind of terrible loss this will be for Judah, we have to understand something about shaving. In the culture, "shaving the head is a sign of mourning and a way of humiliating conquered enemies." [Reformation Study Bible] God isn't just talking about shaving the head here either. Note, He also says the hair from the legs and the beard.

Of course, when I hear razor and think Biblical stories, Samson is the first one that pops to mind. As a Nazirite, he took a vow not to cut his hair. He explains the razor's power--quite foolishly--to an eagerly waiting Delilah:

"'A razor has never come on my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will leave me and I will become weak and be like any other man.'"

--Judges 16: 17

As with Samson, Judah would also become weak, humiliated and mournful. Samson had his eyes gorged out in his resulting weakness. Judah would examine its spiritual blindness in Babylonian exile--but, only after an invasion by the King of Assyria. Yes, Isaiah's prophecy would come to fulfillment, but not until the days of King Hezekiah. More on all this to come.



Finishing up with Chapter 7, as Isaiah describes the decimation of the land.... 'Til next Wednesday!

Photo: ecclipsehairsalon.com

* * *

Next week: Isaiah 7: 21-25

Note: I read from the New American Standard Bible translation,
specifically, The MacArthur Study Bible (NASB).
I will quote other sources if used in a post.
I also use Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
(with notes from the King James Version).

Isaiah 7: 10-16

 

The Child Immanuel

¹⁰ Then the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying,
¹¹ “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” ¹² But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!”  
¹³ Then he said, “Listen now, O house of David! Is it too slight a thing for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God as well?
¹⁴ Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.
¹⁵ He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good. ¹⁶ For before the boy will know enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken.

Been left hanging long enough, waiting for the response from Ahaz to God? The wait is over today! But, even more than the response comes a word from God "which will be for all the people." (Luke 2: 10)

In one more measure of grace to Ahaz, God says, "Ask a sign for yourself." God knows that Ahaz is scared out of his mind because Israel and Syria have plotted against him (with Assyria watching in the wings). Just because He has told him that their stand against him will not come to pass, He also clearly sees the problem with Ahaz's faith. He said, "If you will not believe, you surely shall not last." (vs. 9) And so, to help his unbelief, God offers up the opportunity for Ahaz to ask for a sign to verify all of this. Pick a sign. Any sign!

"Ahaz was a bad man, yet God is called the Lord his God [vs. 11], because he was a child of Abraham and David, and of the covenants made with them. See how gracious God is even to the evil and unthankful; Ahaz is bidden to choose his sign, as Gideon about the fleece (Jdg. 6:37); let him ask for a sign in the air, or earth, or water, for God’s power is the same in all." 

--Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible

After all of this, Ahaz goes with what classic Let's Make a Deal host, Monty Hall, would say: "Let's see what's behind Door #3, Carol Merrill?" Ahaz decides the best answer to God is not to ask nor to test. Perhaps he was remembering the trouble the Israelites got themselves into in the wilderness:

"'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah. [The place at which the Israelites, in the wilderness with Moses, questioned and quarreled over whether God was with them or not.] You should diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and His testimonies and His statutes which He has commanded you.'"

--Deuteronomy 6: 16 and 17

Of course, as you are reading the Scripture, you can see how if that was Ahaz's thinking it was terribly flawed. You put God to the test when you do not keep His commandments, testimonies and statutes, although the weariness of God in dealing with stiff-necked Israelites--and Judean kings--also tests the Lord. This results in Isaiah's words about Judah trying "the patience of my God as well." (vs. 13) Not to mention the problem with that quarreling episode from the Exodus in the first place. God was ALWAYS with them. Likewise, through His covenant, God could have been with Ahaz, too. But, Ahaz did not recognize God as "the Lord your God" nor that God gave Ahaz permission, if you will, to ask for a sign. God said it was OK. Nope. The level of rejection and rebellion at the hand of Ahaz tipped the scales.

But, and this is the noteworthy point of the day, God gives Ahaz--and all of us--a sign anyway! What?! Why? Covenant promises. Can God extend His grace to the most vile of offenders? Yes! Can He continue to work through the rejection of that grace? Absolutely! Did Hope come as a sign in the midst of unbelief? Who can do that?! Isaiah brings forth the word of the sign in verse 14: "Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel." More than 500 years after this prophecy--and long after Ahaz "slept with his fathers"--Christ, Immanuel, God with us, would be born to a virgin named Mary. And now you know the rest of the story.

OK, not quite the rest yet. But wasn't that great?! Stories like that should give us hope!

There is more to our passage today, and there is more to Chapter 7. Verse 15 speaks of the child, Immanuel, eating "curds and honey." This is notable because this was not a typical child's diet. My study resources tell me that this indicates the land was in poor condition for growing crops as a result of the post-exillic period and the takeover of the land by foreigners. This would not be a child brought up with the luxuries of a king's palace. Already, we understand something about Christ's humble origins, even before He is born, not to mention how quickly He would mature to "know to refuse evil and choose good," (vs 15) "increasing in wisdom and stature...." (from Luke 2:52)

Verse 16 looks as if to quote the end of verse 15: "...know enough to refuse evil and choose good." The NASB uses the capital 'H' in verse 15, referring to Christ, while lower case 'h' is used in verse 16 in reference to "the boy." We need to go back to verse 3 to remember who "the boy" is--Isaiah's son, Shear-jashub. This is a fancy way to indicate time, by the maturing of the Son of God and the son of His prophet. When you think about the timeframe of a boy reaching the age by which he should "know enough to refuse evil and choose good"--which, in the day, would be in the early teen years--you then figure it is not many years before Isaiah's next spoken prophecy would come about: "the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken."

[Pekah/Israel/Ephraim] "I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me;
For now, O Ephraim, you have played the harlot,
Israel has defiled itself."

--Hosea 5:3

[Rezin/Aram/Syria/Damascus] "Thus says the Lord, 
'For three transgressions of Damascus and for four
I will not revoke its punishment....
So the people of Aram will go exiled to Kir,'
Says the Lord."

--Amos 1: 3 and 5 (excerpts)

Matthew Henry ties it all up with a bow:

"This was fully accomplished; for within two or three years after this, Hoshea conspired against Pekah, and slew him (2 Kgs. 15:30), and, before that, the king of Assyria took Damascus, and slew Rezin, 2 Kgs. 16:9. Nay, there was a present event, which happened immediately, and when this child carried the prediction of in his name, which was a pledge and earnest of this future event. Shear-jashub signifies The remnant shall return, which doubtless points at the wonderful return of those 200,000 captives whom Pekah and Rezin had carried away, who were brought back, not by might or power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts. Read the story, 2 Chron. 28:8-15."

--Matthew Henry

The boy, Christ, the Messiah, will also signify that a remnant shall return, bringing the covenant promise full circle through Immanuel, God is with us. Because God is ALWAYS with us!

Since Ahaz went for "Door #3," now, the "Trials Come for Judah".... 'Til next Wednesday!

Photo: giselhoglund.com; boston.com

* * *

Next week: Isaiah 7: 17-20

Note: I read from the New American Standard Bible translation,
specifically, The MacArthur Study Bible (NASB).
I will quote other sources if used in a post.
I also use Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
(with notes from the King James Version).