November 19, 2008 Notes on Isaiah

Chapter 20
Additional note on Damascus, Aram (Damascus) and Israel aligned themselves against Judah, but were both swept away by Assryia. Damascus no longer being a city may point to a future time or that it was destroyed and later rebuilt.

Ethiopia - from that chapter (Cush) was actually a southern kingdom of Egypt, and was in control of Egypt at the time Isaiah was talking about. This was why they were important.

Egypt was prophesied to have anarchy (civil war), internal strife and be conquered. The Assyrians did this, so it has happened at least once. It was recorded by Jeremiah (46) and Ezekiel (29). With Isaiah's prophecy, Jeremiah's and Ezekiel's that was three warnings for the people of that day. OT NT we have grace, we have the written Word that we can read, all this is different than in those times, but how is God telling us what His plans are? Are we listening to Him for His plans, or do we concern ourselves with our plans while He taries.

The rapture and end times shouldn't be a surprise to believers, so as a believer what is He telling you?
If He tells you the season of it would you live your life differently and in what ways?

In the last verse of ch 19 He says "blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance. In Jesus time the major concentration of Jews were in the Euphrates valley (those that did not return from exile, Egypt- a remnant went there to escape the fall of Judah and Jerusalem and were evidently still there, and in Jerusalem and the former nation now under control by Rome. Jesus first coming had the jews in those areas, it is also a foreshadowing of a later time when He comes again.

King Sargon is mentioned as king of Assyria, there was no mention of him in other historical documents except the Bible. When Ninevah was unearthed, then references to a Sargon were found. For some events a specific king or circumstance is mentioned, this is probably a singular prophecy that the people can see (or will see fullfilled near term). Other prophecies are more general, like destruction of Damascus, famine in Egypt, etc. These might seemingly happen a number of times, or be fulfilled in part and later fully completed. Prophecy will happen- God spoke -we have the world, so a God given prophecy is just as sure as the earth we live on.

In looking at a map Assyria is north east of Israel, The Assyrians overthrew the northern kingdom (Israel) part of which was west and northwest of Judah, Aram -Northeast (Damascus), Arabia to the east, Moab to the southeast, Philistia to the southwest, and eventually Egypt to the south. This would mean Judah was surrounded.

Ashdod is a Philistine city (southwest) of Judah, Assyria seemingly forked on both sides of Judah and were about to overun Egypt and Cush. This would have been the only possible ally left for Judah. God told Isaiah to go naked and barefoot for three years as a sign from God that Egypt and Cush (the southern kingdom) would be conquered by Assyria. Alliance was pointless. Just as God used the fate of other nations to show His people that they could only really rely on Him, the lesson is there for us. Only God is able to take care of us. Yet for thousands of years in a fallen state man has been stiff necked and stubborn on this point. One of the resources implied that the prophecy against Egypt was given to discourage a possible Judah and Egypt alliance. He desires us to turn to Him, and a surrounded Judah would have lost any "logical", "worldly" answer.

Their only recourse was to rely on God, and God was faithful, He destroyed the invading Assyrian army. Yet Judah "forgot" and was overun eventually by Babylon.

Before that Isaiah's nakedness is impressive. First of all being naked was a humiliation, just as it would be today. Isaiah was so sold out to God, so trusting, so convinced- he went around naked for three years at God's command. Are we as obedient as he was? Are we willing to risk OUR personal humiliation to be obedient to God?

That kind of obedience to God did not prevent Judah's ultimate poor decisions and being overun by Babylon. Question -if the church is here to prevent evil or hold it back, and has a track record (in this country anyway) of being full of people who aren't as obedient to God as Isaiah was, why does it need to be removed prior to the tribulation period? The church that I see is not acting on enough faith to prevent the rise of anti-Christ. In fact it could be argued that in the state of our affairs, we are promoting it. On change.gov the president elect is outlining his plans, one of the comments posted was by a woman who saw this "change" as a way to be "involved in something beyond herself". As a US citizen, i'm sure she is familiar with the church. Did we get too selfish, and lose our message? Are we now?

Her comment implies that people are hungry (longing), and what the church seems to be offering is not what they are looking for. Strife, splits, of course we as people tend to see the bad.

People in Judah will run from God, and try to avoid the pain they see coming. People do that in their lives as well. How shall we escape? We cannot avoid God not ultimately, yes we deny, we try to hide, but as people seek worldly answers to their desire to run from God or not face Him- He will bring them to a point where there is one conclusion.

Chapter 21
Its interesting that we see in previous chapters the advance of the Assyrians, the temptation to seek logical wordly answers, to run and hide, and the general inclination of people NOT to turn to or rely on God. Now we see a prophecy concerning Babylon. Historically the Babylons overthrew the Assyrians and then were overthrown by the Medes and Persians. So in the midst of dealing (or trying to with the immediate threat) God gives Isaiah a prophecy concerning the future. This shows that God is out in our futures, too often we are to nearsighted- or look to near term.

Wilderness of the sea- Babylon became a city of rivers and canals in the desert.
lay seige Media- Medes- not very well known

God is making an end to Babylon, He used them to punish the Assyrians but pride took over. They became terrifying

verse 5 the night Babylon is overun they are having a party (Daniel 5).

Watchtowers and watchmen- looking for attack, being a warning to the city. Fallen is Babylon- something that seemingly was invincible is now no more. The Assyrians seemed that way, the Babylonians would also. All are in God's Hands.

Oh my threshed people- interesting vision. Wheat muat be threshed (trampled) to expose the grain. I see this as an example of God within us, and we often hide Him. So He allows us to be trampled - overrun, invaded. Our false or human shell can't hold up to this so it cracks and breaks exposing God in us. Then we are winnowed - the seed (good part) and the chaff (bad part are thrown into the air and the chaff blows away- no weight. So His threshed people - its part of a process to allow us to come to know Him. That is His goal- relationship with Him and not necessarily our comfort, security, and health- the things most often prayed for. His goal should be our goal- regardless of circumstance.

V10- he writes and reiterates that this prophecy came from God. Its the message He had for them. In a time of Assyrian threat a prophecy on Babylon is given- how easy it would be to jump to the conclusion that God doesn't care, He isn't aware of our immediate needs.

Oracles about Edom and Arabia. Edom -southeast of dead sea and Judah, Arabia -east of Jordan river in the desert. Edom rejoiced at the fall of Israel and had been a constant enemy of Israel. Seir is another name for Edom. Obadiah foretells the destruction of Edom. Are we glad when bad things happen to those we consider enemies? Do we desire that? In terms of Arabia the towns mentioned are part of trade routes- destruction within a year.