Isaiah – Page 18 – Be Still…

Isaiah 24:1-23 – Total Judgment

The next few chapters (24-27) will be what are known as “Isaiah’s Apocalypse.” You can see why from the doom and gloom described. Yet, there are some technical things missing to truly be apocalyptic in nature. For instance, we are missing the words calling this out as a “vision.” There are also scholars who question if Isaiah wrote this, and if he did, shouldn’t it be at the end? These are details I share with you, but let’s not let them keep us from hearing God’s message to us today. After all, the purpose of this is to “reflect” not figure out the who, what, where, and how!

I have to admit this wasn’t the most uplifting of readings today. There was the glimmer of hope in verses 14-16. We’ll come back to that. But what this reading says to me overall is that God is in control. If he wants to bring destruction to the world, he will. We saw what he did with the flood in Noah’s day. He promised he would never do that again. In the descriptions were read in Isaiah, there is no mention of water covering the earth.

Isaiah 23:1-18 – Watch Out for Pride

Read Isaiah 23:1-18

We close out the series of oracles against neighboring nations today with Tyre. Tyre was a city along the Mediterranean Sea, known for its commerce. It was a major trading center, and the other prophets also speak of Tyre. Ezekiel devotes several chapters to Tyre. We learn of God’s plans to destroy Tyre because he hated their pride. Pride separates people from God. “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has done it to destroy your pride and bring low all earth’s nobility.”

Think about pride for a minute. As a noun, it’s defined as “a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.” (Foregoing taken from a google dictionary search result.) In the Bible pride is more than just arrogance. It goes deeper and includes our will or intention, rather than seeking on God’s will. We can then join Jesus in saying, “Thy will be done.”

Isaiah 22:1-25 – Ask God For Help

Read Isaiah 22:1-25

Jerusalem is called the “Valley of Vision” here because it is where God often revealed himself. The people seem oblivious to the warnings they are being given. They are not repenting and putting their trust in God. They are doing all sorts of things, like partying, recreating on their rooftops, and preparing, all by their own power. “But you never ask for help from the One who did all this. You never considered the One who planned this long ago.” If they could only see how easy God was making it for them to be safe and secure. 2 Chronicles 7:14 sums it up nicely. “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”

How often to do we do a similar thing? We go about our business, making plans, executing those plans, and then wonder why our plans fail. Perhaps we, too, missed the crucial piece of asking God first. Had we asked for God’s help, his input, his blessing, we may have received a message that our plans weren’t quite right. God’s plans never fail. Shouldn’t we want to make sure we are doing things God’s way?

Isaiah 21:1-17 – Be On Guard

Read Isa i ah 21:1-17

Disaster is coming to Babylon. “Go ahead, you Elamites and Medes, attack and lay siege. I will make an end to all the groaning Babylon caused.” Babylon was a strong nation that had oppressed many people. We see again how God is orchestrating the demise of this powerhouse. He is going to use the Elamites and Medes to help him. But note he is taking credit here, “I will make an end.”

Isaiah’s own body is being physically assaulted simply by the thought of what is to come. “I grow faint when I hear what God is planning; I am too afraid to look.” He realizes that a power such as Babylon will not fall gracefully or with ease. It will be bloody, and lives will be lost. This message is truly affecting Isaiah in a profound manner.

Isaiah 20:1-6 – Listen to God

Read Isaiah 20:1-6

I have a new respect for Isaiah having read today’s passage. I know I’ve read this before, but for some reason the idea of walking around naked for three years is applaudable. Having endured harsh Midwest winters, I can’t imagine walking around naked and shoeless year-round. But there is a definite message we should be taking here. It’s not about being naked, it’s about how Isaiah listened to God.

God said disrobe. Isaiah did. We don’t see Isaiah questioning, bargaining, avoiding or trying to talk God out of it. “Then the Lord said, “My servant Isaiah has been walking around naked and barefoot for the last three years. This is a sign—a symbol of the terrible troubles I will bring upon Egypt and Ethiopia.” We shouldn’t be surprised that God’s request was on purpose. God wanted to use Isaiah’s uncomfortable situation to make a point. Isaiah never questioned God. He just obeyed.