Chapter 19 - An Oracle Against Egypt

Chapter 19 brings us to an oracle against Egypt, perhaps the most powerful nation in Isaiah's day. What we see is that God is all powerful and not the fairy-tale gentleman who never goes against the will of man.

Isaiah 19:1 (HCSB) An oracle against Egypt: Look, the LORD rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. Egypt’s idols will tremble before Him, and Egypt’s heart will melt within it.

Not something done in secret, the prophet declares Look! YHWH rides on a war chariot (see Ps 18:10; 68:33; 104:3; Nah 1:3 for similar images) and Egypt's idols tremble (recall Dagon in 1 Sam 5) and her heart (the leaders) will melt, become weak in the knees. Such is the terror for those without proper refuge.

Verses 2 - 4 reveal that God will provoke Egypt against herself, brothers and friends will fight each other; the people will be driven to seek idols, ghosts, spirits of the dead, and wizards. Egypt will be delivered to a stronger, harsher master to rule over her. This is the declaration of the Lord GOD of Hosts!

Verses 5 - 15 continue the amazing list of evidence that piles up, displaying the wrath of God against Egypt. Their waters will dry up, their ship channels will stink, reed and rush will die. Fishermen will mourn; weavers will be dismayed; all her workers will be demoralized. Her leaders are fools, her counselors give stupid advice; can they know what YHWH has planned?

Isaiah 19:14-15 (HCSB) The LORD has mixed within her a spirit of confusion. ⌊The leaders⌋ have made Egypt stagger in all she does, as a drunkard staggers in his vomit. No head or tail, palm or reed, will be able to do anything for Egypt.

Here God takes credit for Egypt's confusion - He has done this! The reference to "head or tail, palm or reed" points to totality, nothing can protect Egypt and nothing will be spared from YHWH's judgment. Again, I am reminded of the scene at the end of Rev 6, wherein no place is found for the powerful of the world to hide from the wrath of the Lamb. Such is natural man's situation, unless the Lord has mercy on his soul.

Five times in this next section, the phrase "on that day" introduces what will happen.

Isaiah 19:16-17 (HCSB) On that day Egypt will be like women. She will tremble with fear because of the threatening hand of the LORD of Hosts when He raises it against her. The land of Judah will terrify Egypt; whenever Judah is mentioned, Egypt will tremble because of what the LORD of Hosts has planned against it.

ON that day, Egypt will be so weak she will tremble before Judah - this southern kingdom was never a threat to Egypt! YHWH is jealous of His own and all the kings of the earth will tremble before Him as He vindicates His people.

Isaiah 19:18 (HCSB) On that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear loyalty to the LORD of Hosts. One of the cities will be called the City of the Sun.

ON that day, a remnant in Egypt will repent and turn to YHWH; one of the cities was Heliopolis - home of Egypt's sun god.

Isaiah 19:19-22 (HCSB) On that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the center of the land of Egypt and a pillar to the LORD near her border. It will be a sign and witness to the LORD of Hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, He will send them a savior and leader, and he will rescue them. The LORD will make Himself known to Egypt, and Egypt will know the LORD on that day. They will offer sacrifices and offerings; they will make vows to the LORD and fulfill them. The LORD will strike Egypt, striking and healing. Then they will return to the LORD and He will hear their prayers and heal them.

ON that day, this remnant will worship YHWH and cry out to Him because of their oppressors. He will rescue this remnant and Egypt will know Him ON THAT DAY. YHWH will strike Egypt and heal the remnant, who will return to Him. He will hear their prayers and heal them - this is how we know they are His.

Isaiah 19:23 (HCSB) On that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. Assyria will go to Egypt, Egypt to Assyria, and Egypt will worship with Assyria.

ON that day there will be no barriers or separation ("highway" often used to convey this idea), as the remnants from former enemies join to worship the one true God.

Isaiah 19:24-25 (HCSB) On that day Israel will form a triple ⌊alliance⌋ with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing within the land. The LORD of Hosts will bless them, saying, “Egypt My people, Assyria My handiwork, and Israel My inheritance are blessed.”

ON that day Israel, Egypt, and Assyria will be united, a blessing within the land. YHWH will bless them, calling them "my people, my handiwork, my inheritance." Striking words, considering what we read in Hosea, where a child bears the name of "not my people" - referring to the Hebrew nation!

Here is the bottom line: There is no advantage with God for those who trace their lineage to Abraham. YHWH has chosen and will redeem His people from every nation, tribe, and tongue; they will be His handiwork; and all who are in union with Christ share in His inheritance. This is all grace and it's all glorious, what the Lord has done for us!

Chapter 18 - Cush

Chapter 18 brings a short declaration of judgment upon Cush, ending with a vision of redemption.

Isaiah 18:1 - 2 (HCSB) Ah! The land of buzzing insect wings beyond the rivers of Cush sends couriers by sea, in reed vessels on the waters. Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth-skinned, to a people feared far and near, a powerful nation with a strange language, whose land is divided by rivers.

Cush corresponds to Ethiopia, south of Egypt; it was a nation known for its ships and the attending trade. Being blessed with many rivers, Cush was also plagued with many bugs. Verses 2b & 3 describe Cush's activity to raise up, for all the people to come to her aid - the nation of powerful, tall, smooth-skinned people with a strange language. But then, in verse 4, YHWH speaks to His prophet.

Isaiah 18:4 (HCSB) For, the LORD said to me: I will quietly look out from My place, like shimmering heat in sunshine, like a rain cloud in harvest heat.

In contrast to the frantic cries from humans, YHWH is calm, in control, seeing everything. He will cut down the fruit bearing plants before harvest time (verse 5), leaving only birds of prey and foraging beasts. This may be part of what of what formed the vision in Revelation 19:17-18 (HCSB) Then I saw an angel standing on the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice, saying to all the birds flying high overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of commanders, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of everyone, both free and slave, small and great.”

That great supper is two-sided, with all of it taking place at the end of the age; just as the judgment of all flesh.

The end-of-the-age perspective is brought home with the last verse of this chapter.

Isaiah 18:7 (HCSB)  At that time a gift will be brought to Yahweh of Hosts from a people tall and smooth-skinned, a people feared far and near, a powerful nation with a strange language, whose land is divided by rivers—to Mount Zion, the place of the name of Yahweh of Hosts.

"At that time" has the same impact as "on that day" - drawing our attention to the end of time. At that time, the remnant of Cush - the tall, smooth-skinned people with strange language and many rivers - will bring gifts to YHWH, on Mount Zion; the place of peace with God that none but the redeemed will ascend.

If you are having your wealth decimated, wondering why you face ruin - perhaps the Lord of the harvest is pruning you so that you will turn to Him. Harden not your heart today - for you may not have tomorrow.

Chapter 17 - Judgment against Damascus, Israel, and the World

Chapter 17 is a quick run-through of judgments pronounced on Damascus, Israel, and "the nations." Damascus was the capital of Syria, to the north. This series of judgments proceeds from a known enemy of Israel, to Israel, then to the world. While there are local (in terms of history of geography) aspects of these judgments, the over-arching focus is eschatological.

Isaiah 17:1 -3 (HCSB) "An oracle against Damascus: Look, Damascus is no longer a city. It has become a ruined heap." Her cities will be forsaken, Damascus will lie in ruins. ""The fortress disappears from Ephraim, and a kingdom from Damascus. The remnant of Aram will be like the splendor of the Israelites. ⌊This is⌋ the declaration of the LORD of Hosts."

Destruction and ruin - but the remnant of Aram (a southern city) will be like the SPLENDOR of the Israelites. Why does Aram get the exception, a blessing (it appears) in the midst of this devastation? The judgment against Israel puts it in perspective.

Isaiah 17:4 (HCSB) On that day the splendor of Jacob will fade, and his healthy body will become emaciated.

We've seen this phrase before, "on that day" - it tends to point towards the Day of the Lord, when He comes to judge the nations. It shows up 3 times in this chapter. On that day, Jacob's splendor will fade, he will be emaciated - stripped of all that the world envied.

Isaiah 17:5-6 (HCSB) It will be as if a reaper had gathered standing grain— his arm harvesting the heads of grain— and as if one had gleaned heads of grain in the Valley of Rephaim. Only gleanings will be left in Israel, as if an olive tree had been beaten— two or three berries at the very top of the tree, four or five on its fruitful branches. ⌊This is⌋ the declaration of the LORD, the God of Israel.

Jesus used the image of reaping to describe the end, as in the parable of the wheat and the weeds in Matthew 13. Beginning in verse 37 Jesus explained that the wheat was sown by the Son of Man and the weeds by Satan. The harvest is the end of the age and angels are the harvesters. As the weeds are gathered and burned up, so it will be at the end of the age, when Jesus sends His angels to gather the weeds (everything that causes sin and all who practice lawlessness); they will be thrown in the blazing furnace. If you have ears, listen to the Lord of the harvest!

Paul used the parable of the olive tree to those how most of national Israel would be broken off, as if the olive tree had been beaten. Very few olives left on the tree, onto which the Gentiles would be grafted. Of the few natural olives left on the tree, the apostle said "only a remnant (of ethnic Israel) will be saved.

This is the declaration of YHWH - the God of Israel; as she was in the mid-east and as she is becoming for eternity.

Isaiah 17:7-8 (HCSB) On that day people will look to their Maker and will turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel. They will not look to the altars they made with their hands or to the Asherahs and incense altars they made with their fingers.

ON that day, the remnant will repent and believe on God, turning their backs on the gods made with human hands.

Isaiah 17:9-10 (HCSB) On that day their strong cities will be like the abandoned woods and mountaintops that were abandoned because of the Israelites; there will be desolation. For you have forgotten the God of your salvation, and you have failed to remember the rock of your strength; therefore you will plant beautiful plants and set out cuttings from exotic vines.

ON that day, those branches that were broken off will find their "bigger barns" worthless; for they have forgotten Who was their strength, they have forsaken the God who saved them from Egypt.

Isaiah 17:11 (HCSB) On the day that you plant, you will help them to grow, and in the morning you will help your seed to sprout, ⌊but⌋ the harvest will vanish on the day of disease and incurable pain.

ON that day, the works of their hands will be empty, bringing only illness and incurable pain. There is no room for repentance on that day.

Now judgment on the world. Isaiah 17:12-14 (HCSB) Ah! The roar of many peoples— they roar like the roaring of the seas. The raging of the nations— they rage like the raging of mighty waters. The nations rage like the raging of many waters. He rebukes them, and they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills and like tumbleweeds before a gale. In the evening—sudden terror! Before morning—it is gone! This is the fate of those who plunder us and the lot of those who ravage us.

The nations that know not God roar like raging seas and mighty waters, puffed up by their sense of power and authority. YHWH rebukes them and they flee like fleas driven by gale winds, like tumbleweeds across a clear plain. They will suffer great terror and then - everything they've prized will be gone, they will be naked before their Creator. THIS is the fate of those who plunder and ravage US - the body of Christ.

This ought to cause us to think of 1 Corinthians 3:16-17: Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

God is jealous of His own, He will mete out wrath on those who persecute His body. ON that day, you will find yourself EITHER in Christ (SAFE from the wrath of God) or in Adam (appointed unto unending wrath). ON that day, it will be too late. IF you hear His voice, do not harden your heart - cry out for mercy while it is today.

Chapters 15 & 16 - Moab's Doom

Chapters 15 & 16 will be reviewed as a unit, as it a cycle of judgment against Moab, with the attending exaltation of Christ in the midst of it.

Isaiah 15:1-4 (HCSB) An oracle against Moab ... Every head is shaved; every beard is cut off. In its streets they wear sackcloth; on its rooftops and in its public squares everyone wails, falling down and weeping. ... the soldiers of Moab cry out, and they tremble.

The pagan nations that surrounded Israel are being judged. This vision squares with what we know about the kingdom of God that is in our midst - God's anger is meted out against those who surround us; as the world rages against the Lord and His people. Even the strong and proud of the world will cry out in fear as they tremble before their Creator.

Verses 5 -9 continue: Moab's fugitives flee, weeping; the land is desolate, withered; their wealth is useless - unable to grow food! Their wailing becomes unbearable as their rivers fill with blood and YHWH brings "a lion" (the Lion of Judah?) to consume those who escape. Interestingly, the KJV and its variants have "lions" while Young's Literal and myriad others (including Strong's) have a singular lion. IF it is "lions" it must be temporal, a pride of lions literally pouncing on Moabites. IF it is "a lion" it fits into the vision of judgment/redemption, focused on Christ Jesus that characterizes this book.

In the first few verses of chapter 16 Moab sends people to mount Zion, seeking refuge and counsel. "Like a bird fleeing, forced from its nest ... Give us counsel, shelter us in the heat of the day ... hide the refugees ... be a refuge for Moab from the aggressor." (verses 1-4). As in the days of Rahab, the pagans have heard of YHWH and they know who His people are. In their distress, they cry out for mercy from the One who is pouring our judgment on them.

Isaiah 16:5 (HCSB) Then in the tent of David a throne will be established by faithful love. A judge who seeks what is right and is quick to execute justice will sit on the throne forever.

Here is a clear reference to the promised Messiah, the shoot of Jesse, the Son of David, who will take David's throne - established by FAITHFUL LOVE! He will do what is right and will mete out justice quickly, "Because the sentence against a criminal act is not carried out quickly, the heart of people is filled with the desire to commit crime." (Eccl 8:11).

Isaiah 16:6-7 (HCSB) We have heard of Moab’s pride— how very proud he is— his haughtiness, his pride, his arrogance, and his empty boasting. Therefore let Moab wail; let every one of them wail for Moab. Mourn, you who are completely devastated, for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth.

Those in Zion know about the pride of Moab, their arrogant self-sufficiency. They seek after pagan delicacies (raisin cakes), yet all they will do is wail and mourn for they are completely devastated. There is no peace for the wicked! Their grapes have withered for the rulers of the other pagan nations have trampled her vines to furthest reaches of Moab's borders (vs 8).  

Isaiah 16:10 "Joy and rejoicing have been removed from the orchard; no one is singing or shouting for joy in the vineyards. No one tramples grapes in the winepresses. I have put an end to the shouting." God's judgment has put an end to Moab's boasting in her material wealth.  In Rev 6 we see the rich and powerful of the world (Moab, Babylon) crying out for the mountains to fall on them and hide them from wrath of the Lamb; but there is no hiding place apart from being in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 16:12 (HCSB)  When Moab appears on the high place, when he tires himself out and comes to his sanctuary to pray, it will do him no good.

Pagan religion will offer so solace when the Son of Man returns to judge the nations. False religion will lose its allusion of comfort when the darkness it requires is stripped away by the Light that exposes every wicked way.

Isaiah 16:13-14 (HCSB) This is the message that the LORD previously announced about Moab. And now the LORD says, “In three years, as a hired worker counts years, Moab’s splendor will become an object of contempt, in spite of a very large population. And those who are left will be few and weak.”

YHWH had previously spoken against Moab and now (at the time of Isaiah's writing) there were only 3 years left until Assyria would wear Moab out, leaving the few survivors weak, with no vineyards, no wealth.

Hebrews 1:1-2 (HCSB) Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, He has spoken to us by ⌊His⌋ Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him.

What was spoken long ago was for our benefit. But when Christ came and spoke, the time of ignorance is over.

Hebrews 1:10-13 (HCSB) In the beginning, Lord, You established the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands; they will perish, but You remain. They will all wear out like clothing; You will roll them up like a cloak, and they will be changed like a robe. But You are the same, and Your years will never end. Now to which of the angels has He ever said: Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool?

All authority in heaven and earth has been given to the One who created all things, who have His life for His sheep, and is coming again to judge the world, gather His people, and make all things new.

Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart! There will come a day when it's too late and mercy will be no more.

Chapter 14 - The World is Judged, Zion is Established.

As we turn our attention to chapter 14 of Isaiah, it would do well to recall what we learned in chapter 1: God gave this entire book to Isaiah in a vision. As the prophet uses language to communicate God's Word to His people, let us bear in mind (remember) what He told us in chapter 1. Let's look closely at the opening of this chapter.

Isaiah 14:1-2 (HCSB) For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob and will choose Israel again. He will settle them on their own land. The foreigner will join them and be united with the house of Jacob. The nations will escort Israel and bring it to its homeland. Then the house of Israel will possess them as male and female slaves in the LORD’s land. They will make captives of their captors and will rule over their oppressors.

National Israel would look at this and see the restoration of their tribes to their land, victorious over their enemies. The next section identifies Babylon as the enemy mentioned in the opening. Look at this short paragraph with gospel glasses and see the Israel of God as we are brought to our homeland. Ethnic Israel never conquered temporal nations and made slaves of them, but Christ's apostles currently sit as judges over the 12 tribes. The use of "LORD" in this passage is the personal name YHWH; YHWH's land is as Abraham saw it - a heavenly country. At the end of the age, the people of God from every nation, tribe, and tongue will escort Israel to the homeland.

There are 11 other passages in Isaiah (in chapters 31, 45, 49, 54, 60, & 61) that have similar pictures of Israel's victory, the consistent theme is God works all things to reconcile His people to Himself. This present earth cannot inherit eternity - that small parcel in the mid-east served as a picture of the heavenly country YHWH has prepared, where we will be with Him and all the saints eternally on the new earth.

Isaiah 14:3-4 (HCSB) When the LORD gives you rest from your pain, torment, and the hard labor you were forced to do, you will sing this song ⌊of contempt⌋ about the king of Babylon.

As was noted in the previous chapter, at the time of Isaiah Babylon was not yet a world power. Babylon was often used in the Bible to denote the system of the world - satisfaction in self, health, and wealth. Verses 4b - 21 describe the evil of that system and consequences of such rebellion, as God uses nation against nation, with the king of Babylon being a type of Satan (vs 12- 14).

YHWH responds. Isaiah 14:22-23 (HCSB) “I will rise up against them”—⌊this is⌋ the declaration of the LORD of Hosts—“and I will cut off from Babylon her reputation, remnant, offspring, and posterity”—⌊this is⌋ the LORD’s declaration. “I will make her a swampland and a region for screech owls, and I will sweep her away with a broom of destruction.” ⌊This is⌋ the declaration of the LORD of Hosts.

No matter what great nations of this world rise up, God is the one Who rules all things and all people. At the end of all things, He will utterly destroy Babylon - the system of the world and her people.

Isaiah 14:24-27 (HCSB) The LORD of Hosts has sworn: As I have purposed, so it will be; as I have planned it, so it will happen. I will break Assyria in My land; ...This is the plan prepared for the whole earth, and this is the hand stretched out against all the nations. The LORD of Hosts Himself has planned it; therefore, who can stand in its way? It is His hand that is outstretched, so who can turn it back?

Babylon, Assyria, and all other peoples who rage against God will be broken - and there are none who can withstand what He has planned, no one can turn it back. YHWH of Hosts has planned it and His hand is outstretched - recall His raised arm in earlier chapters? Ready to mete out judgment.

The last segment in this chapter is judgment pronounced against Philistia - their wealth has rotted and terror has overtaken them.

Isaiah 14:31-32 (HCSB) Wail, you gates! Cry out, city! Tremble with fear, all Philistia! For a cloud of dust is coming from the north, and there is no one missing from ⌊the invader’s⌋ ranks. What answer will be given to the messengers from that nation? The LORD has founded Zion, and His afflicted people find refuge in her.

People of the earth - wail and cry out, tremble with fear! When the King returns it will be to judge the nations, gather His people, and make all things new. We see in this passage Christ coming in power "from the north" (Assyria was north of Philistia) and no one is missing from YHWH's army - all His redeemed are with Him. What is the answer? YHWH has established Zion, the place of grace where His afflicted people (poor in spirit, hated by the world) find refuge.

This is the safety, the tower of refuge and strength that God's redeemed find in the person and work of the Lord Jesus, Who is the Christ. Only trust Him, let no other trust intrude. He - alone - is able to do poor sinners good.