Isaiah 26 to 30
Isaiah Prophecies: In our hearts we always worshipped the One God even though superficially we went after idols. There will be a resurrection of the Dead. The Whole of the Promised Land will belong to Israel. All the Jews of Judah and all the Israelites from the Lost Ten Tribes will return. Disaster will have overtaken Ephraim but a remnant will repent and be saved. Judah will suffer for not keeping the Law as much as it should have been kept. Nature will change. The Assyrians and all other enemies of Israel will be punished.
The Book of Isaiah
Chapters 26 to 30
A Brit-Am
Biblical Commentary
Contents:
Chapters with Brit-Am Commentary
Summary of Individual Chapters:
Isaiah Summarized chapters 26-30
Chapter 26:
Isaiah turns to Judah (26:1). We are called upon to trust in God (26:4). We have always longed for the Almighty God (26:5).
Other gods ruled over us but only on YOUR (i.e. God's)
name did we truly call. Other gods could also mean false ideologies such as secularism, etc.
The nation ( Israel including Judah) has been increased and spread to the ends of the earth (26:15).
Isaiah speaks of the Resurrection of the Dead in the End Times (26:19).
Chapter 27:
Leviathan the Piercing Serpent will be punished (27:1). Israel will spread over the earth and give fruit in the
Last Days (27:6). A Day will come when God will set aside the Promised Land from the River Euphrates unto the
Nile River and gather together the Children of Israel one by one (27:12). A Great Shofar will be blown and those
who were LOST in the Exile of Assyria (the Ten Tribes) and outcast in the Land of Egypt (Judah) shall return and
worship God in the Holy Temple Mount in Jerusalem (27:23).
Chapter 28: The Drunkards of Ephraim will wail because of excessive pride (28:1). The enemy shall overcome Ephraim and cast him down like pouring rain in a thunder storm, a hurricane-like destructive wind, and an overflowing flood of waters. Ephraim shall be overcome and brought down (28:2). Calamities shall overtake Ephraim but those who survive will be helped by God and overcome the enemy (28:5-6). The leaders and Prophets (religious counselors) of Ephraim will have misled him (28:7-9). Ephraim will have received instruction in another tongue from stammering lips piece by piece (28:10-11). Ephraim did not hearken (28:13). Isaiah turns to the people of Jerusalem and warns them not to think themselves impregnable (28:14-15). Nevertheless, salvation is to be found through Zion (28:16). God will deliver Israel in the same way as he assisted the forces of David at Perazim (cf. 2-Samuel 5:19-20) and in the Valley of Gibeon (Isaiah 28:21 cf. Joshua 10:10-14). A general series of disasters will descend upon mankind but the end result is for the good of Israel and everyone else (28:22-29).
Chapter 29: Jerusalem is referred to as "Ariel" meaning "Lion of God" (29:1).
Jerusalem will be besieged and its inhabitants suffer but at the last minute the enormous multitudes of its enemies
will be blown away like chaff in the wind and the horror will pass like a bad dream (29:5-9).
Both Judah and Israel refused to heed the Prophets and were as blind men but in the End Times their eyes will be opened
(29:18-21) and the House of Jacob (meaning the Ten Tribes) will be saved (29:22-24).
Chapter 30:Those who take advice from Egypt and not from the Almighty are condemned and work in vain (30:1-8). This Prophecy appears to be directed to Judah for not keeping the Law and not heeding their Prophets meaning those who gave instruction from the Almighty (30:9-10). They did not want the Presence of the Almighty who dwelt amongst them (30:11). This could refer to rejection of the Temple Mount. God condemns Judah (and Israel) for seeking to retreat and as punishment they will indeed flee from a weaker enemy (30:13-17). Even so we will turn back to God and HE will help us and teach us through HIS teachers (30:18-20). At that time WE WILL instinctively know how to do the right thing and what God wants from us (30:21). We will destroy our idols (30:22) and great prosperity will return to us (30:23-24). Natural phenomena will occur and changes take place in the light of the sun (30:26). The wicked will be punished but the Chosen of God will be blessed and have cause to rejoice (30:29-30). The Assyrian shall be beaten down (30:31). God will fight against the enemies of Israel (30:32).
Chapters with Brit-Am Commentary:
Samuel 26 to 30
Isaiah-Chapter26
Very strong significant messages are
contained in these words of Isaiah. We think of them in terms of Isaiah 1,
Isaiah 2, Isaiah 20, etc and tend to learn them as something imposed on us. The
raw material however of these words we are studying is very strong, very
worthwhile, and at bottom helpful and reassuring. This is our guidance.
[Isaiah 26:1] IN THAT DAY SHALL THIS SONG BE SUNG IN THE LAND OF JUDAH; WE HAVE
A STRONG CITY; SALVATION WILL GOD APPOINT FOR WALLS AND BULWARKS.
In the day when the enemy falls
(mentioned previously Isaiah 24;10 25;2 25;12) shall this song be sung. "WE
HAVE A STRONG CITY" in Hebrew ("ir
oz lonu")
the expression literally means "the city is our strength". Through dedication to
Jerusalem God helps us. God wants us to rebuild and dedicate ourselves to
Jerusalem (Psalms 51;20-21). This message is to all of Israel and Isaiah (as we
shall) see is going out of his way to include the Lost Ten Tribes in the people
he is addressing and speaking about.
[Isaiah 26:2] OPEN YE THE GATES, THAT THE RIGHTEOUS NATION WHICH KEEPETH THE
TRUTH MAY ENTER IN.
Speaks of the Last Days when God
delivers the faithful remnant in Jerusalem. "
KEEPETH
THE TRUTH": Also translatable as "remains faithful".
[Isaiah 26:3] THOU WILT KEEP HIM IN PERFECT PEACE, WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON
THEE: BECAUSE HE TRUSTETH IN THEE.
Isaiah was a Prophet. Moses the chief of
the prophets prophesied under full cognition of his Prophetic encounter. All the
other prophets had visions and flitted back and forth over different levels of
consciousness. They also expressed themselves according to their background.
It appears that: At that time vast amounts of oral tradition and traditional
proverbs and epic songs were committed to memory as a matter of course. The
common people had favorite themes and loved to hear the same long refrains
repeated over and over again. The children grew up with it and the repetition of
such refrains became part of common culture. Minor variations on these refrains
acquired significance in the understanding of those who heard them. The Prophets
when prophesying also used expressions and even parts of the popular verbal
heritage in their prophesies. Sometimes they repeated prophesies and sayings
made by others but often inserted subtle variations of their own. They did this
naturally and those who heard at the time would have appreciated the
connotations and verbal forms. Isaiah flits back and forth between moral
exhortations and prophetic predictions. He manages to merge the two so that
where one begins and the other stops is not always clear.
Isaiah is saying that someone who trusts in God will remain with HIM.
[Isaiah 26:4] TRUST YE IN THE LORD FOR EVER: FOR IN THE LORD JEHOVAH IS
EVERLASTING STRENGTH:
God is our strength.
[Isaiah 26:5] FOR HE BRINGETH DOWN THEM THAT DWELL ON HIGH; THE LOFTY CITY, HE
LAYETH IT LOW; HE LAYETH IT LOW, EVEN TO THE GROUND; HE BRINGETH IT EVEN TO THE
DUST.
Raises the humble and downtrodden and
debases the proud. Even today things are not what they seem. Real wealth and
happiness can be measured more in the successful raising of children and in good
health and intellectual accomplishments than in other things. Even so some
people do not achieve these or other things through no fault of their own. The
bottom line is that we must believe in Divine justice and God being with us,
[Isaiah 26:6] THE FOOT SHALL TREAD IT DOWN, EVEN THE FEET OF THE POOR, AND THE
STEPS OF THE NEEDY.
[Isaiah 26:7] THE WAY OF THE JUST IS UPRIGHTNESS: THOU, MOST UPRIGHT, DOST
WEIGH THE PATH OF THE JUST.
[Isaiah 26:8] YEA, IN THE WAY OF THY JUDGMENTS, O LORD, HAVE WE WAITED FOR
THEE; THE DESIRE OF OUR SOUL IS TO THY NAME, AND TO THE REMEMBRANCE OF THEE.
"THE DESIRE OF OUR SOUL IS TO THY NAME":
Even when we sin there is a section of our subconscious that constantly yearns
for God.
[Isaiah 26:9] WITH MY SOUL HAVE I DESIRED THEE IN THE NIGHT; YEA, WITH MY
SPIRIT WITHIN ME WILL I SEEK THEE EARLY: FOR WHEN THY JUDGMENTS ARE IN THE
EARTH, THE INHABITANTS OF THE WORLD WILL LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS.
"HAVE I DESIRED THEE IN THE NIGHT": At
nighttime our more hidden thoughts come to the surface and we allow our
imaginations to drift to areas we would normally keep out of. We should transfer
this source of energy into a yearning after the God of Israel. Pray to Him and
He will answer.
A religious Jew (Hasid) once came to his Rabbi and complained that "strange
thoughts" were plaguing him. The Rabbi replied: Strange thoughts plague someone
who is always learning the Torah and lives a good pure life. With you however
such thoughts are no longer "strangers"!
[Isaiah 26:10] LET FAVOUR BE SHEWED TO THE WICKED, YET WILL HE NOT LEARN
RIGHTEOUSNESS: IN THE LAND OF UPRIGHTNESS WILL HE DEAL UNJUSTLY, AND WILL NOT
BEHOLD THE MAJESTY OF THE LORD.
"YET WILL HE NOT LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS":
Some people are just bad and want to be bad even though they are quite aware
that doing bad is bad for them and even in the short run they probably will not
gain very much (if anything) from it.
[Isaiah 26:11] LORD, WHEN THY HAND IS LIFTED UP, THEY WILL NOT SEE: BUT THEY
SHALL SEE, AND BE ASHAMED FOR THEIR ENVY AT THE PEOPLE; YEA, THE FIRE OF THINE
ENEMIES SHALL DEVOUR THEM.
They envy the people of Israel and envy
those who do good ( "ENVY AT THE PEOPLE") Their own bad nature will burn them
up.
[Isaiah 26:12] LORD, THOU WILT ORDAIN PEACE FOR US: FOR THOU ALSO HAST WROUGHT
ALL OUR WORKS IN US
[Isaiah 26:13] O LORD OUR GOD, OTHER LORDS BESIDE THEE HAVE HAD DOMINION OVER
US: BUT BY THEE ONLY WILL WE MAKE MENTION OF THY NAME.
It says
"OTHER LORDS" but the intention could be to one specifically. The word for "HAVE
HAD DOMINION" ["ba-al-unu"in Hebrew is derived from the same root as "Baal" indicating the
worship of Baal.
[Isaiah 26:14] THEY ARE DEAD, THEY SHALL NOT LIVE; THEY ARE DECEASED, THEY
SHALL NOT RISE: THEREFORE HAST THOU VISITED AND DESTROYED THEM, AND MADE ALL
THEIR MEMORY TO PERISH.
Baal died and was believed to have been
resurrected. He was identified with Tammuz and with other Middle East deities.
Also in Celtic Britain the god "Bel"
(derived from baal)
was worshipped and so too amongst the Anglo-Saxons there was "Baldor".
Baldor
was once (says Grimm) the chief god of the Anglo-Saxons.
Hislop
shows that the name Baldor
means "Seed of Baal".
Isaiah is saying that contrary to pagan belief Baal was a dead god who did not
rise from the dead.
He is speaking to the LTTs
prior to their return when they reject their former errors.
[Isaiah 26:15] THOU HAST INCREASED THE NATION, O LORD, THOU HAST INCREASED THE
NATION: THOU ART GLORIFIED: THOU HADST REMOVED IT FAR UNTO ALL THE ENDS OF THE
EARTH.
Despite its faults God has magnified the
nation that he will return and claim again. THE ENDS OF THE EARTH throughout
Prophecy are linked with the LTTs.
It means geographical extremities when considered from the Land of Israel like
Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Scandinavia, Holland, West Europe,
Britain, North America.
[Isaiah 26:16] LORD, IN TROUBLE HAVE THEY VISITED THEE, THEY POURED OUT A
PRAYER WHEN THY CHASTENING WAS UPON THEM.
[Isaiah 26:17] LIKE AS A WOMAN WITH CHILD, THAT DRAWETH NEAR THE TIME OF HER
DELIVERY, IS IN PAIN, AND CRIETH OUT IN HER PANGS; SO HAVE WE BEEN IN THY SIGHT,
O LORD.
As a woman just before giving birth
experiences acute pains and cries out in her travailing so were we in times of
our pain and trouble calling to God. We were regarded to a degree in the same
way, i.e. As someone who when in pain will promise anything but immediately upon
alleviation of their pain returns to their bad ways.
On the other hand even though both God and we know of our own shallowness God
hears us because our sins in the first place were to some degree of the same
nature. We never really wanted to distance ourselves from the Almighty nor to
deny Him. We were just weaklings and weaklings should be pitied. We have it in
ourselves to better ourselves.
Isaiah is prophesying that at some stage in the Latter Days calamites will come upon
Israel but Israel will repent and return to God and God will answer.
[Isaiah 26:18] WE HAVE BEEN WITH CHILD, WE HAVE BEEN IN PAIN, WE HAVE AS IT
WERE BROUGHT FORTH WIND; WE HAVE NOT WROUGHT ANY DELIVERANCE IN THE EARTH;
NEITHER HAVE THE INHABITANTS OF THE WORLD FALLEN.
[Isaiah 26:19] THY DEAD MEN SHALL LIVE, TOGETHER WITH MY DEAD BODY SHALL THEY
ARISE. AWAKE AND SING, YE THAT DWELL IN DUST: FOR THY DEW IS AS THE DEW OF
HERBS, AND THE EARTH SHALL CAST OUT THE DEAD.
Isaiah talks about the Resurrection of the
Dead. The earth like the womb of a woman giving birth to new life will bring
forth the resurrected. We have here the juxtaposition of themes: The
resurrection of the god the pagan-worshipping Israelites believed in did not
happen. Their god cannot save. There will however be a real Resurrection of the
Dead in the Last Days. This will entail the revival of the righteous and those
whom God decides. This Resurrection that will happen however is not the main
purpose of the prophecy. It turns out that the resurrection is used as a parable
concerning the reliving of the Israelite People. The Ancient Hebrews believed in
the physical Resurrection of the Dead. Isaiah uses this belief as an allegory
for the Revival of the People of Israel and the return of the Lost Ten Tribes
and the Captives of Judah. This is explained by the continuation of this Chapter
26 into Isaiah Chapter 27 where it says:
"AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, THAT THE GREAT TRUMPET SHALL BE BLOWN,
AND THEY SHALL COME WHICH WERE READY TO PERISH (Hebrew: "Ovdim"
also translatable as "they who were lost") IN THE LAND OF ASSYRIA (i.e.
LTTs),
AND THE OUTCASTS (i.e. Jewish Captives) IN THE LAND OF EGYPT, AND SHALL WORSHIP
THE LORD IN THE HOLY MOUNT AT JERUSALEM" [Isaiah 27:13].
[Isaiah 26:20] COME, MY PEOPLE, ENTER THOU INTO THY CHAMBERS, AND SHUT THY
DOORS ABOUT THEE: HIDE THYSELF AS IT WERE FOR A LITTLE MOMENT, UNTIL THE
INDIGNATION BE OVERPAST.
Exodus 12;22 tells how the Israelites
had to hide themselves for a short period while the Egyptians were being
punished. Similarly in the last days when the evildoers amongst the nations are
punished the righteous remnant of Israel may temporarily have to take refuge.
[Isaiah 26:21] FOR, BEHOLD, THE LORD COMETH OUT OF HIS PLACE TO PUNISH THE
INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH FOR THEIR INIQUITY: THE EARTH ALSO SHALL DISCLOSE HER
BLOOD, AND SHALL NO MORE COVER HER SLAIN.
Like giving birth, or resurrection of
the dead, hidden things will be revealed. Bloodshed especially will be punished.
Those who helped kill Jews in the Holocaust will be punished. Those who
encouraged abortions will also be punished. Murder will be no longer hidden from
and passed over as if it did not exist.
This was a very powerful chapter with
mixed messages all of which in the perception of the Prophet were interlocked.
The chapter is to be viewed in the context of messages preceding it and those
that follow it.
Isaiah-Chapter27
[Isaiah 27:1] IN THAT DAY THE LORD WITH HIS SORE AND GREAT AND STRONG
SWORD SHALL PUNISH LEVIATHAN THE PIERCING SERPENT, EVEN LEVIATHAN THAT CROOKED
SERPENT; AND HE SHALL SLAY THE DRAGON THAT IS IN THE SEA.
This present section of the Commentary
relies heavily on the Hebrew Commentary of Amos
Chacham in the "Daat Mikra" series.
This is a Modern Orthodox Commentary published by Mossad Harav Kook which emphasizes scientific knowledge of
Hebrew while it takes cognizance of traditional Commentaries along with the
discoveries and claims of archaeologists and Biblical Historians.
"LEVIATHAN" = a mythical monster representing the forces of evil.
There may be three beasts here:
LEVIATHAN THE PIERCING SERPENT; 2. LEVIATHAN THAT CROOKED SERPENT;
THE DRAGON THAT IS IN THE SEA
Alternately they may all represent different aspects of the one creature. As
separate beasts the three creatures could represent different kingdoms: Assyria,
Babylon, Egypt.
It could also be that there is really
always only one Empire of Evil that just flips around from place to place:
Anybody who is an anti-semite
in effect worships the devil. Nations dedicated to anti-semitic
beliefs embody the beast(s)
spoken of here.
Only Israelite nations (such as the USA,
Britain, and to some extent France, Holland, Switzerland, and the Scandinavian
countries) really have any record of consistently maintaining even some
semblance of relative civilization. People are going to be offended by that
statement but the record holds.
[Isaiah 27:2] IN THAT DAY SING YE UNTO HER, A VINEYARD OF RED WINE.
Vineyards were prized possessions. Red
wine was considered the best.
[Isaiah 27:3] I THE LORD DO KEEP IT; I WILL WATER IT EVERY MOMENT: LEST ANY
HURT IT, I WILL KEEP IT NIGHT AND DAY.
[Isaiah 27:4] FURY IS NOT IN ME: WHO WOULD SET THE BRIERS AND THORNS AGAINST ME
IN BATTLE? I WOULD GO THROUGH THEM, I WOULD BURN THEM TOGETHER.
Suddenly, the prophet speaks of a
vineyard and even seems to have borrowed phrases from a song used by people
working in a vineyard though the Prophet has given it a twist of its own.
[Isaiah 27:5] OR LET HIM TAKE HOLD OF MY STRENGTH, THAT HE MAY MAKE PEACE WITH
ME; AND HE SHALL MAKE PEACE WITH ME.
[Isaiah 27:6] HE SHALL CAUSE THEM THAT COME OF JACOB TO TAKE ROOT: ISRAEL SHALL
BLOSSOM AND BUD, AND FILL THE FACE OF THE WORLD WITH FRUIT.
Israel will be both numerous and
manifold in type and characteristics. Plenty of room for a lot of different
growths.
[Isaiah 27:7] HATH HE SMITTEN HIM, AS HE SMOTE THOSE THAT SMOTE HIM? OR IS HE
SLAIN ACCORDING TO THE SLAUGHTER OF THEM THAT ARE SLAIN BY HIM?
In the end no matter what we have
suffered those who afflicted us will be afflicted more than we were.
[Isaiah 27:8] IN MEASURE, WHEN IT SHOOTETH FORTH, THOU WILT DEBATE WITH IT: HE
STAYETH HIS ROUGH WIND IN THE DAY OF THE EAST WIND.
[Isaiah 27:9] BY THIS THEREFORE SHALL THE INIQUITY OF JACOB BE PURGED; AND THIS
IS ALL THE FRUIT TO TAKE AWAY HIS SIN; WHEN HE MAKETH ALL THE STONES OF THE
ALTAR AS CHALKSTONES THAT ARE BEATEN IN SUNDER, THE GROVES AND IMAGES SHALL NOT
STAND UP.
When Israel destroys his false altars
then will his sins be forgiven him.
[Isaiah 27:10] YET THE DEFENCED CITY SHALL BE DESOLATE, AND THE HABITATION
FORSAKEN, AND LEFT LIKE A WILDERNESS: THERE SHALL THE CALF FEED, AND THERE SHALL
HE LIE DOWN, AND CONSUME THE BRANCHES THEREOF.
He speaks here of the city of the enemy
that shall be destroyed and a desolation.
[Isaiah 27:11] WHEN THE BOUGHS THEREOF ARE WITHERED, THEY SHALL BE BROKEN OFF:
THE WOMEN COME, AND SET THEM ON FIRE: FOR IT IS A PEOPLE OF NO UNDERSTANDING:
THEREFORE HE THAT MADE THEM WILL NOT HAVE MERCY ON THEM, AND HE THAT FORMED THEM
WILL SHEW THEM NO FAVOUR.
"A PEOPLE OF NO UNDERSTANDING": One
cannot plead innocence. There are certain things one is obliged to clarify and
find out for oneself as far as one is able.
[Isaiah 27:12] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, THAT THE LORD SHALL BEAT
OFF FROM THE CHANNEL OF THE RIVER UNTO THE STREAM OF EGYPT, AND YE SHALL BE
GATHERED ONE BY ONE, O YE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.
"THE CHANNEL OF THE RIVER i.e. The
Euphrates UNTO THE STREAM OF EGYPT"- i.e. the Nile but the phrase means all of
the civilised
world will be beaten (suffer calamities) and somehow as a result of this the
Israelites amongst them will come forth and gather together into one place.
Perhaps the misfortunes that befall Europe and caused refugees of Israelite
descent to populate America was one aspect of this prophecy?
ON a simple level the verse has a double meaning:
According to Rashi, Those who were taken beyond the River by the Assyrians (i.e. the Ten Tribes)
and those who were expelled via Mitsrayim-Egypt meaning Judah will be gathered together.
The land of Israel from the Nile to the Euphrates will have the non-Israelites shaken out of it while Judah and Israel
will be gathered back in to it one by one.
The Radak explains:
THE CHANNEL OF THE RIVER: "This is the River Sambation" as it says concerning the Ten Tribes
"FOR THE LORD SHALL SMITE ISRAEL... AND SHALL SCATTER THEM BEYOND THE RIVER" [1-Kings 14:15]. It says also
"UNTO THE STREAM OF EGYPT" (Isaiah 27:12) for unto Egypt will they come and there they will be gathered together with their brothers in this Present Exile and they will go up to Jerusalem.
[Isaiah 27:13] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, THAT THE GREAT TRUMPET
SHALL BE BLOWN, AND THEY SHALL COME WHICH WERE READY TO PERISH IN THE LAND OF
ASSYRIA, AND THE OUTCASTS IN THE LAND OF EGYPT, AND SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD IN
THE HOLY MOUNT AT JERUSALEM.
WHICH WERE READY TO PERISH [Hebrew:
Ovdim
= were lost, or in the process of getting lost, or wandering] IN THE LAND OF
ASSYRIA [i.e. the LTTs],
AND THE OUTCASTS [i.e. the descendants of Captive Jews] IN THE LAND OF EGYPT
The next chapter continues the theme and
mentions "Ephraim".
Isaiah-Chapter 28
[Isaiah 28:1] WOE TO THE CROWN OF PRIDE, TO THE DRUNKARDS OF EPHRAIM, WHOSE
GLORIOUS BEAUTY IS A FADING FLOWER, WHICH ARE ON THE HEAD OF THE FAT VALLEYS OF
THEM THAT ARE OVERCOME WITH WINE!
"THE DRUNKARDS OF EPHRAIM" the British
drink a lot, Australians drink more
thananybody
else except Russians, North Americans drink a lot. Jews (from Judah) are not
usually great drinkers but alcohol is freely available at Jewish functions and
in religious ceremonies etc. Jewish alcoholics exist but on the whole Jews have
an exceptional tolerance for alcohol: Everything is relative. WINE can mean any
alcoholic beverage. Perhaps by "DRUNKARDS" drug and other addicts are included?
"EPHRAIM": This is a confirmation of our understanding that the
LTTs are being addressed either exclusively or in part alongside Judah.
Amos Chacham understands DRUNKARDS OF EPHRAIM to be also figurative and connoting drunk with
richness and power.
On the one hand we say that physically the Tribe of Ephraim is more amongst the
British than the Americans who are more dominated by descendants of
Menasseh.
Even so on the other hand many from Ephraim are in America. "Ephraim" in
Prophecy also connotes the Lost Ten Tribes in general. In this sense we can
understand the rebuke directed at Ephraim to apply at least in equal measure to
Israelite descendants in America.
[Isaiah 28:2] BEHOLD, THE LORD HATH A MIGHTY AND STRONG ONE, WHICH AS A TEMPEST
OF HAIL AND A DESTROYING STORM, AS A FLOOD OF MIGHTY WATERS OVERFLOWING, SHALL
CAST DOWN TO THE EARTH WITH THE HAND.
The enemy shall overcome Ephraim and
cast him down like pouring rain in a thunder storm, a hurricane-like destructive
wind, and an overflowing flood of waters. Ephraim shall be overcome and brought
down.
[Isaiah 28:3] THE CROWN OF PRIDE, THE DRUNKARDS OF EPHRAIM, SHALL BE TRODDEN
UNDER FEET:
"THE CROWN OF PRIDE, THE DRUNKARDS OF
EPHRAIM": Physiologically alcohol reduces
inhibitions
and can enhance self-esteem. In practice someone who is drunk often demeans
himself and is treated with contempt by others. Nevertheless
drunkeness
and pride are linked. An
overduly proud person can act as
if he were drunk or drugged and vice-versa.
[Isaiah 28:4] AND THE GLORIOUS BEAUTY, WHICH IS ON THE HEAD OF THE FAT VALLEY,
SHALL BE A FADING FLOWER, AND AS THE HASTY FRUIT BEFORE THE SUMMER; WHICH WHEN
HE THAT LOOKETH UPON IT SEETH, WHILE IT IS YET IN HIS HAND HE EATETH IT UP.
"AS THE HASTY FRUIT BEFORE THE SUMMER"
referring to the fruit of the fig which gives forth
individual
first fruits that fully ripen before most of the others. These are usually
purple in color and ooze with natural fruit sugar. Someone who plucks them just
cannot resist swallowing them up on the spot. So too when the enemy comes he
will devour
the riches of Ephraim. One can picture hordes and hordes of deprived poverty-stricked
foreign peoples swarming over our cities taking whatever they can like locusts.
The Germans were not poverty-stricked
but in Eastern Europe in the Second World War they would often take away
everything they could possibly have any use of, leaving the conquered peoples
with less than they needed to ensure survival. The Russians in their turn in
some cases acted similarly. They and most other peoples would all do the same
thing to us if they only could. Let there be no delusions on that score. Even
the most cultured people cannot always resist taking advantage of vulnerability
in others, especially when they feel they can get away with it.
In most cases, If you run away from an aggressive dog the dog will probably run
after you whereas if you stand up to it it will probably go away or at least
back off. It depends. In some exceptional cases you should run: "He who fights
and runs away lives to fight another day".
[Isaiah 28:5] IN THAT DAY SHALL THE LORD OF HOSTS BE FOR A CROWN OF GLORY, AND
FOR A DIADEM OF BEAUTY, UNTO THE RESIDUE OF HIS PEOPLE,
But those who remain will be saved and
guided by the Almighty.
[Isaiah 28:6] AND FOR A SPIRIT OF JUDGMENT TO HIM THAT SITTETH IN JUDGMENT, AND
FOR STRENGTH TO THEM THAT TURN THE BATTLE TO THE GATE.
Ephraim will make a comeback and drive
the enemy out to the gate. "Ephraim" (LTTs)
will also succeed out of nothing to re-institute a rule of justice and
righteousness amongst those who remain of his own peoples. The course of battle
will be turned around. When things look most black then we will repent and
immediately things will change as we could not have thought possible.
[Isaiah 28:7] BUT THEY ALSO HAVE ERRED THROUGH WINE, AND THROUGH STRONG DRINK
ARE OUT OF THE WAY; THE PRIEST AND THE PROPHET HAVE ERRED THROUGH STRONG DRINK,
THEY ARE SWALLOWED UP OF WINE, THEY ARE OUT OF THE WAY THROUGH STRONG DRINK;
THEY ERR IN VISION, THEY STUMBLE IN JUDGMENT.
Before the return even those who should
lead us will be found wanting just like we are.
[Isaiah 28:8] FOR ALL TABLES ARE FULL OF VOMIT AND FILTHINESS, SO THAT THERE IS
NO PLACE CLEAN.
Throughout the Bible there is a theme
that unrighteous behvior
often brings its own punishment in its trail without God having to intervene.
[Isaiah 28:9] WHOM SHALL HE TEACH KNOWLEDGE" AND WHOM SHALL HE MAKE TO
UNDERSTAND DOCTRINE" THEM THAT ARE WEANED FROM THE MILK, AND DRAWN FROM THE
BREASTS.
"WEANED FROM THE MILK": Instruction
should be given and Leadership should be chosen from amongst those who exhibit
some restraint, maturity, and self-denial when necessary.
[Isaiah 28:10] FOR PRECEPT MUST BE UPON PRECEPT, PRECEPT UPON PRECEPT; LINE
UPON LINE, LINE UPON LINE; HERE A LITTLE, AND THERE A LITTLE:
[Isaiah 28:11] FOR WITH STAMMERING LIPS AND ANOTHER TONGUE WILL HE SPEAK TO
THIS PEOPLE.
"ANOTHER TONGUE": Most Israelites will
not know Hebrew at that time.
[Isaiah 28:12] TO WHOM HE SAID, THIS IS THE REST WHEREWITH YE MAY CAUSE THE
WEARY TO REST; AND THIS IS THE REFRESHING: YET THEY WOULD NOT HEAR.
[Isaiah 28:13] BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD WAS UNTO THEM PRECEPT UPON PRECEPT,
PRECEPT UPON PRECEPT; LINE UPON LINE, LINE UPON LINE; HERE A LITTLE, AND THERE A
LITTLE; THAT THEY MIGHT GO, AND FALL BACKWARD, AND BE BROKEN, AND SNARED, AND
TAKEN.
The message is there. The word of God,
the answer to our questions is written down, somewhere in the Torah meaning
somewhere in the body of revealed knowledge and written Scripture. Even so
unless we persevere and try to gain merit we will not find the answers which
are hidden in the open.
[Isaiah 28:14] WHEREFORE HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD, YE SCORNFUL MEN, THAT RULE
THIS PEOPLE WHICH IS IN JERUSALEM.
[Isaiah 28:15] BECAUSE YE HAVE SAID, WE HAVE MADE A COVENANT WITH DEATH, AND
WITH HELL ARE WE AT AGREEMENT; WHEN THE OVERFLOWING SCOURGE SHALL PASS THROUGH,
IT SHALL NOT COME UNTO US: FOR WE HAVE MADE LIES OUR REFUGE, AND UNDER FALSEHOOD
HAVE WE HID OURSELVES:
"A COVENANT WITH DEATH, AND WITH HELL
ARE WE AT AGREEMENT": Some say that this hints at
Cannanite
pagan theological concepts.
When the State of Israel tried to make agreements with the PLO the same thing
happened. It was an invitation for the PLO-Nazi beasts to try and murder us and
our children. All these peace agreements are just lies and delusions. We are
relying on the word of people who sometimes do us the courtesy of
lieing
to us before they slit our throat. We let ourselves be led astray out of wishful
thinking and hope that through sophisticated double-thinking we can change
reality. Not all the peace-mongers but a lot of them sympathize with homosexuals
and the murder of innocent human
foetuses and other abominations.
Some of those most active in the peace movements are unashamedly guilty of such
crimes. It is as if they subconsciously want to bring on themselves their own
punishment. The only trouble is they wish to see everybody else in the same boat
(they are trying to sink) with them.
[Isaiah 28:16] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD, BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION FOR A
FOUNDATION A STONE, A TRIED STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER STONE, A SURE FOUNDATION:
HE THAT BELIEVETH SHALL NOT MAKE HASTE.
Salvation lies in Zion.
[Isaiah 28:17] JUDGMENT ALSO WILL I LAY TO THE LINE, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS TO THE
PLUMMET: AND THE HAIL SHALL SWEEP AWAY THE REFUGE OF LIES, AND THE WATERS SHALL
OVERFLOW THE HIDING PLACE.
[Isaiah 28:18] AND YOUR COVENANT WITH DEATH SHALL BE ANNULLED, AND YOUR
AGREEMENT WITH HELL SHALL NOT STAND; WHEN THE OVERFLOWING SCOURGE SHALL PASS
THROUGH, THEN YE SHALL BE TRODDEN DOWN BY IT.
[Isaiah 28:19] FROM THE TIME THAT IT GOETH FORTH IT SHALL TAKE YOU: FOR MORNING
BY MORNING SHALL IT PASS OVER, BY DAY AND BY NIGHT: AND IT SHALL BE A VEXATION
ONLY TO UNDERSTAND THE REPORT.
[Isaiah 28:20] FOR THE BED IS SHORTER THAN THAT A MAN CAN STRETCH HIMSELF ON
IT: AND THE COVERING NARROWER THAN THAT HE CAN WRAP HIMSELF IN IT.
All their deceits and lies and
double-talk will not be enough to account for the
terrbile
reality when it comes.
[Isaiah 28:21] FOR THE LORD SHALL RISE UP AS IN MOUNT PERAZIM, HE SHALL BE
WROTH AS IN THE VALLEY OF GIBEON, THAT HE MAY DO HIS WORK, HIS STRANGE WORK; AND
BRING TO PASS HIS ACT, HIS STRANGE ACT.
LORD SHALL RISE UP: In Hebrew "yirgaz"
from the root "ragaz"
which can connote an earthquake.
"AS IN MOUNT PERAZIM":
"PERAZIM"
can mean "breaching" (bursting open): David experienced a deliverance at
Perazim:
"AND DAVID ENQUIRED OF THE LORD, SAYING, SHALL I GO UP TO THE PHILISTINES? WILT
THOU DELIVER THEM INTO MINE HAND? AND THE LORD SAID UNTO DAVID, GO UP: FOR I
WILL DOUBTLESS DELIVER THE PHILISTINES INTO
THINE
HAND.
AND DAVID CAME TO BAAL-PERAZIM,
AND DAVID SMOTE THEM THERE, AND SAID, "THE LORD HATH BROKEN FORTH UPON MINE
ENEMIES BEFORE ME, AS THE BREACH OF WATERS. THEREFORE HE CALLED THE NAME OF THAT
PLACE BAAL-PERAZIM.
(2-SAMUEL 5:19-20). David called the place "Baal-Perazim"
because it was like the "Breach of waters".
Isaiah above has been using the simile of a breach of flooding waters. I repeat
the principles
I mentioned previously: Isaiah was speaking to people who were not so literate
but had developed prodigious memories. The story of David and the association of
Perazim
and breach of waters and its link with what Isaiah was saying would all be
obvious to them. First comes punishment (caused by the wicked) like a flood of
waters then comes salvation (to the righteous
remnant)
also like a flood of waters. The victory at
Perazzim
according to the traditions of the time had been due to Divine intervention
including earthquakes. So too was the salvation at
Gibeon
inititially
due to an earthquake according to popular tradition -says Amos
Chacham.
Later due due to Divine Intervention greater miracles occurred but these were
connected with destroying the fleeing host after the initial victory had taken
place:
"AND THE LORD DISCOMFITED THEM BEFORE ISRAEL, AND SLEW THEM WITH A GREAT
SLAUGHTER AT GIBEON,
AND CHASED THEM ALONG THE WAY THAT
GOETH
UP TO BETHHORON,
AND SMOTE THEM TO AZEKAH,
AND UNTO MAKKEDAH.
" AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS THEY FLED FROM BEFORE ISRAEL, AND WERE IN THE GOING
DOWN TO BETHHORON,
THAT THE LORD CAST DOWN GREAT STONES FROM HEAVEN UPON THEM UNTO
AZEKAH,
AND THEY DIED: THEY WERE MORE WHICH DIED WITH HAILSTONES THAN
THEYWHOM
THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SLEW WITH THE SWORD.
" THEN SPAKE
JOSHUA TO THE LORD IN THE DAY WHEN THE LORD DELIVERED UP THE AMORITES BEFORE THE
CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND HE SAID IN THE SIGHT OF ISRAEL, SUN, STAND THOU STILL
UPON GIBEON;
AND THOU, MOON, IN THE VALLEY OF
AJALON.
" AND THE SUN STOOD STILL, AND THE MOON STAYED, UNTIL THE PEOPLE HAD AVENGED
THEMSELVES UPON THEIR ENEMIES. IS NOT THIS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF
JASHER"
SO THE SUN STOOD STILL IN THE MIDST OF HEAVEN, AND HASTED NOT TO GO DOWN ABOUT
A WHOLE DAY.
" AND THERE WAS NO DAY LIKE THAT BEFORE IT OR AFTER IT, THAT THE
LORD HEARKENED UNTO THE VOICE OF A MAN: FOR THE LORD FOUGHT
FOR ISRAEL"(Joshua 10:10-14).
Returning to Isaiah:-
[Isaiah 28:22] NOW THEREFORE BE YE NOT MOCKERS, LEST YOUR BANDS BE MADE STRONG:
FOR I HAVE HEARD FROM THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS A CONSUMPTION, EVEN DETERMINED UPON
THE WHOLE EARTH.
[Isaiah 28:23] GIVE YE EAR, AND HEAR MY VOICE; HEARKEN, AND HEAR MY SPEECH.
[Isaiah 28:24] DOTH THE PLOWMAN PLOW ALL DAY TO SOW? DOTH HE OPEN AND BREAK THE
CLODS OF HIS GROUND?
"BREAK THE CLODS": In Hebrew "Yisadad"
from the root "sedad"
renderable
in some constructions as "sod". In English a clump of earth is "sod". This is
Hebrew like a not insiginficant
number of Anglo-Saxon words.
[Isaiah 28:25] WHEN HE HATH MADE PLAIN THE FACE THEREOF, DOTH HE NOT CAST
ABROAD THE FITCHES, AND SCATTER THE CUMMIN, AND CAST IN THE PRINCIPAL WHEAT AND
THE APPOINTED BARLEY AND THE RIE IN THEIR PLACE"
[Isaiah 28:26] FOR HIS GOD DOTH INSTRUCT HIM TO DISCRETION, AND DOTH TEACH HIM.
[Isaiah 28:27] FOR THE FITCHES ARE NOT THRESHED WITH A THRESHING INSTRUMENT,
NEITHER IS A CART WHEEL TURNED ABOUT UPON THE CUMMIN; BUT THE FITCHES ARE BEATEN
OUT WITH A STAFF, AND THE CUMMIN WITH A ROD.
[Isaiah 28:28] BREAD CORN IS BRUISED; BECAUSE HE WILL NOT EVER BE THRESHING IT,
NOR BREAK IT WITH THE WHEEL OF HIS CART, NOR BRUISE IT WITH HIS HORSEMEN.
[Isaiah 28:29] THIS ALSO COMETH FORTH FROM THE LORD OF HOSTS, WHICH IS
WONDERFUL IN COUNSEL, AND EXCELLENT IN WORKING.
Isaiah-Chapter 29
[Isaiah 29:1] WOE TO ARIEL, TO ARIEL, THE CITY WHERE DAVID DWELT! ADD YE YEAR TO
YEAR; LET THEM KILL SACRIFICES.
"ARIEL" means "lion [ari]
of God[el]".
It is used here as a name for Jerusalem.
Possible explanations for the name "Ariel" by Amos
Chacham:
The altar in the Temple is termed "Ha-ariel"
(Ezekiel 43;15 in Hebrew) meaning "the lion of God" because it eats up
sacrifices like a lion or because the Sanctuary had architectural features
reminiscent of a lion's
body. Alternately the Temple Mount was originally called "Har-El"
meaning Mountain of God and later the name was slightly changed to suggest a
lion.
The whole of Jerusalem was therefore named "Ariel" after the Altar in the Temple
or the Temple itself.
2. Jerusalem was called Ariel since it was in Judah whose symbol was a lion
(Genesis 49;9).
"Ariel" may be derived from the
Akkadian "Yero-el"
meaning "God will be seen". Abraham called the Temple Mount "God will make
Himself be seen" (Genesis 22;14).
Akkadian
was the language of Ancient Mesopotamia (Assyria and Babylon) but it was also
spoken in parts of the Land of Israel.
An inscription from Moab
meantions King David having
conquered lands in Moab and setting up some kind of monument (possibly the
statue of a lion) called an "Ariel" and representing David!
[Isaiah 29:2] YET I WILL DISTRESS ARIEL, AND THERE SHALL BE HEAVINESS AND
SORROW: AND IT SHALL BE UNTO ME AS ARIEL.
[Isaiah 29:3] AND I WILL CAMP AGAINST THEE ROUND ABOUT, AND WILL LAY SIEGE
AGAINST THEE WITH A MOUNT, AND I WILL RAISE FORTS AGAINST THEE.
[Isaiah 29:4] AND THOU SHALT BE BROUGHT DOWN, AND SHALT SPEAK OUT OF THE
GROUND, AND THY SPEECH SHALL BE LOW OUT OF THE DUST, AND THY VOICE SHALL BE, AS
OF ONE THAT HATH A FAMILIAR SPIRIT, OUT OF THE GROUND, AND THY SPEECH SHALL
WHISPER OUT OF THE DUST.
[Isaiah 29:5] MOREOVER THE MULTITUDE OF THY STRANGERS SHALL BE LIKE SMALL DUST,
AND THE MULTITUDE OF THE TERRIBLE ONES SHALL BE AS CHAFF THAT PASSETH AWAY:
YEA, IT SHALL BE AT AN INSTANT SUDDENLY.
Jerusalem is
beseiged
by a great multitude but its
beseigers suddenly are "blown
away".
[Isaiah 29:6] THOU SHALT BE VISITED OF THE LORD OF HOSTS WITH THUNDER, AND WITH
EARTHQUAKE, AND GREAT NOISE, WITH STORM AND TEMPEST, AND THE FLAME OF DEVOURING
FIRE.
[Isaiah 29:7] AND THE MULTITUDE OF ALL THE NATIONS THAT FIGHT AGAINST ARIEL,
EVEN ALL THAT FIGHT AGAINST HER AND HER MUNITION, AND THAT DISTRESS HER, SHALL
BE AS A DREAM OF A NIGHT VISION.
All the peoples of the earth will attack
Jerusalem and all of them will suddenly disappear.
[Isaiah 29:8] IT SHALL EVEN BE AS WHEN AN HUNGRY MAN DREAMETH, AND, BEHOLD, HE
EATETH; BUT HE AWAKETH, AND HIS SOUL IS EMPTY: OR AS WHEN A THIRSTY MAN DREAMETH,
AND, BEHOLD, HE DRINKETH; BUT HE AWAKETH, AND, BEHOLD, HE IS FAINT, AND HIS SOUL
HATH APPETITE: SO SHALL THE MULTITUDE OF ALL THE NATIONS BE, THAT FIGHT AGAINST
MOUNT ZION.
It will be like a bad dream caused by
physical discomfort. Often our external troubles reflect an internal spiritual
malaise. Correct ourselves on a spiritual level and it may be that physically
and materially our lot is bettered.
[Isaiah 29:9] STAY YOURSELVES, AND WONDER; CRY YE OUT, AND CRY: THEY ARE
DRUNKEN, BUT NOT WITH WINE; THEY STAGGER, BUT NOT WITH STRONG DRINK.
[Isaiah 29:10] FOR THE LORD HATH POURED OUT UPON YOU THE SPIRIT OF DEEP SLEEP,
AND HATH CLOSED YOUR EYES: THE PROPHETS AND YOUR RULERS, THE SEERS HATH HE
COVERED.
" THE PROPHETS AND YOUR RULERS" are as
if sleeping and not seeing the obvious.
[Isaiah 29:11] AND THE VISION OF ALL IS BECOME UNTO YOU AS THE WORDS OF A BOOK
THAT IS SEALED, WHICH MEN DELIVER TO ONE THAT IS LEARNED, SAYING, READ THIS, I
PRAY THEE: AND HE SAITH, I CANNOT; FOR IT IS SEALED:
[Isaiah 29:12] AND THE BOOK IS DELIVERED TO HIM THAT IS NOT LEARNED, SAYING,
READ THIS, I PRAY THEE: AND HE SAITH, I AM NOT LEARNED.
[Isaiah 29:13] WHEREFORE THE LORD SAID, FORASMUCH AS THIS PEOPLE DRAW NEAR ME
WITH THEIR MOUTH, AND WITH THEIR LIPS DO HONOUR ME, BUT HAVE REMOVED THEIR HEART
FAR FROM ME, AND THEIR FEAR TOWARD ME IS TAUGHT BY THE PRECEPT OF
MEN:
[Isaiah 29:14] THEREFORE, BEHOLD, I WILL PROCEED TO DO A MARVELLOUS WORK AMONG
THIS PEOPLE, EVEN A MARVELLOUS WORK AND A WONDER: FOR THE WISDOM OF THEIR WISE
MEN SHALL PERISH, AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR PRUDENT MEN SHALL BE HID.
"A
MARVELLOUS
WORK"
Until now a siege of Jerusalem has been described followed by miraculous
deliverance. Isaiah in chapters 36 and 37 goes on to describe the Assyrian King
Sennacherib beseiging
Jerusalem which is saved due to Divine Intervention. This chapter too could be
referring to the same incident. King Hezekiah and part of the people were
relying on assistance from Egypt. This was against the wish of God and the
message of the Prophet. That is why some criticism is directed towards the
people of Jerusalem. They lacked a true fear of the Almighty. There are however
details of the salvation here that were not
fufilled
in the salvation from Sennacherib. The Prophecy therefore is directed to the
future and uses the case of Sennacherib as a prototype for descriptive purposes.
The Sages said that Sennacherib
and his forces was a prototype of the
future "Gog
and Magog".
King Hezekiah was a forerunner of the coming Messiah and in other circumstances
could have been the Messiah. Messiah means "Annoited
Saviour".
The Prophecy in its fullness will be fulfilled in the Latter Days. Some say that
the troubles of Gog
and Magog
(Ezekiel 38) will continue for two or three years.
[Isaiah 29:15] WOE UNTO THEM THAT SEEK DEEP TO HIDE THEIR COUNSEL FROM THE
LORD, AND THEIR WORKS ARE IN THE DARK, AND THEY SAY, WHO SEETH US? AND WHO
KNOWETH US?
God sees everything but we all at some
time or other prefer to pretend to ourselves that He does not.
[Isaiah 29:16] SURELY YOUR TURNING OF THINGS UPSIDE DOWN SHALL BE ESTEEMED AS
THE POTTER'S CLAY: FOR SHALL THE WORK SAY OF HIM THAT MADE IT, HE MADE ME NOT"
OR SHALL THE THING FRAMED SAY OF HIM THAT FRAMED IT, HE HAD NO UNDERSTANDING"
Sometimes when things do not go as we
wished or when temptation is strong we thing to
oourselves
that God did not make us really to obey His laws.
[Isaiah 29:17] IS IT NOT YET A VERY LITTLE WHILE, AND LEBANON SHALL BE TURNED
INTO A FRUITFUL FIELD, AND THE FRUITFUL FIELD SHALL BE ESTEEMED AS A FOREST.
Lebanon was a place of forest. Fruitful
fieled
= "Carmel" in Hebrew. Things will be reversed.
[Isaiah 29:18] AND IN THAT DAY SHALL THE DEAF HEAR THE WORDS OF THE BOOK, AND
THE EYES OF THE BLIND SHALL SEE OUT OF OBSCURITY, AND OUT OF DARKNESS.
Figurative (as well as literal). People
will, repent. Those who made themselves as if to be blind and not read Scripture
and deaf and not hear teaching will return and rectify themselves.
[Isaiah 29:19] THE MEEK ALSO SHALL INCREASE THEIR JOY IN THE LORD, AND THE POOR
AMONG MEN SHALL REJOICE IN THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.
[Isaiah 29:20] FOR THE TERRIBLE ONE IS BROUGHT TO NOUGHT, AND THE SCORNER IS
CONSUMED, AND ALL THAT WATCH FOR INIQUITY ARE CUT OFF:
"THE TERRIBLE ONE" = "aritz"
= tyrant.
Nowadays those who deny the truth of Scripture have taken over. They have not
proven anything but they act as if they had. Academics who believe in Scripture
and say it would have trouble finding employment in certain areas. Believers are
discriminated against. People who believe in God and the Bible are sometimes
made to feel embarrassed before educators and other people of authority and
influence.
[Isaiah 29:21] THAT MAKE A MAN AN OFFENDER FOR A WORD, AND LAY A SNARE FOR HIM
THAT REPROVETH IN THE GATE, AND TURN ASIDE THE JUST FOR A THING OF NOUGHT.
Those who cause others to sin and
disgrace they who do good will be no more. They will either repent or perish.
[Isaiah 29:22] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD, WHO REDEEMED ABRAHAM, CONCERNING
THE HOUSE OF JACOB, JACOB SHALL NOT NOW BE ASHAMED, NEITHER SHALL HIS FACE NOW
WAX PALE.
THE HOUSE OF JACOB = "Yank", Union
Jack"
[Isaiah 29:23] BUT WHEN HE SEETH HIS CHILDREN, THE WORK OF MINE HANDS, IN THE
MIDST OF HIM, THEY SHALL SANCTIFY MY NAME, AND SANCTIFY THE HOLY ONE OF JACOB,
AND SHALL FEAR THE GOD OF ISRAEL.
The Children of Israel will return to
worship the God of their forefathers.
[Isaiah 29:24] THEY ALSO THAT ERRED IN SPIRIT SHALL COME TO UNDERSTANDING, AND
THEY THAT MURMURED SHALL LEARN DOCTRINE.
Isaiah-Chapter 30
[Isaiah 30:1] WOE TO THE REBELLIOUS CHILDREN, SAITH THE LORD, THAT TAKE COUNSEL,
BUT NOT OF ME; AND THAT COVER WITH A COVERING, BUT NOT OF MY SPIRIT, THAT THEY
MAY ADD SIN TO SIN:
[Isaiah 30:2] THAT WALK TO GO DOWN INTO EGYPT, AND HAVE NOT ASKED AT MY MOUTH;
TO STRENGTHEN THEMSELVES IN THE STRENGTH OF PHARAOH, AND TO TRUST IN THE SHADOW
OF EGYPT!
Speaking of Judah who trusted in Egypt
and looked to Egypt for help. In the past I identified Egypt ("Mitsrayim"
in Hebrew) with Russia for several reasons. Ancient Chinese civilization was
also founded by migrants from Egypt or at least received an important input from
Egypt in its early stages.
"NOT ASKED AT MY MOUTH": They did not ask of the Prophet because they thought
there was no need. We all slip up on this point. We should find ways to connect
to the Almighty as much as we can.
[Isaiah 30:3] THEREFORE SHALL THE STRENGTH OF PHARAOH BE YOUR SHAME, AND THE
TRUST IN THE SHADOW OF EGYPT YOUR CONFUSION.
[Isaiah 30:4] FOR HIS PRINCES WERE AT ZOAN, AND HIS AMBASSADORS CAME TO HANES.
Zoan
and
Hanes were important Egyptian cities.
[Isaiah 30:5] THEY WERE ALL ASHAMED OF A PEOPLE THAT COULD NOT PROFIT THEM, NOR
BE AN HELP NOR PROFIT, BUT A SHAME, AND ALSO A REPROACH.
[Isaiah 30:6] THE BURDEN OF THE BEASTS OF THE SOUTH: INTO THE LAND OF TROUBLE
AND ANGUISH, FROM WHENCE COME THE YOUNG AND OLD LION, THE VIPER AND FIERY FLYING
SERPENT, THEY WILL CARRY THEIR RICHES UPON THE SHOULDERS OF YOUNG ASSES, AND
THEIR TREASURES UPON THE BUNCHES OF CAMELS, TO A PEOPLE THAT SHALL NOT PROFIT
THEM.
Judah goes to great effort and risk to
bribe and encourage a potential ally that will not help when they need it.
The Prophet always spoke in terms of their own times but gave a twist to their
words whose pertinence will only become apparent in the Last Days.
[Isaiah 30:7] FOR THE EGYPTIANS SHALL HELP IN VAIN, AND TO NO PURPOSE:
THEREFORE HAVE I CRIED CONCERNING THIS, THEIR STRENGTH IS TO SIT STILL.
[Isaiah 30:8] NOW GO, WRITE IT BEFORE THEM IN A TABLE, AND NOTE IT IN A BOOK,
THAT IT MAY BE FOR THE TIME TO COME FOR EVER AND EVER:
[Isaiah 30:9] THAT THIS IS A REBELLIOUS PEOPLE, LYING CHILDREN, CHILDREN THAT
WILL NOT HEAR THE LAW OF THE LORD:
"NOT HEAR THE LAW" the Law must be
obeyed.
"WILL NOT" in Hebrew "lo (not)
ovah (will or agree to)": the
word "Ovah"
meaning agree to can also be pronounced, "Obey" and it is the probable source of
the English word "obey".
I looked in a dictionary and it traced the English word "obey" to Middle English
"obeien"
to Old French "obeir"
from Latin "oboedire"
[meaning "to listen to"] .
Even so the Hebrew "obey" meaning accede, agree to, or even "obey" is closer to
the English "Obey" than the words the English "Obey" is supposed to have been
derived from. This is not an isolated example but occurs frequently, in fact
more often than not.
[Isaiah 30:10] WHICH SAY TO THE SEERS, SEE NOT; AND TO THE PROPHETS, PROPHESY
NOT UNTO US RIGHT THINGS, SPEAK UNTO US SMOOTH THINGS, PROPHESY DECEITS:
We do not want to hear the advice of the
Prophets.
[Isaiah 30:11] GET YOU OUT OF THE WAY, TURN ASIDE OUT OF THE PATH, CAUSE THE
HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL TO CEASE FROM BEFORE US.
We would rather not know, not have the
obligation entailed with being Israelites imposed upon us. Being part of the
Chosen People also means having
cerain responsibilities to act in
a certain way.
[Isaiah 30:12] WHEREFORE THUS SAITH THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, BECAUSE YE DESPISE
THIS WORD, AND TRUST IN OPPRESSION AND PERVERSENESS, AND STAY THEREON:
"TRUST IN OPPRESSION AND PERVERSENESS": This is represented by "Mitsrayim". Mitsrayim"
(Egypt or whatever "Mitsrayim"
represents in the Last Days: China" Russia") is established on a system of
oppression and perversion. By relying on her we are de facto agreeing with this
system of oppression. (Amos
Chacham).
[Isaiah 30:13] THEREFORE THIS INIQUITY SHALL BE TO YOU AS A BREACH READY TO
FALL, SWELLING OUT IN A HIGH WALL, WHOSE BREAKING COMETH SUDDENLY AT AN INSTANT.
The bursting of a dam. Sudden and
overwhelming disaster.
[Isaiah 30:14] AND HE SHALL BREAK IT AS THE BREAKING OF THE POTTERS' VESSEL
THAT IS BROKEN IN PIECES; HE SHALL NOT SPARE: SO THAT THERE SHALL NOT BE FOUND
IN THE BURSTING OF IT A SHERD TO TAKE FIRE FROM THE HEARTH, OR TO TAKE WATER
WITHAL OUT OF THE PIT.
[Isaiah 30:15] FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD, THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL; IN
RETURNING AND REST SHALL YE BE SAVED; IN QUIETNESS AND IN CONFIDENCE SHALL BE
YOUR STRENGTH: AND YE WOULD NOT.
God says, "Be calm" Trust in Him and He
will save you.He also said it in the past as recalled by Isaiah and we would not listen.
[Isaiah 30:16] BUT YE SAID, NO; FOR WE WILL FLEE UPON HORSES; THEREFORE SHALL
YE FLEE: AND, WE WILL RIDE UPON THE SWIFT; THEREFORE SHALL THEY THAT PURSUE
YOU BE SWIFT.
We prepared a means of escape therefore
we were made to flee and those who pursued us were faster than we were.
[Isaiah 30:17] ONE THOUSAND SHALL FLEE AT THE REBUKE OF ONE; AT THE REBUKE OF
FIVE SHALL YE FLEE: TILL YE BE LEFT AS A BEACON UPON THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN, AND
AS AN ENSIGN ON AN HILL.
We will run away even though we
outnumber the enemy. Hear a noise and flee for our lives.
[Isaiah 30:18] AND THEREFORE WILL THE LORD WAIT, THAT HE MAY BE GRACIOUS UNTO
YOU, AND THEREFORE WILL HE BE EXALTED, THAT HE MAY HAVE MERCY UPON YOU: FOR THE
LORD IS A GOD OF JUDGMENT: BLESSED ARE ALL THEY THAT WAIT FOR HIM.
Even so, God will help us. We sinned
through weakness. Maybe we asked for the disgrace that came to us but perhaps at
some level we did not really deserve it. God will help us.
There was always something inside us that really wanted to listen to the
Prophets. As a body of people there were always individuals amongst us who
remained faithful. These individuals represented an inner desire of all of us
that we declined to express or recognize.
[Isaiah 30:19] FOR THE PEOPLE SHALL DWELL IN ZION AT JERUSALEM: THOU SHALT WEEP
NO MORE: HE WILL BE VERY GRACIOUS UNTO THEE AT THE VOICE OF THY CRY; WHEN HE
SHALL HEAR IT, HE WILL ANSWER THEE.
[Isaiah 30:20] AND THOUGH THE LORD GIVE YOU THE BREAD OF ADVERSITY, AND THE
WATER OF AFFLICTION, YET SHALL NOT THY TEACHERS BE REMOVED INTO A CORNER ANY
MORE, BUT THINE EYES SHALL SEE THY TEACHERS:
Even in hardship we will be provided
for. We will recognize they whom HE has appointed to guide us.
[Isaiah 30:21] AND THINE EARS SHALL HEAR A WORD BEHIND THEE, SAYING, THIS IS
THE WAY, WALK YE IN IT, WHEN YE TURN TO THE RIGHT HAND, AND WHEN YE TURN TO THE
LEFT.
Both figurative and actual. When we
repent we shall know how to act as if a constant guide was with us. At some
stage in the Last Days a new spirit will be in us and we will all be guided
directly from above.
[Isaiah 30:22] YE SHALL DEFILE ALSO THE COVERING OF THY GRAVEN IMAGES OF
SILVER, AND THE ORNAMENT OF THY MOLTEN IMAGES OF GOLD: THOU SHALT CAST THEM AWAY
AS A MENSTRUOUS CLOTH; THOU SHALT SAY UNTO IT, GET THEE HENCE.
Idolatry will be rejected. Physical
idols will be smashed and despised. Idolatrous modes of thought will be put away
and regarded as contemptible.
[Isaiah 30:23] THEN SHALL HE GIVE THE RAIN OF THY SEED, THAT THOU SHALT SOW THE
GROUND WITHAL; AND BREAD OF THE INCREASE OF THE EARTH, AND IT SHALL BE FAT AND
PLENTEOUS: IN THAT DAY SHALL THY CATTLE FEED IN LARGE PASTURES.
Things will be as they were at the level
of nature but there will be a blessing in everything.
[Isaiah 30:24] THE OXEN LIKEWISE AND THE YOUNG ASSES THAT EAR THE GROUND SHALL
EAT CLEAN PROVENDER, WHICH HATH BEEN WINNOWED WITH THE SHOVEL AND WITH THE FAN.
[Isaiah 30:25] AND THERE SHALL BE UPON EVERY HIGH MOUNTAIN, AND UPON EVERY HIGH
HILL, RIVERS AND STREAMS OF WATERS IN THE DAY OF THE GREAT SLAUGHTER, WHEN THE
TOWERS FALL.
When God and
Magog
as smashed there will be a great earthquake. The mountains shall burst forth
gushing with water. In the Land of Israel exist great aquifers and underground
lakes not all of which are known to us.
[Isaiah 30:26] MOREOVER THE LIGHT OF THE MOON SHALL BE AS THE LIGHT OF THE SUN,
AND THE LIGHT OF THE SUN SHALL BE SEVENFOLD, AS THE LIGHT OF SEVEN DAYS, IN
THE DAY THAT THE LORD BINDETH UP THE BREACH OF HIS PEOPLE, AND HEALETH THE
STROKE OF THEIR WOUND.
There will be some type of cosmic
change. Perhaps the moon or sun will draw closer to the earth, perhaps this will
have a gravitational effect and result in earthquakes"
[Isaiah 30:27] BEHOLD, THE NAME OF THE LORD COMETH FROM FAR, BURNING WITH HIS
ANGER, AND THE BURDEN THEREOF IS HEAVY: HIS LIPS ARE FULL OF INDIGNATION, AND
HIS TONGUE AS A DEVOURING FIRE:
[Isaiah 30:28] AND HIS BREATH, AS AN OVERFLOWING STREAM, SHALL REACH TO THE
MIDST OF THE NECK, TO SIFT THE NATIONS WITH THE SIEVE OF VANITY: AND THERE SHALL
BE A BRIDLE IN THE JAWS OF THE PEOPLE, CAUSING THEM TO ERR.
[Isaiah 30:29] YE SHALL HAVE A SONG, AS IN THE NIGHT WHEN A HOLY SOLEMNITY IS
KEPT; AND GLADNESS OF HEART, AS WHEN ONE GOETH WITH A PIPE TO COME INTO THE
MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD, TO THE MIGHTY ONE OF ISRAEL.
[Isaiah 30:30] AND THE LORD SHALL CAUSE HIS GLORIOUS VOICE TO BE HEARD, AND
SHALL SHEW THE LIGHTING DOWN OF HIS ARM, WITH THE INDIGNATION OF HIS ANGER, AND
WITH THE FLAME OF A DEVOURING FIRE, WITH SCATTERING, AND TEMPEST, AND
HAILSTONES.
[Isaiah 30:31] FOR THROUGH THE VOICE OF THE LORD SHALL THE ASSYRIAN BE BEATEN
DOWN, WHICH SMOTE WITH A ROD.
"THE ASSYRIAN BE BEATEN DOWN": In
Isaiah's
time there occurred a great disaster to the armies of Sennacherib that were
besieging Jerusalem. Isaiah uses this event as a prototype for the future. The
Assyrians moved into Europe. Part of them settled in West Germany and Bavaria.
[Isaiah 30:32] AND IN EVERY PLACE WHERE THE GROUNDED STAFF SHALL PASS, WHICH
THE LORD SHALL LAY UPON HIM, IT SHALL BE WITH TABRETS AND HARPS: AND IN BATTLES
OF SHAKING WILL HE FIGHT WITH IT.
God will fight against the enemies of
Israel. Just as in Ancient times armies used to go out to war with bands of
musicians playing with drums (Hebrew: "toopim")
and other instruments so too will HIS war be preceded by the noise of earthquake
and heavenly movements.
[Isaiah 30:33] FOR TOPHET IS ORDAINED OF OLD; YEA, FOR THE KING IT IS PREPARED;
HE HATH MADE IT DEEP AND LARGE: THE PILE THEREOF IS FIRE AND MUCH WOOD; THE
BREATH OF THE LORD, LIKE A STREAM OF BRIMSTONE, DOTH KINDLE IT.
"TOPHET"
[Hebrew: "tophta"]
a place of burning. Perhaps a play on words, i.e. "toph"
= drum, "tophta"
= The fire of destruction for the wicked.
See also:
Biblical Proofs
http://www.britam.org/Proof/ProofsIntro.html
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