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 abd 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” “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 said, “Be calm” trust in Him and He will save you. 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.
Chapter Thirty-One
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