Isaiah- Chapter 22
[Isaiah 22:12] AND IN THAT DAY DID THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS CALL TO WEEPING,
AND TO MOURNING, AND TO BALDNESS, AND TO GIRDING WITH SACKCLOTH:
Isaiah is in Jerusalem at the time of King Hezekiah. Sennacherib is destined
to besiege Jerusalem but at the last minute his army will be smitten by an
angel and 185,000 of his soldiers will be slain. Sennacherib will return
to Assyria and there be assasinated by two of his sons. Before all this happens
Sennacherib will come up against Jerusalem at least once but discontinue
hissiege for one reason or other but later return to it. Isiah is now speaking
at one of the intermediate stages where Sennacherib has apparently began
to come against Jerusalem but been temporarily diverted. God is the director
of history He sends calamities and warnings of calamities in order to induce
us to repent of our sins and do good.
[Isaiah 22:13] AND BEHOLD JOY AND GLADNESS, SLAYING OXEN, AND KILLING
SHEEP, EATING FLESH, AND DRINKING WINE: LET US EAT AND DRINK;
FOR TOMORROW WE SHALL DIE.
Instead of repenting the people are living it up. They feel that an inevitable
doom is coming upon them. In the meantime they have meat and wine available
so why not enjoy them while they can? Why not party in the company of friends
and revellers while the going is good? There have been case studies of people
who feel doomed sometimes losing all moral restraint.
[Isaiah 22:14] AND IT WAS REVEALED IN MINE EARS BY THE LORD OF HOSTS,
SURELY THIS INIQUITY SHALL NOT BE PURGED FROM YOU TILL YE DIE, SAITH THE
LORD GOD OF HOSTS.
No express commandment exists against drinking and partying but God
does not necessarily approve of it especially when we should be repenting.
Another point is that complete despair is forbidden. We must always trust in God’s mercy and hope for His salvation.
[Isaiah 22:15] THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS, GO, GET THEE UNTO
THIS TREASURER, EVEN UNTO SHEBNA, WHICH IS OVER THE HOUSE, AND SAY,
Shebna was an official who apparently
should have been responsible for fortifying the city. He apparently had been
lapse in this duty. He was also responsible for the atmosphere of impending
doom and having a good time. He had prepared himself a grave and Isaiah
met him at the graveside and upbraided him. An inscription has been found
in Jerusalem by the Siloah Spring. Parts of the inscription are missing
but it seems to pertain to Shebna.
[Isaiah 22:16] WHAT HAST THOU HERE? AND WHOM HAST THOU HERE, THAT THOU
HAST HEWED THEE OUT A SEPULCHRE HERE, AS HE THAT HEWETH HIM OUT A SEPULCHRE
ON HIGH, AND THAT GRAVETH AN HABITATION FOR HIMSELF IN A ROCK?
The land of Israel is rocky. All over Israel on hillsides and rocky areas
can be found ancient graves carved into the rock.
[Isaiah 22:17] BEHOLD, THE LORD WILL CARRY THEE AWAY WITH A MIGHTY CAPTIVITY, AND WILL SURELY COVER THEE.
[Isaiah 22:18] HE WILL SURELY VIOLENTLY TURN AND TOSS THEE LIKE A BALL
INTO A LARGE COUNTRY: THERE SHALT THOU DIE, AND THERE THE CHARIOTS OF THY
GLORY SHALL BE THE SHAME OF THY LORD'S HOUSE.
[Isaiah 22:19] AND I WILL DRIVE THEE FROM THY STATION, AND FROM THY STATE SHALL HE PULL THEE DOWN.
[Isaiah 22:20] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, THAT I WILL CALL MY SERVANT ELIAKIM THE SON OF HILKIAH:
[Isaiah 22:21] AND I WILL CLOTHE HIM WITH THY ROBE, AND STRENGTHEN
HIM WITH THY GIRDLE, AND I WILL COMMIT THY GOVERNMENT INTO HIS HAND: AND
HE SHALL BE A FATHER TO THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM, AND TO THE HOUSE OF
JUDAH.
[Isaiah 22:22] AND THE KEY OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID WILL I LAY UPON HIS
SHOULDER; SO HE SHALL OPEN, AND NONE SHALL SHUT; AND HE SHALL SHUT, AND NONE
SHALL OPEN.
[Isaiah 22:23] AND I WILL FASTEN HIM AS A NAIL IN A SURE PLACE; AND
HE SHALL BE FOR A GLORIOUS THRONE TO HIS FATHER'S HOUSE.
[Isaiah 22:24] AND THEY SHALL HANG UPON HIM ALL THE GLORY OF HIS FATHER'S
HOUSE, THE OFFSPRING AND THE ISSUE, ALL VESSELS OF SMALL QUANTITY, FROM THE
VESSELS OF CUPS, EVEN TO ALL THE VESSELS OF FLAGONS.
[Isaiah 22:25] IN THAT DAY, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, SHALL THE NAIL
THAT IS FASTENED IN THE SURE PLACE BE REMOVED, AND BE CUT DOWN, AND
FALL; AND THE BURDEN THAT WAS UPON IT SHALL BE CUT OFF: FOR THE LORD
HATH SPOKEN IT.
Chapter Twenty-Three
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