These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
- Woe to Jerusalem…
- SECOND of the SIX woes [הוֹי] – was to the Southern Kingdom…
- ARIEL [6x in OT] – the LION [אֲרִי] of God [אֵל]
- A name given to the people of Jerusalem [city of David] – II Samuel 5:7
- They kept all the FEASTS of God – but they had LOST their meaning…
- Therefore – God would bring TROUBLE [Assyria] to Jerusalem – to HUMBLE them…
- But in an INSTANT [like waking from a dream] – the TROUBLE would disappear – Isaiah 37:36
- Rebellion of Jerusalem…
- But the people of Israel could NOT hear the Word of the Lord…
- It was like the Bible was a SEALED document – like they were ILLITERATE…
- Because although their MOUTHS had all the right words – their HEARTS were far from God…
- Therefore – God would do a MARVEL among them to open their EYES…
- They were just the POT – and did NOT know more than the POTTER who made them!
- Restoration of Jerusalem…
- In a very short time – the Lord would open the eyes of the blind and ears of the deaf…
- In the day when God consumed Assyria at the gates of Jerusalem…
- Then Jacob would NO longer be ashamed – instead they would REVERENCE the LORD!
- 1st – Worldly wisdom… vs. 1-7
- 1st – Rebellious Children… vs. 1-2
- Woe… vs. 1
- Woe to the rebellious children – says the LORD!
- WOE [הוֹי] – a Hebrew interjection that often precedes a pronouncement of JUDGMENT…
- FOURTH of the SIX woes [הוֹי] – again addressing the Southern Kingdom…
- But the TITLE given to them here – is REBELLIOUS children [of God]
- REBELLIOUS [סָרַר] 17x in OT – also translated as STUBBORN…
- STUBBORN – because they kept going back to the same FAILED ideas!
- STUBBORN is a very accurate term to describe us…
- It seems that NO matter how many times the WORLD fails us…
- We are determined to believe that it has the solution to our problems…
- If we just WORK a little harder – get a little more MONEY – our problems will go away…
- Yet every time we end up back in the same place – EMPTY!
- Wrong counsel… vs. 1
- Who take counsel but not of Me – and who devise plans – but not of My Spirit.
- That they may add sin to sin!
- Judah had sought COUNSEL [עֵצָה] – but it was NOT from the LORD…
- They made a PLAN – but it was NOT from the SPIRIT of God…
- PLAN [מַסֵּכָה] – meaning to pour out [sacrifice] – NOT the typical word [בְּרִית]
- Rather than a SACRIFICE that took away the problem – they piled up SIN upon SIN [עַל חַטָּאת]!
- When we look for ANSWERS – without asking the LORD…
- When we think we have found a SOLUTION – but are NOT being led by the SPIRIT…
- We should NOT be surprised to find out we are WRONG…
- Things are going to get far WORSE – rather than BETTER!
- Wrong trust… vs. 2
- Who walk to go down to Egypt and have not asked My advice.
- To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
- What COUNSEL and PLAN did Judah have…
- They went down to EGYPT without asking the LORD first…
- They thought the strength of the Pharoah could PROTECT them…
- They were TRUSTING [חָסָה] in the SHADOW [no substance] of Egypt!
- If someone was shooting at us – it would NOT be wise to hide behind a SHADOW…
- There is NO substance there to PROTECT us from harm!
- This WORLD has NOTHING that can protect us…
- Which is why when we put our TRUST in MONEY – PEOPLE – we are going to FALL!
- 2nd – Trusting in shadows… vs. 3-7
- Egypt… vs. 3-5
- Therefore the strength of Pharaoh shall be your shame.
- And trust in the shadow of Egypt shall be your humiliation!
- For his princes were at Zoan and his ambassadors came to Hanes.
- They were all ashamed of a people who could not benefit them or be help or benefit.
- But a shame and also a reproach!
- [Sequential] – as a result of looking to the strength of the PHAROAH…
- And putting their TRUST [חָסָה] in the SHADOW of Egypt – they would be put to SHAME…
- [כִּי] Judah had already sent [perfect] AMBASSADORS [מַלְאָךְ] to Egypt [Zoan – Hanes]
- But ANYONE who put their TRUST in the people of Egypt would be put to SHAME…
- Because they could NOT help – they were a benefit to NO one!
- Egypt had been a MILITARY super power for Generations…
- They were well known for their CHARIOT and HORSES – II Kings 18:24
- So when looking at the TERRIFYING rising power of Assyria…
- That likely had already CRUSHED the Northern Kingdom [722 B.C.]
- It made logical sense for Judah to look there for an ALLIANCE and PROTECTION!
- Do nothing… vs. 6-7
- The burden against the beasts of the South. Through a land of trouble and anguish.
- From which came the lioness and lion. The viper and fiery flying serpent.
- They will carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys.
- And their treasures on the humps of camels to a people who shall not profit.
- For the Egyptians shall help in vain and to no purpose.
- Therefore I have called her Rahab-Hem-Shebeth!
- Isaiah saw the BURDEN [מַשָּׂא] of the CAMELS and DONKEYS coming from Jerusalem…
- They were LOADED down with TREASURES to buy an alliance with EGYPT…
- The road they traveled was VERY dangerous [desert]
- It was filled with LION – VIPERS – and flying [עוּף] fiery SERPENTS [small dragons?]
- But for all their EFFORT – the HELP [יָעַל] of EGYPT would be VAIN and EMPTY…
- That is why the LORD called them – the BOASTER [רַהַב] who does NOTHING [שֶׁבֶת]!
- The world BOASTS that it has ALL the answers…
- So people spend huge amounts of effort trying to get HELP from the world…
- They spend TWENTY years getting an EDUCATION…
- Invest FORTY years of their lives working at grueling jobs…
- But all their EFFORT is for nothing – because the world [Egypt] does NOTHING to help them…
- Because the real problem is NOT physical – it is SPIRITUAL!
- 1st – Rebellious Children… vs. 1-2
- 2nd – Rejecting Wisdom … vs. 8-17
- 1st – Rebellious… vs. 8-11
- Written down… vs. 8
- Now go write it before them on a tablet – and note it on a scroll.
- That it may be for time to come forever and ever!
- God commanded [imperative] Isaiah to WRITE this down…
- He was to carve it into a STONE [like the Law] – Exodus 24:12
- He was to put it on a SCROLL so that it would NOT [jussive] be forgotten…
- In the future [forever] people would see what God said about them!
- Not listening… vs. 9-11
- This is a rebellious people – lying children – children who will not hear the law of the LORD!
- Who say to the seers – do not see. And to the prophets – do not prophesy to us right things.
- Speak to us smooth things – prophesy deceits. Get out of the way.
- Turn aside from the path. Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us!
- Because [כִּי] – Israel was REBELLIOUS – children who LIED [adjective] to God…
- They said they FOLLOWED the LORD – but refused to LISTEN to His Word…
- They accused those who could SEE [רָאָה] – of being BLIND…
- And said that the PROPHETS [חָזָה] of the LORD [like Isaiah] were WRONG…
- Because they did NOT want to hear BAD news [coming of Assyria]
- They [piel] insisted [imperative] the PROPHETS lie to them and give them GOOD news…
- The prophets needed [imperative] to STOP [מִנֵּי־דֶ֔רֶךְ] – get off the ROAD [to God]
- They needed [imperative] to change their MESSAGE [אֹרַח] – get on a different PATH…
- The people did NOT want to hear about the HOLY [קָדוֹשׁ] one of Israel…
- Instead they wanted to live in their own DELUSION [מַהֲתַלָה] – only here OT!
- We live in a world where people get hostile when they hear the TRUTH…
- All they want to be told is God will ACCEPT them no matter what they do…
- And sadly there are a LOT of churches who are willing to give that to them!
- II Timothy 4:3 – “The time is coming when people will no longer endure sound teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.” [NLT]
- People may not LIKE it when we give the WORD – especially if they need to be CORRECTED…
- No one wants to be told they are WRONG – they would rather NOT see their FAULTS…
- But that does not mean we back down – we tell the TRUTH!
- Ephesians 4:15 – “We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more like Christ.” [NLT]
- 2nd – Fallen… vs. 12-14
- Unstable… vs. 12-13
- Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel:
- Because you despise this word and trust in oppression and perversity – and rely on them.
- Therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach ready to fall.
- A bulge in a high wall whose breaking comes suddenly – in an instant!
- Therefore [כֵּן] – this is what the HOLY one of Israel said [perfect]
- Since they REJECTED His WORD – and instead [sequential] TRUSTED in LIES [Egypt]
- Therefore [כֵּן] – this SIN [עָוֹן] would make them like [כְּ] a bulging WALL…
- That would COLLAPSE without warning – it would fall DOWN!
- A wall that has a large BULGE in it – has become UNSTABLE…
- If left unrepaired it is just a matter of time [without warning] before it COLLAPSES!
- Crushed… vs. 14
- And He shall break it like the breaking of the potters vessel which is broken in pieces.
- He shall not spare. So there shall not be found among its fragments.
- A shard to take fire from the hearth – or to take water from the cistern!
- When God broke Israel – He did NOT show any PITY [חָמַל]
- Like [כְּ] a POTTER that shatters a pot that was compromised…
- God would BREAK them [שָׁבַר] – POUND the pieces into dust [כָּתַת] – so NOTHING was left…
- Not even one useful pieces that could carry water or fire!
- Matthew 21:44 – “Whoever falls on this stone will be broken. But on whomever it falls it will grind him to powder!”
- There are NO limits to what God will allow to get our attention…
- The question is are we willing to fall on Him and be BROKEN…
- Or do we insist on going our own way – He falls on us – and we are CRUSHED…
- It is better for them to be BROKEN here – then CRUSHED in heaven!
- 3rd – Rejected by God… vs. 15-17
- No Rest… vs. 15
- For thus says the Lord GOD – the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved.
- In quietness and confidence shall be your strength – but you would not!
- Because [כִּי] – this is what their MASTER [אֲדֹנָי] – the LORD [יְהֹוָה] – the HOLY [קָדוֹשׁ] one said…
- If they had REPENTED [שׁוּבָה] – they would have had REST and been [niphal] SAVED…
- Their STRENGTH would have been found in being QUIET and TRUSTING the Lord…
- But they were NOT willing [אָבָה] to LISTEN to – they would NOT repent!
- Run… vs. 16-17
- And you said: No for we will flee on horses. Therefore you shall flee!
- And: We will ride on swift horses. Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift!
- One thousand shall flee at the threat of one. At the threat of five you shall flee.
- Till you are left as a pole on top of a mountain and as a banner on a hill!
- Rather than REPENT – the people said they would FLEE on horses [from Assyria]
- YES [כֵּן] – they would FLEE on fast horses – but those chasing them could be FASTER…
- ONE enemy will cause one THOUSAND of Israel to FLEE…
- And FIVE enemies would cause the whole nation to RUN…
- Till they were left as a BANNER on top of mountain [a warning to others]
- Israel had been given a promise – ONE man would chase a THOUSAND – Joshua 23:10
- As long as the LORD fought for them – they could NOT lose…
- But if they FORGOT their ROCK – then the roles would REVERSE…
- Now ONE enemy would chase a THOUSAND of them – Deuteronomy 32:30
- This turns out to be one of the most important truths we could ever learn in life…
- It does NOT matter how smart or strong we are – and there is NO luck [chumba]
- Being blessed in life comes down to one SINGLE variable…
- If the Lord is NOT on our side – then we are going to LOSE…
- If the Lord is with us – then there is NOTHING that can defeat us – Romans 8:31
- 1st – Rebellious… vs. 8-11
- 3rd – Wisdom of God… vs. 18-33
- 1st – Grace of God… vs. 18-19
- Wait on the Lord… vs. 18
- Therefore the LORD will wait that He may be gracious to you.
- And therefore He will be exalted that He may have mercy on you.
- For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait for Him!
- In light of Judah being JUDGED – them being CRUSHED for NOT listening…
- The LORD gives His people hope – [כֵּן] He would WAIT [piel] for them to learn…
- Once they were HUMBLED – He would give them GRACE [חָנַן]
- Once God did a WORK among them – they would EXALT [rise up] Him…
- And He would show them MERCY [piel] – even though He is a God of JUSTICE…
- Because ANYONE [כֹּל] who WAITS upon the LORD is BLESSED!
- Psalm 130:5 – “I wait for the LORD – my soul waits and in His word I do hope.”
- Heard by God… vs. 19
- For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem – you shall weep no more.
- He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry. When He hears it He will answer you.
- When the people in ZION – in Jerusalem – learned to WAIT on the LORD…
- They would NOT need to WEEP anymore – because God would be very GRACIOUS…
- GRACE [חָנַן] is mentioned TWICE – through GRACE God would give GRACE to them…
- When He heard their CRY – He would ANSWER them…
- And that was GRACE – because they did NOT listen Him when He spoke to them!
- This is where we see the character of God on full display…
- We go our own way – STUBBORNLY insist on living by our own rules [delusion]
- But the Lord is WAITING – He is waiting for us to learn our lesson…
- And when we CRY out to Him – in brokenness we HUMBLY ask for His help…
- He does NOT hesitate – He immediately pours out His GRACE on us!
- 2nd – Led by God… vs. 20-22
- Teachers… vs. 20
- And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction.
- Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore – your eyes shall see your teachers!
- The Master [אֲדֹנָי] had given them what they NEEDED [bread and water]
- Their BREAD was difficulties [צַר] – their WATER was to be crushed [לַחַץ]
- So they would NO longer push their TEACHERS [prophets] into a corner [only here OT]
- Instead they would LOOK [רָאָה] and now listen to their TEACHERS!
- Walk this way… vs. 21
- Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying: This is the way – walk in it.
- Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left!
- Both their ears would HEAR from BEHIND [they are facing the wrong way]
- Saying to them: this is the WAY you must [imperative] go…
- Directing them when to turn [hiphil] RIGHT – and when to turn [hiphil] LEFT!
- The LORD is NEVER silent – we just are STUBBORN and slow to LISTEN…
- Once everything has gone WRONG – and we finally stop to WAIT on the Lord…
- We find that He is there [behind us] ready to DIRECT our every step!
- Get away… vs. 22
- You will also defile the covering of your images of silver.
- The [ephod] of your molded images of gold you will throw them away as an unclean thing.
- You will say to them: Get away!
- Israel had been looking to their silver and gold images to GUIDE them…
- [אֲפֻדָּה] – a rare word [3x in OT] – used to describe the priestly garment – Exodus 39:5
- But once they LEARNED to LISTEN to the LORD to direct them – they rejected their IDOLS…
- They threw them away – as if they were a MENSTRUAL cloth [דָּוֶה] – Leviticus 15:33
- Once we learn to LISTEN to – are DIRECTED by the Lord…
- When we have the confidence and clarity that comes from following Jesus…
- We NEVER want to go back to the chaos and confusion that the world gives!
- 3rd – Abundance… vs. 23-26
- Food… vs. 23-24
- Then He will give the rain for your seed with which you sow the ground.
- And bread of the increase of the earth. It will be fat and plentiful.
- In that day your cattle will feed in large pastures.
- Likewise the oxen and the young donkeys that work the ground will eat cured fodder.
- Which has been winnowed with the shovel and fan!
- Because the people were LISTENING to and be LED by the LORD…
- In that DAY [בַּיּוֹם] God would give them RAIN for their CROPS…
- They would have an abundance of FOOD [לֶחֶם] – both in quantity [דָּשֵׁן] and quality [שָׁמֵן]
- The FAMINE would be over – there would be so much…
- Their cattle would eat in open pastures – their oxen and donkeys would eat GOOD grain!
- When the Assyrian army besieged Jerusalem – the people had NO access to their fields…
- They could NOT harvest their crops – their animals could NOT go into the pastures!
- Water… vs. 25
- There will be on every high mountain and on every high hill rivers and streams of waters.
- In the day of the great slaughter when the towers fall.
- In that DAY [בַּיּוֹם] – when God tore down the siege towers [מִגְדָּל] of the ENEMY…
- The people would NO longer lack WATER…
- Rivers would flow from every HIGH mountain and hill!
- Hezekiah had dug a tunnel to allow the Gihon spring to come into the city – II Kings 20:20
- Water was a scarce resource when an invading army is outside the walls!
- Light… vs. 26
- The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun – the light of the sun will be sevenfold.
- As the light of seven days. In the day that the LORD binds up the bruise of His people.
- And heals the stroke of their wound!
- In that DAY [בַּיּוֹם] – the people would NO longer be in the DARK…
- The MOON will be so bright – it will be like [כְּ] the SUN…
- The SUN will be so bright – it will be like [כְּ] SEVEN days of light all at once…
- Why so BRIGHT – so the people can SEE what they had been missing [the Lord]
- And he would bind up and HEAL [רָפָא] the wound [singular] of His people!
- Once we learn to LISTEN – are DIRECTED by the Lord – we will NO longer lack for anything…
- Rather than our BREAD being adversity – and our WATER being affliction…
- We will have an ABUNDANCE of all we need [of food – water]
- Because we will finally SEE the lesson He has been trying to teach us…
- Not to put our TRUST in this world [Egypt] – instead put our HOPE in Him!
- 4th – Fall of Assyria… vs. 27-33
- Punishment… vs. 27-28
- Behold the name of the LORD comes from afar burning with His anger – His burden is heavy.
- His lips are full of indignation and His tongue like a devouring fire.
- His breath is like an overflowing stream which reaches up to the neck.
- To sift the nations with the sieve of futility – there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people.
- Causing them to err!
- The people of Judah had put their TRUST in Egypt [boaster who did nothing]
- BEHOLD – the name of the LORD [שֵׁם־יְהוָה] was coming from far away…
- And He would do what Egypt never could – He would SAVE His people…
- He would come full of WRATH – His words [tongue] would consume like FIRE…
- He would sift the VAIN [שָׁוְא] nations [Assyria] – and drag them away [with a bridle]!
- Praise… vs. 29
- You shall have a song as in the night when a holy festival is kept.
- And gladness of heart as when one goes with a flute to come into the mountain of the LORD.
- To the Mighty One of Israel!
- Then Israel would have a SONG to sing in the night…
- Like [כְּ] when they had JOY in their hearts during their HOLY [קָדַשׁ] feasts…
- Like [כְּ] when they were led with a FLUTE to the mountain of the LORD [Temple]
- When they came to the ROCK [צוּר] of Israel!
- Beaten down… vs. 30-31
- The LORD will cause His glorious voice to be heard and show the descent of His arm.
- With the indignation of His anger and the flame of a devouring fire.
- With scattering – tempest – and hailstones.
- For through the voice of the LORD Assyria will be beaten down – as He strikes with the rod!
- The LORD will make [hiphil] His voice to be HEARD – show the strength of His ARM [flex]
- He will come with RAGE and ANGER – devouring His enemies in is storm [hailstones]
- Through His VOICE – He will beat down [niphal] the Assyrians!
- There is no ambiguity here – the prophecy is clear…
- Egypt [the world] could do NOTHING to save Judah from the coming disaster…
- More to the point – the only reason the disaster was coming was to teach them a lesson…
- It was the LORD and only the LORD who could save them!
- Sacrifice to God… vs. 32-33
- And in every place where the staff of punishment passes which the LORD lays on him.
- It will be with tambourines and harps – and in battles of brandishing He will fight with it.
- For Tophet was established of old. Yes for the king it is prepared.
- He has made it deep and large. Its pyre is fire with much wood.
- The breath of the LORD like a stream of brimstone kindles it!
- And EVERYWHERE the Lord strikes with his STAFF…
- The people will celebrate with tambourines and harps [praise]
- Because He is the one who is fighting the battle for them…
- The valley of TOPHET [fire] was prepared long ago [Hinnom valley]
- It is deep and wide so that it could fit the entire Assyrian army…
- An altar prepared with lots of wood [people] – ready to lit by the breath [brimstone] of God!
- God was NOT surprised by the STUBBORN rebellion of Judah…
- Nor was the army of Assyria ever a real danger to them…
- The LORD long ago had set things up to teach His people a lesson…
- They would rather right where He wanted them – the Valley of Fire [Tophet]
- Where he made Assyria an offering so Israel could see there was NO one like the LORD!
- 1st – Grace of God… vs. 18-19