Isaiah 33:1-24.  I know I’m late again.  I actually read this yesterday but did not finish studying.  The first verse is a warning message to “the destroyer”.  In this case the destroyer is probably referring to Assyria.  Remember that these messages were put together in the book by Isaiah just before or during the invasion of the land by Assyria.  We do not know if they were given at an earlier time but that is when they were put together.  The message is to the people of Judah even thought his first part is addressed to the destroyer.  There is no evidence that Isaiah actually delivered a speech to the Assyrians.  It also seems odd to some people that Isaiah would be sad and warning an invading nation about their destruction.  First the warning part acts as an encouragement to the people of Judah.  Second though Isaiah could be actually concerned with the well being of the people of the Assyrian army.  The death and destruction of people is a symptom of the fallen world we live in, it was a part of God’s curse for our disobedience and it is always tragic.

The second verse seems to be a prayer for God to be generous to them.  Although in the beginning the people of Jerusalem did not wait for God but made an alliance there seems to be a change of heart, not they are looking to God.  Historically we know that Hezekiah, the king of Judah, did turn back to God when with this invasion arrived at the gates of Jerusalem.  Verses 3-6 continue Isaiah’s prayer with confidence in God eventually saving His people and His place.

Verses 7-9 return to reality, not that God’s salvation is not reality, but the reality of what has already happened.  The alliance Hezekiah had made angered the Assyrian king and he had come to assert his power.  The alliance fell apart and Egypt never showed.  Sennacherib, the Assyrian king, laid waste to the region and destroyed over 40 cities in Judah as well as taking over 200,000 prisoners.  Lebanon, Sharon, Bashan, and Carmel were very fertile regions for either farming or forestry.  In these verses we see they have been destroyed.

But now, the real power is coming, God.  He is going to deal with the invasion and he will be honored (vv. 10-12).  In verses 13-16 we see how God will be honored by saving them.  People will understand that he has done it, they will become aware of his presence.  This causes people to ask how they can avoid destruction in their own lives.  The answer is to honor God in their personal lives.  This is done by doing right, speaking truthfully, actually earning what they get paid, not allowing themselves to be bribed, and not looking the other way when evil happens.  These ideas seem to fit together with the earlier part of the book where the rulers and rich people of the kingdom were taking advantage of the poor and widows.  Verses 17-24 describe what will happen after God deals with the enemy.  Jerusalem will be at peace and the invading army will have quickly fled.  Even crippled people will be able to gather up some of what they left behind.  And the fact that there will be no sickness points to the fact that the city would not be under siege for very long.  That’s how things go when God makes the rules and is the king (v. 22)

Oh yea, and the part about ships and canals.  Jerusalem is well inland on a high hill or mountain.  Some scholars see this language as poetic referring in some way to the peace and security that God’s presence and rule bring.  Probably, this prediction had historic fulfillment with the miraculous defeat of the Assyrian army directly by God in 701 BC.  But I’m not sure that rules out the possibility of a second fulfillment when God physically becomes the king in the Millennium (see Revelation 20-21).  The Bible talks about drastic changes to the earth in and near the end.  Some times theses are metaphors or poetic but in some cases they could be literal.  Zechariah 14:4 seems pretty literal and could result in the ocean coming up to Jerusalem.  In the end what is important is if we are on God’s side he will care for us.

One last note, verse 11 talks about chaff and stubble.  Chaff is the dust and leaves that get blown away when you harvest wheat and separate the leaves from the seeds.  Stubble is what is left in the fields after you harvest wheat.  Together these represent the useless parts of agriculture, the waste.  In verse 11 we see that the best plans the Israelites had to deal with the Assyrians were chaff and stubble.  That is how it goes when we plan and work but leave God out of the picture.  Lord help me turn to you first when I am faced with trouble.  Help me consider your honor first.  Take care of my life today God.  Help me see how you can best be honored today.  Help me Lord.  And be honored in my life.

Isaiah 32:9-20.  For quite a few days we have been reading warnings about not making alliances with other kingdoms and especially Egypt.  The people were dreading the invasion of the Assyrian army.  No doubt they had heard of former allies falling to the superior forces.  They were making preparations for the siege.  They clearly were not taking it easy (v. 9) but were confident in the alliance with Egypt and with their preparations for war.  Hezekiah, the king of Judah, who had invited the trouble by making an alliance against the Assyrians had a long tunnel chiseled through solid rock to bring water from a spring near Jerusalem.  The preparations were impressive, but they were not the right kind of preparations.  They were pridefully trusting in themselves rather than God.

The result would be the loss of many cities and villages in Judah.  Within about a year there would be no more harvesting, the fields of Judah would be trampled by the Assyrian army.  Many cities of Judah would become wilderness over run by animals.  The “laid back” (complacent) attitude of the women of Judah needed to be replaced by an attitude of sorrow.  They needed to prepare to mourn.

In 701 BC the Assyrians came and destroyed over 40 towns and villages and took over 200,000 prisoners in Judah.  They marched to the outskirts of Jerusalem and laid siege.  They mocked Yahweh, the God of the Israelites and challenged them to surrender.  The Egyptian army never came to help.

In contrast to this coming invasion Isaiah promised a coming time when the land would be productive and peace, quietness and confidence would exist forever.  This would happen when the Holy Spirit came to live in people lives.  Verses 19-20 give a final hope in the face of the coming destruction.  Even if the forests and city are destroyed they will again plant crops and tend their livestock.  In the books of Luke and John we see after Jesus’ resurrection he appeared many times over a period of forty days to many different people and groups of people.  Luke continues his history of the beginning of the church in the book of Acts.  In Acts 1:8 Jesus is about to go up to Heaven and leave his followers to tell others about him.  But they will not be alone in the effort they “will have power when the Holy Spirit come into their lives and they will tell others about him through out the whole world.” (see also John 14:16-18).  In Acts 2:1-17 we see the story of the Holy Spirit coming into the lives of those first believers.  When the people are amazed by the change in them Peter tells them that this is what another prophet, Joel, said would happen (Joel 2:28-32).  The same kind of language appears in both Isaiah and Joel.  We are living in the times about which Isaiah predicted.  The Holy Spirit is here.  God’s kingdom has begun (Mark 1:14-15).

We need to hear and see and tell others about Jesus.  We need to be the witness the Spirit wants us to be.  The events are in motion and will surely end in that time of forever peace and rest.  In the mean time we can rest in the promises of God.  Lord, help me trust you and follow your plan.  Let me be a witness to everyone from my neighbors to the very end of the earth.   Let me not become comfortable in the world I have made but be comfortable under your protecting watchful wings.  Let me serve and honor you with my life today and every day.