Lesson 7

Isaiah 12-23

According to a European commission survey, a majority of Europeans say Israel is the greatest threat to world peace.  The fact that fifty-nine percent point at Israel over Iran, North Korea or Afghanistan would indicate that anti-Semitism is deeply embedded within European society.  As those who love God and study the Hebrew Scriptures, let us carefully consider the past and remember God has a future for the Jewish nation.  In Isaiah 12 we see Israel’s regathering and the reign of Messiah as, “The Holy one of Israel.”  The refrain in Isaiah 12:2; “The Lord, even Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation” will be sung again by Israel before King Messiah.  In the very darkest hour when no hope seems possible, God’s Word focuses our attention on the fact that He is Sovereign and that His perfect will, as revealed in His Word, will be accomplished. 

Our present study deals with Israel’s neighbors in a series of prophecies called massa or visions.  These burdens or predictions of divine judgment are the punishment of God upon those nations who have treated God’s people with contempt. 

I am not planning on going into great detail on a history lesson, but in a brief outline. I will remind us all that history will repeat itself in the near future in a period called the tribulation.  There are some important and interesting nuggets of truth embedded within our study, and I only hope you will take the time to dig a little deeper yourself.  There is a similar group of burdens or oracles found in Jeremiah 46:51 and in Ezekiel 25:32.

In chapters 13, 14, and 21, Isaiah deals with Babylon which stand’s for a God-defying pagan world.  As the day of the Lord devastated Babylon, so in the future will the Lord devastate the earth and destroy its sinners (vs. 9).  Chapter 14:1,2 reminds us that God will restore, and Israel will triumph over her enemies.  Isaiah 14:12-15 is accepted by most students of Holy Scriptures as an insight into Satan.  The (5) five “I will’s” which brought sin into God’s perfect universe reveal the fall of Satan through pride.  This with Ezekiel 28 gives us the greatest insight into the person of Satan and his fall.

In Isaiah 14:24-27  Israel faces an immediate threat by Assyria.  God had allowed Assyria to crush the Northern Kingdom in 722 B.C., but now the Lord will break Assyria, “In my land.”  This is a part of Judah’s history when in 701 B.C, the angel of the Lord slew 185,000 men of the Assyrian army.  The Assyrian collapse in 609 B.C. began outside the walls of Jerusalem.  God may allow a nation to punish His people but will not allow them to destroy His people.

In Isaiah 14:32 another of Israel’s enemies, Philistia, is set for judgment.  There five separate powerful cities are set to perish.  As Isaiah foretold, they passed from the pages of history without a trace.  Let us remember that it is God who sets up nations and takes them down as He pleases.  This is not what most people in today’s world want to hear, but a study of history is quite compelling.

Moab catches our attention in Isaiah 15 through 16:14.  These people descended from Lot and his eldest daughter (Gen. 19:31-37).  They lived east of the Dead Sea and were idol worshippers.  They offered human sacrifices and were avowed enemies of Israel.  God’s grace is clearly seen in the story of Ruth, a Moabites, who married Boaz and became the ancestress of King David (Ruth 4:18-22, Matthew 1:5-6).  Isaiah shows no joy as he predicts the downfall of Moab in verse 5.   The Assyrians ravaged the land and like a lion broke their back.  In Isaiah 16:6, the long history of pride, along with arrogance, brings down the nation and the people.  Isaiah 16:14 reveals this will all happen in three years.  How do you know a false prophet?  The first time he is wrong, so Isaiah was directed by God to put it all on the line. 

Chapter 17 of Isaiah deals with Damascus (Syria) and Ephraim (Israel).  God’s warning came true in 732 B.C., and Damascus downfall brought about the destruction of Ephraim in 722 B.C.  The root of Israel’s problem is she forsook her maker and followed alien gods.  Isaiah holds out hope that after the evening of judgment, morning is coming in Isaiah 17:14. 

In chapters 18-20, Isaiah has a message that should not be overlooked in today’s world.  Israel’s enemies, Ethiopia, Egypt, Assyria (modern day Iraq), are coupled with Judah.  Isaiah foretells their downfall but predicts that in the end they shall come to know the Lord and together with Israel shall worship Messiah and be reconciled to God and to each other.  In chapter 18 the original text has Cush, which includes Ethiopia, the Sudan and Somalia.  Behind the primary prophecy of diplomatic activity, to avoid destruction by the Assyrians is the prophetic reality that ultimate salvation will come from Jehovah the Lord of all nations as He rules from Mount Zion.  In Isaiah 19, judgment is predicted upon Egypt, but in the last days she will turn to the Lord and be saved.  This primarily refers to Egypt’s conquest by Assyria in 670 B.C., but in verses 16-25 the Lord shall smite and save Egypt.  “In that Day” is used five times in this section and refers to the last days when the Messianic Kingdom in Israel is established.  This powerful sign of Isaiah chapter 19:20, 21, 22 has yet to be fulfilled.  Again a highway is mentioned is Isaiah 19:23 that will stretch from Egypt to Iraq and will carry the worshippers of Messiah to Jerusalem.  We talk about a roadmap to peace in our day, but the Prince of Peace has a highway already planned that will be part of His peace plan for the Middle East.  To those who live in this part of the world, Isaiah has prophesied that peace will come and that a safe highway, will be built that all can travel with confidence that they will get where they are going. 

In Isaiah 21 and 22, a series of four judgments deal with the downfall of Babylon, Edom, Arabia and Jerusalem.  The events of Isaiah 21: 1-10   took place in 539 B.C. when Cyrus was crushed ending the Assyro-Babylonian empire.  In Isaiah 21:11-12, Edom, the descendants of Esau, were destroyed when they rejected the call of God through Isaiah to repent.  Following the fall of Jerusalem in AD 7, Edom vanishes from the sight of history.  In Isaiah 2:13-17, the prophet saw that Arabia, who gloried in their military power, especially their archers, would disappear.  This would happen in one year.  Then in Isaiah chapter 22 the prophet laments over Jerusalem. 

The unbelief of the people brought down God’s hand of judgment.  When the prophet spoke these words, Jerusalem was a joyful city.  Eat, drink and be marry was the theme of the day.  The people failed to trust the Lord, and judgment would follow.  Their leadership failed to turn the hearts of the people toward God therefore sealing their doom.  The final judgment of burden is about Phoenician cities in Isaiah 23.  These were a merchant people, the greatest maritime and trading empire of antiquity.  As they return to home port, their city of Tyre has been destroyed.  Tyre symbolizes international trade and commerce which does not seek God but is interested in accumulation of wealth.  In the Revelation of Jesus Christ, chapter 18:17, 18, 19, this scene will be repeated.  The good news in Isaiah 23:18 is that Tyre will again be a great nation and will enter the millennium under rule of the Messiah of Israel, who will reign over the whole earth from the throne of David in Jerusalem, the city of peace.