Isaiah 13

Study Guide 56: Isaiah 13-39 JUDGMENT AND SALVATION Overview The first part of the Book of Isaiah is filled with visions of judgment. Yet there are flashes of light: brilliant visions of a bright glory that splashes through the overcast. Isaiah 11:1-16 and Isaiah 12:1-6, which picture the Messiah, are such bright visions. And yet, in this first half of Isaiah, the dark clouds quickly close in again, and all is dark and gray. Thus the first part of this great prophetic book which we are studying is rightly called a book of judgment. FULFILLED PROPHECY. Several of Isaiah’ s prophecies have been fulfilled in clear and striking ways. Of course, the promise of the Virgin Birth (Isaiah 7:14) was fulfilled in Jesus. But Isaiah’ s warnings about what would happen to Babylon and Tyre, great cities in the prophet’ s time, have also been literally fulfilled.

Commentary Immediately after the bright hope that shone through Isaiah 11:1-16 and Isaiah 12:1-6, darkness closed in. Oracles of judgment are like lowering clouds that make the landscape seem dark and grim. It is hard to remember the sunlight when we read words like these: The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. Isaiah 13:10-11The shouts of joy over your ripened fruit and over your harvests have been stilled. Joy and gladness are taken away from the orchards; no one sings or shouts in the vineyards; no one treads out wine at the presses, for I have put an end to the shouting. Isaiah 16:9-10See, the Lord is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; He will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants — it will be the same for priest as for people. . . . The earth will be completely laid waste and totally plundered. The Lord has spoken this word. Isaiah 24:1-3 The Oracles: Isaiah 14-24 We have now come to a series of divine declarations, or oracles, concerning surrounding nations. The great world powers of Isaiah’ s day (and coming powers like that of Babylon) who have set themselves against God will be themselves set aside as God’ s judgment brings them low. Only the righteous kingdom of the Messiah will remain. God raised up these nations to be instruments of judgment against His people (Isaiah 5:26-30; Isaiah 7:18-20). Now Isaiah identified these powers and exposed their sin. They had arrogantly gone beyond God’ s boundaries in punishing Israel. Even Babylon, which would fulfill the course begun by Assyria, would be unable to stand. All worldly powers directed against God and His purposes will be cut off.

THE ORACLES Isa. 13:1-14:23Against Babylon Isaiah 14:24-27Against Assyria Isaiah 14:28-32Against Philistia Isa. 15-16Against Moab Isaiah 17:1-14Against Damascus Isaiah 18:1-7Against Cush Isaiah 19:1-25Against Egypt Isaiah 20:1-6Against Egypt & Cush Isaiah 21:1-10Against Babylon Isaiah 21:11-12Against Edom Isaiah 21:13-17Against Arabia Isaiah 22:1-25Against Jerusalem Isaiah 23:1-18About Tyre Isaiah 24:1-23Portrait of judgmentsThose who deny the possibility of prophetic foreknowledge argue that the name Babylon was substituted for Assyria by some later scribe. Those who believe the prophet was inspired by God realize that Babylon would consummate the scattering of God’ s people initiated by Assyria. Two elements of this prophecy (13:1-14:23) have drawn much attention. Many have seen in the destruction of the boastful king (Isaiah 14:12-21) a portrait of Satan’ s fall from heaven (Luke 10:18). Of one thing we can be sure. Every arrogant power, whether in Satan, in kings, or in you and me, that exalts itself against God . . . falls under sure judgment. Another element deserving comment is the picture of a deserted Babylon: She will never be inhabited or lived in through all generations; no Arab will pitch his tent there, no shepherd will rest his flocks there. But desert creatures will lie there, jackals will fill her houses. . . . Hyenas will howl in her strongholds, jackals in her luxurious palaces. Isaiah 13:20-22Today there is only an empty wilderness where Babylon once stood. The Lord is a great Judge, and His judgment is sure. About Egypt (Isaiah 19:1-25). God’ s judgment is not only sure, it is purposive. After judgment, God brings restoration and healing. In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the heart of Egypt. . . . The Lord will make Himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the Lord. . . . They will turn to the Lord, and He will respond to their pleas and heal them. Isaiah 19:19, Isaiah 19:21-22However stern the judgment of God seems, however terrible the vision of God as Judge, beyond the darkened clouds the sun of blessing still shines. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Isaiah 24:1-23 summarizes the judgment theme. Use it as a responsive reading to launch the group study. If you wish, use a minilecture to summarize highlights in chapters 14-24. While it is possible to focus on an interesting theme within these chapters (such as Satan’ s fall, Isaiah 14:12-15; or on fulfilled prophecies about Babylon or Tyre), in a survey of the Book of Isaiah itself, the responsive reading will effectively sum up this section’ s theme.

God, Our Salvation: Isaiah 25-35 I remember as a teenager walking home one night after a high school game. Clouds hid the moon, and a damp breeze cut through my thin jacket. Just as I reached the flowerbed bordering our yard, I felt a jolt of terror. Out of the total black of the peony bushes a mysterious shape rose, with a deep threatening rumble. I jerked back, poised to run, and then I recognized him! It was my own dog, Ezra! Half asleep, he’ d failed to recognize me and had risen stiff-legged and growling. In the dark I failed to recognize him as well. What a relief for each of us to recognize the other as his own! In a way, that incident gives us a clue to this section of the Book of Isaiah. God has risen as a dark specter, a strange and terrifying shadow. Every way Isaiah described God — the Holy One, the Sovereign Lord, the great Judge — promised sure judgment. But Israel did not recognize nor claim relationship with the God Isaiah knew. Now Isaiah reminded his people. God will not always remain a stranger. We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts. Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith. You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock Eternal. Isaiah 26:1-4A God to be trusted (Isa. 25-27). The first words of Isaiah 25:1-12 introduce, for the first time, a tone of personal relationship. God’ s people respond to Him, saying: Surely this is our God; we trusted in Him, and He saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in Him; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation. Isaiah 25:9The people delight in their new relationship. Yes, Lord, walking in the way of Your laws, we wait for You; Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. . . . Lord, You establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished You have done for us. O Lord, our God, other lords besides You have ruled over us, but Your name alone do we honor. Isaiah 26:8, Isaiah 26:12-13In these chapters we see Judah view God for the first time as the source of her salvation. Prophetically, this follows the time of judgment; personally, the recognition can come at any time to anyone who chooses to trust God. The benefits of seeing God, the Holy One, as the source of salvation are described in these brief chapters. *Praise replaces fear (Isaiah 25:1-5). Realizing at last that God is “ my God,” the believer is moved to: Exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness You have done marvelous things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1The faithfulness of the Saviour God is itself a shelter from the storm, and a shade from the heat of the coming judgments. *Joy replaces tears (Isaiah 25:6-12). The portrait is of a banquet of rich food and aged wine set by God Himself for all peoples. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears, and those who trusted Him will cry out, “ Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation” (Isaiah 25:9). *Peace replaces oppression (Isaiah 26:1-6). The society salvation builds will be righteous, made up of individuals who trust God. Those whose minds are steadfastly fixed on God will have perfect peace, “ for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal” (Isaiah 25:4). *Righteousness replaces wickedness (Isaiah 26:7-11). The redeemed person yearns for God and desires to walk in His ways. This longing for God, rather than the Law, or fear of punishment, produces righteousness. The renewed person will want God to be the center of his thoughts and his hope. *Humility replaces pride (Isaiah 26:12-18). God’ s people have been haughty and arrogant, but coming to know God will make them see that “ Lord, You establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished You have done for us” (Isaiah 25:12). One especially poignant passage describes how redeemed Israel will recognize that she failed to accomplish God’ s purpose. Rather than being a witness to surrounding lands, Israel chose to follow pagan ways: We were with child, we writhed in pain, but we gave birth to wind. We have not brought salvation to the earth; we have not given birth to people of the world. Isaiah 26:18God will redeem His people. And He Himself will undertake the ministry of world redemption through His Son. *Life replaces death (Isaiah 26:19-21). Because of God, the dead will wake to joy. Isaiah encourages those who know God as their Saviour to: Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until His wrath has passed by. Isaiah 26:20God is the Saviour, but He is also the great Judge. Salvation will come, but in a little while, when His wrath has passed by. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT The future of Israel as a saved nation, described in Isaiah 25-26, seems to recapitulate the experience of individual believers. Divide your group into teams of five people. Either ask them to outline the chapters, or provide the outline used here: praise replaces fear, joy replaces tears, peace replaces oppression, etc. Each team is to first identify what salvation will mean to redeemed Israel. Then have each person talk about his or her personal experience as a Christian. What has salvation meant to him or her, and how has the Christian experience paralleled the future of which Isaiah speaks? *The day of wrath (Isaiah 27:1-13). This section concludes with another sketch of judgment, but without the hints of terror seen in earlier passages. Through judgment there will come blessing. “ In that day a great trumpet will sound. Those who were perishing in Assyria and those who were exiled in Egypt will come and worship the Lord on the holy mountain in Jerusalem” (Isaiah 27:13). The revelation of our Saviour God brings deliverance. Woes (Isa. 28-31). The predominant theme of the first half of Isaiah is one of darkness. Israel had forsaken the way of the Lord and had become, not a light to the nations around her, but like the pagan peoples. Her ways were ways of arrogance and oppression, war and injustice, of terror of enemies within and without. But not only was the earth dark. Black clouds of judgment swept across the face of the heavens. A warrior girded for battle, so massive that he seemed to block out the very sky, appeared. The Holy God, the Sovereign Lord, the great Judge, was about to do battle with arrogance and oppression. Isaiah cried out a warning, but his people were so committed to wickedness that they did not even glance up! Hearing, they failed to hear. Seeing, they failed to perceive. They responded neither to Isaiah’ s portraits of judgment nor to his brief, flashing portraits of the glory that will be theirs when the restoring fire has purged the land. Isaiah then announced that the Holy One is God our Saviour; the Judge is the Deliverer. The nation still did not turn to God, but there was some individual response. Some looked away from themselves long enough to see God and find in Him personal deliverance and peace. The individual will have to endure while God judges the nation. But the individual who trusts in God will have security even when: The Lord is coming out of His dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed upon her; she will conceal her slain no longer. Isaiah 26:21Isaiah had to return to the theme of woe because, while individuals might respond to his revelation of a Saviour God, the nation as a whole did not. They were unwilling to listen to the Lord’ s instruction and demanded the prophet be silent. The people shouted out to Isaiah, “ Stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!” (Isaiah 30:11) Because the nation rejected God, all the terrors of His judgment will surely come upon them. The woes are pronounced on those who reject salvation’ s offer. *Woe to Ephraim (Isaiah 28:1-29). The message to the Northern Kingdom, Ephraim, was to rest in God (Isaiah 28:12). Unresponsive to the personal dimension of God’ s message, they had twisted the Word of God into empty legalism. Stripped of His living presence, the Word of the Lord became: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there — so that they will go and fall backward, be injured and snared and captured. Isaiah 28:13We too can distort Scripture. God’ s message is not a system of rules to imprison us, but calls us to a personal relationship which grows into a loving and holy lifestyle. *Woe to David’ s city (Isaiah 29:1-24). God’ s people were blinded because they had devoted themselves to a life of ritual observance (Isaiah 29:1). God complained: These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is made up only of rules taught by men. Isaiah 29:13How often the revealed faith gets slowly buried as we interpret and repeat our interpretations. Soon we lose the reality of God in the confusing structures of our traditions. Then, beneath all the outward piety, our hearts turn from God. We devise plans in the darkness and think, “ Who sees us? Who will know?” (Isaiah 29:15) How strange that religion itself can so easily rob us of our sense of God’ s presence. *Woe to the obstinate nation (Isaiah 30:1-33). Looking with love on His straying people, God invited them to return. “ In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength” (Isaiah 30:15). But: They say to the seers, “ See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “ Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!” Isaiah 30:10-11They had stubbornly closed their eyes to Isaiah’ s vision of God. Yet the Lord longed to be gracious (Isaiah 30:18). He will answer when they finally do cry out to Him (Isaiah 30:19). But as long as a people reject the Lord, they will know only woe. *Woe to those who rely on Egypt (Isaiah 31:1-9). When people have turned from God, in what will they trust? The people of Isaiah’ s day trusted the military might of their ally, Egypt, and fastened on emptiness. The Egyptians are men and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out His hand, he who helps will stumble, he who is helped will fall; both will perish together. Isaiah 31:3When we lose sight of God, our perception of reality gets distorted. The fact is that the unseen things are far more real than the seen. The material things on which we fix our hope when we wander from God are bound to disappoint — and to bring woe. Salvation’ s certainty (Isa. 32-35). Isaiah affirmed that God is Salvation: See, a King will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. Each man will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land. Isaiah 32:1-2Isaiah told the fruit God’ s righteousness will produce and reviewed the work of the destroyer. He described the judgments that would finally overthrow the oppressor nations. Then Isaiah pictured the joy of the whole world breaking into bloom, warmed by the glory and splendor of our God. And the fruit will be righteousness. In the early chapters of his book Isaiah focused on the corruption and unrighteousness that marked the people’ s lifestyle. Now he portrayed the righteousness that will mark the lifestyle of the redeemed. When the Spirit of God is poured out on humankind: Justice will dwell in the desert and righteousness live in the fertile field. The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. Isaiah 32:16-17Those who draw on God’ s rich store of salvation can live in the presence of the consuming fire. Who can reside with the Holy One? He who walks righteously and speaks what is right, who rejects gain from extortion and keeps his hand from accepting bribes, who stops his ears against plots of murder and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil — this is the man who will dwell on the heights. Isaiah 33:15-16LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT In Isaiah 28:1-29 to Isaiah 31:1-9 Isaiah identified hindrances to trust in God. These range from a legalistic approach to Scripture (Isaiah 28:1-29) to ritualism (Isaiah 29:1-24) to stubborn rejection of God’ s Word (Isaiah 30:1-33) to reliance on material rather than spiritual resources (Isaiah 31:1-9). Briefly outline the topics for your group. Then let individuals choose one of these themes to look at more intensively. Form one team for each chapter and topic. The teams are to answer the following questions, and then report to the whole group. What is the main teaching of the chapter? What can we do to avoid the danger of which Isaiah warns? How does a person with this problem think or act? What is the most important single verse? How does what Isaiah said apply to believers today?

A Historic Interlude: Isaiah 36-39 In these chapters of historical narrative Isaiah told of an Assyrian invasion of Judah that swept up to the very walls of Jerusalem. But Judah had a godly king, Hezekiah, who appealed immediately to God. God responded to Hezekiah’ s prayer. He struck the Assyrian army before it could reach Jerusalem. The city was saved, and during the life of Hezekiah, Judah knew peace. Why is this historical interlude, described fully in 2 Chronicles 32:1-33, included here? As an object lesson! Isaiah had desperately urged God’ s people to open their eyes to Israel’ s Holy One, and turn to Him with their whole hearts. The Northern Kingdom of Israel totally refused — and was destroyed. But godly King Hezekiah of Judah chose to trust God the Holy One. Despite the fact that God is Judge and men sinful, Hezekiah was sure that the Lord was committed to do His people good. So Hezekiah looked to God — and the deliverance God brought to Jerusalem is evidence to all people of all time that our God, while the awesome Judge of sinners, is Saviour of all who appeal in faith to Him.

Teaching Guide Prepare Read Isaiah 36-39 devotionally. What do you find there for which you want to praise the Lord?

Explore Begin your session with a responsive reading of Isaiah 24:1-23, to capture the sense of judgment which pervades the first 10 chapters of this section.

Expand

1. Work in teams to discover in Isaiah 25:1-12 and Isaiah 26:1-21 parallels between the salvation God promised to Israel and the salvation that we experience as believers today. See the “ link-to-life” suggestion above.
2. After hearing reports on parallels to Old Testament and present personal salvation, let members select hindrances to trust to study in new teams. Identify the hindrances, found in Isaiah 28-31. Then follow the procedure given in “ link-to-life” above.

Apply

1. Tell briefly the story that Isaiah included in chapters 36-39. Highlight how these historic events underlined and emphasized the message of the prophet.
2. Or close by reading selected verses from these chapters that are suitable for memorization. Appropriate verses include: Isaiah 25:1Isa_25:9Isa_26:3-4Isa_29:13Isa_30:15Isa_32:1-2Isa_33:5-6Isa_33:15-16Isa_35:3-4