Today, we will take a one week rabbit trail from our Revelation study, and work our way through the first oracle in Isaiah 22. This will seem beyond random until next week, but I do have this vague plan of how everything should come together. My end goal is really the second oracle-- the one we'll do next week. But that one will make more sense if we start here.
Today's passage, at first reading, is confusing, because it's not quite clear what's going on, at all. So let me just paint a picture for you, very quickly, of the historical backdrop to much of the book of Isaiah-- quite a bit of Isaiah 1-39, at any rate.
There's this nation called "Assyria" that's on the rise. It's growing in strength, and power, and land. It's pushing on its neighbors hard. I'm sure that the Assyrians viewed themselves as an exceptional nation, that sought to create
a unipolar world. It's goal, was basically global domination.
This is not something that Assyria's neighbors simply accepted. They were unwilling to accept this unipolar world, and simply bend the knee to Assyria. Instead, they joined forces in fighting back. Specifically, this includes Babylon, Elam, and Kir. But Babylon is the heavy hitter, opposing Assyria.
At this point in Isaiah, Assyria has taken on the world, and it's winning that fight. In fact, it's going to win that fight, and become the world's first superpower. But that fight is not yet over.
Where does Israel fit into this? Ancient Israel, for most of its history, was a weak, insignificant nation. And this was especially true during this time period. To look at things from a human perspective, Israel was no match for most of its neighbors.
Now, when you're in that position, you find yourself having to make tough decisions about who you will align yourself with. You need friends, and allies. Do you choose Assyria? Do you choose Babylon, and its allies? And where does God fit into all of that? What does God want?
So as of Isaiah 22, there's already been a huge battle between Assyria on one side, and several other nation states on the other-- Babylon, Elam, and Kir. But the war itself is still raging. And so long as this resistance stands strong, Israel is somewhat protected from the full might of Assyria.
In Isaiah 22, Isaiah sees this vision about this place called "the valley of vision," and he also sees a city. Our instinct might be to assume that this city is Jerusalem, but the oracle makes much more sense if Isaiah is speaking about Babylon (following J.J.M. Roberts here, who I found incredibly helpful). Let's read verses 1-3:
(1) The oracle of the valley of vision.
Why is it with you (feminine singular), then, that all of you have gone up the rooftops?
(2) Full of noises-- O loud city, O rejoicing town.
Your slain ones [are] not the slain by the sword,
and not the dead ones from war.
(3) All your rulers fled together/at the same time;
without a bow they were captured.
All of the ones found of yours were captured together/at the same time.
Far away, they [had] fled.
There was a point, early in the wars between Assyria and its neighbors, Babylon in particular, where things went well for Babylon (for this, and what follows, see J. J. M. Roberts, First Isaiah: A Commentary, ed. Peter Machinist, Hermeneia (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2015), 286–287). King Sennacherib of Assyria wasn't able to capture a city named Kish. It went poorly for him. And it's easy to imagine, in verse 2, several cities having loud celebrations in response. Assyria looked like it had bit off more than it could chew, and the city of Babylon in particular would've celebrated. At the time of this oracle, that's where things are at. The events of verse 1, and the first line of verse 2, have happened. There's joy, and confidence, and partying. Things are looking up.
But what Isaiah sees in his vision, is that this victory was only one battle in a much bigger war. And in the following verses, Isaiah looks ahead to the future, and he sees a vision of death, and panic, and captivity, and total defeat. In verses 2-3, you'll notice that Isaiah uses the past tense. This should be understood as a prophetic perfect. What Isaiah sees is so guaranteed, so assured, that it can be spoken of as if it's already happened.
The interesting thing about all of this, is that we know, from King Sennacherib's descriptions of his military campaigns, that Isaiah's vision became reality. Sennacherib responded to his setback by sending massive numbers of reinforcements, and the king of Babylon responded to that reinforcement by totally panicking. He deserted his allies, abandoned his capital city Babylon, and fled into the swamps. Sennacherib routed this army, captured several prominent captives, and took Babylon without a fight. He chased the scattered remnants of the army into the swamps, and all over, killing soldiers far from any war.
All of this sounds exactly like verses 1-3. The city of Babylon-- and everyone else with it, really-- celebrated far too soon. The day was quickly coming, when Assyria will become the world's first global superpower.
In verse 4-7, Isaiah speaks about this day:
(4) For this reason I have said,
"Look away from me;
I shall be bitter in my weeping,
May you not insist on comforting me regarding the destruction of the daughter of my people.
(5) Surely/because a day of panic and trampling and confusion belongs to the Lord Yahweh of Armies in the valley of vision--
a tearing down of walls,
and a cry for help to the mountain,
(6) while Elam lifted up the quiver with chariots of man [and] cavalry,
while Kir uncovered the small shield,
(7) and then, the choicest of your valleys were filled with chariots,
while the horsemen were actually positioned at the gate,
Isaiah's response to all of this, is bitter weeping. He saw all of this happen. But he took no joy in any of it. It's not something he wants to have happen. It's curious though. Why would he weep over this defeat? Why cry over Babylon?
Isaiah knows that God is the one behind all of this. God is the one who made this day of panic and trampling and confusion. God made the walls collapse. God made the people cry hopeless cries to the mountains (and to the gods who lived there?). God is one who made Assyria victorious. Elam and Kir, among others, had stood against Assyria, but they didn't stand a chance.
Why does Isaiah care what happens to Babylon? In verse 4, we get half the answer. The collapse of Babylon is the first domino to fall. The next domino to fall, will be Jerusalem. And that's what verse 8 goes on to describe.
Verse 8, first line:
(8) and he uncovered the covering of Judah,
Babylon was like a robe, covering, protecting, Judah. So long as that robe was in place, nothing really terrible would happen. Assyria was always going to have to focus on the more immediate threat of Babylon, before it really did anything to Judah.
Now that Babylon has fallen, Judah is naked and vulnerable.
So how does Isaiah, again, respond to this vision? [Bitterly, with tears]
How will Judah respond? Isaiah sees that part of the future in his vision as well. Here again, we have past tense verbs that should be understood as prophetic perfects, describing what will happen.
Second line, verse 8, through verse 11:
and you looked on that day to the weapons/armory of the house of the forest,
(9) while the breaches in the walls of the city of David you saw that they were many,
and you gathered the waters of the lower pool,
(10) while the houses of Jerusalem you counted,
and you broke down the houses to fortify the walls,
(11) while a reservoir you made between the walls for the waters of the old pool,
and you didn't look to The One making it (it= feminine singular= ?),
while the One planning it from long ago, you didn't see/consider/acknowledge,
Israel-- its king and its people-- will respond to this disaster by belatedly preparing to defend Jerusalem from a siege. They will take an inventory of their weapons. They will secure their water supply so they don't die of thirst while they're trapped in the walls. They will realize that the walls themselves are vulnerable, and they will tear down houses to make it easier to fix that (and archaeology actually shows this-- walls running through houses). In all of this, they will only look at things from a human perspective. Defending yourself is about a weapon, and water, and a wall.
Where the people fail, is that in all of this, they totally fail to look to God, at all. God set all of this in motion. He planned it all. He's the one making Sennacherib an unstoppable force. And they somehow won't see that, or consider it, or acknowledge it.
If the people would stop, and think about God, what does God want from them? Verse 12:
(12) and the Lord Yahweh of Armies called on that day for weeping and for wailing and for shaved heads and for wearing sackcloth,
When God looks down from heaven, He wants to hear the sound of people weeping and wailing. He wants to see people who have shaved their heads and put on sackcloth, as a way of demonstrating their sorrow and repentance. God wants to see and hear an obvious acknowledgement of him, basically. When life falls apart, you should be looking to God. That's what God "called" for on that day. But that's not what God will get. Instead, verse 13:
(13) and LOOK! Joy and gladness! Slaying of cattle, and slaughtering of sheep, eating meat and drinking wine.
Eating and drinking because tomorrow we will die!,
Isaiah began this oracle by talking about this loud rejoicing in the city of Babylon, and how that was the wrong response, that failed to see the big picture from God's perspective. In verse 13, what God (and Isaiah) hears and sees, is another foolish celebration. This celebration doesn't assume that victory is inevitable. The opposite, actually. It assumes defeat is inevitable. We're all going to die, very soon. And if you're going to die, how then should you live? The people of Jerusalem answer that question by saying, "We have nothing to lose. Things are hopeless. So we might as enjoy what we have, as long as we have it. Let's make the most of today, because tomorrow we will die."
So in times of crisis, God wants his people to be very obviously sorrowful, and remorseful, and turning to him. What his people will actually do, is double down on a self-centered, pleasure-focused way of life. Maybe in a life without God, there's no better choice. But it's shameful, when God's people live as though this world is all there is
(Ephesians 4:17-20).
In verse 14, God responds by making an oath:
(14) and it was revealed in my ears by Yahweh of Armies whether/if this evil would be atoned/covered for you:
[Not even up] until you die-- said the Lord Yahweh of Armies."
God says, there will be no forgiveness. The people will die, unforgiven. And the God who says this, is the Lord Yahweh of Armies.
So there was a moment in time here, where there was door cracked open to God's people. There was an opportunity for everyone to turn to God, and cry out to Him. And Isaiah sees, in the future, that this door will close.
So where does that leave Isaiah's audience now? Isaiah has seen all of this happen in the future. The vision seems like an inevitable message of judgment. But this vision, and message, perhaps works like it does in Jonah. Isaiah announces judgment, as though that's the only possibility. But God is flexible, and if people repent, perhaps God will relent from judgment.
But if the people don't repent, and they party like it's 1999, and the year 2000 will end the world, what happens to that window? It disappears. That's what Isaiah sees in his vision, and he sets all of this before his hearers, to give them a chance to repent, and have a better future.
So that's our oracle for this morning. What do we make of it?
Let's start by talking about the language of Isaiah 22:8, with a "covering." We Americans have lived under the covering of the United States for 200+ years. We live in a strong nation, with oceans on both sides, the largest military in the world, and prosperity that's been the envy of the entire world. We've been the one bullying and threatening other nations, to make sure they use the U.S. dollar, and do what we want. We are the ones toppling leaders when they don't bend the knee (Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, Libya, etc.). When we go to bed at night, we do so knowing that our military doesn't sleep. We are covered.
Within this nation, Christians have been covered in a second way. We have a constitution that protects our freedom of speech and our freedom of religion. We can worship freely, publicly, openly. We can tell people that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and that Christianity is the one true religion, and our God is the one true God. We can tell them that, without worrying too much about the consequences. We worry a little, maybe. There's always the possibility of being harmed. But, really, it's unlikely.
When we step back and look at ourselves big picture, we can see that we are used to being covered.
We can also see that this covering is a fragile thing. We are the world's superpower, but other nations are increasingly joining forces, and gathering together, carefully, slowly, against us. They're pushing back in places like Ukraine, Iran, and Venezuela. And perhaps more damaging than that, even, is that globally, the U.S. dollar is being slowly rejected. Our way of life is built on the dollar being the reserve currency of the world. If people are no longer happy to hang on to our currency, our way of life will be lost. We export paper dollars, and we import everything. And what happens if people don't want our paper?
The second half of our covering-- our constitution-- is also looking fragile. Within this country, there is a movement to restrict free speech, by saying that "hate speech" isn't free speech. Our covering of free speech is thinning, and we are shifting toward looking like Europe. The day might come when the police knock on our door because of a "hateful" Facebook post. The day may come, also, when there are too many woke judges in power, who care nothing for constitutional rights.
Things are falling apart, maybe. Our covering is looking threadbare.
Where is God, in all of this? When we look to God, where is his hand? I'm not sure that any of us knows for sure. God is doing something. God has a plan in mind. God is the one who raises nations up, and tears them down (Jeremiah 1:10). How that relates to the U.S., I can't say for sure. But we should open to considering that there are limits to God's patience, and that God only handles the arrogance that comes with being a superpower for so long, before he brings them low. God didn't like the pride of Assyria, or Babylon, or Persia. And God doesn't like unnecessary bloodshed, particularly of the weak and vulnerable. So no nation that murders unborn babies should assume that God is on its side, inevitably and always fighting for it. Anytime you see a covering removed, it's fair to ask if God's judgment comes next. Alternatively, we will see in our Revelation series that Satan has the ability to turn nations into evil human empires that will wage war on God's people (Revelation 13:1-7). So we are perhaps seeing Satan at work, trying to turn the U.S. into a beast like Rome.
Whatever we think of current events, and however we interpret them, we should expect the day to come, when our human covering disappears. Every empire falls, eventually, and there's no reason to think we are exceptional in that regard. And if/when that day comes, we will probably find ourselves weeping bitter tears. But on that day, we will also have to remind ourselves that our true citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), that Jesus is our true President and King, and that we pledge our allegiance to Jesus.
The other thing I find myself thinking about, after reflecting on this oracle, is the nature of true security. In North Dakota, we understand that life is hard. Winters are long. Blizzards can knock out power, and leave you stranded. Summers are short. Crops can fail. Trade wars can make it so that no one will buy your soybeans. All of life is lived under constant threat, and you have to work hard, and prepare, as best you can. Ideally, you have a secure water supply, a pantry full of food, a second source of power and heat. This time of year, we all look like preppers. But does all of this make you secure? Can you give yourself a covering? Isaiah 22 says the answer to this, is yes and no.
As we go through life working hard to protect ourselves and our families, we need to make sure we are looking up, as well. That's half of what bothered God in this passage. Everyone was a prepper, and no one looked to God. Look to God.
True security comes from God's covering. Jesus promises that if we seek God and his kingdom first, that God will make sure we have food to eat, and something to drink, and clothes to wear (Matthew 6:30). That's how you make sure there's food on the table-- by choosing to serve God (Matthew 6:24), and seeking God's kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). It doesn't mean that you don't fill up your bins, and prep for winter. It means, all your preparations mean nothing, if God isn't with you.
Ultimately, security comes from God. In Isaiah 22, we see that if God is against you, and coming in judgment against you, there is no security. If God is for you, because you are one who truly loves God and lives for him (God works for the good of those "who love him"; Romans 8:28), you will be ok.
I'd like to close today by reading Psalm 91. This is a psalm that encourages God's people to take shelter, to take cover, in God. It speaks of what God will do for his people, when they set their affection and desire on God (Psalm 91:14 is the key verse):
(1) The one dwelling in the hiding place of Most High (Elyon),
in the shadow of the Almighty, he spends the night.
(2) The one saying to Yahweh,
"My refuge/cave and my stronghold, my God [is].
I shall trust in Him.
(3) Because/Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the game hunter,
from the destructive pestilence/plague.
(4) With his outer wings he shall cover you,
while under his wings you shall find refuge.
A shield and a fortress, His faithfulness [is].
(5) You won't fear the dread of the night,
the arrow will fly by day.
(6) Pestilence in darkness will walk/come,
the destruction will devastate/ruin at midday.
(7) It will fall at your side-- 1,000--
while 10,000 at your right hand;
To you it will not draw near.
(8) Only, with your eyes you will perceive/look at [it],
while the punishment/retribution of the wicked you will see,
(9) because you, O Yahweh, [are] my refuge.
Most High (Elyon), You have given your help.
(10) It won't happen to you-- disaster/harm/evil,
while a plague won't draw near to your tent,
(11) because his angels, He will command for you,
to keep/guard you in all your ways.
(12) With their hands they will lift you up,
lest you strike against a rock your foot.
(13) Upon the lion and the snake you will tread.
You will trample the young lion and the dragon/sea monster.
(14) Because [it's] on me, [that] he has set his desire/affection (or: attached himself to), I will rescue him;
I will lift him to high ground because he has acknowledged my name.
(15) He will call on me,
and I will answer him.
With him, I [am],
in [his] distress I will rescue him,
and I will honor him.
(16) [With] length of days I will satisfy him,
and/that I will show him my salvation.
Translation of Isaiah 22:1-14:
(1) The oracle of the valley of vision.
Why is it with you (feminine singular), then, that all of you have gone up the rooftops?
(2) Full of noises-- O loud city, O rejoicing town.
Your slain ones [are] not the slain by the sword,
and not the dead ones from war.
(3) All your rulers fled together/at the same time;
without a bow they were captured.
All of the ones found of yours were captured together/at the same time.
Far away, they [had] fled.
(4) For this reason I have said,
"Look away from me;
I shall be bitter in my weeping,
May you not insist on comforting me regarding the destruction of the daughter of my people.
(5) Surely/because a day of panic and trampling and confusion belongs to the Lord Yahweh of Armies in the valley of vision--
a tearing down of walls,
and a cry for help to the mountain,
(6) while Elam lifted up the quiver with chariots of man [and] cavalry,
while Kir uncovered the small shield,
(7) and then, the choicest of your valleys were filled with chariots,
while the horsemen were actually positioned at the gate,
(8) and he uncovered the covering of Judah,
and you looked on that day to the weapons of the house of the forest,
(9) while the breaches in the walls of the city of David you saw that they were many,
and you gathered the waters of the lower pool,
(10) while the houses of Jerusalem you counted,
and you broke down the houses to fortify the walls,
(11) while a reservoir you made between the walls for the waters of the old pool,
and you didn't look to The One making it (it= feminine singular= ?),
while the One planning it from long ago, you didn't see/consider/acknowledge,
(12) and the Lord Yahweh of Armies called on that day for weeping and for wailing and for shaved heads and for wearing sackcloth,
(13) and LOOK! Joy and gladness! Slaying of cattle, and slaughtering of sheep, eating meat and drinking wine.
Eating and drinking because tomorrow we will die!,
(14) and it was revealed in my ears by Yahweh of Armies whether/if this evil would be atoned/covered for you:
[Not] until you die-- said the Lord Yahweh of Armies."
