Exposition by Max A Forsythe
One of the intriguing aspects of prophetic literature is what I would call the weaving of time scenes. Certainly the Hebrews documented their history very well. In fact, it is the Scriptures of the Old Testament that may be called our very first historical documents. These documents set forth events as they happened with no gloss over to make men and women look good. Once when a painter had Oliver Cromwell sit for a portrait he suggested that he cleanse the crusty old fellow's image for posterity. Oliver would have none of it; he insisted that he be painted warts and all. Thus he has been recorded, and history shows us the man's failings along with his hopes and dreams for a biblical commonwealth, which he tried to create by force of arms and parliamentary decree.
Did you notice how I moved from one era to another, like I usually do? I hope I do not lose you week by week by this methodology. My preaching craft is not so blessed as were the words of holy writ given through the prophets. This is why I have always been very cautious when it comes to prophetic literature and its application for the future. I am fortunate to be able to apply the recorded word for today. Isaiah was thrice blessed in that his visions were inspired beyond any common writings, so that we may faithfully know that he was speaking for his day, for the near future and for eternity. Our problem sometimes is telling the difference because the words were recorded from Isaiah's perspective of today, tomorrow and eternity instead of ours. We can still learn a lot about Isaiah's time from other portions of Scripture. We can also see the record of prophecy unfolded through history. However, the eternity part is beyond us still. As we consider the fourfold division of our chapter today we may follow this outline: Verse one declares the woe against Assyria. Verses two to nine are a present prayer for the Lord to make it so. Verses ten to sixteen declare the Lord's future action. Verses seventeen to twenty-four envision the Messianic King and kingdom at the end of the age.
The oppressor in mind in verse one would very probably be the Assyrian conqueror Sennacherib, who sacked cities far and wide as he transferred the wealth of nations to his own treasury. Isaiah, speaking for the Lord, promises that just as Sennacherib gathered his wealth, so would it be taken away in due time. And so does history record the Assyrian downfall. In the same way has the wealth of nations been redistributed throughout history. At the end of the Russian revolution the White armies gallantly tried to get the Czar's wealth out of Russia. The treasury trains made it as far as Irkutsk. There in mid-winter the gold, platinum and diamonds were loaded in sleds, carriages and wagons. To escape the communists the White army trudged out onto the frozen surface of Lake Baikal. That night the weather turned worse; the temperature went down to -80o. And that figure doesn't include the wind chill factor of thirty mile an hour winds. The White army and the gold were never seen again. Presumably they are at the bottom of Lake Baikal whose shallow end is only 8,000 feet deep! Again, during the Spanish Civil War the Republican government loaded their Imperial gold, looted from the New World, into Communist ships. When the Spanish general asked the Russian Admiral for a receipt, the Admiral said, "receipt, what is receipt?" The gold promptly disappeared!
The Assyrian destruction is still in the near future in chapter thirty-three. In our second section Isaiah voices the desire of his people that the Assyrian threat might be dealt with soon. Isaiah realizes that deliverance can come only from the Lord. And so he pleads that the Lord might be gracious: "Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress." Isaiah's confidence is certain; when the Lord speaks, His very word will accomplish His divine purpose. The plundering Assyrians will be plundered like a swarm of locusts. These are not powerful figures but common people eventually rooting through the abandoned Assyrian camp outside of Jerusalem. This image reminds me of a modern day Paul Revere who ran into the school cafeteria one morning to announce that a beer truck had wrecked out on thirty-three and people were needed to help clean up the mess scattered all over four lanes of highway. At least thirty teenagers sprinted to the parking lot only to be met at the front gate by the principle who just didn't understand their mission of mercy! So will the locusts pounce on the treasures of Assyria. In this accomplishment the Lord will be exalted, not only in Judea but throughout the whole Middle East! Never in the era of Isaiah had such a visible manifestation of God's power been made so evident as it would in the coming defeat of Assyria. The plunder of Assyria may be one thing, but the treasure and riches of wisdom and knowledge of the Lord is something other, and indeed greater. Will the Judeans share in this rich store by fearing such an awesome God?
Isaiah makes the coming judgment vivid from his vision as he describes things from a different angle. In verses seven to nine he shows the coming frustration of those walled up in Jerusalem waiting their supposed fate. The warriors who must defend the walls weep openly at their hopeless mission. The envoys who will try to buy off the Assyrians fail miserably. Out in the country precincts, those people not rounded up or destroyed are in hiding. The roads are empty; traders and travelers find someplace else to go. Not only will the ransom treaty be broken and the whole land laid waste, but even the earth will be shamed unless the Lord will act forcefully. Desperate is the need for the Lord to act; have the people decided that they are in need? Have they, will they turn to Him and ask Him to turn to them?
Here in verse ten is one of the great passages in Scripture: "Now will I arise," says the Lord. "Now will I be exalted; now will I be lifted up." God is about to make Himself known and in a month's time we will see the chapters that record God's actions, actions which held the entire ancient world in awe. The gathered hosts of Assyria, the plans of Sennacherib, will all be cut short. All will be cut down and destroyed utterly. Their bodies will be burnt and scattered on the fields as so much fertilizer. I believe that this is the proper image here. Just this week, one of our neighbors limed his hayfield. If you have never seen this done, imagine a favorite table undusted for six to nine months. That is what a limed field looks like. I have also read that the Nazi SS bagged the ashes of their victims to sell as a dusty fertilizer for the fields of German farms. So may we visualize this Assyrian disaster.
Verse thirteen tells us that the whole Mideastern world will know what the Lord is about to do. And even the sinners in Zion are terrified so that trembling grips the godless. This is good for their souls. Events such as those about to happen in Jerusalem not only carry away the wicked, but cause those who are about to be saved to repent. It may work like this as we see the implications in verses fifteen and sixteen: Those who have lived like Assyrians using more peaceful and legal means begin to understand the enormity of their sin. This lesson may well be learned in our own time by this comparison. Which is worse? A petty thief who walks into a country grocery to steal a few dollars, or Sam Walton, who by fair means and foul destroyed the independent economy of countless American counties? Well might the sinners in Zion be terrified. "Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?"
If God is this upset with armed looters, will He not be equally upset with sharp business deals, with extortions and bribery? Even deeper, what will the Lord do with murderers and those who just dream about criminal and immoral acts? You see, the God of heaven looks into every single heart. He knows your secret desires. And he earnestly wants you to walk righteously and to speak what is right. If we would obey God's revealed will, the Lord will care for us. He will provide our daily bread and water. Not only that, but as Isaiah envisions it in our last section today: "Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar." In this heavenly kingdom you may look in vain for certain terrorist agents; see the list in verse eighteen and nineteen. Instead, there will be the eternal city, broad flowing rivers with no naval vessels in sight, no oppressive military. Instead, "There the Lord will be our Mighty One ... For the Lord is our judge, our lawgiver, our king." He it is who will save us, the works of commerce will be stopped, illness will be no more and even the sins of those who dwell there will be forgiven.
Are you ready for that great day to come? Have you put off Assyrian aggressions, worldly desires? Have you admitted your sin, knowing that you cannot stand before the awesome throne of God unless you are covered by Jesus' blood and righteousness? Are you ready for the Lord to arise again, for His Son to be exalted before a watching world? Do you want Him to come again today? May you prepare yourself for His coming. Amen.
Resources Used:
Ellis, Charles..
The Wells of Salvation.
Thomas, Derek..
Welwyn Commentary Series: God Delivers.
Young, Edward J.
The Book of Isaiah.
The Holy Bible.
New International Version (1984 Edition)
NOTE: I am not able to automatically
recommend any future editions.
Christ Covenant Reformed (Presbyterian Church in America) -
Box 13926 - Columbus, OH 43213
(c) 2001
12 June 1994
Permission granted to redistribute unedited versions with this notice.