Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

Israel had been warned. Their response? Party time and walls. Yup. They strengthened their defences. They brought water into the cities to withstand siege. This wasn’t a bad idea, but they were putting their trust in these carnal efforts to save them. The Lord of Hosts (Jesus) warned them to turn to Him. To put their trust in Him even as they stewarded their resources. Instead, they leaned into their resources and partied to escape the reality facing them. They were being called by God to repentance and seeking Him, but they were getting drunk and not thinking about it. They had put their all in their defences and convincing themselves that would be enough. They needed to draw on the promises and mercy of the Lord to get through, but they were refusing. Because of that, the Lord told them they would have no deliverance – deliverance they COULD have had (like the mercy He showed in 2 Kings 22:15-20).

Shebna was a high-ranking official in Hezekiah’s government. This prophesy against him is the only time in Isaiah a prophesy is against an individual. He is possibly a foreigner who entered and gained trust in the court (from his name and title). The issue with him, however, is his pride and pretense. His extolling of himself. This prophesy tells that the Key of the House of David (Jesus) would remove him from office and give it and its influence to Eliakim – on whom it would irrevocably settle.

Tyre was a legendary city and merchant hub. It was unthinkable that they could be laid low. But for their arrogance and the ‘fornication’ that they would engage in with the nations of the Earth, it was being judged. Their great wealth would do them no good. In fact, it is prophesied that it would be laid up for the Lord and given to those who dwell before the Lord. Tyre was in fact completely destroyed (this is also prophesied in Ezekiel). The mainland city and the island city. First by Nebuchadnezzar, next by Alexander. The Egyptians came against them and some other people. They were so totally destroyed that the Phonetician city has never been rebuilt by anyone, although some people have erected cities upon the same spot as the mainland one. The Lord of Hosts (Jesus) raised His hand and razed the city for all time.

The Lord is being very clear. The judgment against sin will affect the entire Earth. All the nations. All the peoples. Even the very Earth itself would be affected. It will be so bad and so thorough that it is possible the Earth could wobble on its axis (Isaiah 24:20). Crops will fail. The ends of the Earth would wail and travail. The exalted ones of the Earth would be punished (the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord?). Even the kings of nations. They would be gathered together (His removal of the wicked from the Earth?). Creation itself would be ashamed. But the Lord of Hosts (Jesus) would sit in Zion in His glory (Jesus coming back for His millennial reign, perhaps?).

The Lord would be glorified. He would be strength to those in distress. A refuge from this great storm to those who trusted in Him. A shade from the heat. The Lord God (Jesus) would remove the covering cast over all the people – the veil keeping the ignorant ignorant of the Lord – and all would see that He IS. He would remove the rebuke on His children (first the Jew and then the Gentile). They would point to Him (Jesus) and proclaim Him to be their God. The One in whom they had trusted. The One who was giving them salvation. They would rejoice to see it. Rejoice to be able to tell it openly to people who would be able to see it themselves. The Lord Jesus would sweep away the ungodly as easily as a swimmer displaces water, bringing down the high fortresses of the wicked, bringing down their trickery and pride. They would be as trampled straw, lying below the Mountain of the Lord (Zion).

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Isaiah

Key Verse(s): Isaiah 22:5-6, 20-24; 23:15-18; 24:21-23; 25:6-12