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Home , Dumah (son of Ishmael), Isaiah 13, Isaiah 21, Shebna

Tuesday: 9-10 Wednesday: -12 (continued) Thursday: -20 (continued) Friday: -23 (continued) 9:1 Zebulun and Naphtali were tribes located near ). The Lord would use not only to de- Ch. 17-18 Damascus was the capital of , mod- 21:13 “Arabia”—In the NIV, the only title that the Sea of Galilee. This area was an invasion corri- stroy Aram and Ephraim but also to humble ern Syria. Aram had allied itself with the northern seems to fall out of the pattern of mysterious titles dor used by armies throughout Israel’s history. (,8,10). To a humbled people, the Lord nation of Israel (here called Ephraim after its most is the prophecy against Arabia. The Hebrew root When the Assyrians attacked, those two tribes promised a Savior (:1-7;11) and a future powerful tribe). See Isaiah 7:1. The Lord would use could also be translated “an oracle in the evening.” would bear the brunt restoration. This song is a response to this promise. the Assyrians to destroy Damascus (732 B.C.) and Or at least the title could be a play on the word Ephraim (722 B.C.). Arabia. The sense would be that Arabia’s day was 9:12 “Yet for all this”—This phrase is repeated in coming to an end. Thursday: Isaiah 13-20 9:17; 9:21; 10:4 and separates these verses into 17:6 “Gleanings”—There would be only a few who four sections. The repetition creates an ominous survive. (The Valley of Rephaim is immediately In chapters 13–23 Isaiah proclaims ten oracles or Ch. 22 This account of an attack on is tone to these verses. The Lord has run out of pa- west southwest of Jerusalem and was the bread- messages of judgment against the nations around difficult to place historically. It has elements of As- tience. He will now judge Israel for its wickedness, basket of ancient Jerusalem.) Jerusalem and on Jerusalem itself. Both Jeremiah syria’s attack on the Northern Kingdom and its and his wrath will not be satisfied even after re- (46–51) and Ezekiel (25–32) contain similar prophe- short-lived siege of Jerusalem. It also contains ele- peated punishments. Ch. 19-20 The Lord promises judgment on . cies about the surrounding nations. These oracles ments of the Babylonian’s attack on Jerusalem and Yet in the distant future, in the assure us that God is in control of all things. They its conquest and deportation of the people. It may Ch. 10 The Lord used the Assyrian empire to hum- times, God would make some people even from teach us that he will surely destroy all who oppose simply be a picture of God’s judgment on Jerusa- ble the land of Judah. But at the right time, the the heathen nations of Egypt and Assyria his own. him but also that he will have compassion on these lem and Jerusalem’s rejection of God’s help. Lord would also punish the Assyrian empire for its nations by leading them to faith. His elect are to be pride and its desire to destroy Judah completely. 22:1 “Concerning the Valley of Vision”—Jerusalem found among the Jews as well as among the Gen- Friday: Isaiah 21-23 is called the Valley of Vision because the Lord had tiles. 10:28-32 The advancing army of Assyria is pic- sent more prophets to Jerusalem than anywhere 21:1 “Desert by the Sea”—This is a term used for tured. It draws ever closer to Jerusalem. Aiath is else. Yet the people did not listen to the Lord’s call 13:1 “”—Babylon was the nation the Lord Babylon. It is difficult to interpret, but it is perhaps about 10 miles north of Jerusalem; Micmash, 6 (verse 12). They made preparations for battle but would use to destroy Judah and Jerusalem. The a simple reference to a desert nation lying between miles; Nob, just a couple miles away. Yet Assyria did not prepare their hearts for the Lord. Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar would the Tigris River and the Euphrates River. would not destroy Jerusalem. take the people into captivity in 586 B.C., approxi- 21:11 “”—Dumah means “silence” and is 22:15, 20 “ . . . Eliakim”—Shebna is an ex- mately one hundred years after this prophecy. probably a play on words for . Edom asks the ample of the self-centered, luxury-loving attitude Wednesday: Isaiah 11-12 prophet, “Watchman, what is left of the night?” of the people of Jerusalem. Eliakim is a picture of Ch. 14 The defeat of Babylon was foretold in the 11:9 “On all my holy mountain”—God’s holy The night refers to the destruction and domination God’s salvation. first half of this oracle (Isaiah 13). The bulk of this mountain refers to Jerusalem, specifically to Mount by enemy armies. The answer is that “Morning is chapter is a taunt the Israelites would be able to . In chapter 2:1-4, Isaiah speaks about the coming, but also the night.” The watchman an- Ch. 23 The ten oracles of judgment on the nations speak against Babylon at its defeat. Word going out from Jerusalem into all the world nounces the “morning” of hope as the Assyrians began with Babylon (Isaiah 13), the future military and the peace that would ensue. In this chapter, are destroyed, but “the night” of more destruction power of the ancient world. They end with God’s Ch. 15-16 was a heathen nation east of the verses 6-9 picture that same peace by taking us will come from future enemies and from God’s final judgment on Tyre, the commercial powerhouse of Dead Sea. The people were descended from Lot, back to the Garden of Eden and the perfect peace judgment on the unbelieving world. the ancient world. Ours is the God who rules all the ’s nephew (Genesis 19:30-38). When the that ruled there. This peace exists now spiritually, nations of the earth. Israelites came into the Promised Land, the Lord 21:12 “Morning . . . night . . . then ask”—There and it will exist in all its fullness when God recre- did not permit them to make war against the would be the night of Assyrian oppression, the light 23:1 “Tyre”—Tyre was a seafaring nation. It estab- ates this new world to be like it was at the begin- Moabites (Deuteronomy 2:9). However, there were of its overthrow, and the night of Babylonian cap- lished colonies across the Mediterranean, chief of ning. often hostile relations between Moab and Israel. tivity. But farther in the future, the night of Old which was Carthage in Northern Africa. Tyre traded

When the Israelites were about to enter , Testament darkness would end and the light of the with Egypt and Cyprus and many other countries Ch. 12 This chapter concludes a prophecy that be- the king of Moab summoned the prophet Balaam Savior would dawn, but the night of eternal judg- and cities in the Mediterranean. gan in chapter 7. It began with a message of judg- to curse them (Numbers 22). Later the Moabites ment would also come for those who did not be- ment on ungodly King of Judah because he 23:1 “Tyre is destroyed.” After the fall of Jerusalem oppressed the Israelites (Judges 3:12). During the lieve. “Then ask,” says the prophet. Continue to rejected the sign of the virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14). in 586 B.C., Tyre was besieged by King Nebuchad- time of the kings there was warfare between the seek light from future revelations about God’s Ahaz looked to Assyria for salvation from the alli- nezzar of Babylon for 13 years. He was not able to Moab and Israel. mercy. ance of Aram and Ephraim (the northern nation of destroy the island fortress of Tyre. That was left to Friday: Isaiah 21-23 (continued) Monday: Isaiah 7-8 Alexander the Great, who destroyed the city in 332 FAITH FULLY FIT Ch. 7 King Ahaz of Judah ruled from 736–716 B.C. B.C. Ahaz was one of the most ungodly kings of Judah, My Spiritual Fitness Goals for this week: 23:4 “I have neither been in labor nor given birth.” even sacrificing his own son in the fire. During his Tyre is speaking. After God’s judgment on the Weekly Spiritual reign, , the son of Remaliah who was the king country, it sees itself as a barren woman. of Israel (here called Ephraim), and , the king of Aram (Syria, whose capital was Damascus), be- 23:15 “Seventy years”—Possibly a symbolic num- came allies to destroy Judah. In this chapter Isaiah ber for the time between its downfall and when Fitness Plan Introduction to this week’s readings: called Ahaz to trust in the Lord for protection from the Lord would send a Savior. At that time people this alliance. Ahaz refused. Ahaz’s solution to this from Tyre would come to faith. Note how once Introduction to the threat was to make his own alliance with the nation again the shines through prophecies of judg- Name / Author: The author identifies himself in the of Assyria, north of Aram. (Read 2 Kings 16:1-9.) ment and terror. first verse of the book, the prophet Isaiah. The Assyria did its job only too well. It ultimately de- prophet’s name means “The Lord is salvation.” He stroyed the Northern Kingdom of Israel and would Saturday: -25 identifies himself as the son of . While we know have destroyed Judah and Jerusalem if the Lord very little for sure about Isaiah’s father, Amoz, one had not intervened. Chapters 24–27 form the conclusion to the ten tradition is worth mentioning. According to Jewish 7:14 “The virgin”—The Hebrew word for “virgin” is oracles of judgment (Isaiah 13–23). The judgment tradition, Amoz was the brother of King Amaziah, almah. The word never refers to a married woman. on the nations is a foretaste of the judgment on the making Isaiah a cousin to King . This would ex- For example, Rebekah is called an almah (Genesis Last Day. Now the Lord gives Isaiah visions beyond plain why Isaiah seems to have access to the royal court, since we find him in the presence of Ahaz and 24:43), as is Miriam (Exodus 2:8). the immediate future to the last judgment and and named as court historian of both King eternal life. 7:15,16 “Curds and honey”— would eat Uzziah and King Hezekiah in 2 Chronicles. Isaiah indi- curds and honey. Why? Because in the early years cates that he was married and had two sons. His wife Ch. 25 This is Isaiah’s vision of God’s final victory. of his life (before he knew to choose the right and is called only “the prophetess” (8:3). The first son was In the eyes of the prophet, God’s victory is a single named Shear-Jashub (7:3), which means “a remnant reject the wrong), the two kings Ahaz feared would event. The Savior will come; Israel will be glorified will return.” The second son was Maher-Shalal-Hash- be destroyed. The Northern Kingdom would be because the nations of the world will come to it for Baz (8:1–4), which means “quick to plunder, swift to desolate, and all who remained there would eat salvation; God will wipe away all tears and put an spoil.” curds and honey (verse 22). The point is that God’s end to death. We are caught in the middle of this judgment would come quickly. process, looking back at the coming of the Savior Outline: This is what the Lord says and ahead to the final judgment and eternal life. Week 54 - Isaiah 7-25  Woes and Judgments (1-39) 8:1 “Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz”—The word means But it is best to look at this whole time as one  Prophecies against Judah and Jerusalem “quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil.” Isaiah’s event. That his how the prophet described it. (1-12) child, like Immanuel, would serve as a sign of God’s  Oracles (burdens) announcing judgment quick judgment on Syria and Israel through Assyria. on various nations (13-23) Rezin was the king of Aram. The son of Remaliah  Prophecies of God’s judgment upon the was Pekah, king of Israel. The people of Judah earth (24-35) would rejoice over their destruction by the Assyr-  Transition: Isaiah closes the book on ians. Assyria and introduces Babylon(36-39)  Comfort and Consolation (40-66)  The Lord will rescue his people from Most of the questions and answers on the “Weekly Spiritual Fitness Plan” Babylon (40-48) come from “The Whole Project” Bible studies. Background and  The Lord’s servant will redeem his peo- Introduction information come from “The People’s Bible” commentary series and from “Book of Books,” both published by NPH. ple from sin (49-57)  The Lord promises his new Zion (Jerusalem) eternal glory (58-66)