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CALVARY PANDAN However, in this chapter of -PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH , will be judged by the God of for her many sins and what DHW BIBLE CLASS she did against Israel. Chapters like these in the Scriptures teach every LESSON 19 Bible student the truth of God’s THE sovereignty over the affairs of all mankind. There is no nation on earth CHAPTER 19 that is not under God’s authority. The God of Israel is the one and only living Theme: “One Salvation for All!” and true God, and beside Him there is no other. Man may make God in his own image and even deny Him as THEME VERSE God, but this does not in any way Isaiah 19:24-25 (KJV) “In that day affect God’s absolute jurisdiction over man, not even in the slightest. Egypt shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with , even a blessing in the was a nation with a very long and midst of the land: Whom the LORD of celebrated history from her pyramids hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be and kingdoms that transcend many Egypt my people, and Assyria the work centuries. of my hands, and Israel mine Regardless of her super power inheritance.” status and military might, Egypt is just another pawn in God’s over plan of salvation for mankind that will INTRODUCTION eventually culminate in the coming of The next nation to be judged by Jesus Christ. This chapter of Isaiah is God is the nation of Egypt. There is no instructive from the perspective of Middle Eastern nation more involved in God’s absolute control over Egypt’s God’s plan of salvation than Egypt. destiny and very existence! It is very This began from the first book of the comforting to know that this same God Bible even as early as the days of is the God of Christians only. (Genesis 12:10). Whether voluntarily or otherwise, Egypt has and will always be intractably part of Israel OUTLINE existence, even to this very day! If not 1. Egypt will be Given Over (vv.1- for the spiritual significance, her 10); geographical proximity to the Land of 2. Bad Counsel, Speedy Promise makes her Israel’s neighbour Destruction (vv. 11-17); for life. The cross border relationships bound to exist whether peaceable or 3. Gracious Salvation upon Egypt warlike depends on the rulers at that (vv. 18-25); time. Solomon’s first wife was an Egyptian princess (cf. 1 Kings 3:1). DHW LESSON 19 ISAIAH 19

COMMENTARY Internal strife will turn into civil Egypt Will Be Given Over war. How painful to see brother killing The destruction upon Egypt will brother as the punishment from God. be quick. The swiftness of her The magnitude of this civil war is destruction is described by the use of described vividly in verse 2. The battle the imagery of the LORD riding on a will be brother against brother, swift cloud. It is significant at this everyone against his neighbour, city juncture to note that the name used to against city and kingdom against describe this swift judgement is the kingdom. All relationships are covenantal Name given only to Israel destroyed. All past fellowship and and not to Egypt. The reason is to friendships are ignored, replaced by inform Egypt and Israel that it will be fighting and killing. In the midst of this Israel’s God who will punish Egypt and implosion of a great nation, the spirit of must not be misconstrued as an Egypt shall fail. It is painful to be called accident or some other god that an Egyptian when brothers are killing brothers. There can only be shame. punishes Egypt. The word for “swift” has the idea of lightness, like The LORD will destroy the something floating off the ground. The counsel or plan of the Egyptians. movement is swift because of zero Whatever they might plan to avert the resistance. The use of the word “cloud” LORD’s judgement will all fail. The means that the LORD will come from LORD will destroy all their plans. They heaven swiftly and quietly! The will seek idols, charmers, those with destination of the swift approach of the familiar spirits and the wizards to help LORD is Egypt! Egypt is doomed for them but all to no avail. They LORD judgement for her many sins. The will surely thwart all their evil plans. destruction of Egypt is mentioned in Instead the LORD will give the the next few verses. Egyptians over into the hand of a cruel Before this happens, the LORD lord. This cruel lord could refer to describes the reaction of the either the Assyrians who will soon Egyptians. The idols of Egypt shall be come and defeat the Egyptians as the moved i.e. tremble or stagger. There next superpower of that region, or the are many gods in Egypt. These gods Babylonians, or even the Persians. would include Osiris and Isis, Apis, The identity of this cruel king is not Serapis, Vulcan, Bubastis, and many mentioned here. All of the next three others. They will tremble before the superpowers will defeat the Egyptians presence of the LORD. The heart of and are cruel kings. The Bible the Egyptians shall melt in the midst of describes these kings as fierce each in the LORD. When hearts are turned to their own way. Be this as it may, this liquid it refers to total and abject fear. prophetic judgement came to pass in This kind of fear is crippling and it the near future from Isaiah’s devastates a person. perspective.

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The next four verses describe released water, and ponds for fishes the extent of the destruction of Egypt. will be without jobs. The River is Egypt’s life source. The word for fish is “nephesh” Her major cities are all built along this which means living things or living river that carries water from inland and souls. In the context of sluices and the mountains flowing into the ponds it is correct to translate it as Mediterranean Sea through seven “fish” for fish are found in ponds. The tributaries. If the River Nile dries up as literal sense would be “sluices and the LORD declares here, then the ponds for living thing.” economy of Egypt is ruined and the people will suffer great famine and Bad Counsel, Speedy Destruction drought. Note the language of Isaiah The LORD turns His attention 19:5-8 “And the waters shall fail from now to the leaders of fortified Egyptian the sea, and the river shall be wasted cities. Zoan was a city of great and dried up. And they shall turn the longevity as she was mentioned even rivers far away; and the brooks of in the days of Moses (Num. 13:22). As defence shall be emptied and dried up: one of the major cities in Egypt her the reeds and flags shall wither. The leaders would be filled with pride and paper reeds by the brooks, by the arrogance that they could achieve mouth of the brooks, and everything anything they wanted and they sown by the brooks, shall wither, be probably prided themselves in their driven away, and be no more. The ability to remain so strong after fishers also shall mourn, and all they hundreds of years of existence! Their that cast angle into the brooks shall history alone would be enough to fill lament, and they that spread nets them with pride in themselves and upon the waters shall languish.” The their ancestry. This was precisely what entire nation of Egypt will suffer great they did as verse 11 reveals. The catastrophe and death by these princes of Zoan are called fools here calamities. by the LORD. The counsel of the wise counsellors of who probably Those who depend entirely lived in Zoan are described here by the upon the river to survive, their trade of LORD as brutish – foolish or stupid. weaving fine flax and net works will be They gave counsel to Pharaoh such as confounded. They will be “I am the son of the wise, the son of dumbfounded and find no explanation ancient kings?” for the devastation. They will be How can man be so foolish to helpless and simply have to resign believe that their past glory can protect themselves to suffer. There is them from the present destruction? absolutely nothing they can do to Just because one was not destroyed in prevent the destruction of their the past does not mean that he will not livelihoods. They shall be broken in be destroyed in the present. History their purposes is how the LORD has proven over and over again that describes their failures. All those who empires come and go. There are no make sluices i.e. canals for the flood of

3 DHW LESSON 19 ISAIAH 19 exceptions. Every empire founded and stops attacking and undermining the ruled by sinful man will rise and fall. No perfect Bible. matter how mighty and great they The LORD calls these princes might appear at the height of their of Zoan who thought themselves to be glory and splendour, they will very wise “fools”! They have become inevitably fall. It is only a matter of fools by their counsel to Pharaoh. The time. This evidenced by the fall of the princes of Noph are deceived. Noph Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, was the capital city of Upper Egypt Grecians, Romans, including the where decisions made there. The wise mighty empire of Great Britain that was men of Zoan have deceived these the largest of them all. It was said that power brokers by their foolishness. at the height of her glory in the 1920’s, They will pay a heavy price for Great Britain ruled a quarter of the listening to them. These wise men of Earth’s total land area. Where is the Zoan have also seduced Egypt even mighty Great Britain today? It is a shell those who were the stay e.g. bulwark of a nation that is no longer seen as a or chieftain of tribes. They were the lay superpower today. How foolish can the leaders of the many different tribes “wise” men be to flatter Pharaoh with who comprised Egyptian society. The such empty assurances? It is true that impact of their foolish counsel was the above superpowers occurred after nationwide. Isaiah, but there were past superpowers that these wise men Ultimately from the LORD’s high were aware of and they thought such viewpoint, it was Him who confounded decline could never happen to them all of Egypt. This is not to say that the only others. princes of Zoan were not guilty for their foolishness. They will be judged by the The LORD demanded from LORD for their foolish counsel. these men by using a series of two However, the LORD was in absolute rhetorical questions. (v.12) “Where are control even in the evil deeds and they? where are thy wise men? and let foolish counsel of wicked men. The them tell thee now, and let them know LORD is never the direct cause of what the LORD of hosts hath purposed foolishness and sin. Sinful wicked men upon Egypt.” Let these wise men are responsible for their foolishness challenge the LORD. “Their wise and sin. It is another example of the words against the word of the LORD,” sovereignty of God and responsibility will forever be the contention between of man displayed in these verses. The God and evil men. This was true in Bible declared in (vv.14-15) that “The Isaiah’s time and it is still true today! LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in This is where faith is perpetually the midst thereof: and they have tested. Today’s tests are the same. It caused Egypt to err in every work is either the wisdom of sinful finite men thereof, as a drunken man staggereth that we believe in or the very Word of in his vomit. Neither shall there be any God. It is no wonder that Satan never work for Egypt, which the head or tail,

4 DHW LESSON 19 ISAIAH 19 branch or rush, may do.” The LORD Gracious Salvation Upon Egypt mingled e.g. mixed into the Egyptian The phrase “in that day” does society a perverse spirit that caused not necessarily refer to the period of Egypt to err in everything she did. This devastation and calamity that is is not fatalism but the sovereignty of described in the preceding verses. The the LORD of Israel at play here. All reason is the content of the following Egypt from the most powerful to the verses. The phrase “in that day” is weakest, from the richest to the cited four times, in vv. 18, 19, 23 and poorest shall have no work to do. This 24. The contexts therefore argue for a was how absolute the drought and time period that is in the future. It is not famine will be when the cruel and a reference to the period of the fierce ruler-king descends upon Egypt! previous judgement. In the case of the There is no escape for anyone. first “in that day” the Bible reveals that Egypt in this day is likened to five cities in Egypt will speak the women who are easily frightened. language of . The language of Canaan at that time was Hebrew, the They will be afraid of the devastation that will come upon Egypt. The reason language of Israel. The number five for their fear and trembling is because refers to an uncertain number just as “of the shaking of the hand of the the number seven refers to perfection LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over at times, and the number ten refers to it.” Fear is something that man needs completion. What it means is that a in this life. This keeps him from doing certain number of cities will receive the wrong and committing evil. Man is in LORD of Israel as their God. One of serious trouble when man stops these five cities is called the city of becoming afraid. He lives a life of destruction. The city will be saved by unrestrained sin and debauchery. Here the grace of God. The actual identity of the Egyptian will become very afraid this city is debated by commentators. because of the LORD’s doing. Some say that it refers to Heliopolis Hopefully with this kind of fear, the but others say that it could refer to Egyptians will turn to the LORD. Egypt Leontopolis. The exact identity is not will know that it is the LORD of the emphasis here but rather her conversion by the grace of God. A city who devastated them. They will become afraid of Judah in that day. of destruction will be saved by the They will be afraid in themselves by LORD. This gives hope to those who the mention of the name “Judah!” This minister the for there is no is due to the counsel of the LORD of obstacle that is so great nor so high hosts who has determined it to be so! that the gospel of the LORD cannot The LORD can make sinful men afraid overcome. of God’s people if He so desires! This The second instance of the is how powerful the God of Judah is. phrase “in that day” refers to worship of the LORD in Egypt. There will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of Egypt where in past centuries there was

5 DHW LESSON 19 ISAIAH 19 idolatrous worship of a pantheistic between the LORD and Egypt. Egypt magnitude. But now it will be a place of has to be devastated first so that she the worship of the one true and living will reject all her idolatrous worship God! This altar is placed in the midst of before she can then turn to the LORD Egypt signifying the centrality and sole and receive Him as her God. This is worship in Egypt. A pillar at the border true of us today as well. Then, Egypt to the LORD will indicate the extent of turns to the LORD in genuine the worship of the LORD. The moment repentance. He shall be entreated of one sets foot onto Egyptian territory them and shall heal them! The LORD the worship of the LORD begins. This will receive their worship and hear their altar will become the symbol and cries and will heal the Egyptians. What witness of Egyptian life of worship. a wonderful prophecy to read of such They shall cry to the LORD when they great salvation throughout a land now come under attack by oppressors and covered and immersed in centuries of He will send them a great saviour who idolatry. This gives hope to all shall deliver them. The identity of the believers never to give up on the saviour is difficult to ascertain with salvation of hardened sinners. The certainty. Some commentators say power of the pure gospel must be that it was Alexander the Great who recognised and unashamedly declared delivered Egypt and others that it forever. refers to Christ. The identity of the The third “in that day” refers to oppressors will help us to define the the spreading of the gospel message. time of the oppression. In this instance There will originate from Egypt a it is not possible for us to know with highway to Assyria (about 2000 km certainty who the oppressors are. Be distance) and the Assyrians will come that as it may, the deliverance will to Egypt and vice versa and there will come from the LORD and the be peace between the two countries. Egyptians will know that it is the LORD The country that both of these who delivers. I am inclined to believe countries have to pass through is that it refers to Jesus Christ. This is the Israel. This means that Canaan will be only certainty that the Egyptians might the bridge that links these two great know it is none other but the LORD nations as one. The Assyrians will also who has delivered them. be converted through the ministry of The next verse (v. 21) reveals the gospel by the Egyptians in that that the LORD shall be known to Egypt day! What a great day it will be. How and the Egyptians shall know the can one keep the gospel to himself LORD in that day. The Egyptians are after he has found it is mind boggling! sincere with the LORD as seen in the The good news is so great and seriousness of their worship and vow wonderful that one cannot help but tell keeping. They will have to be believers others about it! Peace will spread for these deeds to occur. The LORD throughout the Middle Eastern region. shall smite Egypt and then heal it. This Peace which only the gospel of Jesus describes the process of reconciliation Christ can bring and the world has

6 DHW LESSON 19 ISAIAH 19 been seeking for centuries and could come to pass. Whether these never find, unless they turn to Christ. prophecies could be devastation or The fourth “in that day” refers to blessings they matter not to the LORD. Israel being the bridge as previously He determines and they are sure to mentioned. Israel will be the blessing come to pass. amidst this transformation of peace However, evil men and their deeds are between Egypt and Assyria. This is the not excused. They will be judged by most wonderful verse in the entire the LORD. They cannot argue before chapter, v. 25 “Whom the LORD of the LORD that they did them because hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be the LORD had sovereignly Egypt my people, and Assyria the work predetermined them to commit these of my hands, and Israel mine evil deeds. Man is totally accountable inheritance.” These three enemies for his every action. There is no become friends. All of them are called diminishing of his culpability when he God’s people. Egypt is blessed by the sins, not even one bit. LORD where the meaning of blessing Man is to accept these two truths is understood as having a personal and not attempt to reconcile them as relationship with the LORD. The LORD man is too finite to. His mind is too called them “his” people. The small and his thoughts are infantile Assyrians were called the work of the compared to the high thoughts and LORD’s hand! And Israel was called revelations of God. the LORD’s inheritance. What a wonderful conclusion of hope in this Sinful Man is Helpless to stop chapter which began as a burden and the LORD now becomes a blessing! Whatever the LORD wills will happen. There is nothing that the LORD declares in Holy Scriptures that PRACTICAL VALUE are not true, past, present and future. God’s sovereignty and man’s There is no nation so powerful that will responsibility in tandem last for eternity. All superpowers come The burden of the LORD on Egypt and go as the LORD wills. He decides reveals the sovereignty of God and the and not sinful men. All the nations of responsibility of man working in sinful men have their day in the sun tandem. There is no contradiction. It is where they shine brightly. The sad fact not fatalism that believes in a faceless is that when these rulers enjoy their god. Here we see the LORD in time in the sun they think that it will last absolute control over all the affairs of forever. It does not. Sinful foolish men man, both good and evil. The LORD’s allow pride to grip their hearts priding almighty power is seen in His absolute themselves as great monarchs or sovereignty over all mankind including presidents when they are nothing but the evil works of sinful men. Once the little fish in their tiny little ponds. Very LORD reveals future events that the soon they die and their deeds will soon Bible calls prophecies, it will surely be forgotten.

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However, sinful men try to leave up but keep praying to the LORD and their mark behind by their works or be sharing the gospel. When it is time the remembered via mausoleums. All this LORD can save anyone to the is foolishness to God. He will judge uttermost. His duty is to save with the and man will be judged by God’s gospel and our duty is to share the standard and there is nothing sinful gospel. AMEN. man can do to stop God. This whole earth will soon end in a fiery destruction and cease to exist. Foolish men who try to save this earth have a DAILY READINGS & DISCUSSION better chance is putting out the fires of QUESTIONS Hell with a garden hose! If he cannot even save himself, how can he save the earth in which he lives in? What Daily Readings foolish notions have crept into the MONDAY: Isaiah 19:1-10 minds of puny men. Just because he has sent men to the moon he thinks he TUESDAY: Isaiah 19:1-17 has conquered space and has the WEDNESDAY: Isaiah 19:1-25 power to save the earth! Man must THURSDAY: Isaiah 19:1-25 humble himself before God and turn to Christ who can save him from his sins FRIDAY: Isaiah 19:1-25 and let God save this earth since He has created it and not man. Discussion Questions The LORD saves all to the 1. What is your view of America as a uttermost present day superpower? Do you The salvation of the Egyptians think that it is a very great and and the Assyrians and how they lived powerful nation? Do you think that and served the LORD together is most it will fall? Explain your answer. encouraging. When it is in the will of the LORD and in His time He will save. ______These nations seem so beyond ______salvation today. Yet the LORD ______revealed more than 2,500 years ago ______that there will be this great salvation ______visiting these great nations that played ______such an important role in God’s plan of ______salvation for mankind. ______The gospel is indeed the power to save all mankind without exception. If 2. How do you compare the super these Egyptians and Assyrians can be powers of the past like the saved so marvellously, all can be Babylonians, Persians and Greeks saved. God’s people must never give and Romans with today’s super

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powers like Great Britain, Russia, 5. What should characterize a good China and America? Explain your counselor? Please cite biblical answer. examples or verse to support your ______answer. ______3. Do you have trouble accepting the twin doctrines of God’s sovereignty 6. How do you feel inside your heart and Man’s responsibility as when you read verses 18-25? revealed in Holy Scriptures? Do ______you have trouble understanding ______them? ______7. What lessons can you learn from this chapter about God’s Word and about yourself? 4. Do you like to give counsel? Do ______you think you are good enough to ______give counsel? What does it mean ______to give counsel to someone? What ______guides your counselling? ______

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