Isaiah 22
Another week in the study of Isaiah, another week in quarantine. Tonight we will be studying about the holy people, God’s chosen nation, Israel. But we will not be viewing them as heroes, nor even a people we should try to replicate. We will be seeing them as a judged nation, lumped in with all the other nations we view as terrible. Not only were these gentile nations opposed to God and his will, be God’s own chosen people were to be judged as trespassers. I want you to think, before we begin our study, about our own lives. We surely are the chosen people. The church has replaced this ancient Israel and it is the church that is considered a royal priesthood. It is the believer in Christ who is an heir with Christ. With your position in relation to God your Father in mind, think about your faith journey. Within all the chaos that surrounds in the world, it is so easy to let our faith slip. It becomes so easy to become lazy with our prayer life and absent from the Word of God. I encourage each of us to take a moment to reflect and turn our wayward parts to him. Allow God to come into our hearts afresh. This is so that, coming into this study about the sinful followers of God, we may be inspired to chase perfection and a deeper relationship with Christ.
This evening we are looking into Isaiah 22. This is an interesting chapter as it no longer speaks of judgement upon nations surrounding Israel, but judgement on Israel itself. Remember, the Oracles Against the Nations were actually meant to, in part, give encouragement to Israel. However, God will only allow this encouragement to go so far before he reminds them that they too will be judged for the evil that they have done. Israel, in fact has been the most evil! Let’s look to our passage tonight and try to break down the oracle against Jerusalem:
Vv.1-8 God’s chosen people have become a comfortable and drunken town. They surely will be destroyed for turning from the Lord their God. Verse 8 is especially showing as God has removed his protection from the city. All that was beautiful about Jerusalem will be taken over or destroyed by the invading armies of Elam and Kir.
Vv. 8b-13 Israel had a choice of who to trust, God or man. Of course, Israel chose to trust in themselves. We see a reference to 1 Kings 10:17, where Israel had stockpiled shields. They tried to build up their walls and make a reservoir for water. They were trying so hard to control the situation, but the only way to protect themselves was by the covering of God. And all the Lord wanted was for them to repent. He wanted their hearts to be broken because of their wickedness as his own heart was. Instead of repentance, the people turned to drinking hopelessness.
V. 14 There is no atonement because the people have hardened their hearts and refuse repentance. God cannot save a people that are so unwilling to turn from their ways.
Vv. 15-25 Isaiah points out a specific official in Judah, Shebna. Shebna has placed himself on high and has decided that when he dies it will be like royalty. He has a nice tomb dug out for him so that he can be honored in death. But this godless leader will die in a foreign land and his position of power given to the godly Eliakim. Not only will Eliakim take Shebna’s position and power, but God will grant Eliakim more.
Here are some concluding thoughts we ought to hold onto:
Mourn over sin: Many of us struggle with the concept of sin and therefore also struggle with repentance. Repentance ought to be a daily part of our walk with the Lord, whether we are sinning or not (be honest we all sin). We are called to carry our cross daily; proving to us that, though we are truly converted, daily we must convert our wills to the Lord. A heart of repentance grants our spirit humility which allows us to be in tune with the Holy Spirit’s directing. When we sin, it ought not be a quick sorry or thoughtless apology. With every sin we shout for the crucifixion of our Lord, breaking our Father’s heart. We should be angered by our sin, we should mourn our missteps. May we continue to be open to Christ’s perfecting work on our souls.
“Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die”: This has to be one of the most striking quotes I have read in awhile. The hopelessness and blindness that comes with making a statement like this overwhelms me. And yet, I feel as though many people have a similar attitude about life today. Much of the YOLO movement that was so popular in 2012 epitomized this statement. Many people exclaimed “You Only Live Once” before they drank themselves silly or made any number of questionable decisions. The idea of death is daunting and overwhelming for many people. When faced with death, we turn to the things we know. We build up defenses by human means and if we can’t protect ourselves we turn to what we know will make us comfortable. But God declares that we can overcome death with Jesus who has overcome the grave. And not only can we beat death but we can truly experience life as God the Creator had intended. By having a right relationship with God through the renewing of our minds and turning of our wills, we can experience life more fully than food or wine could satisfy. YOLO and other chants for people trying to make life enjoyable is not something the believer should envy but rather draw us into compassion for those crying out for help. If life is simply about the next drink or feast then life was not much of a gift to begin with.
Eliakim is a Christ figure: Did the description of Eliakim remind you of anyone? This official Eliakim is described in verses 22-24 in some pretty spectacular terms. This is not to say that he did not fulfill parts of the duty prophesied about him. However, it is my belief that this description is trying to point us to someone much greater. Who will have the key to the house of David, who shuts and opens doors permanently? We see the answer in Revelation 3:7, and it is not Eliakim. It is none other than Jesus Christ. Who sits on a throne of honor with the Father? Jesus in Revelation 3:21. Who will be the peg on which all things hold to? It is Christ, who is our cornerstone. All men, good and evil, godly or godless, will eventually be cut down or give way. Death comes for us all and our influence lasts only for so long. We often place our weight on mortal things, but all things eventually will give way leading to our own destruction. But God placed in reach a peg that will last for all times and, when we hold to that peg, we are granted salvation from the destruction of the world. Christ Jesus is the true peg, the true stronghold in which we can place our trust.