The Oracle Of The Coming Judgment Of Jerusalem

INTRO

Yesterday, we looked at how Isaiah was trying so hard to get his message across to the Southern Kingdom that he walked around without clothes for three years. We cannot tell if Isaiah had reclaimed his clothes at this point or not because he was still giving oracles. In Isaiah 21, three more oracles or judgments were given against the nations of Babylon, Duhma (or Edom), and Arabia.

TEACHING

Isaiah 22:1-4: In verse 1, Isaiah proclaimed an oracle of judgment against the “Valley of Vision,” which referred to Jerusalem. MacArthur explains that “this referred to Israel, since God often revealed Himself to Jerusalem in visions.”¹ Jerusalem was still part of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Isaiah asked, “What’s the matter with you?” (v. 1b). Nelson’s Commentary explains Isaiah’s question, stating: “Instead of partying on housetops, the ailing city should have been in its prayer closets.”² MacArthur goes even further, stating that “the prophet reproached the people for celebrating with wild parties when they should have been in deep repentance because of their sins”³ (Isaiah 5:11). In verse 2, Isaiah pointed out the jubilant people in the town. MacArthur states that, “Death came [to Jerusalem] through starvation or disease as the Babylonians besieged the city.”⁴

Further, Isaiah stated that the rulers had all fled the city and were captured together (v. 3). “Rather than defend the city the way they ought, the leaders fled to save their own necks and, in doing so, were captured”⁵ (2 Kings 25:4-7). Therefore, Isaiah was in deep grief over the coming destruction of his people and wanted no comfort (v. 4). “Isaiah’s pain was deep. He could not participate in the revelry because he saw the reality of the spiritual issues.”⁶ Isaiah’s prophecy of people fleeing and being captured would be fulfilled 100 years later. According to Wiersbe, the people did the opposite of what Isaiah told them: (1) they died from starvation and illness; (2) their rulers fled for their own safety; (3) instead of trusting God, the people brought in supplies to withstand a siege; (4) they gathered armor and weapons; (5) they strengthened the city’s outer walls; and (6) they built a water reservoir for the siege.⁷

Isaiah 22:5-7: The armies that had plundered Babylon would come to pillage Jerusalem (v. 7).

Isaiah 22:8-11: The people of Jerusalem prepared for the coming Babylon army, rather than turning back to God (vv. 8-11). “On that day,” God withdrew His defense of Judah (v. 8). “The defenses of Judah are stripped away. In their false

confidence,” they expected God to take care of them.⁸ “The House of the Forest” (v. 8b) referred to the national armory.⁹ (1 Kings 7:2-6; 10:17; 2 Chronicles 9:20; Isaiah 39:2). The people didn’t recognize what God had done for them in the past (v. 11).

Hezekiah’s tunnel system was built during this time, connecting underground water sources in Jerusalem. The tunnel system is still in place and was an amazing engineering feat. The tunnel was built for the coming siege. The problem was not that the tunnel was built, but that the people didn’t look to the Lord as their Defender while they did so.

Isaiah 22:12-13: Isaiah proclaimed that in the middle of a crisis, the people should repent (weeping, wailing, shaving heads, wearing sackcloth) (v. 12) rather than party. Instead, the people were enjoying life, with no regard for what was to come (v. 13).

Isaiah 22:14: Isaiah proclaimed that their sin would never be wiped out (v. 14). That means the people would never be given atonement.¹⁰

Isaiah 22:15: Isaiah pronounced another oracle against Shebna (v. 15). Shebna was “possibly of Egyptian extraction” and “was second in authority only to the king” and served as a scribe (2 Kings 18:37, 19:2; Isaiah 36:22; 37:2).¹¹ Shebna had authorized having a tomb carved for himself (v. 16). Nelson’s Commentary explains that, “By hewing himself a sepulcher on high, Shebna rivaled the king (2 Chronicles 6:14), to whom he should have been a father”¹² (v. 21). Isaiah proclaimed that Shebna would die by God’s judgment, and would be replaced by His servant Eliakim (vv. 17-24). Eliakim would be reliable and bring honor to his father Hilkiah’s memory (v. 23).

Verse 22 is one of the strongest pictures of hope in Scripture. Eliakim would be given the key to the House of David. “This authority to admit or refuse admittance into the king’s presence evidenced the king’s great confidence in Eliakim. Jesus applied this terminology to Himself as one who could determine who would enter His future Davidic kingdom (Revelation 3:7).”¹³

CLOSING

I have to wonder sometimes what would have transpired if it hadn’t been for Eliakim. Clearly, Eliakim is a picture of the remnant, and was given the key of David with full authority and power in the kingdom. Eliakim had no right to this position by birth, but it was given to him by God. However, according to verse 25, Eliakim will one day not be able to handle the burden of his office. This is a foreshadow of the second coming of Christ who will hold the key to God’s Kingdom, and who has all power and authority. Christ will carry the burden for us (Isaiah 9:6-7). He allows us access to eternal life.