The Lord Rebuked Jerusalem

INTRO

So far, we’ve seen the pattern of pending judgement coming upon the people, then blessings included in this process, and finally, the repeated message to get ready for the Messiah. Oracles or judgements were repeatedly made against Samaria, Judea, and Assyria. Nelson’s Commentary states, “Isaiah denounces those who seek human support instead of depending upon the Lord [in chapter 29]. In chapter 30 and 31, Isaiah addresses the specific folly of depending on Egypt.”¹ For Jerusalem the message was do not depend upon their own strength––do not depend upon Egypt. Isaiah continued to prophesy, while naked, to gain the attention of all who needed to heed his message from God. But Israel continued to make allegiances contrary to God’s will.

TEACHING

Isaiah 30:1-7: Israel attempted to carry out a plan, but it was not of God and not of the Holy Spirit. Israel repeatedly made decisions without seeking God’s guidance, thereby piling sin upon sin. At the advice of Hezekiah’s advisors, they went down to Egypt to seek an alliance (v. 2). Wiersbe stated, “Unlike the leaders of old–– Moses (Numbers 27:1), Joshua (Joshua 9:14), David (1 Samuel 30:7-8), and Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:7ff) ––the rulers of Jerusalem did not seek the will of God.”²Nelson’s Commentary explains, “The contrast of course, would be trusting in the ‘shadow of the Almighty’” (Psalm 91:1).³

In verses 3 through 5, Isaiah asked why Israel had made this decision to seek help from Egypt when Israel should have asked Isaiah for his counsel. Nelson’s Commentary states, “His ambassadors may be the people of Judah who went from Zoan (19:11–13), in the Delta of Hanes, some 50 miles south of Cairo.”⁴ The Israelites carried treasure on the back of animals from Jerusalem to Egypt to pay tribute and to buy their protection against Assyria.

Egypt is compared to Rahab in verse 7: “Rahab, which literally means ‘Storm’ or ‘Arrogant,’ was a dragon from pagan mythology who was pictured as resisting creation. Both Rahab and Leviathan are symbolic of the forces of evil in the universe that God will destroy (51:9)”⁵ Egypt’s help was worthless.

Isaiah 30:8-17: Isaiah told Judah/Jerusalem to write on a table and inscribe in a scroll that they had not obeyed the Lord’s instructions. Interestingly, “The oldest writing tablets discovered so far can be dated to about 1350 B.C. They were found in

A.D. 1986 in a shipwreck off the coast of southern Turkey. Until this discovery, the oldest tablets were those found in a well at Nimrud, near Nineveh, dating from about 700 B.C.”⁶ Isaiah accused the people of Israel of telling the seers not to see and the prophets not to prophesy. They did not want to be told anything. They only wanted to hear illusions. The people of Israel want Isaiah to leave them alone. Their most flagrant words come in verse 11 when they told Isaiah to cease prophesying.⁷

Following the repeated examples of the results of God’s judgement, verse 15 turns to the message of repentance and rest. This repentance required utter trust in the Lord. Nelson’s Commentary explains, “Quietness and confidence may be rephrased as ‘Utter trust’. Trusting in God’s strength instead of our own is the only way we can find true rest.”⁸

This kind of trust requires waiting. What is the hurry? Why feel rushed? Do not fret but trust in God. Wise planning has value but is not required for faith in God. We should reflect and worship.

Verses 1-17 are all about Israel depending upon Egypt, and Isaiah’s word was simply to stop. But condemnation, then hope, then a promise, and finally a blessing, are all part of Isaiah’s prophesy.

Isaiah 30:18 – 33; These verses promise that the Lord will save Israel and will destroy Assyria. Waiting on the Lord yields a blessing. God promised to hear them at their first cry and to answer them. “The Lord was giving the Israelites meager rations as though they were in prison (1 Kings 22:27). But after judgement the Lord would provide salvation: Israel’s eye would see (29:24). Teachers probably refers to the prophets (v. 10).”⁹

In verse 21, the people of Israel actually recognized Isaiah as the teacher and that the teacher was telling them which way to go: “The people had been living in such a way they were oblivious to their spiritual teachers (v. 20); now they would be taught by the Spirit of the living God.”¹⁰

The result is that the people would start to get rid of stuff (v. 22), and God’s blessing would extend from fields to flocks (v. 23). The impact of the coming salvation is illustrated in verses 23-26. Nelson’s Commentary explains, “These phrases emphasize the magnitude of the coming salvation. The coming of ample rainfall and strong streams are associated with the blessing that comes from trust in God (32:2; 41:17,18).”¹¹

In verses 27-33, Isaiah addressed the destruction of Assyria. Nelson’s Commentary states, “The prediction of Assyria’s destruction consists of two cycles: (1) one of attack (vv. 27, 28, and 30, 31), and (2) one of rejoicing (v. 29 and v. 32).”¹²

Wiersbe explains, “Just as Sheol was prepared for the King of Babylon (Isaiah 14:9ff), so Topheth was prepared for the King of Assyria. Topheth was a site outside of Jerusalem where the worshippers of Molech sacrificed their children (2 Kings 16:3; 21:6; Jeremiah 7:31-32; 19:6, 11-14).”¹³ Topheth is a symbolic image of hell.

CLOSING

These verses have a similarity to Armageddon and Christ’s second coming. Jerusalem turned to the Lord. They cried out to God. Finally, there was a battle and sacrifices where the King of Assyria ended in Topheth, which was later known as Gehenna or Hell. Ultimately the promise of God prevails.