28-33 (Where to put your Trust)
The over-riding theme of this section seems to be the issue of TRUST. Some of the Jews were putting their trust in political alliances / military might. But God wants to say to them, through Isaiah, that they should put their trust in Him.
Chapter 28 begins with an indictment of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (here referred to as Ephraim). They were drunkards facing doom (judgment from God via the Assyrians). This judgment would leave the Southern Kingdom as God's remaining people. But even they were corrupted (28:7) from the top (priests and prophets) down. They rejected Isaiah's preaching (28:9-10, 14) as babel, so God promised to send them a worse kind of babbler (foreigners). If they wouldn't listen to preaching, perhaps they would listen to harsher discipline. The problem was that they were placing their trust in alliances with Egypt (28:15) rather than in something truly secure (28:16). Because of this, God would do the strange work (28:21) of coming against His own people. But this, too, was for a purpose. God knows how to accomplish His ultimate purposes, just as a farmer knows how to handle different crops.
Chapter 29 is a woe to Jerusalem (Ariel, Lion of God). The people of that city were putting on a show of religion (29:1, 13), but their leaders were spiritually blind(ed) (29:9-10). They were acting as if God couldn't see their secret sins. Ultimately, they were acting as if they were the potter and He was the clay. They had things upside down (29:16). If it was upside down they wanted, it was upside down they were going to get. God was about to turn their world upside down (so to speak) through judgment (29:17). Gentiles (29:18) would be included in God's household and some Jews would be excluded. It is possible that here we have a foreshadowing of the awesome reality that through Gentile inclusion some Israelites would repent and be restored to the people of God (29:22-23).
Chapter 30 specifically addresses the problem of finding security in Egypt (30:2, 7). Their refusal to heed the warnings of the prophets (30:10) would prevent the warnings from coming to fruition. The alliances with Egypt would break down (30:13). It was only in repentance and trust in the Lord that they would find true security (30:15). Isaiah was to urge them to recognize that God was sending discipline so that they would cry for His help, at which point He would do so (30:19).
Chapter 31 continues this theme. Those who place their trust in Egypt and Egypt's military strength will be utterly disappointed (31:1). The Egyptians are men and not God, their horses are flesh and not spirit (31:3). The Lord's protection comes from on high (31:5).
Chapter 32 is about the true security found in the King who will reign in righteousness (32:1). When that King comes (presumably a Messianic vision), wrongs will be righted. The end of the chapter is an indictment against the Jewish women who were complacent and corrupt themselves. Judgment was coming, but the pouring out of the Spirit was the solution (32:15).
Chapter 33 is a woe against Assyria (33:1). Just because God is currently using them as a tool for judgment doesn't mean they will, themselves, escape future judgment. Isaiah prays for deliverance is finds his security in God (33:2-6). Isaiah states the kinds of people who will survive all the judgments that have been considered. They are the righteous and just (33:15). The rest will be taken/gone (33:18-19). There will be a beautiful Jerusalem again (most likely a reference to spiritual Jerusalem, the church).
Chapter 28 begins with an indictment of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (here referred to as Ephraim). They were drunkards facing doom (judgment from God via the Assyrians). This judgment would leave the Southern Kingdom as God's remaining people. But even they were corrupted (28:7) from the top (priests and prophets) down. They rejected Isaiah's preaching (28:9-10, 14) as babel, so God promised to send them a worse kind of babbler (foreigners). If they wouldn't listen to preaching, perhaps they would listen to harsher discipline. The problem was that they were placing their trust in alliances with Egypt (28:15) rather than in something truly secure (28:16). Because of this, God would do the strange work (28:21) of coming against His own people. But this, too, was for a purpose. God knows how to accomplish His ultimate purposes, just as a farmer knows how to handle different crops.
Chapter 29 is a woe to Jerusalem (Ariel, Lion of God). The people of that city were putting on a show of religion (29:1, 13), but their leaders were spiritually blind(ed) (29:9-10). They were acting as if God couldn't see their secret sins. Ultimately, they were acting as if they were the potter and He was the clay. They had things upside down (29:16). If it was upside down they wanted, it was upside down they were going to get. God was about to turn their world upside down (so to speak) through judgment (29:17). Gentiles (29:18) would be included in God's household and some Jews would be excluded. It is possible that here we have a foreshadowing of the awesome reality that through Gentile inclusion some Israelites would repent and be restored to the people of God (29:22-23).
Chapter 30 specifically addresses the problem of finding security in Egypt (30:2, 7). Their refusal to heed the warnings of the prophets (30:10) would prevent the warnings from coming to fruition. The alliances with Egypt would break down (30:13). It was only in repentance and trust in the Lord that they would find true security (30:15). Isaiah was to urge them to recognize that God was sending discipline so that they would cry for His help, at which point He would do so (30:19).
Chapter 31 continues this theme. Those who place their trust in Egypt and Egypt's military strength will be utterly disappointed (31:1). The Egyptians are men and not God, their horses are flesh and not spirit (31:3). The Lord's protection comes from on high (31:5).
Chapter 32 is about the true security found in the King who will reign in righteousness (32:1). When that King comes (presumably a Messianic vision), wrongs will be righted. The end of the chapter is an indictment against the Jewish women who were complacent and corrupt themselves. Judgment was coming, but the pouring out of the Spirit was the solution (32:15).
Chapter 33 is a woe against Assyria (33:1). Just because God is currently using them as a tool for judgment doesn't mean they will, themselves, escape future judgment. Isaiah prays for deliverance is finds his security in God (33:2-6). Isaiah states the kinds of people who will survive all the judgments that have been considered. They are the righteous and just (33:15). The rest will be taken/gone (33:18-19). There will be a beautiful Jerusalem again (most likely a reference to spiritual Jerusalem, the church).
posted by matthew at 12:33 PM
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