Isaiah 34-39 Prophecy Fulfilled
Psalm 77:1-20 Don't Doubt in the Dark What You Learned in the Light
Ps 77:1 “My cry goes to God! Indeed, I cry to God for help, and for him to listen to me. 2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord. My hand was stretched out in the night, and didn’t get tired. My soul refused to be comforted. 3 I remember God, and I groan. I complain, and my spirit is overwhelmed. Selah. 4 You hold my eyelids open. I am so troubled that I can’t speak. 5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. 6 I remember my song in the night. I consider in my own heart; my spirit diligently inquires: 7 "Will the Lord reject us forever? Will he be favorable no more? 8 Has his hesed/loyal love vanished forever? Does his promise fail for generations? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he, in anger, withheld his compassion?" Selah.
10 Then I thought, "I will appeal to this: the years of the right hand of the Most High." 11 I will remember Yah’s deeds; for I will remember your wonders of old. 12 I will also meditate on all your work, and consider your doings. 13 Your way, God, is in the sanctuary. What god is great like God? 14 You are the God who does wonders. You have made your strength known among the peoples. 15 You have redeemed your people with your arm, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. 16 The waters saw you, God. The waters saw you, and they writhed. The depths also convulsed. 17 The clouds poured out water. The skies resounded with thunder. Your arrows also flashed around. 18 The voice of your thunder was in the whirlwind. The lightnings lit up the world. The earth trembled and shook. 19 Your way was through the sea; your paths through the great waters. Your footsteps were not known. 20 You led your people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Observations: 77:1-9 Doubting and sleepless in the dark, Asaph wonders if God, in anger (over their sin), has rejected His people and forgotten His hesed, His promises, and how to be gracious.
77:10-20 Recalling and meditating on God's past blessings to the nation, in delivering and leading them, Asaph grows confident in God's help.
Application: When tempted to doubt God's future goodness to you, recall how He's worked in the past in redeeming and guiding you; repent where necessary; then follow the Good Shepherd.
Prayer: Lord, You are my Shepherd; You have redeemed and guided me for a purpose thus far. Help me learn my lessons and follow Your voice to green pastures. Thanks. Amen.
Proverbs 19:18-24 Parenting Pointers
Pr 19:18 “Discipline your son, while there is hope; don’t be a willing party to his death.
19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again.
20 Listen to advise/counsel and accept instruction, that in the end you may be wise.
21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, but Yahweh’s counsel will prevail.
22 What is to be desired in a man is his hesed/loyal covenantal love. A poor man is better than a liar.
23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble.
24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.“
Observations: 19:18-23 You could view all of Proverbs as skills and values to be inculcated (look it up for a major parenting lesson) into your children. This section has some particularly good lessons for the Proverbial Parent (see Truthbase.net) to communicate. Since most of us weren't perfectly parented, we have some remedial work to do on ourselves (see how to re-parent yourself on Truthbase.net). Failure to train and discipline your children is to be a willing participant in their death. If you raise children that don't avoid danger, they will be ensnared. If you raise children who aren't committed to walking on the right path (because you haven't sold them on the dangers of the wrong ways and the blessings of the right ways [and modeled it]) then they will run to ruin on the highway to heartbreak (yours and theirs). There is a window of opportunity that starts when they rebel against your will while changing their diaper, and ends in the teen years (when the messes are much worse). If you don't shoulder the responsibility to train consistently in those days, you will be bearing their spiritual coffin the rest of your days.
19:19 Anger arises out of not getting things your way, which you deem essential to your happiness. Reaping moderate discipline for such stupid self-centered behavior early in life, avoids more painful consequences later (see “mixed mercy” in Amos). Not modeling anger helps prevent it from being imprinted into your children's repertoire of responses.
19:20 If accepting advice/counsel and instruction result in wisdom, than failure to do so means the person is a first class fool. This is an easy verse to make a rap out of and embed it into one's memory. Being a wise parent (brainwashed by Proverbs) helps make your kids receptive to counsel while under your wing, and flying on their own.
19:21 We have many plans, dreams, and aspirations in our hearts. What are the wise ones to pursue? The word “counsel” here is the same as verse 20, which is where you can find God's counsel, if you have godly counselors. “Prevail” primarily means to “rise”, and then by extension: to stand, become powerful, and be established. Of all the options we could chase after, it is the Lord's counsel/plan that will be the powerful and enduring one. Seeking out the path/plan of Yahweh, is the way to determine the wisest plans for your life. The Spirit of God helps those submitted to Him desire and do His will (Phil 2:13), through both the word and wise advice. To believe that a person can do whatever they want and trust that God's purpose will prevail in your life, and everything will be OK, is beyond stupid; it's idiotic and demonic. God's sovereign plan is to punish such folly. Children of all ages need to learn to seek and do God's will if they want to experience God's best.
19:22 Hesed, being loyal to one's word and covenant obligations is a desirable trait in a man woman, child, spouse, and God. It's desirable in business too, even if it costs. Something of such great value doesn't happen automatically (it certainly didn't for Israel). God models it for us; we must model it for our children, but it must be instilled and inculcated as well.
19:23 Fearing God starts with fearing our human parent. If we don't respect them, and care about what they think, we won't care about what God thinks (until we experience disastrous consequences). Contentment, peace and prosperity, as well as wisdom and blessing come as a result of fearing God. Only the most dense or deceived can miss that truth repeated throughout the Scriptures. If you've read this far in DailyTruthbase, and haven't grasped that foundational truth, you might be able to use the Google translator to read the blog in a language you understand.
19:24 The sluggard starts a project/goal, sometimes with great enthusiasm, but then doesn't bring it to completion. It's like reaching into the bowl of potato chips, and leaving your hand there, failing to bring the chip back to the mouth. See Saga of the Sorry Sluggard, and the TOYL Goal Autopsy for help in developing the skill and mindset necessary to reap the fruit of our dreams. If you are parenting you need to be diligent to keep them diligent, day in and day out. Think about how God parents us to get us to follow through on our commitments. Even He has a tough time, and He has infinite patience and power (good things to tap into).
Application: Wise and godly people don't arrive on the planet via alien spaceships; they're home grown.
Prayer: God thanks for Your perfect parenting of me; may I bring delight to You with my responsiveness, and model Your parenting style in training the children You've entrusted to me, so they will bring delight to me. (Thanks for our kids.) Amen.
Isaiah 34-39 The first 39 chapters of Isaiah (emphasizing judgment) are considered by some to match the 39 books of the OT, and the next 27 (emphasizing blessing), those of the NT. Those who actually read both Isaiah and both the OT and NT will notice that the distinction is largely artificial, since God manifests great judgment and gracious blessing in both testaments, and throughout Isaiah. However, as a matter of emphasis, the first “half” of Isaiah is more about warning, and chapter 40 begins with “Comfort my people.” The chapters in this post finish off the first section of Isaiah, with fulfilled prophecies of judgment and deliverance, prophecies of future judgment and deliverance and warnings to dependently trust God, for deliverance. It ends with introducing Babylon as the next ruling power after Assyria.
Isaiah 34 Day of Vengeance and Vanishing Stars
9 Its streams will be turned into pitch, its dust into sulfur, and its land will become burning pitch. 12 They shall call its nobles to the kingdom, but none shall be there; and all its princes shall be nothing. 13 Thorns will come up in its palaces...15...Yes, the kites will be gathered there, every one with her mate. 16 Search in the book of Yahweh, and read: not one of these will be missing. none will lack her mate. For my mouth has commanded, and his Spirit has gathered them. 17 He has cast the lot for them, and his hand has divided it to them with a measuring line. They shall possess it forever. From generation to generation they will dwell in it.
Observations: 34:1-8 From describing the judgment on Assyria in previous chapters, Isaiah broadens the theme to the judgment of the day of the Lord describing His vengeance on all the nations opposed to Zion (so much for man-made efforts at world peace). The Lord returns first, destroys the nations, and the powers behind them. Many ancient cultures worshiped the stars, which symbolized the spiritual powers behind earthly rulers (pagan gods, fallen angels). By wiping out the heavens and its stars, the Messiah will sweep the old order away to establish the new. In the next chapter the Messiah brings in world peace, after the judgment, and will replant His people in Zion (so much for post-tribulational and amillennial viewpoints; they'll fade like the stars as well). It's world wide judgment, then world wide peace. Edom (descendents of Esau) is mentioned as a representative nation hostile to the descendents of Jacob.
34:9-17 Each of the wild animals will have its mate. Each of God's prophecies will have its corresponding fulfillment.
Application: Since God is the one who brings in world peace, we should focus our efforts on demonstrating personal righteousness and justice, and obeying His commands.
Prayer: God, knowing that You will fulfill all Your promises, help me focus on doing the things You've promised to bless. Amen.
Isaiah 35 Joyful Return to Zion
5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. 6 Then the lame man will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing; for waters will break out in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. 7 The burning sand will become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water. Grass with reeds and rushes will be in the habitation of jackals, where they lay. 8 A highway will be there, a road, and it will be called The Holy Way. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it will be for those who walk in the Way. Wicked fools will not go there. 9 No lion will be there, nor will any ravenous animal go up on it. They will not be found there; but the redeemed will walk there. 10 The Yahweh’s ransomed ones will return, and come with singing to Zion; and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away."
Observations: 35:1-4 In contrast to the doom and gloom of the last chapter, this one is almost pure joy (except for Lebanon, the unnamed recipients of vengeance and retribution, and the exclusion of the wicked fools; the lions won't be that happy either). This chapter points to the future day when God redeems and regathers His people to the land, which will be a verdant garden, basking in God's glory. The expectation of God's return should strengthen the fearful and weak, because it indicates His power isn't limited, nor are His promises forgotten.
35:5-10 The highlight of the reversal of physical/spiritual/political fortunes is the highway called the Holy Way, reserved for the redeemed who walk in the way. The nation has not yet experienced this everlasting joy in Zion.
Application: The redeemed who walk in God's way today, will rejoice both now and then. Where are you walking; what are you trusting?
Prayer: God, You bless those who walk in Your way with access to You, both now and in the future; may I experience the joy of Your way, today, and every day, from now to eternity and beyond. Amen.
Isaiah 36 Trust and Testing
13 "Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria! 14 Thus says the king, ‘Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you; for he will not be able to deliver you. 15 Don’t let Hezekiah make you trust in Yahweh, saying, "Yahweh will surely deliver us. This city won’t be given into the hand of the king of Assyria."’ 16 Don’t listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria, ‘Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and each of you eat from his vine, and each one from his fig tree, and each one of you drink the waters of his own cistern; 17 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards. 18 Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, "Yahweh will deliver us." Have any of the gods of the nations delivered their lands from the hand of the king of Assyria? 19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they delivered Samaria from my hand? 20 Who are they among all the gods of these countries that have delivered their country out of my hand, that Yahweh should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’" 21 But they remained silent, and said nothing in reply, for the king’s commandment was, "Don’t answer him."
Observations: 36:1-21 Assyria has captured all the cities of Judah except Jerusalem. The envoy of the king of Assyria comes to get Hezekiah to be a vassal and pay tribute. He correctly challenges Judah's trust in Egypt as harming themselves. Then he seeks to undermine their trust in Yahweh by incorrectly saying Hezekiah has taken down Yahweh's altars and therefore Yahweh wouldn't help them (when in reality, he had taken down the idolatrous pagan altars so Yahweh would help them). The envoy asserts that Yahweh was with him, not them because he had told them to attack Judah, and given them the victory (which was true -Isaiah 10:5-6). Things look glum. The envoy considers Yahweh, as just another powerless local deity, and mocks their trust in Him, with a barrage of demonic lies and distortions.
Application: Your trust in the true God will be tried and assailed by the lying agents of Satan; don't listen to them.
Prayer: Eternally faithful God, I know my trust in You and Your truth will be tested; please give me grace to hold on to the truth, regardless of how bad things look. Amen.
Isaiah 37 The Power of Faithful Prayer
8 So Rabshakeh...9...sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, 10 "Thus you shall speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, ‘Don’t let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, "Jerusalem won’t be given into the hand of the king of Assyria." 11 Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly. Shall you be delivered? 12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them, which my fathers have destroyed...14 Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it. Then Hezekiah went up to Yahweh’s house, and spread it before Yahweh. 15 Hezekiah prayed to Yahweh, saying, 16 "Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel, who is enthroned among the cherubim, you are the God, even you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 17 Turn your ear, Yahweh, and hear. Open your eyes, Yahweh, and behold. Hear all of the words of Sennacherib, who has sent to defy the living God. 18 Truly, Yahweh, the kings of Assyria have destroyed all the countries and their land, 19 and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone; therefore they have destroyed them. 20 Now therefore, Yahweh our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you are Yahweh, even you only."
21 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, "Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘Because you have prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, 22 this is the word which Yahweh has spoken concerning him. The virgin daughter of Zion has despised you and ridiculed you. The daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head at you. 23 Whom have you defied and blasphemed? Against whom have you exalted your voice and lifted up your eyes on high? Against the Holy one of Israel...26 Have you not heard how I have done it long ago, and formed it in ancient times? Now I have brought it to pass, that it should be yours to destroy fortified cities, turning them into ruinous heaps. 27 Therefore their inhabitants had little power...29 Because of your raging against me, and because your arrogance has come up into my ears, therefore will I put my hook in your nose and my bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way by which you came.
30 This shall be the sign to you. You will eat this year that which grows of itself, and in the second year that which springs from the same; and in the third year sow and reap and plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. 31 The remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah will again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. 32 For out of Jerusalem a remnant will go forth, and survivors will escape from Mount Zion. The zeal of Yahweh of Hosts will perform this.’ 33 Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning the king of Assyria, ‘He will not come to this city, nor shoot an arrow there, neither will he come before it with shield, nor cast up a mound against it. 35 ‘For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.’" 36 The angel of Yahweh went out and struck one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the camp of the Assyrians. When men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. 37 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, went away, returned to Nineveh, and stayed there. 38 It happened, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons struck him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. Esar Haddon his son reigned in his place.
Observations: 37:1-7 Hezekiah responds to the scary threat of Assyria with prayer and reaffirms his trust in God's promises. He sends to Isaiah for counsel and Yahweh responds that this is His battle not Hezekiah's. Yahweh says He will cause Sennacherib to leave them alone.
37:8-20 Hezekiah then gets a written threat, and again prays, seeking God's protection and His reputation as well. He prays in the house of Yahweh and experiences deliverance, while Sennacherib will pray in the house of Nisroch, his god, and experience death.
37:21-29 God responds via Isaiah that He will destroy the one who pridefully defies the living God. God had raised up Sennacherib to judge, which is why he was successful, not because of his own strength; now he will be judged like he judged others.
37:30-37 God offers another sign that what He said will happen. The land which was depleted by the battles and sieges would produce enough to sustain Jerusalem for the next two years, and in the third year they would plant and reap. Vineyards usually took years to become productive. God springboards off His sign to signify that a remnant of the house of Judah would take root and bear fruit in the future. He then defends Jerusalem, sending an angel to kill 185,000 Assyrians who were knocking on their door.
37:38 Sennacherib got what God promised as well (but it took a number of years). Thus the previous prophecies about God destroying Assyria are fulfilled. We can look with confidence to Him fulfilling all His other promises to us, Israel, and the world as well.
Application: Faithful prayer is frequently the best solution to impossible problems.
Prayer: God, may my first response to scary threats be prayer and trust in You, with a concern for Your reputation. For I know that You will fight my battles when I've aligned myself with You. Thanks. Amen.
Isaiah 38 The Power Cord of Prayer
9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and had recovered of his sickness. 10 I said, "In the middle of my life I go into the gates of Sheol. I am deprived of the residue of my years." 11 I said, "I won’t see Yah, Yah in the land of the living. I will see man no more with the inhabitants of the world. 12 My dwelling is removed, and is carried away from me like a shepherd’s tent..14...My eyes weaken looking upward. Lord, I am oppressed. Be my security." 15 What will I say? He has both spoken to me, and himself has done it. I will walk carefully all my years because of the anguish of my soul. 16 Lord, men live by these things; and my spirit finds life in all of them: you restore me, and cause me to live. 17 Behold, for peace I had great anguish, but you have in love for my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; for you have cast all my sins behind your back. 18 For Sheol can’t praise you. Death can’t celebrate you. Those who go down into the pit can’t hope for your truth. 19 The living, the living, he shall praise you, as I do this day. The father shall make known your truth to the children. 20 Yahweh will save me. Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of Yahweh. 21 Now Isaiah had said, "Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it for a poultice on the boil, and he shall recover." 22 Hezekiah also had said, "What is the sign that I will go up to the house of Yahweh?"
Observations: 38:1-8 This and the next chapter precede the previous two chapters chronologically. Isaiah arranged them here to set up the second “half” of the book, which deal with the threat of Babylon, and sound the theme of moving from death to life.
Hezekiah is sick (cf 2Kings 20; 2Chron 32:25) and Isaiah tells him to put his house in order and get ready to die. Hezekiah prays that God would remember how he walked before Him in truth and with a perfect heart, and had done that which is right in His sight. Hezekiah's purposeful life and perfect heart plug into God's power. God agrees with him and gives him fifteen more years and a sign. Apparently there was a series of steps that were used as a sundial.
38:9-32 Hezekiah responds to his deliverance with a testimony of praise, starting with shortened days at the gates of Sheol, and ending with lengthened days in the house of Yahweh. Verses 14-15 mark the chiastic center. There is an interesting argument (in Bullinger's Companion Bible's Appendix 67) that Hezekiah also wrote the fifteen Psalms/Songs of The Degrees (120-134) to commemorate the fifteen extra years God gave him. In this song he praises God and vows to walk in His ways.
Application: A purposeful life (seeking God's praise) and perfect heart (walking in His ways) plug our prayers into God's power, with electrifying results.
Prayer: God, like Your servant Hezekiah, may my life's purpose and paths make me pleasing in Your sight, and incline Your heart to my prayers. Thanks. Amen.
Isaiah 39 Babylonian Blunder
5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of Yahweh of Hosts: 6 ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says Yahweh. 7 ‘They will take away your sons who will issue from you, whom you shall father, and they will be eunuchs in the king of Babylon’s palace.’" 8 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "Yahweh’s word which you have spoken is good." He said moreover, "For there will be peace and truth/faithfulness in my days."
Observations: 39:1-4 The king of Babylon sends Hezekiah get well wishes, and Hezekiah shows the ambassadors all his treasures. It looks like prideful boasting, but isn't condemned as such. It could also be viewed as laying the groundwork for a potential alliance with Babylon, but again, the text is silent.
39:5-8 Isaiah delivers God's word to Hezekiah, that all his stuff will be taken to Babylon and his sons will be eunuchs in the Babylonian court. Thus Isaiah predicts Babylon's ascendency and the Babylonian captivity (which will be for Judah's sin, not Hezekiah's indiscretion). Hezekiah's response is surprising, but at this point he might not have had any sons, so that would be good news, as would the promise of peace and faithfulness of the nation in his days.
Application: Humble trust is a good skill to cultivate, since it can keep us from getting into trouble, and get us out of trouble as well.
Prayer: Lord, may I be more concerned about Your glory than mine. Amen.
Digging Deeper:
God in a nutshell: God has all power, so it's nothing for Him to wipe out enemies, nations, or even the host of heaven. He will eventually do all of that at His coming to earth to restore the nation of Israel and set up a rule of righteousness and justice, yielding worldwide peace. First He returns and pours out judgment/tribulation on the whole word, then restores the house of Judah, and then there is the peace. He raises up people to judge wickedness, and judges his agents when they become proud. He answers prayers for both national and personal deliverance, and forgives the sin of His people. He requires holiness to be in His presence.
Us in a nutshell: Even while demonstrating the best faith, we will be tried and tempted to not trust God for our protection and prosperity. We can indeed walk in obedience with a perfect heart and do what is right in the sight of God, incurring His blessing. Prayerful dependence upon God is good for both personal and national needs. A holy life is good for getting prayers answered.
Where to Go for More:
Truthbase.net
Isaiah complete text
Isaiah 34
34:1 Come near, you nations, to hear! Listen, you peoples. Let the earth and all it contains hear; the world, and everything that comes from it. 2 For Yahweh is enraged against all the nations, and angry with all their armies. He has utterly destroyed them. He has given them over for slaughter. 3 Their slain will also be cast out, and the stench of their dead bodies will come up; and the mountains will melt in their blood. 4 All of the army of the sky will be dissolved. The sky will be rolled up like a scroll, and all its armies will fade away, as a leaf fades from off a vine or a fig tree. 5 For my sword has drunk its fill in the sky. Behold, it will come down on Edom, and on the people of my curse, for judgment. 6 Yahweh’s sword is filled with blood. It is covered with fat, with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams; for Yahweh has a sacrifice in Bozrah, And a great slaughter in the land of Edom. 7 The wild oxen will come down with them, and the young bulls with the mighty bulls; and their land will be drunken with blood, and their dust made greasy with fat. 8 For Yahweh has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.
9 Its streams will be turned into pitch, its dust into sulphur, And its land will become burning pitch. 10 It won’t be quenched night nor day. Its smoke will go up forever. From generation to generation, it will lie waste. No one will pass through it forever and ever. 11 But the pelican and the porcupine will possess it. The owl and the raven will dwell in it. He will stretch the line of confusion over it, and the plumb line of emptiness. 12 They shall call its nobles to the kingdom, but none shall be there; and all its princes shall be nothing. 13 Thorns will come up in its palaces, nettles and thistles in its fortresses; and it will be a habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches. 14 The wild animals of the desert will meet with the wolves, and the wild goat will cry to his fellow. Yes, the night creature shall settle there, and shall find herself a place of rest. 15 The arrow snake will make her nest there, and lay, hatch, and gather under her shade. Yes, the kites will be gathered there, every one with her mate. 16 Search in the book of Yahweh, and read: not one of these will be missing. none will lack her mate. For my mouth has commanded, and his Spirit has gathered them. 17 He has cast the lot for them, and his hand has divided it to them with a measuring line. They shall possess it forever. From generation to generation they will dwell in it.
Isaiah 35
35:1 The wilderness and the dry land will be glad. The desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose. 2 It will blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing. Lebanon’s glory Lebanon will be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They will see Yahweh’s glory, the excellence of our God. 3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. 4 Tell those who have a fearful heart, "Be strong. Don’t be afraid. Behold, your God will come with vengeance, God’s retribution. He will come and save you.
5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. 6 Then the lame man will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing; for waters will break out in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. 7 The burning sand will become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water. Grass with reeds and rushes will be in the habitation of jackals, where they lay. 8 A highway will be there, a road, and it will be called The Holy Way. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it will be for those who walk in the Way. Wicked fools will not go there. 9 No lion will be there, nor will any ravenous animal go up on it. They will not be found there; but the redeemed will walk there. 10 The Yahweh’s ransomed ones will return, and come with singing to Zion; and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away."
Isaiah 36
36:1 Now it happened in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all of the fortified cities of Judah, and captured them. 2 The king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem to king Hezekiah with a large army. He stood by the aqueduct from the upper pool in the fuller’s field highway. 3 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder came out to him. 4 Rabshakeh said to them, "Now tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria, "What confidence is this in which you trust? 5 I say that your counsel and strength for the war are only vain words. Now in whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me? 6 Behold, you trust in the staff of this bruised reed, even in Egypt, which if a man leans on it, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. 7 But if you tell me, ‘We trust in Yahweh our God,’ isn’t that he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah and to Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar?’" 8 Now therefore, please make a pledge to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them. 9 How then can you turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put your trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? 10 Have I come up now without Yahweh against this land to destroy it? Yahweh said to me, "Go up against this land, and destroy it."’"
11 Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah said to Rabshakeh, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and don’t speak to us in the Jews’ language in the hearing of the people who are on the wall." 12 But Rabshakeh said, "Has my master sent me only to your master and to you, to speak these words, and not to the men who sit on the wall, who will eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you?" 13 Then Rabshakeh stood, and called out with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and said, "Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria! 14 Thus says the king, ‘Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you; for he will not be able to deliver you. 15 Don’t let Hezekiah make you trust in Yahweh, saying, "Yahweh will surely deliver us. This city won’t be given into the hand of the king of Assyria."’ 16 Don’t listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria, ‘Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and each of you eat from his vine, and each one from his fig tree, and each one of you drink the waters of his own cistern; 17 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards. 18 Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, "Yahweh will deliver us." Have any of the gods of the nations delivered their lands from the hand of the king of Assyria? 19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they delivered Samaria from my hand? 20 Who are they among all the gods of these countries that have delivered their country out of my hand, that Yahweh should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’" 21 But they remained silent, and said nothing in reply, for the king’s commandment was, "Don’t answer him." 22 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.
Isaiah 37
37:1 It happened, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into Yahweh’s house. 2 He sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz. 3 They said to him, "Thus says Hezekiah, ‘This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of rejection; for the children have come to the birth, and there is no strength to bring forth. 4 It may be Yahweh your God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Yahweh your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.’" 5 So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah. 6 Isaiah said to them, "Tell your master, ‘Thus says Yahweh, "Don’t be afraid of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. 7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him and he will hear news, and will return to his own land. I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land."’"
8 So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah, for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish. 9 He heard news concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, "He has come out to fight against you." When he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, 10 "Thus you shall speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, ‘Don’t let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, "Jerusalem won’t be given into the hand of the king of Assyria." 11 Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly. Shall you be delivered? 12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them, which my fathers have destroyed, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the children of Eden who were in Telassar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?’" 14 Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it. Then Hezekiah went up to Yahweh’s house, and spread it before Yahweh. 15 Hezekiah prayed to Yahweh, saying, 16 "Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel, who is enthroned among the cherubim, you are the God, even you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 17 Turn your ear, Yahweh, and hear. Open your eyes, Yahweh, and behold. Hear all of the words of Sennacherib, who has sent to defy the living God. 18 Truly, Yahweh, the kings of Assyria have destroyed all the countries and their land, 19 and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone; therefore they have destroyed them. 20 Now therefore, Yahweh our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you are Yahweh, even you only."
21 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, "Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘Because you have prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, 22 this is the word which Yahweh has spoken concerning him. The virgin daughter of Zion has despised you and ridiculed you. The daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head at you. 23 Whom have you defied and blasphemed? Against whom have you exalted your voice and lifted up your eyes on high? Against the Holy one of Israel. 24 By your servants, have you defied the Lord, and have said, "With the multitude of my chariots I have come up to the height of the mountains, to the innermost parts of Lebanon. I will cut down its tall cedars and its choice fir trees. I will enter into its farthest height, the forest of its fruitful field. 25 I have dug and drunk water, and with the sole of my feet I will dry up all the rivers of Egypt." 26 Have you not heard how I have done it long ago, and formed it in ancient times? Now I have brought it to pass, that it should be yours to destroy fortified cities, turning them into ruinous heaps. 27 Therefore their inhabitants had little power. They were dismayed and confounded. They were like the grass of the field, and like the green herb, like the grass on the housetops, and like a field before its crop has grown. 28 But I know your sitting down, your going out, your coming in, and your raging against me. 29 Because of your raging against me, and because your arrogance has come up into my ears, therefore will I put my hook in your nose and my bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way by which you came. 30 This shall be the sign to you. You will eat this year that which grows of itself, and in the second year that which springs from the same; and in the third year sow and reap and plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. 31 The remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah will again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. 32 For out of Jerusalem a remnant will go forth, and survivors will escape from Mount Zion. The zeal of Yahweh of Hosts will perform this.’ 33 Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning the king of Assyria, ‘He will not come to this city, nor shoot an arrow there, neither will he come before it with shield, nor cast up a mound against it. 34 By the way that he came, by the same he shall return, and he shall not come to this city,’ says Yahweh. 35 ‘For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.’" 36 The angel of Yahweh went out and struck one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the camp of the Assyrians. When men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. 37 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, went away, returned to Nineveh, and stayed there. 38 It happened, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons struck him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. Esar Haddon his son reigned in his place.
Isaiah 38
38:1 In those days was Hezekiah sick and near death. Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him, and said to him, "Thus says Yahweh, ‘Set your house in order, for you will die, and not live.’" 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to Yahweh, 3 and said, "Remember now, Yahweh, I beg you, how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight." Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 Then the word of Yahweh came to Isaiah, saying, 5 "Go, and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says Yahweh, the God of David your father, "I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. 6 I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city. 7 This shall be the sign to you from Yahweh, that Yahweh will do this thing that he has spoken. 8 Behold, I will cause the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down on the sundial of Ahaz with the sun, to return backward ten steps. So the sun returned ten steps on the sundial on which it had gone down."’"
9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and had recovered of his sickness. 10 I said, "In the middle of my life I go into the gates of Sheol. I am deprived of the residue of my years." 11 I said, "I won’t see Yah, Yah in the land of the living. I will see man no more with the inhabitants of the world. 12 My dwelling is removed, and is carried away from me like a shepherd’s tent. I have rolled up, like a weaver, my life. He will cut me off from the loom. From day even to night you will make an end of me. 13 I waited patiently until morning. He breaks all my bones like a lion. From day even to night you will make an end of me. 14 I chattered like a swallow or a crane. I moaned like a dove. My eyes weaken looking upward. Lord, I am oppressed. Be my security." 15 What will I say? He has both spoken to me, and himself has done it. I will walk carefully all my years because of the anguish of my soul. 16 Lord, men live by these things; and my spirit finds life in all of them: you restore me, and cause me to live. 17 Behold, for peace I had great anguish, but you have in love for my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; for you have cast all my sins behind your back. 18 For Sheol can’t praise you. Death can’t celebrate you. Those who go down into the pit can’t hope for your truth. 19 The living, the living, he shall praise you, as I do this day. The father shall make known your truth to the children. 20 Yahweh will save me. Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of Yahweh. 21 Now Isaiah had said, "Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it for a poultice on the boil, and he shall recover." 22 Hezekiah also had said, "What is the sign that I will go up to the house of Yahweh?"
Isaiah 39
39:1 At that time, Merodach Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah; for he heard that he had been sick, and had recovered. 2 Hezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures. There was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah didn’t show them. 3 Then Isaiah the prophet came to king Hezekiah, and asked him, "What did these men say? Where did they come from to you?" Hezekiah said, "They have come from a country far from me, even from Babylon." 4 Then he asked, "What have they seen in your house?" Hezekiah answered, "They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them."
5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of Yahweh of Hosts: 6 ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says Yahweh. 7 ‘They will take away your sons who will issue from you, whom you shall father, and they will be eunuchs in the king of Babylon’s palace.’" 8 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "Yahweh’s word which you have spoken is good." He said moreover, "For there will be peace and truth in my days."
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