March 19 - Jerusalem?!

March 19 - Jerusalem?! - Isaiah 22:1-25

Jerusalem is acting no better than its neighbors and for that Isaiah hears from the Lord regarding the city. Remember back in Isaiah 5:11-13 when we saw the people of the city cavorting around drinking and partying? Things look a little different to Isaiah's eyes in this vision. They were on their rooftops looking into the distance to see the trouble that was about to descend upon them. (Isaiah 22:1-4)

Weirsbe (Be Comforted) says that while some parts of this vision may seem to apply to the Assyrian invasion in Hezekiah’s day (Isaiah 36–37; 2 Kings 18–19; 2 Chron. 32), the primary reference is to the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.

In Isaiah 22:8-11, we see the greatest sin that these people could commit. They refused to trust the Lord, but looked only to themselves to handle the siege. They strengthened the wall, they built a reservoir, but they refused to call on the One who planned things long ago. They continued to feast when they should have been fasting before Him and weeping with sorrow over their sins. "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die?" This was as popular then as it is now. (Isaiah 22:8-13)

Shebna is the epitome of those that believe they are above the law and will exploit wealth no matter what is happening around them. He was the steward for Hezekiah and Isaiah prophesied that he would find himself carted off to Assyria, where he would die and not be buried in the fancy tomb that he was creating for himself. In building this tomb, he was trying to emulate the cultures that surrounded Judah, but God would have none of that. (Isaiah 22:15-19)

In his place, Eliakim would be raised up. This man is an early image of the Messiah. We see the prophecy from Isaiah 22:22 again in Revelation 3:22 where Jesus describes himself to the church in Philadelphia. But, even though he was a godly leader, he would not be able to hold Judah against the Babylonian assault. Jerusalem would fall one day. The Lord has spoken (Isaiah 22:20-25).