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God and the Nations. “Wherever We Flee For Help…” Isaiah 13-23. I. Structure and Purpose of the Oracles. MASSA’ - “oracle” or “burden” A lifting up (of the voice), a declaration A heavy message of divine judgment Occurs ten times 13:1; 14:28; 15:1; 17:1; 19:1; 21:1, 11, 13; 22:1; 23:1.
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God and the Nations “Wherever We Flee For Help…” Isaiah 13-23
I. Structure and Purpose of the Oracles • MASSA’ - “oracle” or “burden” • A lifting up (of the voice), a declaration • A heavy message of divine judgment • Occurs ten times 13:1; 14:28; 15:1; 17:1; 19:1; 21:1, 11, 13; 22:1; 23:1
I. Structure and Purpose of the Oracles • Ten Oracles • Against Babylon 13:1-14:27 • Against Philistia 14:28-32 • Against Moab 15:1-16:14 • Against Damascus/Ephraim 17:1-18:7 • Against Egypt 19:1-20:6 • Against the Wilderness of the Sea 21:1-10 • Against Dumah 21:11-12 • Against Arabia 21:13-17 • Against the Valley of Vision 22:1-25 • Against Tyre 23:1-18
I. Structure and Purpose of the Oracles • Four “interim fulfillments” • Assyria’s destruction 14:24-27 • Woe to Ethiopia, or Cush 18:1-7 • Sign of Isaiah’s nakedness 20:1-6 • Judgment against Shebna and Eliakim 22:15-25 • Ten Oracles
N N W S E E S W I. Structure and Purpose of the Oracles
I. Structure and Purpose of the Oracles • Thematic organization: judgment to repentance • First series • Babylon utterly destroyed 13:19-22 • Philistia assured that Zion a place of refuge 14:32 • Moab encouraged to seek security under Israel’s true King 16:3-5 • Israel must remember God 17:10 • Egypt becomes God’s people 19:16-25
I. Structure and Purpose of the Oracles • Thematic organization: judgment to repentance • First series • Second series • God crushes Babylonian idols 21:9 • Edom asks God’s watchman for guidance21:11 • Arabians cannot find aid among men 21:13-17 • Judah must repent of pride and look to God 22:11-13 • Tyre uses profit to aid the Lord and His people 23:18
I. Structure and Purpose of the Oracles • Theme: Surely such is our expectation, wherever we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and how shall we escape? Isaiah 20:6
God Is In Control • Gods sovereignty seen from outset Chapter 13 • He musters His army 3 • He destroys the land with His weapons 5 • He punishes the world 11 • It’s what He will do 13:11-22
God Is In Control • Gods sovereignty seen from outset Chapter 13 • The Lord thinks and it comes to pass 14:24-27 • He speaks and it is so 16:13-14; 21:16-17 • Nations may rage but God chases them away like chaff or tumbleweed 17:13
God Is In Control • Fate of nations rests with God, not social, economic, or political conditions 19:1-15 • False gods crumble before Him Vs. 1 • Social stability is at His command 2-4 • Dependent upon Him for our livelihood 5-10 • True wisdom and power only found in Him 11-15
God Is In Control • Fate of nations rests with God, not social, economic, or political conditions 19:1-15 • God controls the destiny of individuals 22:15-25 • Neither strength, wealth, connections, nor seniority can stop God’s plan 23:8-12
God’s People Can Only Trust the Almighty • Not that we shouldn'tbut that we cannot • Cannot trust world’s super powers Chp. 13, 19, 23 • Not our neighbors 14:28-32; Chp. 15–16, 17, 23 • Those from far away lands cannot protect us Chp. 18 • Best of men cannot be expected to provide what God alone can give 22:24-25 • Cannot trust ourselves 13:15-16; 17:10-11; 22:8-11
God Hates Pride • Isaiah shows us the many shades of pride • Babylon’s pride in military & culture Chp. 13-14, 21 • Moab’s arrogant nature, desiring deliverance but refusing to submit 16:6 • Damascus & Ephraim’s reliance on fortifications 17:1-3 • Egypt’s trust in multitude of gods, strong economy, and famous wisdom 19:1-15
God Hates Pride • Isaiah shows us the many shades of pride • Judah’s determination to find solutions to their problems without God 22:8-11 • Tyre’s pride in wealth & vast enterprise Chp. 23 • Personal pride of position • King of Babylon 14:12-15 • Shebna 22:15-19
God Hates Pride • Isaiah shows us the many shades of pride • Judgment coming to “halt the arrogance of the proud” & “lay low the haughtiness of the terrible”13:11 • When man glories in the work of his hands it is destroyed 13:19; 16:6-10; 17:1-3; 19:1-15; 22:15-22; 23:7-9 • Pride keeps us from receiving God’s favor 16:4-7; 22:8–11, 14 • Pride will condemn us 14:12-15
Human Effort Not Enough to Solve Human Problem • Moabites unable to find security 15:2, 8-9; 16:1-7 • Ephraim’s best efforts only bring harvest of ruins 17:10-11 • Cushites buzzing around while God calmly carries out His plan 18:1-7 • Egypt’s wise men never saw judgment coming 19:11-13 • Jerusalem had weapons, walls, and water, only to be starved, overrun, and carried away 22:1-11
God Promises a Better Future • Babylon destroyed for God’s people 14:1-2 • Promise of refuge in Zion 14:32 • Moab invited to escape oppression 16:4-5 • Promises of a remnant 17:6-8 • Even the Cushites bring gifts to the Lord 18:7 • Eliakim to replace Shebna 22:20-25 • Message of hope for “great religious seducer” of Israel 23:17-18
Lessons About the Judgment of God • Judgment will be just 13:11; 14:13, 17, 20; 16:6; 17:10; 22:12-14; 23:9 • Judgment is inescapable • Moabites fled only to be captured by lions 15:9 • Damascus & Ephraim cannot hide behind walls 17:1-3 • Egypt couldn’t protect itself 19:1-15 • Tiny nations and far away tribes not overlooked Chp. 18; 21:11-17 • God’s own people not exempt Chp. 22
Lessons About the Judgment of God • Judgment will be just 13:11; 14:13, 17, 20; 16:6; 17:10; 22:12-14; 23:9 • Judgment is inescapable • Judgment is be impartial Chp. 17 & 22 • Judgment is a purging 17:7-8; 19:18 • Judgment glorifies God Chp 18, 19, & 23
We Must Stand in Awe of the Lord of Host • Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent • No power He doesn’t control • All history is for good of His people • No hope without Him; with Him there is everlasting security