Isaiah 29
I. (1-39) Condemnation
A. Chapters 1-12 - Prophecies against Judah
B. Chapters 13-23 - Prophecies against the Nations
C. Chapters 24-27 - Prophecies of the Day of the Lord
D. Chapters 28-35 - Prophecies of Judgment and Blessing
1. \\#28:1-29\\ Ephraim’s Future
2. \\#29:1-24\\ Jerusalem’s Future
2. \\#29:1-24\\ Jerusalem’s Future
a. \\#1-8\\ Jerusalem’s Destruction
(1) \\#1\\ "Ariel" - Although not a name typically used for Jerusalem,
it is clearly so here as the city is also called "the city where
David dwelt." The word means "LION OF GOD" and is probably to be
taken as a description of what Jerusalem was supposed to be.
(2) \\#2\\ Even though Jerusalem was the place where the sacrifices
were offered, God will distress the city and "heaviness and sorrow"
shall fill it.
(3) \\#2\\ "and it shall be unto me as Ariel" - There are several
meanings this phrase could have but it seems to me to be that God
is saying He would experience the same heaviness and sorrow that
Ariel is experiencing. God shares even in the despair and
brokenness of His people.
(4) \\#3\\ Yet, because of Judah’s sins, God will bring an enemy to
besiege Jerusalem. This was likely fulfilled by the Assyrians.
(5) \\#4\\ Apparently, demons speaking through their hosts have lower
tones and whispers when they communicate. So will be the sound of
Israel during the days of the siege.
(6) \\#5\\ The verse is probably to emphasize the large numbers of the
attacking army. They will be numerous like the dust and chaff.
The army shall be made up of strangers and awe-inspiring soldiers.
(7) \\#6\\ Most of this prophecy applies to the Assyria campaign
against Israel. During that siege, God’s presence as described in
this verse was symbolic. However, since the last section of this
chapter is most certainly an endtime prophecy, it is reasonable
to suppose that what was symbolical when the Assyrians attacked
Israel will be literally fulfilled when the anti-Christ’s and his
army come against Israel and Jerusalem in the endtimes.
(8) \\#7-8\\ These verses describe the stupor that the Jews will be
in during the siege. The battle will seem like a dream (more like
a nightmare) yet it will be all too real as they wake up day after
day to find themselves hunted, imprisoned, hungry, and helpless.
This spirit of dullness is described more in the next section and
will not only be the mark of the Jews when the Assyrians come but
is their condition today as well.
b. \\#9-16\\ Jerusalem’s Ignorance
(2) \\#9\\ God tells His people to stay where they are and they will
be filled with astonishment and tears. They will also stagger like
drunks but it won’t be from liquor.
(2) \\#10\\ Apparently, their staggering will be caused by a sleeping
spirit. God poured on the Jews a "spirit of deep sleep," making
them oblivious to what is going to happen to them. That was not
only true for the common man but for "the prophets and rulers" too.
(3) \\#11-12\\ Even the prophecy God is giving to them will be something
they will not comprehend.
(4) \\#13\\ This dullness is due to two things:
a. Their worship has been lip service only, not from the heart.
b. And because their fear of the Lord has been shaped not from
God’s Word but from man’s philosophy and understanding.
(5) \\#14\\ So God has done a great miracle among the Jewish nation.
He has removed their wisdom and understanding. (This miracle is
still being performed in Israel today and seems to be spreading
throughout the civilized and cultured world!)
(6) \\#15\\ This verse indicates that before the Lord hid His Word
from Israel, they had sought to hide their counsel (purpose) and
works from the Lord. Perhaps that is why God removed their
wisdom and understanding. I wonder if they were so brazen as to
literally think they could hide their wickedness from God!
(7) \\#16\\ God will demonstrate to Israel that He is their Master,
just as the potter demonstrates to the clay that he is in control.
(a) God will turn Israel "upside down."
(b) Israel will learn it was unwise to doubt their Maker or to
disdain His wisdom.
c. \\#17-24\\ Jerusalem’s Blessings - God moves from possibility of the
near-at-hand-prophecies to those in the distant future.
(1) \\#17\\ "Is it not yet a very little while" - Time must be measured
by God’s standard for this prophecy is 2500 years old and all of
it has not come to pass yet.
(2) \\#17\\ Lebanon is a mountain range on the northern edge of what
was to be Israel’s land \\#Deut 1:7\\. It was never taken by the
Jews. At one time, the range was known for its mighty cedars
\\#1Kings 4:33, 5:6, 7:2\\. Most believe that the land was
otherwise uncultivated.
(3) \\#17\\ The first part of this prophecy seems to have been
fulfilled as it was spoken. Lebanon was already "esteemed as a
forest." However, it was likely never esteemed as a fruitful field.
Perhaps the prophecy saw the forest being removed and then the Lord
restoring it. (I do not know what Lebanon is like today.)
(4) \\#18\\ Neither has "the deaf heard the words of this book" or
"the eyes of the blind" seen. While some of this could have been
fulfilled in one sense while Jesus was on the earth, it is more
likely a reference to the millennial reign of Christ.
(5) \\#19\\ At that time, the meek shall have joy in the Lord and the
poor shall rejoice in the God of Israel.
(6) \\#20\\ "terrible one… scorner" - Notice that \\#29:5\\
mentioned the "terrible ones," plural; this verse mentions only the
"terrible one." While it is not necessarily so, the one could be
a reference to the anti-christ.
(7) \\#20\\ At this time, the anti-Christ will be brought to nothing
and those desiring iniquity to prosper will be removed.
(8) \\#21\\ Some of the things the wicked did are listed:
a. They lied against good men.
b. They laid a trap for the one who would stand up against evil,
especially those in positions of leadership.
c. They would tempt and destroy a good person for no reason at all.
(9) \\#22\\ Sadly, repentance was not in Israel’s near future for
"Jacob shall not now be ashamed."
(10) \\#23\\ Repentance will not come until Israel sees her own people
in the her midst, probably being persecuted both by God and the
anti-Christ, although that is not so stated.
(11) \\#23-24\\ Then they shall separate themselves unto the Lord
(sanctify themselves) and know in their spirit that they erred
and murmured against God wrongly for so long.
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