Isaiah 21:1-17 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Isaiah 21:1-17. Let’s go!
Isaiah 21:1-10 (NIV)
1 An oracle concerning the Desert by the Sea: Like whirlwinds sweeping through the southland, an invader comes from the desert, from a land of terror.
2 A dire vision has been shown to me: The traitor betrays, the looter takes loot. Elam, attack! Media, lay siege! I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused.
3 At this my body is racked with pain, pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor; I am staggered by what I hear, I am bewildered by what I see.
4 My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me.
5 They set the tables, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers, oil the shields!
6 This is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.
7 When he sees chariots with teams of horses, riders on donkeys or riders on camels, let him be alert, fully alert.”
8 And the lookout shouted, “Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post.
9 Look, here comes a man in a chariot with a team of horses. And he gives back the answer: ‘Babylon has fallen, has fallen! All the images of its gods lie shattered on the ground!'”
10 O my people, crushed on the threshing floor, I tell you what I have heard from the LORD Almighty, from the God of Israel.
On verses 1-10: Scholars are quite certain that this oracle concerns Babylon (v9), which Isaiah calls the “Desert by the Sea” (v1). However, it is less certain what exact time in history Isaiah is talking about here. John B. Polhill in the New American Commentary on Isaiah gives a well reasoned argument for why this oracle is probably describing the defeat of Babylon’s King Merodach-baladan at the hands of Assyria in 689 B.C., at a time when the Medes (v2), the Elamites (v2) and even King Hezekiah of Judah (Isaiah 39) were all allied to Babylon. However, other scholars think this oracle is predicting the final fall of Babylon at the hands of the Persians and Medes in 586 B.C. Others still think this oracle is talking about Assyria defeating King Marduk-apal-iddina of Babylon in 702 B.C. There are even those who think that Isaiah is not referring to any one defeat of Babylon but is “telescoping” and putting together in one all the defeats that Babylon would experience. Whichever one of Babylon’s defeats Isaiah is talking about, Isaiah is shaken by this vision of Babylon’s fall which he has seen (v4).
While there is no consensus on which event in Babylon’s history Isaiah is prophesying about here, there is wide agreement among scholars that the message of this oracle is that because Babylon is bound to fall, the people of Judah should be wary of assuming that Babylon will be of much help to them against Assyria. Just as it is hard to find life in a “desert”, even one that is “by the sea” (v1), so Isaiah is warning the people of Judah not to put their hope in Babylon.
Isaiah 21:11-12 (NIV)
11 An oracle concerning Dumah: Someone calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?”
12 The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but also the night. If you would ask, then ask; and come back yet again.”
On verses 11-12: This two-verse oracle appears to be concerning the nation of Edom, based on the reference to “Seir” (v11) which is another name for Edom. Some scholars think “Dumah” is a word play on the name Edom. Here Isaiah is pictured like a watchman who is asked how much longer until morning comes (v11), to which he replies that morning is coming, but also the night.
What can we learn from this? While it is not clear what this oracle meant exactly to its original hearers, one general lesson we can learn is that, just as the people of Seir were looking to Isaiah the prophet for some direction and hope, so the world is looking for hope, news and guidance wherever it can find it. Similar to Isaiah the watchman, we are called to be watchmen who wait on Jesus (Matthew 24:42) and who spread the hope and warning that Jesus is coming. As Psalm 130:5-6 says, “I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.”
What does it mean to wait on the LORD? Taking some clues from what watchmen do, I believe waiting on the Lord includes:
– Looking forward to and desiring to see God and experience Him;
– At the same time, not being in a hurry to see God but submitting to God’s timing;
– Dedicating generous amounts of time and energy to focus on Him and look for Him;
– Being ready to share with others when you see Him.
Isaiah 21:13-17 (NIV)
13 An oracle concerning Arabia: You caravans of Dedanites, who camp in the thickets of Arabia,
14 bring water for the thirsty; you who live in Tema, bring food for the fugitives.
15 They flee from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the heat of battle.
16 This is what the Lord says to me: “Within one year, as a servant bound by contract would count it, all the pomp of Kedar will come to an end.
17 The survivors of the bowmen, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.” The LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.
On verses 11-17: This oracle concerns the defeat of Arabia. In approximately 716 B.C., Assyria under King Sargon II is said to have taken over various Arabian tribes. Perhaps this is the event that Isaiah is referring to.
Father, like a watchperson waiting for the sunrise, I pray that I would wait faithfully and patiently for You. Thank You that when it’s You we are waiting for, there is joy, anticipation, hope, peace, purpose and growth that come with the waiting. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
