Judgment on the Nations

Ephraim was the leading tribe in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Sometimes, a reference made to Ephraim includes all of Israel. In this lesson, Ephraim will refer to the Northern Kingdom of Israel and not just one tribe. The Southern Kingdom was the home of Jerusalem and the tribe of Judah. In this lesson, the Southern Kingdom will be referred to as Judah or Jerusalem for clarity.

Israel and Judah

Isaiah mainly spoke to Judah, but God also used him to talk to Israel before the Assyrians attacked it. Isaiah began with a warning from God. God warned Israel that a storm was brewing. There was a judgment coming, and it would be mighty. The kings of Israel would be crushed by this coming storm (which would be the Assyrian army that God was going to use as His tool of punishment). It was with a degree of pity that the priests were described as drunkards that had vomited all over the temple and could not do their jobs of delivering the words of God to the people.

These strong warnings were then given to Judah. Judah had made a covenant with Egypt and Assyria, thinking it would be spared from the disaster headed toward Israel. The people of Judah were in denial because of the covenants they had made. The storm coming to Israel in the form of the Assyrian army was also headed to Judah, and those covenants would not stand.

Ariel is another name for Jerusalem. It is used in Isaiah 29 to refer to Jerusalem. This lesson will use Jerusalem to avoid confusion.

The Siege of Jerusalem

God revealed through Isaiah what would happen to Jerusalem. God warned that an army would besiege the city. There would be siegeworks (temporary forts) and towers, and then God would step in and save the people, and the invading army would be gone as if it had never been there. Isaiah then addressed the issue of Judah and its insincere worship. God would show mercy to Judah because the people were conducting the spiritual exercises required by God. God knew, however, that the hearts of the people of Judah were not in the sacrifices and prayers; these acts were being conducted out of a sense of duty rather than the love of God.

A Warning about Egypt

The people of Judah were trying to make alliances with Egypt. This was foolish. Egypt had become a weak nation and was under the same threat of an invasion and takeover by Assyria as Judah was. God had also strictly told the people of Israel that they were not supposed to even go to Egypt. Those in Judah that wanted the alliance with Egypt would not listen to the prophets and even went as far as to tell the prophets not to speak the prophecy. This drew God's anger, and He promised that the Assyrian army would attack and that the people would run away.

God's Mercy

Isaiah said that God wanted to be merciful to Judah. In this prophecy, Isaiah declared that the people would live in Jerusalem and would no longer cry. As soon as the people of Judah cried out, God would answer their cry. The idols covered in gold would be disposed of and would be seen as unclean. The land would be blessed with rain and great herds of cattle. There would be songs in the air during these days.

Another Warning about Egypt

Isaiah cautioned the people who wanted to ally with Egypt not to look to God for help. The Egyptians were men of flesh and blood and were not gods. Isaiah reminded the people that when the Assyrians were beaten, the victory would not be from the sword of man but from God.

Isaiah Prophesies about a Future Just King

The protection given to Judah during Isaiah's day foretells a day when a new King will reign in Jerusalem. This King will rule in justice and peace. The rulers that He appoints will be just. This is the prophecy of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. Under His reign, the weak and poor will not be mistreated.

Women Called

Isaiah warned the complacent women of that day that their lives would be turned upside down in a little over a year, and they would no longer be able to enjoy the easy times. He spoke of crop failures and of other cities of Judah being destroyed. Isaiah then turned his focus to the distant future, when Christ will reign and everything will be in abundance.

A Warning for Assyria

Assyria was told that when its people stopped their path of destruction, they would receive their own destruction. This would occur when God was finished using the Assyrians as a tool of discipline for Israel and Judah. Isaiah revealed that the alliance that Judah had formed with Assyria would one day be the cause of Judah's downfall.

All Nations Will Be Judged

God said through Isaiah that all nations would be judged for their sins. God was angry with all of the nations, and He had all of them marked for destruction. He pointed out Edom as one of the nations destined to be destroyed. Edom's fortresses would be covered by vines and thorns. It was promised that Edom would fall, and wild animals would be its only inhabitants.

God's Blessing

After the judgment, God promised that there would be a time of peace. God told those who were worried not to fear because He would save them. There would be no animals that would prey on the people. The land and the people would be healed.

Sennacherib Attacks

King Hezekiah had ruled Judah for fourteen years when Sennacherib, king of Assyria, attacked all of the fortified cities of Judah. Hezekiah asked Sennacherib what he wanted. Sennacherib wanted silver and gold, so Hezekiah gathered the gold and silver in the temple and in his treasury and gave it to Sennacherib.

Sennacherib then sent the Rabshakeh (one of his chief officers) to demand the surrender of Jerusalem. The Rabshakeh called out to the people on the wall and told them that their God would not save them. None of the other gods from the different places the Assyrians had attacked had ever saved the people who were being conquered. The Rabshakeh taunted the people of Jerusalem, telling them that they would eat their own feces and drink their own urine. Hezekiah had told the people on the wall of Jerusalem to ignore the Rabshakeh and not respond to him. The recorder of Judah came to Hezekiah and told him what the Rabshakeh had said.

Summary

God called Isaiah to pronounce God's judgment on all nations. This judgment would include Israel and Judah. The Assyrians that God would use to carry out this judgment would also be judged once God was finished with them. Isaiah prophesied about a future just king. The Assyrians tried to take Jerusalem. Sennacherib, king of Assyria, attacked all of the fortified cities of Judah. King Hezekiah gave him gold and silver, but he still tried to conquer Judah. His army sat outside Jerusalem and taunted the people of Judah, but Hezekiah told the people to ignore the Assyrians.

Application and Reflection

Application

Isaiah was called by God to deliver the prophecy of coming destruction for Israel, Judah, and the other nations surrounding them. He warned leaders and ordinary people alike about the coming judgment, but he was largely ignored. We, too, have a calling from God to deliver the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is called the "Great Commission." We have the same responsibility that Isaiah had when he shared the good news of Jesus.

Reflection

Isaiah went to the people as well as the leaders and tried to warn them about the coming judgment. Do you ever feel like you tell people essential things and are ignored?