26/03/17 Isaiah 3:1-11 “The destruction of Jerusalem – Part 1”

 

Isaiah 3:1-31 For, behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay (support; staff) and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, 2 The mighty (or brave) man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent (or diviners), and the ancient (aged person or elder in authority), 3 The captain of fifty, and the honourable man (one who supports, carries, sustains or endures), and the counsellor (advisor), and the cunning (skilful; wise; shrewd; crafty; learned) artificer (craftsman or magician), and the eloquent (discerning; intelligent; discreet) orator (enchanter; prayer; charmer).

 

stay and staff (no article on either word) – both similar in meaning (= support; staff) from the same root word. The interesting difference I noticed is that that “stay” is a masculine noun while “staff” is a feminine noun. On checking this, I saw that one commentary suggests that it could mean the men and women who are the pillars of society (such as those listed in Vs 2 & 3). However, it could simply mean all types or kinds of supports for living, effectively “lock, stock and barrel”.

stay of bread – the support of bread (food in general)

stay of water – the complete support of water, thus either drought or siege perhaps. The following siege by the Chaldeans (Babylon) probably happened during the reign of Zedekiah (over 100 years after Isaiah wrote Ch.3), although the extreme siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD may also be indicated.

 

Between 608 BC & 557 BC the Chaldeans (Neo-Babylonians) ruled Babylon, having taken over from the Assyrians. The first Chaldean king was Nabopolassar; his son, Nebuchadnezzar, ruled from 605 to 562 BC. Belshazzar (the last king before Cyrus the great of Persia took over in 539 BC) was actually Assyrian, though. When Babylon took Judah captive, however, it was the Chaldeans (Neo-Babylonians) under Nebuchadnezzar who first laid siege to Jerusalem in 605 BC. King Jehoiakim paid him tribute for four years, then stopped. Nebuchadnezzar then brought his army back in 598 BC, and entered and took Jerusalem after being granted admission by Jehoiakim. Jehoiakim was executed (along with the other leaders), and his successor, Jeconiah, was deported to Babylon (which probably also included Ezekiel). Nebuchadnezzar then made Zedekiah king (more of a regent under the Chaldeans). There were three stages of the captivity with deportees being taken to Babylon in 597 BC (along with Jeconiah), 587 BC and 582 BC.

 

Josephus says that after 8 years, Zedekiah broke his agreement with Nebuchadnezzar and allied himself with the king of Egypt. Nebuchadnezzar defeated the Egyptians and then laid siege to Jerusalem. Jeremiah urged Zedekiah to open the gates, but the king and other leaders punished Jeremiah instead. The siege lasted for 18 months until there was no more food nor water for anyone. Zedekiah and his family ran for their lives but were caught; Nebuchadnezzar had Zedekiah’s eyes put out and his sons executed. (See Jeremiah 52:10-11; 2 Kings 25:7; Ezekiel 12:13; Ezekiel 17:16). The temple and palace were plundered and then completely burnt, and the city was razed to the ground.

 

2 Kings 25:3bthe famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.

Lamentations 4:4-124 The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, [and] no man breaketh [it] unto them. 5 They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills. 6 For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her. 7 Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing [was] of sapphire: 8 Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick. 9 [They that be] slain with the sword are better than [they that be] slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for [want of] the fruits of the field. 10 The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people. 11 The Lord hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof. 12 The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.

 

God (according to His authority as Lord of hosts – Lord Sabaoth) will take away all Jerusalem’s facilities that make it a functioning city: its food and water supplies, its protection (army) and its wise counsel, its honest law-abiding trustworthy citizens (who shall they trust now?), expert tradesmen (who will fix things up now?), and those who may speak eloquently for the city’s needs (who also may act as advocates for such as the widows and orphans). Everything that is good and necessary for a city to be a pleasant and safe place to live will be taken away. There will be nothing left that they may rely upon! No food! No water! No law and order! And all this literally happened, leading then to the captivity at Babylon. They can’t say they weren’t told!

Isaiah 1:2Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

 

Isaiah 3:4And I will give children [to be] their princes, and babes shall rule over them.

 

Josephus says that when Zedekiah was deported, Gedaliah was appointed governor. Gedaliah then took Jeremiah out of prison. All that was left in the land, though, were the poor, the farmers, and those who had fled into the countryside to escape the siege. After 2 months Gedaliah was assassinated, along with Babylonian troops (which was likely to bring revenge from Nebuchadnezzar). The rest of the leadership fled to Egypt. Those now left in power were more or less incompetent and inexperienced, like children (youths) and babies.

Jeremiah 41:2-32 Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land. 3 Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, [even] with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, [and] the men of war.

 

babes – wantonness; capricious ones; vexatious ones. Translated “delusion” in Isaiah 66:4I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose [that] in which I delighted not.

That is, they will rule with capriciousness (sudden, impulsive and irrational behaviour); justice will be based upon the whim of the inexperienced rulers.

 

Isaiah 3:5And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.

 

proudly – proudly; insolently; arrogantly

base – dishonourable

ancient – old (of humans); elder (of those having authority)

 

The youth will act insolently toward those with more experience (elders) and the dishonourable ones will replace the honourable. Society will fall apart.

In other words, everyone makes his own rules, and those who have the most influence get their way the most. This is anarchy! That is, the rules are set by those who have the most power. Those who don’t like it can just make their own rules. If you don’t have the power (influence) to make your own rules, nor overrule those rules that you don’t like, then you just have to put up with those who do make the rules. Usually those who are most fit to rule are the ones least likely to be listened to or obeyed. Often mob rule overrules common sense. It’s like a despotic dictator, yet not just one dictator but many, often with each one’s territory defined by his area of influence and power. Gangster power! Turf wars result and the ones who suffer the most are the innocent bystanders who want no part in it all.

 

Note the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD. While the warring factions (Idumeans and Zealots and others; then three factions under Eleazar, John and Simon) fought it out for supremacy, the people of Jerusalem could do nothing but starve; over a million died of starvation; huge numbers were slaughtered or burnt to death.

Children were eaten. “Mary, a women of rank and quality, is so tormented with hunger, that she eats the flesh of her own infant.”  ……

“With these words she flew her child, dressed it, and having eaten one part herself, set by the remainder, and kept it covered. Some of the faction entered her house, and smelling a nauseous scent, threatened her with immediate death if she did not bring out her provisions. Upon this she produced the remainder of the inhuman repast; and the robbers being thrilled with horror at the fight, she thus addressed them: This is really my child, and this the food I have myself prepared. I have eaten one part; do you eat the other.” (Josephus)

 

And Jerusalem, that impregnable city, fell. Titus (later to become Caesar) said, “Surely God was with us in the war, who brought the Jews down from these strongholds, for what could hand or engine do against these towers?”

“If an Almighty arm had not been stretched forth to our assistance, we could never have ejected the Jews out of these fortifications, as it was certainly an undertaking not to be accomplished by human power alone.” (The Jewish War, Josephus)

 

Isaiah 3:6When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, [saying], Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and [let] this ruin [be] under thy hand:

 

ruin – stumbling-block; something overthrown; decay; ruin

Someone has to take charge and do something! Find someone who can rule by providing for their needs. They don’t want hard decisions to be made; instead they just want the good life to continue and don’t want to face up to the reality of what’s happening to them and their city. They cannot handle this situation; it is a stumbling block to their progress. So, let the one who has provision rule (and therefore provide for) the people. Let the stumbling block be dealt with under their authority and provision. But what if they don’t want to be used like this? (See next verse)

 

Isaiah 3:7In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house [is] neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.

 

swear – lift up his voice (or hand); (that is, protest)

In other words, don’t ask me to do something about it. It’s not my problem. I have enough problems of my own. I cannot provide for the city, let alone myself (my family). I will not be responsible for the ills (sins; evils) of these people.

Isaiah 1:6From the sole of the foot even unto the head [there is] no soundness in it; [but] wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

 

I do not have what I need for myself, let alone the people of this city. I do not have enough food nor clothing for my own family’s needs. I am not a wealthy man! Do not make me responsible for these people by making me their ruler.

And so, the only ones who want to be ruler are any remaining yet deposed original rulers (who may have had some credibility but probably won’t be listened to) and those “wannabees” who have determined that they will rule by force if necessary. Some might say, “Over my dead body!” to whom they might well reply, “That can be arranged!”

 

Isaiah 3:8For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings [are] against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory.

 

ruined – stumbled; tottered; fallen over like an unstable structure. (Perfect tense, that is, the action is completed) The root word of “ruin” (stumbling block) in Vs 6.

“fallen” is also perfect tense, which indicates that in the eyes of God the action is already completed (prophetically).

The downfall of Jerusalem (and the fall of Judah – fallen on its face; prostrate) is prophesied as if it were already accomplished. Though at the time of this prophecy it might still look prosperous, the cracks were already there; the downfall was by now inevitable; the writing was already on the wall!

 

Effectively, the consequences of anarchy are ruin and destruction. No society can ever withstand for long the effects of long-term anarchy. Here their speech and works (actions) are against God, effectively provoking the manifestation of His glory (majesty) – that is, His arising “to shake terribly the earth”.

Isaiah 2:21To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

 

to provoke the eyes of his glory – provoked by the sin and evil among His people.

Habukkuk, a contemporary of Jeremiah, (who wrote in Jerusalem for about 20 years before Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar) came to lay siege to the city) wrote the following:

Habukkuk 1:13[Thou art] of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, [and] holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth [the man that is] more righteous than he?

 

Isaiah 3:9The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide [it] not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.

 

the shew of their countenance – = the knowing looks on their faces. This testifies against them. That is, it is clear from their faces that they know what they are doing.

Just as Sodom was so open in its wickedness (note the men desiring sex with the angels), this people also openly declares their sin. They do not try to hide it; they are often even proud of their sin.

They are so confident of their own power and self-proclaimed authority that they do evil in the sight of all around them. They are above the law (they think!).

Psalm 73:3-93 For I was envious at the foolish, [when] I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For [there are] no bands in their death: but their strength [is] firm. 5 They [are] not in trouble [as other] men; neither are they plagued like [other] men. 6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them [as] a garment. 7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. 8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly [concerning] oppression: they speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

 

Woe unto them for they have dealt evil unto themselves.

Psalm 73:18-1918 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 19 How are they [brought] into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

 

Isaiah 3:10Say ye to the righteous, that [it shall be] well [with him]: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

 

Tell the righteous ones that it will be alright for them, for God will repay them as they sown. If they sow righteousness, then they shall reap accordingly.

Hosea 10:12-1312 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for [it is] time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. 13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.

You will reap what you sow.

Galatians 6:7-87 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

 

And the so-called Golden Rule is not just a nice platitude on how to live a good life, but a promise that how you treat others will be how you will be treated yourself.

Matthew 7:12Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

The pit you dig for others is the pit you will fall into yourself.

Proverbs 26:27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

 

Isaiah 3:11Woe unto the wicked! [it shall be] ill [with him]: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

 

However, if you do not sow in righteousness, but wickedness instead, you will still reap what you sow!

You will get your rewards one day, but not all rewards are going to be pleasant! The judgment will uncover all manner of good and evil; everyone will have to give full account for every work in his/her life. This is the true sovereignty of God.

 

God has given this people (His people!) a choice between obedience or rebellion (Isaiah 1:19-20). But His prophecy declares their choice: that they will do what they determine is good for them to do, and likewise God will do to them what He has determined is good for Him to do! The only reason they are not consumed in a moment, or even rejected for all eternity, is because God has made an everlasting covenant with them and will redeem them one day.

Malachi 3:6For I [am] the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

That covenant will never be rescinded, only put to one side for a time.

Isaiah 49:14-1614 But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. 15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. 16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of [my] hands; thy walls [are] continually before me.

 

The calvinists have traditionally been covenant theologists, that is, Israel has either merged with the church (generally as junior partner) or the church has taken over all things pertaining to Israel, including future prophecy. In either case, the calvinist church is in control and all things pertaining to Israel are now referred to the church instead. Israel still exists, yet only in the church (that is, calvinist). To the calvinist, Israel is like a failed company that either merges with another (comes under the control of another company) or another company takes over full ownership of the failed company, where in each case the responsibilities of the failed company become the responsibilities of the new company. If you have a problem related to the failed company, you now have to deal with the new company to get it sorted out (Eg warranties, repairs, product support). Calvinists teach that Israel has lost its right to come back as God’s people on their own, but instead, the church (calvinist) has taken over the role of overseer or similar over a subservient Israel. Israel as a failed business has thus sold out to the church.

 

However, the new calvinists (Neo-calvinists) have taken this one step further: the old company covenant is no longer in force, their products have been replaced, and previous warranties and product support are non-existent (“let the buyer beware”). Israel doesn’t exist as a covenant anymore, and the new covenant of the church will not honour the previous old covenant requirements. Instead, you have to draw up a fresh covenant (contract) with the new company, leaving behind any rights you may have had with the old covenant. (This can happen when a builder goes bankrupt; you may have to renegotiate a new contract, at extra cost, with another builder to complete the house.) But the Bible clearly declares the old covenant to be still in force (eternally) for those who were covenanted to it – Israel.

 

Isaiah 14:1-31 For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel (this is not the church here!), and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. 2 And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the Lord for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors. 3 And it shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve,

 

To Isaiah page

 

To Sermons & Messages page

 

Hoppers Crossing Christian Church homepage