In terms of chronology, the Assyrian threat is past, and Babylon is yet to come. However, Isaiah feels the conquest and exile as a present and painful reality in his spirit. Starting in chapter 40, he seeks to prepare the hearts of those who will see it firsthand. More importantly, there is a deeper spiritual message. While Judah does learn from the Exile, they lose more than they gain. Well before the Return and Restoration the foundation is laid for a complete loss of the spiritual viewpoint, and they lapse into a very superficial and worldly form or Judaism. The visions in these chapters range all over the time-line, to include portions which prefigure John's Apocalypse.
It is doubtful Isaiah knows or cares when the various visions are fulfilled. The spiritual viewpoint pays little heed to such concerns. Rather, he sees the hand of God at work, revealing His ways to a people who reject those ways. This is the same people who were given the most clear understanding of His ways for mankind, and were in the best position to perceive where this all pointed to in Eternity. They not only rejected His ways on earth, but closed the door for those to whom they were supposed to reveal them. The tragedy and sorrow of the Exile is outweighed by the tragedy of a nation preferring the world to Eternity, and how it would be such a long an tortuous path to the Messiah they would also reject. The Babylonian siege in the near term was the least of the nation's worries.
The only comfort for this nation will be the sense of restoring peaceful loyalty to their God. The work of the Spirit is to soothe the frustration and calm the fear of walking in service to a God who so perplexes us in our fallen minds. Israel had a double portion of God's revelation, and would be held accountable to a higher standard. It's possible the nation could learn from all this, and would be following God through the miles of wilderness separating Babylon from Jerusalem. Thus, the Return could be a genuine homecoming, glorious as the passage through the wilderness of Sinai, when God Himself made the path open by His divine presence. So crossing the sea would pale in comparison to a smooth highway across several hundred miles of scrub desert and rocky highlands. Instead, that image will symbolize the demand God will make for His people to be reshaped for the coming of His Son.
If people could only realize this world is but a shadow of things eternal. Isaiah is called upon to cry out this truth. Nothing in this world is worthy of our concern. God will gladly help us realize that by wiping away all our plans, indeed, whole nations will be wiped away. What matters is not human existence, but the revelation of God. If we could embrace that as far more precious than life, we would understand and sorrow would end. Zion was granted by God as the place from which that Word would proceed. Israel was instructed how to do this, but refused.
So it is God will do it for Himself. His own Son would come like a shepherd. This Shepherd would be the same One who laid out Creation with the measures of His hands. His the one who defines what is right and just. Nothing on this earth could suffice to give Him His due. Can any other being compare to Him? Can anyone produce a likeness glorious enough? No, it's all shoddy and cheap by comparison. We can produce nothing worthy of Him, and no power on earth can rival Him. Like seed dropped in the sand in a dry land, the wind of God's Spirit could blow away whole nations. We cannot even count the stars He knows by name.
For the Jews to think God pays no attention to their secret counsels is too silly for words. To think God isn't giving us our due is arrogance on a scale unimaginable. We are so far beneath Him, perhaps that explains why so many refuse to acknowledge Him as their One True Ruler. How sad, for those who come before Him with proper reverence will see His glorious revelation and know His power. The hardiest men on earth will hardly be in the same league as the servant whom God empowers. Indeed, their spirits will soar above eagles as their loyalty will see them threw every trial.
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By Ed Hurst
02 April 2009
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