Isaiah 20:6

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 20:6ues

http://www.dailybiblestudy.org

6 And the inhabitant [yashab] of this isle ['iy] shall say ['amar] in that day [yowm], Behold, such [koh] is our expectation [mabbat], whither we flee [nuwc] for help [`ezrah] to be delivered [natsal] from [paniym] the king [melek] of Assyria ['Ashshuwr]: and how shall we escape [malat]?   KJV-Interlinear

6 "So the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, 'Behold, such is our hope, where we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and we, how shall we escape?'"   NASB

When you trust in, or are impressed with, your own devices, your own opinions, your own ingenuity, and in so doing you ignore or do not listen to the instructions given in the Bible, then your destiny is doom and nothing more.

And who do you trust in? 

That question is asked in this closing verse, leaving the answer to the obvious.

Yet, even the answer is ignored.

This isle, ‘iy,’ is a reference to the thin piece of land called Palestine, which is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the west and the Jordan River on the east.

Back in Isaiah’s day it was Judah.

Not as powerful as Egypt.  Not as vast as Ethiopia.  Just a thin little strip of land by comparison, and bounded on all sides by much more powerful regions, than itself.

In that day, is a phrase that we have seen many times before in Isaiah.  It is a reference to the general time frame when all of these things will come to pass, and more specifically, the final time frame in history, when history will reach its culmination. That is the Tribulation, which is still to take place at some time in the future.

Just as in Isaiah’s day, the warning was made, do not place trust in earthly solutions, but in God, so too, in those final days of history, the Bible teaches all, do not trust in earthly solutions against earthly tyranny, but trust in Christ.

And as they did not listen back then, so too, people will not listen in the future.

People do not listen even in our current day of smart phones and internet and so forth.

And when all is lost, when the problems of the world are smothering, then the question that is inevitably asked, ‘how shall we escape?’  And, all the while the answer has been right there, in writing, ever since Isaiah’s day.

And yet a desire to learn bible doctrine has been nothing more than a trivial interest for most.

And so what can one expect, really!

Isaiah 20:5

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 20:5ues

http://www.dailybiblestudy.org

5 And they shall be afraid [chathath] and ashamed [buwsh] of Ethiopia [Kuwsh] their expectation [mabbat], and of Egypt [Mitsrayim] their glory [tiph'arah].  KJV-Interlinear

5 "Then they shall be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and Egypt their boast.  NASB

Unrealistic expectations and unrealistic celebrations are the hope of any and all who disregard Gods design for the spiritual life.  If you do not follow the mandates spelled out in the Bible, then you obviously have a better plan for your own life.  The result of your plan is guaranteed disaster and you will never know the benefits of Gods plan.

Isaiah wrote these words a very long time ago, and yet people then and now and throughout all of those years in between, have disregarded the warning.  The result has been many historical disasters that we can easily read about, but there are far more personal disasters that only those who lived their lives will know about.

You, or anyone who reads these words, have the opportunity to have the greatest life ever, even beyond your imagination.  But you also run the risk of imitating the Egyptians and the Ethiopians of old, as well as the Jewish people to whom this warning was originally given.

We are given this warning through them and we have the opportunity to learn by their mistakes.  But unfortunately most people do not learn from history.

And that failure is due to two things given herein.  They are unrealistic expectations, the both of them.

Ethiopia, was a vast region beyond Egypt, out of which came gold and diamonds and many phenomenal things that would turn anyone's head and eye.  The riches and glory of the world was out there for the taking.

Egypt was the power to drool over.  If Egypt was on your side, then who could stand against you? 

Wasn’t that something that was at some point ascribed to God?

And yet, the people turned not to God for their support and the strength of His arm, but they turned to Egypt, just a country in the sand, who by the way, was drowned in seconds way back in the exodus days of Moses.

You can look to the Bible which is just a compilation of words and promises and use faith to lean on for your security and destiny.

Or, you can look to the things of this world for your pleasures and comforts and securities, things that you can smell and touch and hold. And then which is the better?

Well, the one day that you have to consider, is your last day of life here in this world, something that you cannot avoid.  What then?  Where are your things and status then?

What you will be left with is fear and shame. 

Fear, ‘chathath,’ means to break down, to prostrate, to surrender in confusion, discouragement.

Ashamed, ‘buwsh,’ means confounded, disappointed, pale, embarrassment.

Your hope and dream, all of which are based on your own stubborn views of life and never reinforced by any objective learning, will result in your confusion, which will be short lived, and then embarrassment. 

This embarrassment is from the sudden realization that everyone around you  is looking at you, knowing what you have done, and then you realize that what you have done was absolutely stupid, and everyone knows it.  You seem to be finding it out last.

You could have pursued a different life, but did not.  Why is that?

You can pursue a different life.  Will you?

Isaiah 20:4

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 20:4ues

http://www.dailybiblestudy.org

4 So shall the king [melek] of Assyria ['Ashshuwr] lead away [nahag] the Egyptians [Mitsrayim] prisoners [shabiy], and the Ethiopians [Kuwsh] captives [galuwth], young [na`ar] and old [zaqen], naked [`arowm] and barefoot [yacheph], even with their buttocks [shethah] uncovered [chasaph], to the shame [`ervah] of Egypt [Mitsrayim].  KJV-Interlinear

4 so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old, naked and barefoot with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.  NASB

Cush, the son of Ham, the son of Noah.  The descendants of Cush settled in the region of Africa, and that region is commonly called Cush.  Likewise, Ethiopia is the region beyond Egypt and is also referred to as the balance of Africa, being beyond Egypt.  So these are synonymous terms, identifying the same general region.

Egypt and Ethiopia were the more populated and developed regions and had national entities with armies and commerce and such.

Assyria in the north, had been flexing its muscles, causing Syria, Samaria, and the Philistines to enter into common defense pacts with Egypt and Ethiopia, but primarily Egypt, against Assyria.

Assyria soon crushed Syria, Samaria, and the Philistines along the Mediterranean coast, which we call, Gaza, in our present day.  And now had its sights on Egypt and beyond.

Judah was in the middle of it all.

Isaiah warned Judah to not get involved, to not turn to Egypt, but to turn to God for their defense.

But what did Judah do?  Exactly the opposite that Isaiah warned against.

And here is a stronger warning.

Egypt and Ethiopia, which Ethiopia is even further away and across huge desert regions, are both going to fall.

And their citizens, both young and old, both common and royal, both male and female are going to be humiliated to the maximum.  They are to lose not only their possessions, but their dignity.  That is, those who manage to stay alive.  An alliance with them means disaster.

So again, since the Bible is written to each person throughout history, for the benefit of each person throughout history, then what is in this lesson for us?

Ignore your spiritual responsibilities, remain indifferent toward even learning what your spiritual responsibilities are, namely resisting to read your daily study, not confessing regularly and appropriately, and therefore not growing up, and you have nothing to face but your own ruin.

God gives you your entire lifespan to get it right, but sooner or later God pulls the plug on you in this world and after that you have no do-overs.

Don’t be a fool and think that some temporary success in this life is proof of your doing it all right.

God evaluates you on the spiritual content of your soul, not on your possessions in this world.

Isaiah 20:3

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 20:3ues

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3 And the LORD [Yahovah] said ['amar], Like as my servant [`ebed] Isaiah [Yasha`yah] hath walked [halak] naked [`arowm] and barefoot [yacheph] three [shalowsh] years [shaneh] for a sign ['owth] and wonder [mowpheth] upon Egypt [Mitsrayim] and upon Ethiopia [Kuwsh];  KJV-Interlinear

3 And the Lord said, "Even as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot three years as a sign and token against Egypt and Cush,  NASB

As we saw in yesterday’s study, Isaiah walked around in the clothing of a captive, which is to say, he did not have the finest of clothes on, but was stripped to a level of the poorest condition.  Captives are treated typically as the lowest forms of life, so their situation is not good by any means.  Captives are humiliated and shamed, whipped and abused without a second thought.

This appearance and sign and warning went on for three actual years, not three days portraying three years, but an actual three years.  It would probably take that long for the message to reach the various distant reaches of Judah, Egypt and Ethiopia.  It was intended to demonstrate what was going to occur to Egypt and the lands beyond when Assyria was finished with them.

The warning was to Judah, that this would also happen to them, if they continued in pursuing an alliance with Egypt, which is a rejection of Gods care.

Egypt's future was already decided.  Ethiopia’s future was already decided.

Judah had a choice.

And so it is with you and your life. You have a choice.

You can ignore Gods word, refuse to read and learn, resist in transforming the thought pattern of your mind, and therefore continue in thinking as the rest of the world thinks, placing your trust in your own ideas and beliefs and efforts, and then one day, find yourself in a world of hurt.

Or, you can change, read your daily study, begin the transformation process within your soul, wake up to the real realities of life, and one day realize that trusting in God, through Christ, is the only real and good choice that you have for a better life and future.

When you have no measures, no gauges, no method for figuring out where you are in your spiritual life, then depending on faith can be intimidating and difficult.  You don’t know where to draw the line between what you do, and what God does.

But, with continued growth, you soon realize that you do not have to decipher a line between the efforts of both.  You learn, your obligations, and responsibilities.  You function in life with responsibility and accountability.  You use logic and reason, that, but the way, is guided by your new thinking habits, based on your spiritual growth, and things just seem to fall into place, good or bad.  Both good and bad have their place in this world.  You just have to see them for what they really are.

However, you cannot pursue a course of action unless you first learn it.  Thus, focus on your daily study and the rest of life will take care of itself.

Isaiah 20:2

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 20:2ues

http://www.dailybiblestudy.org

2 At the same time [`eth] spake [dabar] the LORD [Yahovah] by [yad] Isaiah [Yasha`yah] the son [ben] of Amoz ['Amowts], saying ['amar], Go [yalak] and loose [pathach] the sackcloth [saq] from off thy loins [mothen], and put off [chalats] thy shoe [na`al] from thy foot [regel]. And he did so [`asah], walking [halak] naked [`arowm] and barefoot [yacheph].  KJV-Interlinear

2 at that time the Lord spoke through Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, "Go and loosen the sackcloth from your hips, and take your shoes off your feet." And he did so, going naked and barefoot.  NASB

The command to Isaiah came from God, that he loosen the lower clothing that he normally wore, and walk around partially naked.  The word for naked, ‘arown,’ means partial nakedness.  And given that this portrays the circumstances of prisoners who are led away as captives, they were not typically stripped totally naked, but their condition being captives is almost or near nakedness with torn or worn or abused clothing.

In any case, the dramatic display is often times necessary in order to get the attention of an otherwise indifferent or stubborn people.

And that is sad.  Because when people simply are not interested in the truth, or in following Gods way, then they become stubborn, or even reinforced in their stubbornness.  And when that occurs in the minds of people, then it takes a shock in order to get them to even begin to pay attention.

Note, that the most dramatic period in all of human history will occur in the Tribulation, when the shock to the entire world will be horrific, to say the least.

As for the rest of history, there are always those in every generation, that need to be shaken vigorously in order to get their attention, and even that does not work on most folks.

It is interesting that people who are negative toward God, will be picky on things of insignificance, whereas God and ones spiritual life should be of the utmost importance, and yet are relegated to the unimportant. A flip-flop of priorities.

What is the first thing that captors do to their captives? They remove their nice coat, shoes, watch, jewelry, wallet, etc.  And this is what is being portrayed.  The people will become captives and the things that are important to them, will be taken away, and taken away with ease.  Fight or resist and then what happens to the captive?  End of story!

So, the warning, is, ‘Depend on your treaties with Egypt and this is going to be your future.’

Follow the mandates of God and receive blessing.  Follow the plans of man and you will lose everything.

So, do you even know the plan of God and what is expected of you?

Isaiah 20:1

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 20:1ues

http://www.dailybiblestudy.org

1 In the year [shaneh] that Tartan [Tartan] came [bow'] unto Ashdod ['Ashdowd], (when Sargon [Cargown] the king [melek] of Assyria ['Ashshuwr] sent [shalach] him,) and fought [lacham] against Ashdod ['Ashdowd], and took [lakad] it;  KJV-Interlinear

1 In the year that the commander came to Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him and he fought against Ashdod and captured it,  NASB

The futility of man placing his hopes and confidence, in the plans of man, is portrayed in this short chapter.

Isaiah will warn of the futility of joining the alliance between Ashdod and Egypt, against Assyria.

In the year, is a reference to the time about 711 B.C.

One of the generals of Sennacherib, named Tartan, 2 Kg. 18:17, also known by several names, one of which was Sargon, was sent to take the city of Ashdod.

Ashdod was a Philistine city along the coast of the Mediterranean, within the territory of Judah, but never captured by Judah.

Ashdod had a treaty with Egypt and Ethiopia, for protection against Assyria.  Ethiopia was also known as Cush.

When Assyria attacked Ashdod, Egypt reneged and did not come to the aid of Ashdod.

At the time, the issue was between Assyria, the Philistines, and Egypt. 

Isaiah is herein going to warn Judah against getting into the treaty between Ashdod and Egypt, against Assyria, for it would go badly against them.

Ashdod is one of the oldest of the ancient cities, Josh. 15:47, and is one of the strongest and most fortified cities in that region.  Ashdod means strength.  However, it fell rather quickly to the Assyrians.

So now the alarm is up and Isaiah is being called by God, to give the warning.