God and the Nations “Wherever We Flee For Help…” Isaiah 13-23 “Wherever We Flee For...

God and the Nations

“Wherever We Flee For Help…”

Isaiah 13-23

MASSA’ - “oracle” or “burden”

• A lifting up (of the voice), a declaration

• A heavy message of divine judgment

• Occurs ten times 13:1; 14:28; 15:1; 17:1; 19:1; 21:1, 11, 13; 22:1; 23:1

MASSA’ - “oracle” or “burden”

• A lifting up (of the voice), a declaration

• A heavy message of divine judgment

• Occurs ten times 13:1; 14:28; 15:1; 17:1; 19:1; 21:1, 11, 13; 22:1; 23:1

I. Structure and Purpose of the Oracles


Ten Oracles• Against Babylon 13:1-14:27• Against Philistia 14:28-32• Against Moab 15:1-16:14• Against Damascus/Ephraim 17:1-

18:7• Against Egypt 19:1-20:6• Against the Wilderness of the Sea

21:1-10• Against Dumah 21:11-12• Against Arabia 21:13-17• Against the Valley of Vision 22:1-25• Against Tyre 23:1-18

Ten Oracles• Against Babylon 13:1-14:27• Against Philistia 14:28-32• Against Moab 15:1-16:14• Against Damascus/Ephraim 17:1-

18:7• Against Egypt 19:1-20:6• Against the Wilderness of the Sea

21:1-10• Against Dumah 21:11-12• Against Arabia 21:13-17• Against the Valley of Vision 22:1-25• Against Tyre 23:1-18



Ten Oracles Ten Oracles



Four “interim fulfillments”• Assyria’s destruction 14:24-27• Woe to Ethiopia, or Cush 18:1-7• Sign of Isaiah’s nakedness 20:1-6• Judgment against Shebna and

Eliakim 22:15-25

Four “interim fulfillments”• Assyria’s destruction 14:24-27• Woe to Ethiopia, or Cush 18:1-7• Sign of Isaiah’s nakedness 20:1-6• Judgment against Shebna and

Eliakim 22:15-25

N

W

E

S

N

S

E

W



Babylon(13:1-14:27)

Political Overthrow

The Desert by the Sea(Babylon) (21:1-10)

Religious Overthrow

The City of Emptiness(24:1-20)

Broken laws (5)Broken gates (12)

Philistia(14:28-32)

A Davidic king will yetreign in Zion

Silence (Edom)(21:11-12)

Indefinite continuance of thingsas they are

Zion’s King(24:21-23)

‘After many days’

Moab(15:1-16:14)

Moab in need, but throughpride refuses shelter in Zion

Evening (Arabia)(21:13-17)

Desert tribes in need; noultimate refuge in mutual

security

The Great Banquet(25:1-12)

All nations feasted in Zion saveMoab, excluded by pride

Damascus/Ephraim(17:1-18:7)

Strong cities forsaken (9)The forgotten rock (10)

The Valley of Vision (Jerusalem)(22:1-25)

The city torn down (10)

The City of God(26:1-20)

The strong city (1)The everlasting rock (4)

Egypt(19:1-20:6)

Co-equal membership:Egypt, Assyria and Israel

Tyre(23:1-18)

Holiness to the Lord (18)

The Final Gathering(27:1-13)

The harvest from Egypt andAssyria (12-13)

Babylon(13:1-14:27)

Political Overthrow

The Desert by the Sea(Babylon) (21:1-10)

Religious Overthrow

The City of Emptiness(24:1-20)

Broken laws (5)Broken gates (12)

Philistia(14:28-32)

A Davidic king will yetreign in Zion

Silence (Edom)(21:11-12)

Indefinite continuance of thingsas they are

Zion’s King(24:21-23)

‘After many days’

Moab(15:1-16:14)

Moab in need, but throughpride refuses shelter in Zion

Evening (Arabia)(21:13-17)

Desert tribes in need; noultimate refuge in mutual

security

The Great Banquet(25:1-12)

All nations feasted in Zion saveMoab, excluded by pride

Damascus/Ephraim(17:1-18:7)

Strong cities forsaken (9)The forgotten rock (10)

The Valley of Vision (Jerusalem)(22:1-25)

The city torn down (10)

The City of God(26:1-20)

The strong city (1)The everlasting rock (4)

Egypt(19:1-20:6)

Co-equal membership:Egypt, Assyria and Israel

Tyre(23:1-18)

Holiness to the Lord (18)

The Final Gathering(27:1-13)

The harvest from Egypt andAssyria (12-13)



Thematic organization: judgment to repentance

First series


First series • Babylon utterly destroyed 13:19-22• Philistia assured that Zion a place of

refuge 14:32 • Moab encouraged to seek security

under Israel’s true King 16:3-5• Israel must remember God 17:10• Egypt becomes God’s people 19:16-25

• Babylon utterly destroyed 13:19-22• Philistia assured that Zion a place of

refuge 14:32 • Moab encouraged to seek security

under Israel’s true King 16:3-5• Israel must remember God 17:10• Egypt becomes God’s people 19:16-25




First series


First series Second series• God crushes Babylonian idols 21:9• Edom asks God’s watchman for guidance 21:11• Arabians cannot find aid among men 21:13-17• Judah must repent of pride and look to God

22:11-13• Tyre uses profit to aid the Lord and His people

23:18

Second series• God crushes Babylonian idols 21:9• Edom asks God’s watchman for guidance 21:11• Arabians cannot find aid among men 21:13-17• Judah must repent of pride and look to God

22:11-13• Tyre uses profit to aid the Lord and His people

23:18



Theme:Surely such is our expectation, wherever we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and how shall we escape? Isaiah 20:6

Theme:Surely such is our expectation, wherever we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and how shall we escape? Isaiah 20:6

Lessons from the OraclesLessons from the Oracles

God Is In ControlGod Is In Control Gods sovereignty seen from

outset Chapter 13• He musters His army 3• He destroys the land with His

weapons 5• He punishes the world 11• It’s what He will do 13:11-22

Gods sovereignty seen from outset Chapter 13

• He musters His army 3• He destroys the land with His

weapons 5• He punishes the world 11• It’s what He will do 13:11-22

God Is In ControlGod Is In Control Gods sovereignty seen from

outset Chapter 13 Gods sovereignty seen from

outset Chapter 13 The Lord thinks and it comes to pass 14:24-27

He speaks and it is so 16:13-14; 21:16-17

Nations may rage but God chases them away like chaff or tumbleweed 17:13

The Lord thinks and it comes to pass 14:24-27

He speaks and it is so 16:13-14; 21:16-17

Nations may rage but God chases them away like chaff or tumbleweed 17:13

God Is In ControlGod Is In Control Fate of nations rests with God,

not social, economic, or political conditions 19:1-15

• False gods crumble before Him Vs. 1

• Social stability is at His command 2-4

• Dependent upon Him for our livelihood 5-10

• True wisdom and power only found in Him 11-15

Fate of nations rests with God, not social, economic, or political conditions 19:1-15

• False gods crumble before Him Vs. 1

• Social stability is at His command 2-4

• Dependent upon Him for our livelihood 5-10

• True wisdom and power only found in Him 11-15

God Is In ControlGod Is In Control Fate of nations rests with God,

not social, economic, or political conditions 19:1-15

Fate of nations rests with God, not social, economic, or political conditions 19:1-15

God controls the destiny of individuals 22:15-25

Neither strength, wealth, connections, nor seniority can stop God’s plan 23:8-12

God controls the destiny of individuals 22:15-25

Neither strength, wealth, connections, nor seniority can stop God’s plan 23:8-12

God’s People Can Only Trust the AlmightyGod’s People Can Only Trust the Almighty

Not that we shouldn't but that we cannot Cannot trust world’s super powers Chp. 13,

19, 23 Not our neighbors 14:28-32; Chp. 15–16, 17,

23 Those from far away lands cannot protect

us Chp. 18 Best of men cannot be expected to provide

what God alone can give 22:24-25 Cannot trust ourselves 13:15-16; 17:10-11;

22:8-11

Not that we shouldn't but that we cannot Cannot trust world’s super powers Chp. 13,

19, 23 Not our neighbors 14:28-32; Chp. 15–16, 17,

23 Those from far away lands cannot protect

us Chp. 18 Best of men cannot be expected to provide

what God alone can give 22:24-25 Cannot trust ourselves 13:15-16; 17:10-11;

22:8-11

God Hates PrideGod Hates Pride Isaiah shows us the many shades of

pride

• Babylon’s pride in military & culture Chp. 13-14, 21

• Moab’s arrogant nature, desiring deliverance but refusing to submit 16:6

• Damascus & Ephraim’s reliance on fortifications 17:1-3

• Egypt’s trust in multitude of gods, strong economy, and famous wisdom 19:1-15

Isaiah shows us the many shades of pride

• Babylon’s pride in military & culture Chp. 13-14, 21

• Moab’s arrogant nature, desiring deliverance but refusing to submit 16:6

• Damascus & Ephraim’s reliance on fortifications 17:1-3

• Egypt’s trust in multitude of gods, strong economy, and famous wisdom 19:1-15

God Hates PrideGod Hates Pride Isaiah shows us the many shades

of pride Isaiah shows us the many shades

of pride• Judah’s determination to find

solutions to their problems without God 22:8-11

• Tyre’s pride in wealth & vast enterprise Chp. 23

• Personal pride of position • King of Babylon 14:12-15 • Shebna 22:15-19

• Judah’s determination to find solutions to their problems without God 22:8-11

• Tyre’s pride in wealth & vast enterprise Chp. 23

• Personal pride of position • King of Babylon 14:12-15 • Shebna 22:15-19

God Hates PrideGod Hates Pride Isaiah shows us the many shades

of pride Isaiah shows us the many shades

of pride Judgment coming to “halt the arrogance of the proud” & “lay low the haughtiness of the terrible” 13:11

When man glories in the work of his hands it is destroyed 13:19; 16:6-10; 17:1-3; 19:1-15; 22:15-22; 23:7-9

Pride keeps us from receiving God’s favor 16:4-7; 22:8–11, 14

Pride will condemn us 14:12-15

Judgment coming to “halt the arrogance of the proud” & “lay low the haughtiness of the terrible” 13:11

When man glories in the work of his hands it is destroyed 13:19; 16:6-10; 17:1-3; 19:1-15; 22:15-22; 23:7-9

Pride keeps us from receiving God’s favor 16:4-7; 22:8–11, 14

Pride will condemn us 14:12-15

Human Effort Not Enough to Solve Human ProblemHuman Effort Not Enough to Solve Human Problem

Moabites unable to find security 15:2, 8-9; 16:1-7

Ephraim’s best efforts only bring harvest of ruins 17:10-11

Cushites buzzing around while God calmly carries out His plan 18:1-7

Egypt’s wise men never saw judgment coming 19:11-13

Jerusalem had weapons, walls, and water, only to be starved, overrun, and carried away 22:1-11

Moabites unable to find security 15:2, 8-9; 16:1-7

Ephraim’s best efforts only bring harvest of ruins 17:10-11

Cushites buzzing around while God calmly carries out His plan 18:1-7

Egypt’s wise men never saw judgment coming 19:11-13

Jerusalem had weapons, walls, and water, only to be starved, overrun, and carried away 22:1-11

God Promises a Better FutureGod Promises a Better Future

Babylon destroyed for God’s people 14:1-2

Promise of refuge in Zion 14:32 Moab invited to escape oppression

16:4-5 Promises of a remnant 17:6-8 Even the Cushites bring gifts to the

Lord 18:7 Eliakim to replace Shebna 22:20-25 Message of hope for “great religious

seducer” of Israel 23:17-18

Babylon destroyed for God’s people 14:1-2

Promise of refuge in Zion 14:32 Moab invited to escape oppression

16:4-5 Promises of a remnant 17:6-8 Even the Cushites bring gifts to the

Lord 18:7 Eliakim to replace Shebna 22:20-25 Message of hope for “great religious

seducer” of Israel 23:17-18

Lessons About the Judgment of GodLessons About the Judgment of God

Judgment will be just 13:11; 14:13, 17, 20; 16:6; 17:10; 22:12-14; 23:9

Judgment is inescapable• Moabites fled only to be captured by lions

15:9

• Damascus & Ephraim cannot hide behind walls 17:1-3

• Egypt couldn’t protect itself 19:1-15

• Tiny nations and far away tribes not overlooked Chp. 18; 21:11-17

• God’s own people not exempt Chp. 22


Judgment is inescapable• Moabites fled only to be captured by lions

15:9

• Damascus & Ephraim cannot hide behind walls 17:1-3

• Egypt couldn’t protect itself 19:1-15

• Tiny nations and far away tribes not overlooked Chp. 18; 21:11-17

• God’s own people not exempt Chp. 22

Lessons About the Judgment of GodLessons About the Judgment of God


Judgment is inescapable


Judgment is inescapable Judgment is be impartial Chp. 17 & 22

Judgment is a purging 17:7-8; 19:18

Judgment glorifies God Chp 18, 19, & 23

Judgment is be impartial Chp. 17 & 22

Judgment is a purging 17:7-8; 19:18

Judgment glorifies God Chp 18, 19, & 23

We Must Stand in Awe of the Lord of HostWe Must Stand in Awe of the Lord of Host

Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent

No power He doesn’t control

All history is for good of His people

No hope without Him; with Him there is everlasting security

Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent

No power He doesn’t control

All history is for good of His people

No hope without Him; with Him there is everlasting security

God and the Nations “Wherever We Flee For Help…” Isaiah 13-23 “Wherever We Flee For...

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