Isaiah 18-22 – Living the Antithesis
After many oracles concerning other nations, Isaiah speaks now in Chapter 22 towards Jerusalem itself. The place where God has clearly shown his power many times before has once again forgotten God. Many give up to the Assyrians without even a fight. More significantly, they given up spiritually to the devil. The devil wins the war for those who think they are helpless and have sins too great for God to forgive. Never give up the good fight.
Shebna, second in command, was even preparing for himself a noble grave so that his name would be thought highly even after his death. Are we motivated so much by what others think? Do we try to do good works thinking “at my funeral, people will remember me for being such a generous, good person” ?
Yet again, the lesson is clear. Do not put your trust in yourself, in others, in money, in power, in your own seemingly sound logic, politics, national alliances, or whatever is outside of God himself. It’s easy to worry in this world about all the things going wrong. It’s easy to just throw up your hands and “live life to it’s fullest” by indulging in hedonistic actions. It’s easy to point the finger at others at how wicked they are. May we be sober-minded, repentant, humble, and completely trusting in God for all things.
After many oracles concerning other nations, Isaiah speaks now in Chapter 22 towards Jerusalem itself. The place where God has clearly shown his power many times before has once again forgotten God. Many give up to the Assyrians without even a fight. More significantly, they given up spiritually to the devil. The devil wins the war for those who think they are helpless and have sins too great for God to forgive. Never give up the good fight.
Shebna, second in command, was even preparing for himself a noble grave so that his name would be thought highly even after his death. Are we motivated so much by what others think? Do we try to do good works thinking “at my funeral, people will remember me for being such a generous, good person” ?
Yet again, the lesson is clear. Do not put your trust in yourself, in others, in money, in power, in your own seemingly sound logic, politics, national alliances, or whatever is outside of God himself. It’s easy to worry in this world about all the things going wrong. It’s easy to just throw up your hands and “live life to it’s fullest” by indulging in hedonistic actions. It’s easy to point the finger at others at how wicked they are. May we be sober-minded, repentant, humble, and completely trusting in God for all things.