Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"A distressing vision is declared to me"
Text: Isaiah 21:2
ANOTHER VISION GIVEN TO ISAIAH
Isaiah had already been given visions concerning Egypt, Ethiopia and Assyria. But there were other visions that God wanted to reveal to his servant. Each vision troubled Isaiah as his understanding of the visions became clearer.
“The burden against the Wilderness of the Sea.
As whirlwinds in the South pass through,
So it comes from the desert, from a terrible land.
A distressing vision is declared to me;
The treacherous dealer deals treacherously,
And the plunderer plunders.
Go up, O Elam!
Besiege, O Media!
All its sighing I have made to cease.”
Isaiah 21:1-2
1. “The Wilderness of the Sea”
a) This was the common phrase of Israel with reference to Babylon.
b) Babylon was like a wilderness to Israel.
c) There were many rivers and lakes which they called “seas”.
d) This phrase was used to describe Babylon who would arise to destroy Assyria.
2. The Assyrians were greatly feared by all.
a) They were powerful and aggressive.
b) They were also wicked and cruel.
c) Whoever conquered Assyria would be even more greatly feared!
3. Beyond Babylon.
a) Isaiah was given a vision that went beyond Babylon.
b) The next power that would arise was compared to a whirlwind.
c) That whirlwind would have even more devastating power
as it moved across the desert.
4. A description of what Isaiah saw.
a) There would come treacherous dealers.
b) They were in fact plunderers who would delight in plundering.
5. Identification of the new enemies.
a) They were called “Elam” and “Media”.
b) The common name for the new empire to come was “Medo-Persia”.
6. Why was this vision distressing?
a) This was another vision of war.
b) The powers that would ravage many lands:
i) Assyria
ii) Babylon
ii) Medo-Persia
c) Every war brought great suffering for the conquered nations.
d) The prophecy of yet another war brought distress to Isaiah.