Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"It is a day of trouble"
Text: Isaiah 22:5
UNDERSTANDING THE VISION
Isaiah understood the implications of the Vision that he was given. The thought of Jerusalem being invaded brought tears to his eyes.
“For it is a day of trouble and treading down and perplexity
By the Lord GOD of hosts
In the Valley of Vision—
Breaking down the walls
And of crying to the mountain.
Elam bore the quiver
With chariots of men and horsemen,
And Kir uncovered the shield.
It shall come to pass that your choicest valleys
Shall be full of chariots,
And the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate.”
Isaiah 22:5-7
1. A day of perplexity.
a) Judah was in deep trouble.
b) Jerusalem would be trodden underfoot.
c) The future was truly perplexing.
i) The walls protecting Jerusalem would be broken down.
ii) Many would be crying out to the mountain where God was supposed
to have made His dwelling.
iii) But no amount of tears shed would change the course of history for Jerusalem. (Psalm 74 was written years later, recalling how Jerusalem was ravaged.)
2. The enemies
a) Elam was the old name of Persia.
b) Kir
i) It can refer to a wall that surrounds.
ii) It can also refer to a city that was once captured by the Assyrians.
c) In this context:
i) Isaiah understood the challenges that Judah would face.
ii) There were memories that returned.
iii) These would remind him that the future of Judah would be as in the past.
iv) Jerusalem and Judah would be in very serious trouble.
3. Symbols of war.
a) The symbol of the “quiver”.
The bow and arrow were symbols of weapons of war.
b) The symbol of the “shield”.
Shields were always anointed before they were used in war.
c) The symbol of “chariots”.
This was a symbol of a powerful enemy.
d) The symbol of “horsemen”.
This was also a feared symbol of a mighty army.
4. Judah would be invaded.
a) Isaiah saw how Judah would be invaded by powerful enemies.
b) They would lay a long siege against Jerusalem.
c) The horsemen would array themselves, poised to attack Jerusalem
when the command was given.