Prophecies against Jerusalem

Text: Isaiah 22

What Is the Matter with You? - Isaiah 22:1-3

The prophecy is directed to the "valley of vision." Isaiah 22:9-10 makes it clear that Jerusalem is being discussed. Even though Jerusalem is built on a mountain, it is surrounded by taller mountains. It also has several valleys within the city. By calling this the valley of vision, it hints that the revelation will not be "uplifting."

The typical home in Jerusalem had flat roofs, and it was common for people to use the roofs as balconies. Thus, if something was going on, people would likely climb up to their roofs to see what was going on.

Jerusalem was a bustling city full of noise, but that was ending. They will lose population, not through death in battle but because people are taken captive. Their rulers have fled and also have been captured. There was no escaping.

Don't Try to Comfort - Isaiah 22:4-5

Isaiah breaks down into tears over the vision. He refuses to be comforted. God has appointed a day when Jerusalem will be overtaken in panic, subjugation, and confusion. The walls of protection will be broken down and the people will be crying for aid.

The Attack - Isaiah 22:6-11

The Persians (Elam) and the Medes (Kir) will come prepared for battle. Assyria had conquered portions of these countries so that some battalions would come from these nations. Chariots fill Judah's valleys, and horsemen block the city gates.

God exposes Judah's defenses, weakening her. Instead of turning to God for aid, Judah looks to its armory, called "the house of the forest," for defense. The walls of Jerusalem will be in poor shape (II Chronicles 32:5). The water supplies will be collected (II Chronicles 32:4,30). Houses would be torn down to get material to repair the walls. In all these preparations, they did not consider the one they really needed -- God.

God Calls Jerusalem into Account - Isaiah 22:12-14

God invites them to mourn. However, the people turn to partying as if to drown out the realities of the attack. They had told themselves, "Eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die." However, God said that because of their sins, they would die.

A Message for Shebna - Isaiah 22:15-25

A special prophecy is delivered to the palace steward, Shebna. This man saw himself as very important. He even had a tomb carved for himself in a prominent place on a nearby mountaintop. Embarrassingly, he would never use it. God is about to seize him and cast him out into a distant country. Perhaps an indication of being carried off into captivity. He will die there, far from his home. His fancy chariots would also be there, not for his use but because they were also captured.

Eliakim would be selected to take Shebna's place as palace steward. Unlike Shebna, Eliakim will be seen as a benefactor to the people. God will grant him full authority to do as he sees best. He will firmly have his position and bring glory to his father's house. However, depending on his abilities and honor, his relatives will all hang off on him. Eventually, it will reach a point that it will give way, perhaps after Eliakim's death, and all who were dependent on him will fall.

Why such a detailed prophecy about an official? Seeing the fulfillment in the near-term of Isaiah's words raises the certainty that the long-term predictions of Isaiah are just as true.