Judgment Against the Nations
Open Your Bible
Isaiah 21:1-17, Isaiah 22:1-25, 1 Corinthians 15:54, 1 Peter 2:6
BY Amanda Bible Williams
Text: Isaiah 21:1-17, Isaiah 22:1-25, 1 Corinthians 15:54, 1 Peter 2:6
We’re in the thick of Isaiah’s prophecy now, about a third of the way through the book we call by his name. But if you’re like me, things don’t feel much clearer than when we first began. So far in our reading, I’ve come across more questions than answers. But I think that’s okay. I think this feeling we’re feeling (are you feeling it, too?) is by design. We are not meant to feel comfortable here.
Isaiah’s prophecy to this point, both in general and in detail, is dark. If his message were one of those Magic 8-balls we had when we were kids, we’d shake it and it would say, “Outlook not good.” Judgment was coming. This was certain.
“Looking” is a recurring theme in these two chapters. We see it in chapter 21 when the Lord tells Isaiah, “Go, post a lookout; let him report what he sees” (v.6). The watchman sees what the Lord said he would: horsemen approaching in pairs. “Babylon has fallen, has fallen,” the Lord replies. “All the images of her gods have been shattered on the ground” (v.9).
As readers of Isaiah’s prophecy, we look, too, watching the scene through our modern-day imaginations. And we see it: destruction and devastation, pain and anguish. We see a kingdom fall along with its false gods—gods incapable of rescue.
Further into chapter 21, we see the lookers again. In his oracle against Dumah, Isaiah reports: “One calls to me from Seir, ‘Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?” (v.11). Desperation echoes in the repetition; surely there is something good, somewhere off in the distance? And there is—for a moment. “Morning has come, and also night,” the watchman replies (v.12). There is hope, sure, he says, but it won’t last.
In short, Isaiah 21 leaves us right where we started: lost in darkness and despair, no hope to be found among us.
No hope to be found among us.
Hope had to come to us. And Hope did, though we refused to see Him (John 1:10-11).
In chapter 22, Isaiah’s prophecy pivots to an oracle against Jerusalem, the holy city itself. Though referred to here as the “Valley of Vision,” Jerusalem was blind. They’d built up walls of self-reliance and weapons of their own strength, all in vain. They looked to themselves, forgetting their God. The prophet says to them:
“You made a reservoir between the walls for the waters of the ancient pool, but you did not look to the One who made it, or consider the One who created it long ago.”
– Isaiah 22:11
God called Israel to repent, but they had a party. God offered them solace, but they celebrated their futility instead. God said “Look!”, but they would not see.
What about us? Will we look? Not just to the future, hoping for a bright light on the horizon. Not to ourselves, drawing strength from our empty wells. And certainly not to whatever shallow joy we can cook up on our own. No, we look to the Lord of Hosts.
The Lord is the One who establishes kings and kingdoms, and He is the One who remains after they fall.
The Lord is the One who calls out to those in darkness and implores them to see His face—beautiful, holy, good.
The Lord is the One whose holy justice cannot overlook sin, and He is the One whose merciful compassion provides sin’s remedy at His own expense.
The cross of Christ was the darkest point on the landscape of humanity, but that sacrifice purchased our rescue. Because of Jesus, His death and glorious resurrection, death itself “has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54).
Devastation is still all around us, and we are bowed down, dismayed (Isaiah 21:3). But we look. We look to Christ. We look to Christ and we return to Him, repenting of our sin and trusting Jesus, the only true and lasting Hope.
Thanks be to God and to Jesus Christ, our eternal, incorruptible Savior. Amen.
113 thoughts on "Judgment Against the Nations"
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I read and reread and reread today. I couldn’t get through it. But I’m glad I finally did. This week has been so emotional. I’ve cried several times a day. I’ve been so devastated with school. I feel like I keep studying and studying and failing and failing. I thought I’d pass this test and found out I didn’t pass at all. Heartbroken and discouraged. I don’t know what God has in store for me. I know I wouldn’t have gotten into school without Him working it out for me. This was a good reminder to keep my focus on Him and He will make it work out the way it’s suppose to. I think I’ve put so much focus on what I’m doing that I forget it’s His doing. I pray He makes it obvious to me. I’m at such a loss and feel so broken. But He is my creator. I know He can put me back together in the most spectacular way possible if I trust and wait for Him.
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Praying for you. I know how difficult school can be but god put you there for a reason. Stay focused, you got this!
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Thank you Candice! I appreciate the prayers! I really need a focused heart!
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I’m sorry. I’ve been there too. I’m lifting you up in prayer right now. May you feel His peace surrounding you.
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Thank you Jenn! Prayers are deeply appreciated! Especially peace right now! For my families sake if not just my own!!
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oh, how thankful I was for the devotion piece today! Feeling overwhelmed with the reading and not understanding it all. I was just telling a friend that i have been desperately looking for ways to ease my pain and grief through books, sermons, friends, shopping, etc. I simply keep forgetting to look to my Jesus and keep looking! He holds the victory and can call me out of my darkness. Writing it down…Look to the ONE, keep my eyes on Jesus!
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Because of Jesus, His death and glorious resurrection, death itself “has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54).
Devastation is still all around us, and we are bowed down, dismayed (Isaiah 21:3). But we look. We look to Christ. We look to Christ and we return to Him, repenting of our sin and trusting Jesus, the only true and lasting Hope.
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Death is swallowed up in victory. It can be convenient to read these words and shelve them in the back of our minds as we read, latently believing that this is only referring to Christ dying and rising again, and the epic and final restoration that is to come. But this death can also be used to describe anything not of God that we face today – any sin, any name-calling, anything that brings us shame. A word was spoken to me that made me feel utterly despondent and in despair, and a nudge whispered to my spirit that instead of spiraling out of control as I would have in the past, I should reread the devotion for today. After all, I “got it”, but did I really GET it?
And there at the end, was the glorious phrase “death is swallowed up in victory”, followed by the description that we are bowed down and dismayed. How accurately this described my very moment, just moments ago. These concepts aren’t abstract – they aren’t foreign. They are for us in our SPECIFIC moments, and I think when we believe the lie as we open the Word that these truths of Scripture aren’t for our lives personally is when we fail to connect to the power of Christ. I know that’s true for me. So I’m deciding now that no matter WHO says a word to me of judgment, no matter how authoritative it may feel, no matter how spoken with conviction or declaration OR how shame-inducing what may have transpired may have felt – GOD has the last word over us. And He, through Jesus says “mine”. He, through Jesus says, “it is well”. And it occurred to me that no matter what we may need to do or “be” in our personal lives and vocations, we can try to be our best and improve always but certainly must never take it a step further and speak condemnation over ourselves in despair. We have a Hope, THE Hope – and unless we have gone on willingly sinning or hurting others in unrepentance, we are freed from guilt and shame.
Writing all this through for myself, but also for anyone else who may be feeling shame today. We, like these people of old, may only see and feel destruction and war and utter ruin within ourselves right now, but Jesus desires to call us out of darkness and see ourselves as He does. We do not have to live in our own destruction because of what He has done at the cross – and for me, it is time NOW to actually believe it and walk it out, should I ever begin to dream of showing His love and mercy toward others.
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Wow, thank you so much for this. I have been struggling a lot at my job these last few months and I’ve been fighting feelings of shame and failure, especially today. As I studied the selected verses a few minutes ago, I felt like God was using them to speak to me about my work struggles. And then, to go to the comments and see this one first – it’s just another confirmation of that. So thank you again for taking the time to share your insight with us. It was exactly what I needed to read today.
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Praying for you right now, Kristi! I know the Lord has so much GOOD in store for us both, and will open wonderful doors no man can shut. May His peace sustain you and courage fill you as He uses you at work, and may you hold on during this challenging time!
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Brene Brown has a fabulous TED talk on shame and vulnerability. Both of your posts brought this to mind. Have a listen if you haven’t heard them before (or even if you have!). Such powerful talks!
Blessings on you both :)
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Love this and so appreciate your insight!!! Thank you for sharing
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Lord, this is so me…. You are always there calling, correcting, caring and I choose to take just a little bit of your grace-enough to get me through the day or current trial but not enough to blow my mind, my heart, my will wide open to completely submit and look to You. I choose control, comfort, entertainment and a false sense of security over your powerful grace time and time again. Forgive me.
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Wow – this is something that so accurately describes my heart and my walk that it totally floored me to read your words. Thank you, Linnea, for articulating so adequately this struggle of the heart. Something that needs to be said and confronted in order to walk in newness with Christ. Praying for us both for the courage to surrender. Taking your words with me today!
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I felt that these words so described my thoughts as well. I was awed today while reading Isaiah. After I read the reading I said this out loud and felt such peace. Thank you Linnea for articulating this prayer.
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I can echo this prayer. Forgive me, Lord. Change my heart.
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I love the truth that you bring to the table every day. I love that you point out that there is more questions than answers. A pastor recently said we are supposed to have a dialogue with God, not a monologue, so when more questions arise when we ask 1, it’s how it’s supposed to be. LOVED that!
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Man, I was getting so upset from the reading yesterday and the readings today. I felt like so much was happening and I just wasn’t understand. But I love the connection she made today about being in place of despair and uncertainty. She said that we’re not meant to feel comfortable here. And I think that made me connect with this portion of the study on an even deeper level. Thankful for a God that uses those feelings of frustration and discomfort to draw me closer to Him.
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I think a lot of us were/are feeling the same way. That’s why I love reading these comments!
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Whew – Me too!!
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I’m having a hard time understanding the scripture. I know the commentary is supposed to help but sometimes I feel like I’m reading and now fully knowing what I’m reading. Is it because its prophecy?
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I’m having trouble too. I’ve started reading the devotion first and the scripture after, so that I can get a feel for what’s going on or at least understanding what it means. It’s not perfect but that system has been helping me more.
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One thing that has been helpful for me is to read it twice. Once in the ESV, then again in NIV or The Message. The second time reading it through makes it so much more clear. I hope that’s helpful!
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I also read it once in my NIV study bible with the study notes and then in the Message. I’ve also used the Shepherd’s Notes on Isaiah if I’m really having problems understanding or connecting.
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Definitely going to start doing this!
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I pray that we “look to the One who made it,” and “consider the One who created it” instead of relying on our own wealth in all our decisions. I pray that we would listen to the call to humble ourselves before God (weeping, wailing, shaven heads, and the wearing of sackcloth), instead of numbing ourselves with a party (joy and gladness, butchering of cattle, slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat, and drinking wine, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”).
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