Year 9, Day 7: Isaiah 23

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Yet another chapter of Isaiah that is an oracle of the Lord against a region of the Middle East.  Today’s subject is Tyre and Sidon.  These were the sailors and sea merchant of the region.  There can be little doubt why these people and their skills would be of interest to a conquering army.  If you subdue them, you control your enemy’s ability to flee via the sea.  If you subdue them and make them your vassal, you gain access to their skills for yourself.

As with most of the nations, we can see that their subjugation is only temporary.  They will be conquered, but there will be a remnant that is allowed to return.  Once more we can see that God cares about more than just the Hebrew people.  Once more we see that the God of the Old Testament is also the God of the Gentiles.

What I really like about this chapter is the fact that it is very clear who is behind the conquering threat.  The enemy may come to conquer, but they come at the Lord’s request.  God is the power behind the captivity that the people of the Middle East are about to suffer.  God is the one who is bringing judgment upon the nations.

I don’t know why people have such a hard time attributing serious consequence – even something leading to captivity – to God.  God is clear here.  He takes ownership of the action in His Word!  He is the reason the people are being subdued.  He is bringing judgment.

That being said, I do understand why people are careful about attributing bad things to God.  Just because something bad happens – like a devastating hurricane – doesn’t mean God is behind it.  Sometimes bad things just happen.  But that doesn’t mean that God won’t bring judgment.  We need to understand that God will bring judgment upon people, but not every negative thing that happens is a sign of judgment from God.

What is the point God is making in the judgment He is bringing?  That’s another reason I love this chapter.  God’s point is as clear as the ownership He’s taking.  God is bringing the judgment to humble people.  Human beings are arrogant and proud.  We like to elevate ourselves up into positions of power through our own making.  God sees that it is time to humble such actions.  We should take pride in His work, not ours.  We should glorify His hand in action, not our own.

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