Isaiah 31

Isaiah started this chapter by looking over his shoulder to his own people. Egypt’s interest in Palestine was the trade routes and wood. In the year 716 BCE, Osorkon of Tanis sent gifts to Niniveh to the Assyrian king Sargon II. In the year 713 BCE when Ashdod fell, Sargon II stayed in Assyria and some sources says it is the 9^th palu counting and others the 11^th palu counting. It is both since the Babylonian scribes did not recognize his first two years since he ursurped the throne after assassinating Shalmanezer V. The Assyrians did recognize those years. Sargon II came to Ashdod, according to his annals, is the pro-Egyptianism of the Pi-lis-te [Ashkelon] and Ashdod and other cities (lines 26 and 14). When Sargon II became too interested in Palestine, Judaeans of Isaiah’s day went down to Egypt to connect horizontally due to factors like speed “horses” (v. 1b); quantity “chariots because they are many” (v. 1c); strong humans “horsemen because they are very strong” (v. 1d). But, they disconnected from God vertically (v. 1e) “but they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord”. Isaiah is not focusing on Judah or on Egypt nor on Assyria but on God and His Eschaton. God is “wise”, “will bring disaster” in the Eschaton (v. 2a) and He “does not retract His words” (v. 2b). God has a plan and will keep it and carry it out. God will arise against the evil in the Eschaton (v. 2c-d). The evildoers themselves and their assistants are in trouble with the Lord. Isaiah says that the Egyptians in case are just humans but God is divine; horses are just flesh but God is Spirit (v. 3a-b). The Nubian 25^th Dynasty of Egypt started in 745 BCE with Pi (anchi) or Peye. His brother succeeded him in 713 BCE (Shabaka). Shabitku and Tirhaka were his sons. The capital of Pi’s sons was from Napata. Isaiah is not interested to focus on Egypt, nor Assyria nor on Judah. God’s actions are what interested him. In the Eschaton Christ will stretch out His hand and the assistants will stumble and those who relied on their horizontal professionalism will fall and “all of them will come to an end together” (v. 3c-f). It is the final absolute end of evil in the Eschaton. The Lord then used a lion attacking a sheep case to illustrate how human resistance \does not help with shepherds coming, screaming and making a noise in the same manner God’s battle with evil cannot be prevented (v. 4a-d). The Lord comes and wage war upon Mount Zion and upon its hill (v. 4d). The war is not to Zion but from Zion. We know that for verse 5 states that “the Lord of hosts [angels] will protect upon [`al] Jerusalem” (v. 5a) “like flying birds” (v. 5a). It is interesting that the LMLK jarhandles found by archaeologists in Hezekiah and Isaiah’s time is a bird (an eagle) flying as motif between 716-686 BCE. It is not earthly Jerusalem but heavenly Jerusalem or the Book of Revelation’s New Jerusalem, also called heavenly Zion. “He will protect and deliver” (v. 5b). It is not the city that needs protection. The people or remnant or faithful ones in the heavenly city are protected. He will also sooth and rescue (v. 5c) where the Assyrian word pašâḫu means “sooth”. It is not an empty city that is rescued or soothed but the remnant of God. They are the resurrected saved ones in the time of the Executive Judgment when the Hell event is going to take place. The New Jerusalem will come from the sky in the mid-heaven and from the city the Final Battle of God will take place. Notice that Isaiah did say the Lord “come down” (yered) to battle (v. 4e). Down from heaven to earth. It is at the end of the millennium as John indicated in the Book of Revelation. Isaiah already knew it. John did not invent a new concept. Absence of data does not mean absence of concept. Isaiah knew about the millennium since he said in Isaiah 24:22d “after many days they will be punished”. The Lord “come out from His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth” (26:21a) and “indeed fire will devour Your enemies” (26:11c). What inhabitants in history need to do, says Isaiah is to “return to Him from whom you have deeply defected” (v. 6). In the Eschaton, says Isaiah, every man will throw away all their useless idols of silver and gold “your hands have made to you a sin” (v. 7). Sinful constructions, sinful technology, digital sins. All made by human ingenuity. The Assyrian Empire that was strong while Isaiah was writing these words, they will fall but not by a human sword but by the Word of God (v. 8). They will not escape. Their youth will be to consumption. The Subject of Isaiah is not Assyria, nor Egypt nor Judea but God. “His Rock will pass over panic” (v. 9a). Christ is the Rock of Daniel 2 that will come in the Eschaton. “And the flight of His leaders/princes will be terrified” as Habakkuk 3 portrays the Second Coming before the millennium and the terrified role of the angels in that day. It is in heavenly Zion and in the New Jerusalem that the Lord has a fire and furnace for the Hell event at the end of the millennium (v. 9c). We know it is the Eschaton since there never was a fire or furnace of great proportion ever in the history of earthly Jerusalem. The Targum changed “fire” into “splendor” and the so-called Byzantine corrupt Greek Septuagint changed it to “seeds”; and “furnace” to “household friends”. Similar to the Hebrew original of Isaiah is the Assyrian word tinûru which means “oven” thus cancelling the Targum imaginations and corrupt Greek renderings.

Dear God

Grant Lord that we will focus like Isaiah on you in the Time of Trouble and not on human machinations and securities. Keep us and protect us we ask in your Name. Amen.

Koot van Wyk, (DLitt et Phil; ThD) Kyungpook National University, Department of Liberal Education, Sangju, South Korea; conjoint lecturer of Avondale College, Australia