“Wherever We Flee For Help…” Isaiah 13-23 God and the Nations “Wherever We Flee For Help…” Isaiah 13-23

I. Structure and Purpose of the Oracles MASSA’ - “oracle” or “burden” A lifting up (of the voice), a declaration A heavy message of divine judgment Occurs ten times 13:1; 14:28; 15:1; 17:1; 19:1; 21:1, 11, 13; 22:1; 23:1

I. Structure and Purpose of the Oracles Ten Oracles Against Babylon 13:1-14:27 Against Philistia 14:28-32 Against Moab 15:1-16:14 Against Damascus/Ephraim 17:1-18:7 Against Egypt 19:1-20:6 Against the Wilderness of the Sea 21:1-10 Against Dumah 21:11-12 Against Arabia 21:13-17 Against the Valley of Vision 22:1-25 Against Tyre 23:1-18

I. Structure and Purpose of the Oracles Four “interim fulfillments” Assyria’s destruction 14:24-27 Woe to Ethiopia, or Cush 18:1-7 Sign of Isaiah’s nakedness 20:1-6 Judgment against Shebna and Eliakim 22:15-25 Ten Oracles

I. Structure and Purpose of the Oracles W E S N S E W

I. Structure and Purpose of the Oracles Babylon utterly destroyed 13:19-22 Philistia assured that Zion a place of refuge 14:32 Moab encouraged to seek security under Israel’s true King 16:3-5 Israel must remember God 17:10 Egypt becomes God’s people 19:16-25 Thematic organization: judgment to repentance First series

I. Structure and Purpose of the Oracles Second series God crushes Babylonian idols 21:9 Edom asks God’s watchman for guidance 21:11 Arabians cannot find aid among men 21:13-17 Judah must repent of pride and look to God 22:11-13 Tyre uses profit to aid the Lord and His people 23:18 Thematic organization: judgment to repentance First series

I. Structure and Purpose of the Oracles Theme: Surely such is our expectation, wherever we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and how shall we escape? Isaiah 20:6

Lessons from the Oracles

God Is In Control Gods sovereignty seen from outset Chapter 13 He musters His army 3 He destroys the land with His weapons 5 He punishes the world 11 It’s what He will do 13:11-22

God Is In Control Gods sovereignty seen from outset Chapter 13 The Lord thinks and it comes to pass 14:24-27 He speaks and it is so 16:13-14; 21:16- 17 Nations may rage but God chases them away like chaff or tumbleweed 17:13 Gods sovereignty seen from outset Chapter 13

God Is In Control Fate of nations rests with God, not social, economic, or political conditions 19:1-15 False gods crumble before Him Vs. 1 Social stability is at His command 2-4 Dependent upon Him for our livelihood 5-10 True wisdom and power only found in Him 11-15

God Is In Control God controls the destiny of individuals 22:15-25 Neither strength, wealth, connections, nor seniority can stop God’s plan 23:8-12 Fate of nations rests with God, not social, economic, or political conditions 19:1-15

God’s People Can Only Trust the Almighty Not that we shouldn't but that we cannot Cannot trust world’s super powers Chp. 13, 19, 23 Not our neighbors 14:28-32; Chp. 15–16, 17, 23 Those from far away lands cannot protect us Chp. 18 Best of men cannot be expected to provide what God alone can give 22:24-25 Cannot trust ourselves 13:15-16; 17:10-11; 22:8-11

God Hates Pride Isaiah shows us the many shades of pride Babylon’s pride in military & culture Chp. 13-14, 21 Moab’s arrogant nature, desiring deliverance but refusing to submit 16:6 Damascus & Ephraim’s reliance on fortifications 17:1-3 Egypt’s trust in multitude of gods, strong economy, and famous wisdom 19:1-15

God Hates Pride Isaiah shows us the many shades of pride Judah’s determination to find solutions to their problems without God 22:8-11 Tyre’s pride in wealth & vast enterprise Chp. 23 Personal pride of position King of Babylon 14:12-15 Shebna 22:15-19 Isaiah shows us the many shades of pride

God Hates Pride Isaiah shows us the many shades of pride Judgment coming to “halt the arrogance of the proud” & “lay low the haughtiness of the terrible” 13:11 When man glories in the work of his hands it is destroyed 13:19; 16:6-10; 17:1-3; 19:1-15; 22:15-22; 23:7-9 Pride keeps us from receiving God’s favor 16:4-7; 22:8–11, 14 Pride will condemn us 14:12-15 Isaiah shows us the many shades of pride

Human Effort Not Enough to Solve Human Problem Moabites unable to find security 15:2, 8-9; 16:1-7 Ephraim’s best efforts only bring harvest of ruins 17:10-11 Cushites buzzing around while God calmly carries out His plan 18:1-7 Egypt’s wise men never saw judgment coming 19:11-13 Jerusalem had weapons, walls, and water, only to be starved, overrun, and carried away 22:1-11

God Promises a Better Future Babylon destroyed for God’s people 14:1-2 Promise of refuge in Zion 14:32 Moab invited to escape oppression 16:4-5 Promises of a remnant 17:6-8 Even the Cushites bring gifts to the Lord 18:7 Eliakim to replace Shebna 22:20-25 Message of hope for “great religious seducer” of Israel 23:17-18

Lessons About the Judgment of God Judgment will be just 13:11; 14:13, 17, 20; 16:6; 17:10; 22:12-14; 23:9 Judgment is inescapable Moabites fled only to be captured by lions 15:9 Damascus & Ephraim cannot hide behind walls 17:1-3 Egypt couldn’t protect itself 19:1-15 Tiny nations and far away tribes not overlooked Chp. 18; 21:11-17 God’s own people not exempt Chp. 22

Lessons About the Judgment of God Judgment is be impartial Chp. 17 & 22 Judgment is a purging 17:7-8; 19:18 Judgment glorifies God Chp 18, 19, & 23 Judgment will be just 13:11; 14:13, 17, 20; 16:6; 17:10; 22:12-14; 23:9 Judgment is inescapable

We Must Stand in Awe of the Lord of Host Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent No power He doesn’t control All history is for good of His people No hope without Him; with Him there is everlasting security