Lesson #21

ISAIAH 22
Lesson #21
THE BURDEN OF THE VALLEY OF VISION

• MEMORY VERSE: LUKE 16:10

• THE “BURDENS” BEGAN IN A DISTANCE, IN BABYLON (CHAPTER 13), AND HAVE PROCEEDED TO COME CLOSER AND CLOSER TO JERUSALEM JUST LIKE THE ASSYRIAN ARMY CAME CLOSER AND CLOSER…JUST LIKE A BAD STORM GETS CLOSER AND CLOSER.
• ALL THE OTHER BURDENS REFER TO HISTORIC NEIGHBORS AND ENEMIES OF JUDAH. THIS “BURDEN” REFERS TO JERUSALEM. WHY DO YOU THINK THERE IS A BURDEN FOR JERUSALEM?

• READ ISA 22:1-14 THE BURDEN OF THE VALLEY OF VISION (JERUSALEM)
• THE TITLE “VALLEY OF VISION” IS AN INTERESTING TITLE BECAUSE IT IS FROM THE MOUNTAIN TOP THAT YOU GET THE MORE DISTANT VIEW OF WHAT IS COMING ON THE HORIZON, NOT FROM A VALLEY.
• THE VIEW FROM THE VALLEY HAS A SPECIFIC PROPHETIC MEANING. ‘VALLEY” PROPHETICALLY MEANS = SORROW, DEATH, AND HUMBLENESS. (PSA 23:4) IN OTHER WORDS, GOD’S PEOPLE FROM THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM WILL LEARN A GREAT DEAL BY GOING THROUGH A VALLEY OF DEATH BECAUSE THE EXPERIENCE WILL HUMBLE THEM SO THAT THEY WILL LOOK UP AND GAIN A NEW PERSPECTIVE OR A VISION OF GOD.
• THE SAME TRUTH HOLDS TRUE TODAY. WE LEARN MORE IN TIMES OF TRIAL AND TROUBLE THAN WE DO IN TIMES OF PLENTY. WE GAIN NEW PERSPECTIVES OF GOD’S WORKING IN OUR LIVES.
• THE FIRST FULFILLMENT:

• “THOU ART WHOLLY GONE UP TO THE HOUSETOPS”

(2)

• OUT OF CURIOSITY AND FEAR THE PEOPLE WENT UP TO THEIR HOUSE TOPS IN 701 BC.(DURING KING HEZEKIAH’S REIGN) TO SEE THE COMING DANGER. THE ASSYRIANS UNDER KING SENNECHERIB CAME AND PLACED A SIEGE AROUND THE CITY OF JERUSALEM. HOWEVER, WE KNOW BY OUR PREVIOUS STUDY THAT THE ASSYRIANS DID NOT TAKE JERUSALEM. REMEMBER, ISAIAH HAD TOLD KING AHAZ THAT THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM WOULD NEVER FALL TO THE ASSYRIANS. HOWEVER, THAT DID NOT PREVENT THE ASSYRIANS FROM TRYING TO TAKE THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM.
• THIS ACTUAL SIEGE IN 701 OF THE CITY OF JERUSALEM IS DEPICTED IN ISAIAH CHAPTERS 36 AND 37, SO WE WILL WAIT FOR A SPECIFIC STUDY OF IT UNTIL THEN. (ALSO 2KI 18-19 2CHR 32)
• GOD’S WARNINGS OF COMING JUDGMENT:
• WHILE THE PREDOMINATE PICTURE IN THIS CHAPTER IS 701 BC, THE SIEGE OF JERUSALEM BY SENNECHERIB, OTHER ATTACKS UPON JERUSALEM ARE ALSO INDICATED:
• 597 BC THE BABYLONIAN ATTACK THAT TOOK SOME OF THE LEADERS OF JUDAH INTO CAPTIVITY. (3) (2KI 25:1-10)
• ELAM (PERSIA) AND KIR ARE MENTIONED IN VERSE 6. THEY SUPPLIED THE BABYLONIAN ARMY WITH HELP IN 597.
• GOD’S WARNINGS OF COMING JUDGMENT UPON A NATION OCCUR IN THREE STAGES:
• STAGE 1… VERBAL WARNINGS BY THE PROPHETS OF GOD.
• THESE WARNINGS WERE GIVEN BY ISAIAH BACK IN CHAPTER 1-2
• STAGE 2… FAMINES, PLAGUES, STORMS, ETC.

• “SLAIN MEN ARE NOT SLAIN WITH THE SWORD”

(2)

• THIS IS AN IMPLIED REFERENCE TO FAMINE.
• STAGE 3… PROSPERITY WHICH LEADS TO A JADED HEART.
• REMEMBER THAT THIS PERIOD OF HISTORY WAS A VERY PROSPEROUS ONE ECONOMICALLY FOR JUDAH.
• GOD’S BROKEN HEART (4-5)
• GOD WAS NOT PLEASED TO BE FORCED TO CAUSE ISRAEL’S ENEMIES TO ATTACK HER. HOWEVER, NOTICE THAT HE STILL CONSIDERS THEM HIS DAUGHTER, HIS PEOPLE IN VERSE 4.
• KING HEZEKIAH’S PREPARATIONS (8-11)
• KING HEZEKIAH MADE ALL THESE PREPARATIONS IN JERUSALEM:

• “THE HOUSE OF THE FOREST”

(8) WAS SOLOMON’S HOUSE WHICH WAS MADE AN ARMORY.

• “GATHERED TOGETHER THE WALLS OF THE LOWER POOL”

(9) (2CHR 32)

• KING HEZEKIAH BUILT A WALL AROUND THE LOWER POOL THAT EXISTS TODAY.
• KING HEZEKIAH FORTIFIED THE WALL OF THE CITY (10)
• KING HEZEKIAH BUILT THE POOL OF SILOAM SO THAT THE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE A WATER SUPPLY INSIDE THE CITY WALLS. THE POOL OF SILOAM WAS CONNECTTED TO THE GIHON SPRING OUTSIDE THE CITY WALLS BY AN UNDERGROUND TUNNEL 1,777 FT. LONG CARVED OUT OF SOLID ROCK. (11)
• HOWEVER, ALL THESE PREPARATIONS DID NOT SAVE THEM FROM THE BABYLONIANS THAT CAME IN 586 TO TAKE THEM INTO THE CAPTIVITY..
• WHAT ONE MAJOR REASON DOES ISAIAH GIVE FOR JUDAH’S FUTURE FALL INTO THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY? (11b-14)
• THE POPULAR PHILOSOPHY OF THAT DAY WAS “LET US EAT AND DRINK FOR TOMORROW WE DIE” (13)

• SECOND FULFILLMENT:
• AT THE MIDDLE OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD, WHEN THE ANTI-CHRIST TURNS ON THE JEWS AND BREAKS HIS PEACE TREATY WITH THEM TO HALT THE ANIMAL SACRIFICE, THERE IS A SEIGE AGAINST JERUSALEM. JESUS ALSO PREDICTED THIS SEIGE IN MAT 24.
• WE ALREADY HAVE DETERMINED THAT PROPHECY IS FULFILLED TWO TIMES (DOUBLE FULFILLMENT)
• ISAIAH’S PROPHECY — ISA 22:1
• FIRST FULFILLMENT: 701 BC
• SECOND FULFILLMENT: MIDDLE OF THE TRIBULATION.
• JESUS’ PROPHECY — MAT 24:15-20
• FIRST FULFILLMENT: 70 AD
• SECOND FULFILLMENT: MIDDLE OF THE TRIBULATION

• READ ISA 22:15-25 SHEBNA AND ELIAKIM
• THIS SECTION IS AN UNUSUAL PASSAGE IN THE MIDST OF ALL THE “BURDENS”. IT IS UNUSUAL BECAUSE IT DEALS WITH INDIVIDUALS AROUND A SPECIFIC INCIDENT AND NOT AN INVADING ARMY.
• SHEBNA MEANS “YOUTHFULNESS” = SECOND IN COMMAND TO KING HEZEKIAH. HE WAS THE STEWARD OVER THE KING’S TREASURY, SECOND TO THE KING.
• ELIAKIM MEANS = “GOD WILL RAISE UP”. HE WAS SHEBNA’S REPLACEMENT
• THE INCIDENT:
• SHEBNA WAS A FOREIGNER. HE EVIDENTLY WAS A VERY PROUD MAN AND SOUGHT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HIS HIGH POSITION TO ENRICH HIMSELF AND FURTHER HIS PRESTIGE. HE BUILT HIMSELF A GRAND TOMB. HE MAY EVEN HAVE MIS-APPROPRIATED FUNDS.
• (2KI 18:18; 19:22 ISA 36:3 ISA 37:2) IN OTHER WORDS HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HIS LEGACY!
• ISAIAH’S INVOLVEMENT AND PERSONAL PROPHECY:
• GOD SENT ISAIAH TO CONFRONT THIS PROUD MAN. SHEBNA WAS TOLD HE WOULD GO INTO CAPTIVITY AND DIE THERE. HE WOULD NEVER GET TO USE HIS GRAND TOMB. (17-18) HIS WEALTH AND GLORIOUS MATERIAL POSSESSIONS WOULD NOT SAVE HIM FROM THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY.
• ELIAKIM WAS TO BE SHEBNA’S REPLACEMENT.(20)
• THE PROPHECY FOR SHEBNA AND ELIAKIM BEGINS AS A PERSONAL PROPHECY REGARDING THESE TWO MEN. THEN IT EXPANDS TO RELATE TO MORE THAN JUST THESE TWO MEN AT THAT HISTORIC TIME.
• NOTICE THE PHRASE “IN THAT DAY” IN VERSE 20,25.

• “HE

(ELIAKIM) SHALL BE A FATHER TO THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM AND TO THE HOUSE OF JUDAH” (22)

• ELIAKIM WAS TO BE A PREFIGURE OF SOMEONE GREATER. (REV 3:7) REMEMBER THAT ELIAKIM REPLACES SHEBNA.
• ELIAKIM = A PREFIGURE OF JESUS CHRIST.
• SHEBNA = A PREFIGURE OF THE ANTICHRIST.
• THE PICTURE OF THE “NAIL”
• IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE JEWS AS A WANDERING, NOMADIC PEOPLE, THEY LIVED IN TENTS THAT WERE EASILY AND QUICKLY DISMANTLED FOR TRAVEL. EVERY TENT HAD A CENTER TENT POLE. ON THAT CENTER POLE WAS A WOODEN PEG OR NAIL ON WHICH HUNG A PERSON’S MOST IMPORTANT POSSESSIONS…HIS WEAPON, HIS IMMEDIATE STORE OF FOOD, HIS EATING UTENCILS, HIS OUTER ROBE, ANY ITEM OF WEALTH, ETC. IN AN EMERGENCY HE COULD INSTANTLY GRAB EVERYTHING IMPORTANT TO HIS SURVIVAL.
• SHEBNA AND ELIAKIM ARE LIKENED TO THAT CENTRAL NAIL. SHEBNA WOULD BE LIKE A NAIL THAT WAS TOO WEAK TO HOLD THESE SURVIVAL GOODS. IT WOULD FAIL JUST AS SHEBNA FAILED. HOWEVER, ELIAKIM WOULD BE A STRONG NAIL TO REPLACE THE WEAK ONE. THE STRONG ONE WOULD NEVER FAIL. IN FACT, YOU COULD HANG EVERYTHING ON THAT NAIL AND IT WOULD LAST FOREVER!
• JESUS CHRIST IS THE PERMANANT NAIL ON WHICH WE CAN HANG EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED FOR ETERNAL SURVIVAL.
• NOTICE THAT THE PLACE OF THAT NAIL IS IN A SURE PLACE. IT IS FASTENED TO THE THRONE OF GOD.(23)
• IF IT IS A SURE NAIL IN A SURE PLACE, WHY IS IT CUT DOWN AND WE SEE IT FALL IN VERSE 25?
• THIS REPRESENTS THE CRUCIFIXION.
• THE CONTEXTUAL PURPOSE FOR THIS PASSAGE ABOUT SHEBNA AND ELIAKIM:
• THE PEOPLE OF JUDAH TRUSTED THEIR LEADERS AND POLITICIANS TO KEEP THEM FREE FROM ASSYRIAN CAPTIVITY. GOD IS POINTING OUT THE CONTRAST BETWEEN GODLY AND UNGODLY LEADERS. HOWEVER, EVEN FAITH IN GODLY LEADERS WILL NOT SAVE THEM FROM EVENTUAL CAPTIVITY. THEY NEED TO HAVE FAITH IN THE MESSIAH, THE ETERNAL NAIL, THAT EVEN THOUGH THE MESSIAH WAS CUT OFF AND CRUCIFIED, HE WILL NEVER FAIL BECAUSE HE IS FASTENED IN A SURE PLACE, THE VERY THRONE OF GOD.
• THE SECOND FULFILLMENT AND APPLICATION OF THE MESSAGE:
• IN THE TRIBULATION, PEOPLE OF THE WORLD WILL PUT THEIR TRUST IN A MAN LIKE SHEBNA. HE WILL BE THE ANTI-CHRIST. THEY WILL HANG EVERYTHING ON THAT FALSE MESSIAH THINKING HE WILL SAVE THEM THROUGH ALL THE DEVASTATION AND DEATH OF THE TRIBULATION. HOWEVER, HE WILL BE REPLACED BY THE TRUE MESSIAH, JESUS CHRIST, THE SURE NAIL.

• WE CAN BE ASSURED THAT WE CAN HANG EVERYTHING ON CHRIST KNOWING THAT HE WILL NEVER FAIL US. WHEN YOU HANG EVERYTHING ON HIM, YOU WILL BE READY FOR WHATEVER EMERGENCY COMES INTO YOUR LIFE.

• APPLICATION OF ISA 22
• WHAT PART OF YOUR LIFE HAVE YOU NOT HUNG UPON JESUS CHRIST, THE SURE NAIL?
• IF YOU DECIDE TO HANG THIS PART ON HIM, PRAY AND PICTURE YOURSELF DOING THAT. KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS ACT OF DEDICATION WILL BE TESTED BY GOD TO MAKE SURE YOU REALLY MEAN TO HANG IT ON HIM.
• PREPARATION FOR ISA 23
• READ ISA 23:1-18 THE BURDEN OF TYRE (PHOENICIA. LEBANON TODAY.)
• HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CITY OF TYRE? (7,8,11)
• WHAT PART OF OUT MODERN SOCIETY IS REPRESENTED BY TYRE?

MEMORY VERSE: PRO 18:11