A prophecy against Babylon
1 A prophecy against the Desert by the Sea:
Like whirlwinds sweeping through the southland,
an invader comes from the desert,
from a land of terror.
2
A dire vision has been shown to me:
the traitor betrays, the looter takes loot.
Elam, attack! Media, lay siege!
I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused.
3
At this my body is racked with pain,
pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labour;
I am staggered by what I hear,
I am bewildered by what I see.
4
My heart falters,
fear makes me tremble;
the twilight I longed for
has become a horror to me.
5
They set the tables,
they spread the rugs,
they eat, they drink!
Get up, you officers,
oil the shields!
6 This is what the Lord says to me:
‘Go, post a lookout
and let him report what he sees.
7
When he sees chariots
with teams of horses,
riders on donkeys
or riders on camels,
let him be alert,
fully alert.’
8 And the lookout shouted,
‘Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower;
every night I stay at my post.
9
Look, here comes a man in a chariot
with a team of horses.
And he gives back the answer:
“Babylon has fallen, has fallen!
All the images of its gods
lie shattered on the ground!”’
10
My people who are crushed on the threshing-floor,
I tell you what I have heard
from the Lord Almighty,
from the God of Israel.
A prophecy against Edom
11 A prophecy against Dumah:
Someone calls to me from Seir,
‘Watchman, what is left of the night?
Watchman, what is left of the night?’
12
The watchman replies,
‘Morning is coming, but also the night.
If you would ask, then ask;
and come back yet again.’
A prophecy against Arabia
13
A prophecy against Arabia:
You caravans of Dedanites,
who camp in the thickets of Arabia,
14
bring water for the thirsty;
you who live in Tema,
bring food for the fugitives.
15
They flee from the sword,
from the drawn sword,
from the bent bow
and from the heat of battle.
16
This is what the Lord says to me: ‘Within one year,
as a servant bound by contract would count it,
all the splendour of Kedar will come to an end.
17
The survivors of the archers, the warriors of Kedar,
will be few.’ The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The Book of ISAIAH- Chapter21
- Read by David Suchet -
-=-
ISAIAH Chapter 1 to 39 - Overview
The Bible Project
STUDY - LINKS
The Book of ISAIAH
Part 1 by David Pawson
The Book of ISAIAH
Part 2 by David Pawson
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
1 comment:
Isaiah 21
In Ghana I remember as a boy knowing and befriending the ‘watchman’ across the road from our home. His name was Papa Mahama. I was intrigued by his vocation, and went to bed at night knowing he sat awake all night watching out for intruders. I’d often ask him in the morning “Did you catch anybody’?
The watchman we read about today in verse 11 is one who stands in God’s councils, knows what is coming, and looks out for the event.
What about us? When we learn from the scriptures what God has foretold, and when we discern His purposes, not by speculative interpretation, but by comparing Scripture with Scripture, and accepting what is made plain in there, then we are able to exhort others. We stand upon the watchtower in fellowship with our all-wise and authoritative God, whose word is final (‘The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken’ v17)
‘Watchman, what is left of the night?’ The watchman replies, ‘Morning is coming, but also the night’ Whatever refuge they found was going to be temporary. A reminder for us all, in these uncertain times,
-to draw even closer to God, the only permanent refuge
-to let our lights shine even brighter for Him
-to bring hope wherever in this world God has placed us.
Post a Comment