ISAIAH'S PROPHECY

Light for All Mankind

VOLUME T

CONTENTS
Photo Cxedlks: Coxrer: Dcad Sea Scroll of Isaiah: Courtesy o the Shrlne n f the f Scroll, Israel Muscum rn Page 63: Landbcape: Pictorial ;lrchlve (Near liastern History) Est. m Page 122: Photo: Garo Nalbandian rn Page 156: Left: I'hotograph takcn by courtesy of the British Museum; rlght: Musee du Louvre, I'arls Pagc 170: O J o h n C. T m r Page 191: Ericlr I.es~lng/Art Resource, NY Page 192: Musfe d u Louvre, Paris Page 196: The Wallea .Art Gallcry BaltiPage 198: Kim WestcrskovlTuny Stone Images rn l'age 2091 Copyright more Pagc 241: the British Libmry (735 g. 5 ) = Page 213: Space ~huttle! NASA photo Garo Nalbandian a Page 256: Ship: Plctorlal Arclliw (Year Eastern History) EEt. Pagc 289: Tup center: U.5, Natlonal Archives photo; top right and middle left: I'agc ,412: Pictorial Archive (Near UN photo r Page 311: Garo Nalbandian Page 324: Lastcrn History) Est. r Page 322: .9 Len Hue, Jr./llfsuals Unlimited Top: Rcutcrs/Nikola Saliclhrchir,e Pllotos; bottom left: A. BoulatlSipa; bottom right: U?I PHOTO 1867971J. lsaac Pagc 331: Left, Dead Sea Scroll of IsaIah: BJohn C. Trever; middle rlght, Iars: Courtcsyof the Visitors of thehhmolean Museum, O h r d ; botwm right, jar: Photograph taken by courtesy of the Rtltisll Museum = Page 333: Top left and top right: Pictoria1 Archive (Near Fastern History) ht. r Page 359: 'lop left, WWII bomber: USAI: photo; top right, WW1 soldrers: U.S,Natio~~al Archlves photo; middle left, atomic blast: US:W photo; rnlddle right, Viemam: U.S.Army photo rn Page 362: Mountain High Maps$, Copyright .C 1997 Digital Wisdom, Inc. rn Pagc 411: Courtesy of Anglo-Australian Ohrervatory, phctograph by 17avld Malin Page 412: NASA photo

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1 An Ancient Prophet With a Modern Message 5

2 A Father and His Rebellious Sons

11
22

3 "Let Us Set Matters Straight"

4 Jehovah's House Lifted Up

37

5 Jehovah Humiliates Self-Fmlted Ones

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61

6 Jehwah God Has Mercy on a Remnant

7 Woe to the Unfaithful Vineyard!

73 87 101
117

8 Jehovah God Is in His Holy Temple 9 Trust in Jehovah in the Face of Adversity
10 The Promise of a Prince of Peace

.F. 2000

Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society .of Pennqylvania N1 Rlghts Reserved

11 Woe to the Rebels!

133
144

PUBLISHERS
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society nf New York, Inc. Inlrrnational Blble Students hssociat~on

12 Do Not Be Afraid of the Assyrian

Urmklyn, New York, U.S.A.

Firat Printing in English: 5,000,000 Copies Unless otherwise indicatetl, Scripture quotailonr are horn the modern-language Arelew World %n ~Iutinnof the Holy Scriptures- WIth Refirences

13 Salvation and Rejoicing Under the Messiah's Reign

14 Jehovah Humbles an Arrogant City

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172

Isaillh's Prophecy--Light fir A11 Mankirid I English ( ip-1-E)

Made In the United StaMs of Amerlca

15 Jehovah's Counsel Against the Nations

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CHAPTER ONE
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16 Trust in Jehovah for Guidance

and Protection
17 *Babylon Has Fallen!"

208

215 230
244

A n Ancient Prophet With a Modern Message

Isaiah 1 :I

18 Lessons About Unfaithfulness

19 Jehovah Profanes the Pride of Tyre

20 Jehovah Is King
21 Jehovah's Hand Becomes High

259

271

22 Isaiah Foretells Jehovah's 'Strange Deed'

23 Keep in Expectation of Jehovah
24 No Help From This World
25 The King and His Princes

287
302

316
329

26 "No Resident Will Say: 'I Am Sick'"

27 Jehovah Pours Out Indignation

342 356
369

Upon the Nations

28 Paradise Restored!
29 A h g ' s Faith Is Rewarded

382
398

WHO today does not yearn for relief from tlze problems that face mankind? Yet, how often our longings go unfut filled! We dream of peace, but we are plagued by war. We cherish law and order, but we cannot stern the rising tide of robbery, rape, and murder. We want to trust our neighbor, but we have to lock our doors for protection. We love our children and try to instill wholesome values in them, but all too often we watch helplessly as they succumb to thc unwholesome influence of their peers. 2 We might well agree with Job, who stated that man's short life is "glutted with agitation." Uob 14:l)'rhs seems especially so today, for society is deteriorating on a scale never before seen. One U.S. senator observed: "The Cold War is now over, but in a tragic sense, the world has now been made safer for ethnic, tribal, and religious vengeance and savagery, . . .We have watered down our moral standards to the point where many of our youth are confused, discouraged and in deep trouble. We are reaping the harvest of parental neglect, divorce, child abuse, teen pregnancy, school dropouts, illegal drugs, and streets full of violence. It's as if our house, having survived the great earthquake we call the Cold War, is now being eaten away by termites."
state of affairs do we see rn the world today? (b) How did one U.S. senator express his concern about the deterro-

30 "Comfort My People"

1, 2 . (a) What sad

ration of society?

I ' F

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~ P Q ~ W ~ Mkuh, hsw, W O P H r n

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3 However, we are not left without hope. Some 2,701) years ago, God InspM a man of the Middle East to utt a series of p p h e d e s that have specla1meaalng for our a day. These m v are recorded i the Bible book Mn

ingthat prophet's name-fsalah. Who was W,andwhy mn we say that hh prophecy, recorded Jrnmt three milhfifums ago, provides Ught fm all mankind M y ?

A Righteous Man i Thrbdent Times n 4 In the first vem of his book, Isaiah Introduces himself as "the son of h r y " and he t h us tbat he served as e
:,yvyy%h w r y or paan.- (~samnI: r in ~ m a mean s that Wah mntlnued as God's prophet t the nation o fuo f d for no less than 46 & Ukely begliming at the end of ITm's ldgYl-8ba~t the 778 B.C.E
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* Isaiah's father, Amos, is not to br confused wlth Mas who p p h eslrrl at the beginning of Uzdah's reign and who wruw the Bible h o k baaring his name,
3, What Bible book especially offem h o p foi the future? 4. who was h i a h , and when did h wrve ar Jehwah's prophet? e

Isaiah m his wife made worshlp of Cod a family mutter d

Isaia11's Prophecy-LiLyht for All Mankind I

8 Commendably, some o Isaiah's contemporaries-inf cluding a few rulers-tried to promote true worship. Among them was King Uzziah, who did "what was upright in Jehovah's eyes." Still, during his reign the people were "sacrificing and making sacrificial smoke on the high places:' ( 2 kngs 153, 4) King Jotham too "kept doing what was right in Jehovah's eye?." However, "the people were yet acting ruinously." (2 Chronicles 27:2) Yes, throughout much of Isaiah's prophetic ministry, the lungdom of Judah was in a deplorable spiritual and moral state. By and large, the people ignored any positive influence that came from their kings. Understandably, delivering God's messages to t h s stubborn people would not be an easy assignment. Nevertheless, when Jehovah posed the question, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Isaiah did not hesitate. He exclaimed: "Here I am!

5 Compared with what we know about some other prophets, we know little about the personal life of Isaiah. We do know that he was a married man and that he referred to his wife as "the prophetess." (Isaiah 8:3) According to McClintock and Strong's Cydopedia of Biblical, Theological, and EcciesidsticaI Literature, this designation indicates that Isaiah's married life "was not only consistent with his vocation, but that it was intimately interwoven with it." It may well be that, similar to some other godly women of ancient Israel, IsaiaIlls wife had her o m prophetic assignment.-Judges 44; 2 Kings 22:14. 6 Isaiah and his wife had at least two sons, each given a name with proph&c significance. The firstborn, Shertrjashub, accompanied Isaiah when he delivered Gnd's messages to wicked King Aha. (Isaiah 7:3) I t is evident that Isaiah and his wife made worship of God a family matter-a fine example for married couples today! 7 Isaiah and his family lived during a turbulent period in Judah's history. political unrest was common, bribery tainted the courts, and hypocrisy tore the religious fabric of society. The hilltops were covered with aliars to false gods. Even some of the kings promoted pagan worship. Ahaz, for instance, not only tolerated idolatry among his subjects but personally engaged in it, making his awn offspring "pass through the fire" in a ritual sacrifice to the Canaanite god Molech." ( 2 Kings 163,4; 2 Chronicles 28: 3, 4) And all of this took place among a people who were in a covenant relationshp withJehovah!-Exodus 195-8.

Send me."-Isaiah 6%.

Some say that to ''pass through the k e " may simply indicate a purification ceremony. It seems, though, that in this context the phrase refers to a literal sacrifice. There is n o question that child sacrifice was practiced by Canaanites and apostate Israelites.-Deutemnomy 12:31; Psalm 10h:37,38.
5, 6. What must have been true regarding Isaiah's famUy life, and

A Message of Salvation 9 Isaiah's name means "Salvation of Jehovah," and this could well be called thc theme of h s message, True, some of Isaiah's prophecies are o judgment. Still, the theme of f salvation comes through loud and clear. Rgeatedly, Isaiah related how in due time Jehovah would release the Israelites from captivity in Babylon, allowing a remnant to r e turn to Zion and bring the land back to its farmer splendor. No doubt the privilege of speaking and writing prophecies concerning the restoration of his beloved Jerusalem gave Isaiah the greatest joy!
8. (a] What example did Kings Uzziah and Jotham set, and did the people follow t h e ~ r lead? (b) How did Isaiah sl-low boldness in the midst of a rebellious people? 9. What is the meaning of I ~ a i a hname, and how does this relate '~ to the theme uf his book?

why? 7. Descsibe conditions in Jndah in Isaiah's day.

10

Isnlnlr's Pmphrcj~-l.l.qht filr A l l Mtr t r k l ~ t Il

-

- -

In But what do these messages of ludgment and salvation have to do with us? Happily, [saiah docs not prophesy simply for the benefit o the hratrihe kingdom of Ju&h. On f

CHAPTER TWO -

the contrary, his messages have special significance for our day. Isaiah paints a glorious picture of how God's Kingdom will soon bring grand blessings to our earth, In this r e ~ a d , a large pertion of Isaiah's writings focl~scs thc fororold on Messiah, who would rule as King of Gocl's Klngdom, (1)an!el 925; John 12:41) Surely it is no coincidence that the names Jesus and Isaiah express virtl~al the s;lmc t hnught, ly the name Jesus meaning "Jehovah Ir Salvation." II. Of course, Jesus was not born untl! some seven ccntuties after Isaiah's day. Yet, the Messianic prophcctcs contained in the book of Isaiah are so dctallcrl and so accurate that t h v head Iike an eyewitness account of JcsusVife nn earth. One source noted that in view of thk, the lmok o f Isaiah is sometimes called the "Fifth Gaspcl." Hencc, it is hardly surprising that Isaiah was the Riblc lmok most frequently quoted by Jesus and his almstles in ordcr ta make a clear identification of the Messieh. T2 Isalah painB a glorious word picture of "new heavens and a new earth" wherein "a king wlll retgn for rt~hteousncss Itself" and princes will rule fur justlcc. (Isaiah .72:1, 2; hS17,18;2 Peter 3:13) Thus t h book of Isaiah pnintr to the ~ heartwarming hope of God's Kingdom, unclrr tllc Messlah J e w Christ as e n t h e d King. What an encouragement for us to live each day in joyful expaation of"salv;ltion by ~ehovah]"!(Isaiah 25:9;40:28-31) us, then, eagerkt ly examine the precious message I the book of Isaiah. As n we do so, our confidence in God's promiscs will bc greatly strengthened. Also, we will be tlelpcd t grow in our cono viction that Jehovah is indeed tlie God of our salvation. 10, 11. (a) Why is thebookof Isakth o interest to ur today? (b)How f does the book o Isaiah dlf attentian to t hr Messiah? 12. Why do we eagcdy embark on a study a1 the Imok of Isaiah?

A Father and His Rebellious Sons

Isalah 1 :2-9 .. .

SIE PROVIDED well for his children, as would any loving parent, For many years he madc sure that they were fed, clothed, and sheltered. When it was necessary, he di5c-ip h e d them. Rut their punk hrnent was nwer excessive; it was always administwed "to the proper degree." (Jeremiah 30:11) We can only imagine, tlien, the pain that this Foving father feels at havbng to makc the statement: "5ms I have brought up und mised, but they themselves hove revolted against me."-Isaiah I ;2b, 2 The rebelllous sons referred to here arc the people ofludah, and the aggrieved l'aihcr Is Jehovah God, I-low tragic! Jehovah has nourished the Judeans and ralsed them to an elevated position among thc nations. "I went on to dothe you with an ernbroldercrl Karrncnt and to shoe you with seaiskin and m wrap you in fine lincn and to cover you with cmtly material,"he later reminds them through the prophet Ezekiel. (hekicl 16: 10) Yet, for the most part, the people o Judah do nnl appscdatc what Jchovah has done f for them, Instead, they rehel, o revolt. r 2 With good reason, Jehovah prefaces these words regarding lzls rebelllous sons with t h v statement: "Heor, 0 heavens and give ear, 0 earth, for jehowh himself
1, 2. h p l d n how Jchovnh has come tn haw rehellloua sons. 3. Why does Jehovah call upon tlw heavens ant1 the earth lo bear witness to Judah'c remft?

12

Isaiah's Prophecy-Llgh t far AII Mankind I

A Father and His Rebellious Sons

13

has spoken. " (Isaiah 7 :2a) Centuries earlier the heavens and the earth heard, as it were, the braelites receive ex. . plicit warnings regardhg the consequences of disobedience. Muses said: "I do take as witnesses against you today the heavens and the earth, that you will positively p a ish in a hurry from off the land to which you are crossing the Jordan to take possession ofIt." (Deuteronomy 4:26) Now i Isaiah's day, Jehon vah ralIs trpon the invisible heavens and the visible earth to bear witnss to Judah's revolt. 4 The smrivu# the situation calls far a straightforward approach. Even in these dire circumstances, however, it is noteworthy--and heartwarming-that Jehovah p~esents himself to Judah as a loving parent rather than merely the owner who has purchased them. In effect, Jehovah Is entreating his people to consider the matter from the standpoint o a father who is i anguish over his wayward f n sons. Perhaps same pmnts i Judah can even personally n relate to such a predicament and are moved by the malogy. In any event, Jehovah is about to state his case against Judah.

Brute Beasts Know Better

5 Through Isaiah, Jehovah says: '54 bull well kfnows X t s buyer, and the ass the rnmger of h ownet; Ism4 ifself hm not kno wn, my awn pmpk have not behmd understand-

ingly." (Isaiah I:3P The bull and the ass are draft animals famiIiar to those living i the Middle Ehst. Indeed, t h e Jun deans would not denythat even these lowly beasts display a sense of faithfulness, a keen awareness that they belong to a master. h this regard, consider what one Bible researcher witnessed at the close of the day in a Middle Eastem city: "No sooner had the drove gat within tlw walk than it began to disperse. Every ox knew perfectly well his owner, and the way tu hh house, nor did it get bewildered for a moment i the mazes of the narrow md crooked aln leys, As for the ass, he walked smight to the daor, and up to 'his master" crib.' " 6 Since such scenes are no doubt common in Isaiah's day, the pdnt o f J e h h ' s message is cleat: If even a brute beast rec~gnizes master and its own manger, what exits cuse can the people ofJudah offer fox having left Jehovah? Truly, they have 'not behaved understandingly." It is a> if they have no mnsriousness of the fact that their prosperity and their very existence dqend upon Jehovah. It is indeed an evidence of mercy that Jehovah still refers to the Judeansas "my ownpeople" ! 7 Nwer would we want to behave without understanding by failing to show appreciation for all that Jehovah has done fur us! Instead, we should h i t a b the psalmist David, who said: "L will Iaud you, 0 Jehovah, with all my heart; I will dedare all your wonderful works." (Psalm 91) Continually taking irl knowledge of Jehwah .Mia1 encourage us in this regard, for the Bible states that "the
* I this cafltext, "hrael" referrs to the --tribe n
kingdom of Judah.

4. How does Jehovahh o m e to present himself to Judah? 5. I contPast w t Israel, in what way do the bulI m d the ass disn ih

play a sense of faithfulness?

6. How have the people of Judah failed to act unde~standingiy? 7. W h a t are same ways in whlch we can show aurselaes appreciatim of Jehovah'spr&siom?

A Father n ~ Hls Rcbclllntrs Sons d

15

knowledge of the Most Holy One Is what understanding is." (Proverbs 9:lO) Meditating daily on Jehovah's Messings will help us to be thankful anti not take our heavenly Father for panted. (Colossians 3 1 5 ) T l ~ one offering e thanksgiving as h s sacrifice is the one that glorifier me," i says Jehovah, "and as for the one keeping a set way, I will cause him to see salvation by God."-l'salm 50:23.

high pricstb sturban: "Holiness belongr to Jehovah." (Exodus 3930) Hence, by referring k Jehovah as "the Hoty o One of lsrael," Isaiah unclcrsct>re~ gravity o Judah's the f sin. Why, these rekh are dircdly.violatingthe command given to their forvfilthers: "Yon must wnctiiy yourselves and you must p m e ynurselvcs holy, because 1 am holy"! -Leviticus 11:44.

A Shocking Affront to "the Holy One o Israel" f 8 Isaiah continues his message with strong words for the nation of Judah: "Woe to the sinful nation, the people heavy with error, an evildalng seed, rtrlnous sons! They h a w left Jehovah, they hove treated the Holy One of isrue1 with disrespa they have turned buckwctrds." (Isaiah
7:4) Wicked deeds can accumulate to the extcnt that they become like a crushing weight, In Abraham's day Jchavah described the sins o Sodam and Gornorrah as "very f heavy." (Genesis 18:20) Something similar Is now evident in thc people ofjudah, for lsaiah says that they are "heavy wlth error." In addition, he calls them 'an evildoing seed, ruinous sons." Yes, the Judeans are like delinquent MIdren, They have "turned backwarrls," or as thc New Revised Standard Version puts it, they are "uttcrly estranged" from their Father.
9 Ry their wayward course, the peoplc of Judah are showfor "the Holy Onc of Fsracl," What is ing gross disresthe signifimnce of this phrase, which is found 25 tlrner In the book of Isaiah? To be holy means t be clcan and pure, o Jehovah Is holy to the superlative degree, (Iicvclatian 4:8) The Israelites are reminded of this fact every tlmc thcy abserve the words engraved on the shining gold plate on the -

lo Christians today must at: all costs avoid following Judah's example of dhrespectlng "the Holy One of Israel." They must imitate Jehovah's hallncss. (1 Peter 1:15, 16) And they need to "hate what Is bad." (Psalm 9710) Such unclean practices as sexual I rnrnaraIlty, idolatry, thievery, and drunkenness can corrupt the Christian congregatfon. That is why those who reft~r;e atop practicing these to things are disfellowshippcd fmrn thc congregation. Ultimately, those who unrepentantly follow a cousstl of uncleanness will he excIudcd from cnjoyinp; the blessings of God's Kingdom government. Ileally, all such wicked works constitute a shocking affrnnt ir, "the I-loly One of Israel." -Romans 1:26, 27; 1 CX,r.lntlllans5:6-11; 6 9 , 10.

Sick From Head to Foot

11 Isaiah next strives to reuson wlth the people o Judah f by pointing out to them their sickly state. H e says: "Where else will you be slruck still more, in thcrt you add more re wIt?"I effect, Isaiah is askinx them: 'Haw you not sufn fered enough? Why bring furlher harm to yourselves by continuing to rebel?' Baiah conlinues: 'The whole heod is in a sick condition, and the whole heart is feeble. From the sole of the foot even to the head there Is no sound spot in

8. Why can the people of Judah be cntled 'the slnful nntton"? 9, What Is the significance of the phrare "thc Holy Onc of Israel"?

10. How can we avold s h o w l n ~ disrespect for "the Maly One o Israf el"? 11, 12. [a) Descrlbe Judah'r bad condttlan. (b) Why should we nut feel sorry for Judah?

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Isaiah's Prophecy-Lrghf for All Mankind 1

A Fnther and His Rebellious Sons

17

it." (Isaiah 1 5 , 6a) Judah is in a loathsome, diseased state-spiritually sick from head to foot. A grim diagnosis

indeed!
12 Should we feel sorry forJudah? Hardly! Centuries earlier the entire nation o Israel was duly warned about the f penalty for disobehence. In part, they were told: "Jehovah will strike you with a maIignant boil upon both knees and both legs, from which you will not be able to be healed, from the sole of your foot to the crown of your head." (Deuteronomy 28:35) In a figurative sense, Judah is now suffering these very consequences of her stubborn course. And all of this could have been avoided if the people ofJudah had simply obeyed Jehovah.

nor has there been a softening with oil."' In a sense, Judah resembles an open, unbandaged, all-pervasive sore. 15 Taking a lesson from Judah, we must be on guard against spiritual sickness, Like physical illness, it can affect any one of us. After all, who of us is not susceptible to fleshly desires? Greed and a desire for excessive pleasure can take root in our hearts. Hence, we need to train ourselves to "abhor what is wicked" and "cling to what is good." (Romans 129) We also need to cultivate the fruits of God's spirit in our everyday lives. (Galatians 5:22, 23) By doing so, we d l avoid the condition that plagued Judah-that of being spiritually sick from head to foot.
A Desolated Land 16 Isaiah now leaves his medical analogy and turns to the condition of Judah's terrain. As if he is gazing down on a battle-scarred plain, he says: "Your /and is a desolation,

13

Isaiah continues to describe Judah's pitiable state:

"Wounds and bruises and fresh stripes-they have not been squeezed out or bound up, nor has there been a softening with oil." (Isaiah 756) Here the pmphet refers to three typcs of injuries: wounds (cuts, such as those inflicted by a sword or a knife), bruises (welts resulting from beating), and fresh stripes (recent, open sores that seem beyond healing). The idea presented is that of a man who

your cities are burned with fire; your ground-righ t in front of you strangers are eating it up, and the desolation is like an overthrow by strangers." (lsaiah 1 :7) Some scholars say
that although these words are found early in Isaiah's book, they were probably uttered later in the prophet's career, perhaps during the relgn of wicked King Ahaz. They assert that Uzziah's regn was too prosperous to justify such a bleak description. Granted, it cannot be stated with

has been severely punished in every manner imaginable, with no part of his body escaping harm. Judah is m I y in a broken-down state. 14 Does Judah's miserable conhtion move her to return to Jehovah? No! Judah is like the rebel described at Proverbs 29:l: "A man repeatedly reproved but making his neck hard will suddenly be broken, and that without healing." The nation seems beyond curing. Ps Isaiah puts it, her wounds "have not been squeezed out or bound up,
-

' Isaiah's words reflect the medical practice of his day. Bible researcher E. H. Tlumptre notes: "To 'closeJ or 'press' the festering wound was the process tried at first to get rid of the purulent discharge; then, as in Hezekiah's case (chap. xxxv~ri. 21), it was 'bound up,' with a poultice, then some stimulating oil or unguent, probably, as in Luke x. 34, oil and wlne were used, to cleanse the ulcer!'
15, I what ways can we protect ourselves from spiritual sickness? n 16. (a) How does Isaiah describe the condition of Judah's terrain? (b) Why do some say that these words were llkely uttered during the reign o Ahaz, but how might we understand them? f

13, 14. (a) What injuries hare been inflicted upon Judah? (b) Do Judah's sufferings cause her to reconsider her rebellious course?

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for Ail Mankind I

certainty whether Isaiah's book i s compiIed in chronological order. However, Isaiah's words about desolation are probably prophetic In uttering the above statement, most likely Isaiah is employing a technique found elsewhere in the Bible-that of describing a future event as if it has already taken place, thus emphasizing the certainty of a prophecy's fulfillme~lt.-Compare Revelation 11:15, 17 In any went, the prophetic description of the desolation of Judah should not come as a surprise to this stubborn and disobedient people. Centuries earlier Jehovah warned them of what would happen if they rebelled. He said: "I, for my part, will lay the land desolate, and your enemies who are dwelling in it will simply stare in amazement over it. And you I shall scatter among the nations, and I will unsheathe a sword after you; and your land must become a desoIation, and your cities will become a desolate ruin."-Leviticus 26:32,33; 1Kings 9:6-8. 18 The words at Isaiah 1:7, 8 are apparently fulfilled during the invasions by Assyria that result in the destruction of Israel and widespread destruction and suffering in Judah. ( 2 fings 17:S, 18; 18:11, 13; 2 Chronicles 29:8, 9) However, Judah is not totally wiped out. Isaiah says: 'The daughter of Zion has been left remaining like a booth in a vineyard, like a lookout hut in a field of cucumbers, like a blockaded city1'-Isaiah 7:8. 19 Amid all the devastation, "the daughter of Zion," Jemsalem, will be left standing. But she will look very vulnerable-1Fke a shanty in a vineyard or a watchman's booth in a cu~umber field. In a journey down the Nile, one 19thcentury scholar was reminded of Isaiah's words when he
17. Why should the prophetic description of desolation not come as a surprise to the people of Judah? 18-20. When are the words of Isaiah 1:7, 8 fulfilIed, and in what way does Jehovah 'leave a ferv remaining' at this time?

saw similar booths, which he describes as "littlemore than a fence against a north wind." In Judah when the harvest was over, these booths were allowed to fall apart and collapse. Still, as flimsy as Jerusalem might appear before the all-conquering Assyrian army, she will survive. XJIsaiah concludes this prophetic statement: "Unless lehomh of armies himself had left remaining to us just o few survivors, we should have become just like Sodom, we should have resembled Comorruh itself." (Isaiah 1:9)* Against the might of Assyria,Jehovah will finally come to Judah's aid. Unlike Sodom and Gomorrah, Judah will not be obliterated. It will live on.
'The Commerttary on the Old Testnment, by C. F. Keil and F. Delitzsch, says: "The prophet's address has here reached a resting-place. The fact that it is divided a t this point into two separate sections, is indicated in the text by the space left between vers. 9 and 10. This mode of marking larger or smaller sections, either by leaving spaces or by breaking off the hne, is older than the vowel points and accents, and rests upon a tradition of the highest antiquity."

Z l M m t b a n 1 0 0 ~ l a k rJudah wasagainunder , threa~ m l e bad not learned from the disclphc inThe f i through IM 'They mre continually making ~eaatthemessengersofthetrueC;odmddespislngbis words and m w at his prophets."As a result, 'the rage ofJehoMh-cup @mt his m e , until there was no healing." (2 Chronicles 36:16)The Babylanh monarch NebuChadnemr m n q u d judah, and this h e , there ws nothing "like a booth i a w a r d , "Even n Jerusalemm ded~oyed, Chronicles 361 (2 17-21) Still, Je hmah left a few mmhhg! Even though Judah endured 7Oyeaffinal~J~ens~thecontlnurvrceofW nation a d espediiltp of the M i line, which w d d n d c pdwethepmmhdMessiah.

and H a fiebeNfuus Sons d

21

22 In the k i t century, fsmd went through Its flnal crI& as W s mvenant people. When Jesrrs pamted htmself as the promised M d ,the nation re)him, and as a result, Jehovahdected them, (Matthew21:43; 23.37-33; John1:11) Was this the end of Jehovah's hiwing a special Won on earth? No.The apostle Paul showed that h i a h 1 9 had yet a m h r fulfillment. Quoting from the Septu-

dm

21. Aft& B O ~ IdestrogredJ M e m , why did jehamb X

a few

"Just as Isaiah had said aforethe 'WasJehwahof armies had left a seed to us,we should have b a m e fwt Ue Sodam, and we should have ban made just like Gomomb,"'-Romm 9:29. This m the s u w h m wem the anointed Chrfstbm, e who p faith in Jesus CMst, These m, t first of aII, be liJews. hta they joined by belldng Genttla. Together they made up a new Ism, "the lsrael o Gad.'' f (GaMam 6 1 ;R o m 229) Thls *seed" survived the de:6 stmdan of the Jewhh system of thIn 70 CE.Indeed, u t h e b ~ o f G o d N i s s t l l l W tw today. ft hasnowbeen h p e d by millions of kIiMng indidduds of the nuons, who make up "a great m , d which no man [is] able t~ number, out of atl nations and hfba and poples and
%hit wrsbn, he wtow

tonguts."-Revelatton 7:9. Sum this world wlll face the battle of Armageddon (RmWhn 16:14, 16) While this wiU be a crlsis greater than either the &@an or the Babylonian invasion of Judah, greater evm~ thanthe Roman dwastatlon o Judeain f 70 CX, there wiIl be survfvors, (kwladon Z14) Hsw vitai, tha, t b t all cotlisider wfulv halah's wards fnJuW!They meant suwWd b faithful ones back then. And r they mnmem survival for befiwlng ones tday
W .Inthe &st ewhrry, why did Jehovah1 'a few maMng'? 24.What shautd all talce n tc of If they wbh to W W oi e mauWdls pateStCrh?ls?

CHAPTER- THREE
-

"L,tnZ U.t Srt Mnttcrs Straight"

23

"Let Us Set Matters Straight"

Isaiah 1:10-31

of h i 5 people. " 'Of what benefit t me is the multitude of o your sacrifices?'sayslehovah. 7 h m had enough of whole burnt offeringsof mms m d the fclt of well-fed animuis; and in the blood of young bulls and male lambs and he-goatr 1 have taken no delight'" (lsaloh 1: 7 1 ) 'l'he people have for-

THE inhabitants of Jerusalem may feel inclined t jmtio

fy themselves after hearing thc denunciation recorded at TwEah 1:L-9. e v no douht would like to point proudly n to all the sacrifices they offer to Jehovah, However, verses 10 through 15 give Jehovah's wlthrrlng reply to such attltudes. It begins: "Hear the word af lehowh, you dictators of Sodom. Give ear to the law of our Cod, you people of Gomomh."-Isaiah 1: 10.
2 Sodom and Gomomah were destroyed not. only for their perverted sex pmctices but also for their hardheartcd, haughty attitudes. (Genesis 18:20, 19:4, 5, 23-25; 21; Ezeklel 16:49, SO) Isaiah's audience must be shocked to hear themselves being compared to the people o those f accursed cities." But Jehovah secs his people just as they are, and Isaiah does not soften God's message i order to n 'tickle their ears.'-2 Timothy 4 3 . 3 Notice how Jehovahfeels about the formalistic worship

go21cn t h a t Jehovah does not clcpct~rl upoil their sacrifices. (I'salm SR8-13) He does not r~ccdanythlng that humans may atier him. So if the people think that thcy are doing JchwaI~ favor by presenting their halfhearted offera ings, they are misnken. Jehovah i~scs p~wcrful f l w of a 6 spccch, The expression "I 1 a had enough" may also k 1w rcndcrcd "I am satiated" or "I am gluttecl." I 0 you know 4 the feeling o being so full of food that t l ~ e f very sight of more Is ~pulsive? Jehovah felt similarly ahout those offer-

* Accurdlng to ancient Jewish eradltlon, wicked Klng Manasseh had Isnlah executed, sawn asunder. IC:ompare Hullrrws 11:37,) source A says t h a l in order to bring on thls dcatll senlence, a false prophet usrd t h e following charge agalnqt Isnloh: "IIc ha< called Jerusalem 5ndom, and the princes of Judah and lerusalcm hc has declared (to
hr) the -people of Gomorrah."

ings-utterly repulsed! 4 Jehwah continues:"Whenyou people keep coming in t o see my face, wfre is it that bus requid this from your hand, to trample my courtyards?" (Isoiah 1 :12) ISit not JehovaWS own law that requires the people lo 'come In to see his face,' that is, to he in attendance a t II~S temple InJer~~salem? (Exod ~ t 34:23,24) Yes, but they come there out nf mere formals ism, simply g o i through the motions of PIEworship, ~ without pure motives. abJehovah, their nlirncrrous visits to his cuurlyarcls amount to mere ?tmrnplinc accomplishing nnt hlng more than wearing away thc floor; 5 Na wonder that Jehovah now adapts even stronger lanwigc:cl "Stop bringing in any more valueless groin offerings. Incense-it is something detestuble to me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of a convention-l cannot put up with the use of uncanny power along with the solem
Hnw dm5 Isaiah 1:12 expose the ernpllncrs of the people's attendnncc at the temple in Jerusalem? 5 . What are sumc of the acts ot warshlp perfuxrned t)y theJews, and why have these hecoine "a burden" to Jcllovnl~'l
4.

1, 2. To whom dws Jehovah cornpTm the ruters and the people of JerusrIcrn and Judah, and why Is thl9 vallrll 3. What does Jehovah mean when hc s a y 5 thnt hc hils "had enough" of t l i c /~euple'ssacrifices, and why Is thls the cnsc7

24

R o i n l ~ 'Pmphfc-y-Li.ylrt for All Afdnkind / ,~

assembly. Your new moons and your h t a l seusons my soul hos hated. 70 me they haw become a burden; I hove become tired of bearing them." (Isaiah 1 :73, 74) Grain offer~ E I ~ Sincense, Sabbaths, and solcnr rr assernl~lics , are a11 part n God's taw to Israel. As to "new rt~orrns," Law simply F Ihe dlrects I these be observed, hi1t tvholesa~netraditions hat have gradually grown up around the obscnvnce. (Numlwrs IO:10; 28:11) The new moon IF t r ~ ' a f ~ d a monlhas ly sabbath, when the people would desist from work and even gather for instruction from the prophet5 and priests.
(2 Kings 4:23; Ezekiel 463; Amos 8:s) Such ot~setvances

arc not wrong. The problem lies ln r l o l n ~ them for mere show. Moreovcr, the Jews am resorting tn "uncanny power," spiritistic practices, right along with their formal obwwance of God's Law." Thus, their acts o worship to Jef
hovah are "a burden" to him. fi How, though, could Jehovah kc1 "tired"? Afer all, he has an "abundanceof dynamic energy. . He docs not tire out or grow weary." (Isaiah 40:26, 28) Jehovah is using a vivid figure of speech to enable us to unddcrstand his feclIn#. Have yoti ever borne a heavy burden for so long that yclu were weary to the very bone and just longed to t h w it OK' That is howJehovah fwls ahout his per)ple's h y p critical acts of worship. 7 Jchovah now addresses the most intlrnate and personal of all a a s of worship. #When p spread out your u palms, 1 hide my eyes from you. Even though you make many pmyers, 1 am not listening; with bloadshed your very

-; i 1 -I
hands have become filled." (Isaiah 1:15) Sprcacling out The palms, holding the hands outstrctdled wl Ih galins upward, 1s a gesture of suppli~qtion, Jchwah, this stance 'lo has brcornc: rneanirgless, for this pcoplc have hands full of hlnodshed. Violence is rampant in the land. Uppresslon of the weak is commotlplacc, For such al~usivc, selfish people to pray t Jehwah and ask for blessln~sis nb o sccnc. No wonder Jehovah says, "I am not liqtenlng"!
H In our day, Christendom has Ilkewlw fallcd to w n i God's f a w r with her ceaseless repetltian o vain prayers f and her other religious "woks."{Matthew 7:21-23) 'It is of vital importance that we do not fa11 into the same tsap. Occasionally, a Chiistian lapses inlo a pmctlce of serious sin, thcn reasons that if he just hldcs what he is

--

' 'l'lie Ilchren. word for *uncanny pnwcr" I s alw rcndcrd "what is hurt ll~l." "what is uncamy," and "etronca~~a."Accorrl~np, fie* to the .Ir),~Scrtl Dirtirmnty of the OId T ~ ~ t r r r tI~ r , tel~tcwproplrets uwd the wrlrtl to denounce "evil caused by the rnlq~~sr powcr." o f
6 , In what sense has Jehovah become "tlrcddl? 7. Why hi~s Jehoval~ stopped listening t r h e praycrs uf 1 1 1 ~ people? a

H.. Whr~t crcnr does Christendom commit today, and bmu do some (:h~I~tlans Into n similar trap? fall

26

Isnlr~lr'sProphecy-Light for All Mnnkind 1

doing and jncreases his activity In the Chrlstlan congregation, his deeds will somehow crrunterbalnnce his sln. Such forrnallstlc works do not please Jehovah. 'l'hcre is only onc cure for spiritual sickness, as the next verscs ofIsaiah show. The Cure far Spiritual Sickness the compassinnateGod, now shifts to a warmer, mnre appealing tone. "Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the badness of your dealings from in front of m eyes; cease fo do bad. Learn ilo do good; search y for justice; set right the oppressor; render judgrnen t for the fatherless boy; pleod the cause of the widow." (Isaiah I : 16, 1 7 ) t-lerc we find a s t r I t ~ ~ nine imperatives, or comuf mands. The first four are negative i the sense that they inn vollrc the remwal of sin; the last five am poqitiw actions
9 Jehovah,

tlint lead to receiving Jehovah's blessing. lo Washing and cleanness have always been an important part of pure worship. {Exodus 19:10, 11; 30:20; 2 Corinthians 7:l) But Jehrwa h wants the cleansing to go deeper, into the very heart ofhis worshipers. Most important is moral and spiritual cleanliness, and this is what jeh* vah wfers to, The first two commands in verse 16 are not mere repetition. A Hebrew grammarian suggests that the first, "wxh yourselve$,'rcfers to an initial act of cleansing, whercas the second, "make yourselves clean," refers to ongoing cfforts to maintain that cleanness. t We can hide nothfng from Jehovah. (job 34:22; Proverbs 153; Hebrews 4:13) So his command, 'Remove the badncss of your dealings from in front of my eyes," can only mean one thing-tu cease doing bad. 'That means not attempting to concea1 scrlous sins, for doing so is a sin in
9, 10. Hnw Important i s cleanness In our ~vorshlpnf Jrhwah? 11. 'To ccombnt sin, what ahoul~l do, and what shoultl we never do? we

itself. Proverbs 28:13 warns: "He that is covering m his r transgressionf will not succeed, but he that is confessing and leaving them will he shown mercy." 12 Thcrc is much to learn from the positive actions that Jehovah commands i versc 17 of Isaiah chapter 1, Non tice that he drxs nat: merely say "do good" hut "I~am to do good." It takes personal study of God's Won1 to understand what is good in Gael's eye? and to want to do it. Further, Jehovah does not merely say "render /ustlce" but "senrch for justice." Even experienced elders ncecl to make a thorough spaarch of God's Word in order to hnd rhc just coursc I some complcx matters, Theirs too is the responn sibility to "set right the oppressor," as Jehovclh next cornmands. These directives a r ~important to Christian shep . herds today, for they want tn protea the flock from "oppressive waives."-Acts 20:28-30. 13 The hnal two commands Involve some o the more f vulnerable of God's people-orphans and widows, The world is all too ready t take advantage of such inclivlduo als; this must not be so among I;odls people. Iflvln~ cltlers "render judpent" fr the fatherless boys and girls In the o congtegalion, hclpjng thcrn 10 receive justice and protection in a world that wants to take advantage o them and f corrupt them. Elders "plead t h e cause" of thc widow or, as the Hchrcw word can abo mean, " M e " in her khalf. Really, all Christians want t bc a source of refuge, como fort, and justlce to the needy among us because they are prectoz~s Jehovah,Micah 6:ft; James 1~27. to 14 What a firm, positive message Jehovah conveys

12. (a) Why Is It Important to *!@or17tn do good"? (h) I lnw may clders In parrlculnr apply the dlrectlwv to "search for Ii~stlcc" "set anti right thc opprersor"? 13. Hmv miaht we todw apply the commands reganling the latherless boy anrl r hc wldnw? 14. What pnsltlve ~ n e s s a g conwycd at Isaiah 1:16,I77 Is

28

Isoinli's Pml~ltt'ry-tl,~ht All Mankind I fhr

"Lrr Us Trt Matters Straight"

29

through these nine commands! Sometimes those involved In sin mnvince thernrelvcs,that it is simply beyond their power to do right. Such notions are discouraging. Moreover, they are wrong. Jehovah knows--and wants u s

tr) know-that with His help, any sl~lner stop his sinful can course, turn around, and do r f ~ h Instead, t

17 SO important is this truth that lehovah repeats it i a n poetic variation-"crimson" sins wlll hecome like new, undycti, white wool. Jehovahwants u~ t know that he truly o Is the Farglver of sins, ewn.vcry serlous ones, as long as he finds us genuinely repentant, 'I'hosc who find It hard to

A Compassionate, Just Plea

15 Jehovah'stone now takes on wen greater warmth

and

compassion, ""Come, now, you peopEe, ond let us set matters straight between us, 'suys Jehovah, Though the sins af you people should prove to be as scarlet, they will be made whitejust like snow; though they should be red like crimson cloth, they will become even like wool.'" (lsrriah 1: 78) The Invitation thatopens this beautiful vcrse Ir oftcn misunderstood. For example, 7 7 1 ~ lit$qlifsl~HiEk says, "Lnt us arNow gue it out"--as if h t h sides must makc concessions to reach itn accord. Not so! Jehovah bcarr IFO fault, least of aII in his dealings with this rebellious, hypocritical people. (Deutcronomy 324, 5 ) The verse speaks, nnt at' a give-and-take cli~cusslon between equals, but of a forum to establish justice. It is as if Jehovah lierc challeng~s Israel to a court trial. 16'That may be a daunting notlan, but Jehwah is the most merciful and mmpaqsionat~ Judg~, capacity for HIS fwrgiwness is unparalleled. (Ratrn 86:s) I-le alone can take Israel's sins that are "as scarlet" anrl cleanse them away, making them "white just Hke snow,'' No human effort, no formula of works, sacrlficcs, or prayers can remuve the stain of sin. Only Jehovah's forgiveness can wash sin away. God grants such forgiveness on terms that he sets, which include genuine, heartfelt repentance.
15. How 15 the phrase "let us s e t mmtea straight between 11s" sometlrner misunderstood, and what docs It actually mean? 16, 17. How clo we know that Jehclvnh la wllll tig 2 0 forglw even serlous rlns?

believe that this is true in thcir awn casc do well m conrldcr such examples as Manasbeh. HP sinned horribly-f~r yean. Yet, he repented and was forglvcn. (2 Chsonidcs 33: 3-16) Jchmah wants all o us, including thosc who have f cumnrittecl serious sins, to know that It is not too !ate t~ "srt rnattcrs straight" with him.

18 Jchovah reminds his people that they have a choice to makc. "If you people show willingness and do listen, the good of the land you will eat But if you people refuse and are ac~uully rebellious, with a sword p u will be eaten up: for the very mouth of Jehovahhas spoken it. " (Isaiah I : 7 9, 20) Plere Jehovah empharizcs attittldes, a d he uses another vivid figure of speech to drlvc his point home. Judah's clloice is this: Eat or be eaten. If thcy have an attitude of willingness to listen to and obey Jehovah, they wlll cat the good produce of the land. Ilowewr, if they perslst In their rebellious attitude, they will be eaten-by the sword of their enemies! It =ems almoqt unimaginable that a people wouId chmse the sword of their enemies over the mercy and abundance o a forgiving God. Neverf thcless, such is the case with Jerusalem, as the next verses oh Isaiah show.

A Dirge Over the Beloved City

19 At Isaiah 1:Zl-23, we see the lull extent o the wickf ednms of Jerusalem at this time. Isaiah now begins an

1 8 , What choice does Jehovah put before h b rehelliotts peop!e? 10, 20. (a) linw does Jehovah convey the sense of hetrayal that he reels? (h) In what way has 'righteousnes? lodged In Jerusalem'?

Us Set Matters Stmbhtx

lnsplred p n in the style of a a , or lament: "0how the h h W n has become a prrrsartute! B e was fbli of M 1 Irudce; rlghmusna IWlf used bp w In ker, but now e

rnu&r~~."+ffIcrA 1:21, 20 Haw the dty, Jerusalem, has fallen! Once a faithful wife, she has now become a prostitute. What could more p0mddLy convey the sense of betrayal and dlsap potntment that Jehovah feels? "Righteoum~~ used i?a& to lodge ia" this dt)? When? WeB, even Mm Israel existed,back fnAbmhmts day, thh dty was d e d Salem. Over it ruled a man who was both h g and priest. His name, M e l M e k means 'Xing of Mghteousness,"and it ePIdently suited hkn well, (Hebrews 72; Genesis 14:1820] About 1,Wpm after Melchlzedek, Jerusalem reached a

peak, under the kingships of David and Solomon. "Rlghteousnes ibelf used to b e ik her,"espedally when her r wdklng I Jeh* n set the example for the p p B .8ah's ways. By Is&ah1s tb~ugh, day, such dmes are a db tantmemory. that the leaders among the people are a large 2 It 1 part of the problem. Isaiah goes on with hls lament: Tour d h Itref has b m m e scumrily d w . bur wheat beer h $iIuM with wter. YourplSnm om mdpaitmts with e f i h . EwyonedthemisuEwarofa Mbeanda chaser h r g l h . Fw o hthetfas boy they do not e d r ne fidgment. and e m the care ofa W w does not get a d m l w b them." (ism 1:22,23) ltva vMd m r dpictures i qulck succession st the tane for what must hln e low. The smith at his hw skhm the scummy d m from tfie molten silver and thrrvwsit awq. Ismel's p r h e s and judges a~ Uke the dross, nd the silvler. They need to be tilarded They haw no mare use than k r that has been dilued with water and lost its flm. Such a beverage i M s t be pour& down the drain! o 2 2 % m 2 shows why the lead- deem s c a de3 uh scriptton.The Ma& Law ennobled God's people, setting them apart from ather riatiam It did so,h ample, by r mandating the protection o arpf and widows @md m 2222-24) But i Isaiah's day, the fatherlessboy kas Iftn tle h q e of any favorable judgment. As for the wldow, she mnnot$etanyone~tD~her~~~e,let ha W, thesejudges and leaders am busy h k No, ing after thdr own Interests-seeking b d b , chasing gi&, arrd swing as partnm to thiwes, evidently pmtethe m h m l s w h i l e a l l ~ n g ~ e i r v i c t l m s t oworse s~.
21, 22. What Is ~tgnlfied daKs and diluted bear, and why do Juby @ ' s leadea merlt such a desdption?

32

Isnlah*~ J'rt~phrcy-l,l,plrt for AII Mnnkind I

yet, they are "stubbarn,"or harclencd, in their course of wrongdoing. What a sorry state ol affairs!

Jehovah Will Refine His People 23 Jehwah will not tderstc such abuse of power forever. lsaia h continues: 'Therefore the utteronce of the true Lord, jehowh af armies, the PowerFul One of Ismel, is: "Aha! I shall ~ l ; myself of my adw~aries, I will wenge mym and self an my emies.'" (Isaiah f :24) Jehovah ir given three clesignations here, emphar izing his rightful lordship and his vast power. The exclamation "Aha!" I ikely signifies that Jehovah's pity is now mixcd with dctcrmination to a a upon his wrath. There is certainly reason fur this. 24 Jehovah's OFW people have made themselves his enemies, They fully merit divine vengeance. Jehovahwill "relicvc," or rid, himself of them. Does this mean a complete, permanent obliteration o his name people? No,for Jehof vah goes on to say "And i wi// turn back my hand upon you, and I shall smelt oway your scummy drass 0s with lye, and I will remove all your woste products." (Isaiah 1:25} Jehovah now uses the refining process ar an illustration. A refiner in ancient timm often added lyc t help separate o the dross from the precious metal. In a similar way, Jehovah, who does not. we his p p l e as completely wicked, will: "chastise them to the proper degree.' He will remove f t r m them only the "waste proQ~cts"-the stubborn, undesirable ones, who refuse tn learn nnd obey." (Jeremiah 46328) With these words, Isalah has the privilege of writing down history i advance, n

ZSJehmrah did indeed refine his pcoplc, removing the scummy dross of corrupt leaders and ather rrbels. In 607 B.C.E., Iong after Isaiah's time, Jerusalem was destroyed and Its Inhabitants Ied off For the 70-year exile in nahylon, 'Phis in some ways parallels an actlnn God took much later. The prophecy at Malachi 3:l-5, wiWn long after the Babylonian exile, showed that Cdd would again do a refining work. It pointed to the time when Jehovah C ; d would come to his spiritual temple accompanied by his "rnes~engrf the covenant," ]e~usChrist. 'This evio clently happened at the end of World War I. Jehwah inspected all of those claiming to be Christians, sifting the true from the false. With what result7 26 Jehwah anwen: "1 will bring back again Judges for you as at the first, and counsdors for you az at the start. After this you will be called City d Righteousness, Faithful Town. With justice Zion herself wilt be redeemed, and those returning of her, with righteousness." (Isaiah 7:26,27)Ancicnt Jerusalem experienced an i nitlal lul f~llmcnt this of prophecy. After the exlles returned to Ihcir bcloved city In 537 B.C.E., there were once again faithful judges and counselors Hke those of the past. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah, the priest Joshua, the rcrihe Ezra, and the governor Zerubbabel all served to guide and direct the falthful returning remnant to walk in God's paths. However, an even more important fulfillmcn t occurred in the 20t h century, 27 Tn 1919, Jehovah's modern-day people emerged from the period oftesting. They were delivered from spiritual
25. (a) How dld Jehovah refine hls pcoplc In 607 R.C.E.? Ib) When cttd Jehovah refine his people In modern tima? 26-28. (a) What initial fulfillment did Isaiah E:2b have?(h) Haw has thlq prophecy been fulfilled in our t i ~ t ~ e ? I-low mlxht thls proph(t) e y I,cncfit elders today? t

The expression -1 will turn back my hand upDn you" rncanr that Jehovah will shift from supporting htr pflple lo chastising them.

23. What feelings toward hl! advcrsarler docs Jchnvah express? 24, What refining process ducs Jehovi~ll purpose klr his people?

34

Isaiah's Pmplrecy-ilkh t pr AH Mankind I

ban* ta w o n the Great, the mdd empire of false rdlgion. The dktbction between that faithful anoinkd m m m t and the a p m t e clergy of CMstwdom bealme cleat. G d a @ blessed hla people, 'brhglq back for them judges and counselors*-faithful men who counsel God's peap1e according to his Word and not according t o the traditions of men, lbdsy among the dfrnldshlng "little M' their InawIrlg miIUons of "othershaep" & companions*there are thousands af such mm,-Luke 12: 32;J o bla 1;JAah 32:1,2; 6Q 17; hl:3, 4. 6 Elders keep in mfnd that they do, on occasion, act as "w the congregation i order t keep it morin n o aIly and spbbdly c l a n and t coned mngdoers. They o are d q l y conwmed with doing thlqp God's way, imitating bls merdful, balanced sense of justice. In most mm tho@, r t r q s m as a , e ' ' W r s . " This) of m e , Is a farcrpfrombehgprfnms or W ,a ~ they make m y t 9 d effuxt nwer t give even o the of It over those who are God's ~tanCe."-l Peter 5:3. 29 Wbat abDutfhe udmtis" menlioned i thepmphecy n of Isaiah? W M happas to those who refuse to Mefit from God's r&ament: pre

m? Isaiah mnthues: "And the crash of mdtmand Phrrt afsinfulo~ wlllbsutthewm~me, andtho=l&ng e h will came to their flnlsh. Fw they will be ushomed of thmightytnm Wyolrpeoplededn?4 d y o u will be abashedkcamof the gatdms that prr haw cho~en*" (lwiah 198,229) Those who m l t and sln against:Jeh* vah, ignoring the w m l n g r n q of his prophets until it is too late, do Indeed "crashu md "come tr, their fInlskH TbSs happens in 607 B,C,E, What, however, do thae references tu trees and gardens ? Jo The &dams have a persistent ptoblem with idolatry, Trea, gardens, and gmm often f i p i their debased n practim. For example, worshipws of Baal and hls mmrh Ashbelieve that In the dry season, the two deitis are d& and W e d . To prompt them t a w a h andmate, o briqtq W t y t the tand, the 1dolatlers gather to carry o out p w k d sexual acts under "sacred" trees i grwes or n in gardens. Wherl rolins and f r i i y come t the land, the etlt o false go& receive the credit the idolaters feel codrmed in their superstltlons, But when Jehevah brings the rebelU r n idolaters to their crasMng finkh, no idol-godsp s mA them The rebels are "ashamed" of these Impotent t r and gardens. T d o l a m Judeans face samethlq worse than sham, tho* Shifting the fllustratlon, Jehovah now likens the

idoiaterhhnselftoa~.%uwlll~ltkuMgh tfre Wage of whlch Is WEtherlng, and like u gatdm that hos no waWN(I~aIah 1:30)I the hot, dry c h a t e o the n f

29, 30. (a) What dm%Jehtntah m p nouncrr for thaw who refuse tn benefrt from tbe r e f h i q p m 7 (b} In what sense do t8c p p l e become "asham& of thelt tee and gardens?

Middle East, ti& illustration is apt. No Wx or w e n a n last h long without a steady supply of waW. Dried up, r such qetatton is espedally wlnerable t rire. Heace, the o illustration In verse 31 follows natmily.

31. What do the Idolaters face that is w o w than shams

36

Irrrinlt's Pwphrc!'- L f,ql~t All ,Mnrtkintl I /irr

-

--

- -CHAPTLR FOUR -

'The vigorous mun will certainly become hw, rind the product of his activlly a spark; and both of them will cert ~ i n l y up in f/ames ot the same time, with no one Eo go do the extinguishing." (Isaiah F:37) W Ro IF this "vigor~ 1 1 manJ'? The I4ehrew expression conveys the sense of s strength and wealth. It likcly re& to thc psosperaus, selfassured follower o falw godq. In Isaiah's day, as in our f own, t l i ~ is ~ sharta~e men who rcjea Jehovah and r no of 1115 pure worship, Somc even seem successful, Yet, Jehovah warns that such men will he like "low,"coarse fiberr of flax so frail and dry Ihat they tear apart, a% were, at the it very smell of h e . U u d ~ c s h:8, 9 ) The product o the idol1 E ater's activity-whether hls IdoI-gods, his wealth, or whatewr he worships in place o Jehovah-will bc like the ignitf ing "spark."Both spark and tow will he consumed, wiped out, In a fire that no nne can extlng'tllsh, No power i the n unlverse can overturn Jehovah'sperfect fuclgrnents.
33 IS this final message compatible with the message o f mcrcy and forgivenes? In vcrse IS? By all mcans! Jehovah has such warnings wrltken down and deliwed by his ser-

Jehovah's House Lifted Up

-

lsalah 2:1-5 --

vants k a m e he is merciful. After all, "he dws not desire any 10 he destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance." (2 IWcr 3 9 ) I t is the prlvllegc of every true Christian today a to proclnlrn God"s warning messages to mankind so that repentant ones may hnefi t from his generous forgiveness and livc forever. How klnd it is on Jehovah's part to give mankind a chance t "set m t e s straight" with him beo atr fore it is toolate!

32. [ i t ) Wlio is "the vlgomus inan" refermi to In verse 317 (b) In wliut scrac will he bemrnc "tow," what "spark"wlll Ignite him, and with what rcsult? 33. {;I) 1Iow do God's warnings of coming Iudpwnt also indicate hir mcrcyl Ib) What opportunliy i g Jehovah nnw extending t mano klntl, : ~ Lhow dne\ ihls atieci each one ot us7 I

"THI;.Y shall beat their S W O T into plowshares. And their ~ ~ spears into prunlng hooks: nation shall not lift t ~ p sword against nation. Neither sllilll thcy learn war any mom." 'rhese worrls arc insmibed on a wall a t the United Nations plaza i Ncw York City. For dccades the soum of that qu& n tation was not Identified. Slnce the aim o the UN Is ta f work toward global peace, It was easy t condude lhat the o quote nrlglnatcd w t the founcters of the UN, in 1945. ih 2 In 1975, however, the name Isaiah was chlselcd into the wall h i o w the quotation. It was then wtdcnt that the words wrrc not of modern origin, They were, I fact, ren corded as a prophecy over 2,700 years ago in what Is now the 2nd chapter of the hook of Isaiah. F r mlllenntums o lovers of pcacc have pondcrcd aver howt and when the things Isaiah foretold would occur, There is no longer any need ta wonder. Today we see hefore us the remarkable fulfillment ol this ancient prophecy. 3 Who are the nations that beat their swords Into plowshare$? Surely, they are not the modern-day political nations and governments. Until now thcsc nations haw dcvcloped sworcls, or weapons, both to wage war and to preserve "peaceJ9hroughstrength, li anything, the tendency has always been for nations to beat
-

1, 2. What words are inscsibctl on a wall a t the United Nntinns plaza, and what lu their source'! 3. Who arc thc nations that heat thelr swnrds into plowshares?

38

Isuiah's Prophecy-Ll,fht for All M~rrrkltid/

their plowshares into swords1 Isaiah's prophecy finds fulfillment in representatives from all nations, people who worship Jehovah, "the God of peace."-Philipplans 4:9.

cally, then, we would expect to sec fulfilled In nur time the thlngs that Isalah foretold. A Mountain in Which to Worship 7 In a few words, Isatah paints a YMd prophetic picture. We see a lofty mountain, cmwned by a glorious house, the temple of Jehovah. This mountain towers above surrounding mountains and hills. Yet, it is not foreboding or Intimidating; it Is appealing. Peoples of all nations yearn to ascend to the mountain of the house of Jehovah; they .qfrentn to it. 'This is easy to visualize, but what does it mean? .tr In Isaiah" day h 1 s and mountains are often assaciat13 ed wit11 wnrshlp. For example, they serve as sites for idolatrous worship and fr sanauaries of false god!,. (Deuterono omy 122; Jr?rem!ah 3:6}Id owever, the house, or temple, of Jehovah adorns the summit of Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. Rlthfi~l Israelites journey to Jerusalem three times a year and ascend Mount Moriah to worship the true God. (L)eutcronomy 1ci:lh) So thc streaming of the nations tn "the rnountaln o the house of Jehovah"pictures the f jiatherlng of many peoples to true worship. 9 Today, o course, W ' s people do not gather at a literf al mountain with a temple ofstone. Jehovah's tempIe in Jerusalem was destroyed by Roman armies in 70 C.E. B e sides, the apostle Pau I made it clear that the temple in Jerusatem ant1 the tabernacle that preceded it werv pictorial They represcntcd a greater, spiritual reality, "them e tent, which JehovaI~ up, and not man." (Hebrews 8:2) That put

The Nations That Stream to Pure Worship 4 Isaiah chapter 2 begins with these words: m thing e that lsaiah the son of Amoz visioned concerning judah wnd lenrsolem: And it must occur h the h a i part of the days
that the mountain of the house of lehovah will become firm& established above the top of the mountains, and it will certainly be lifted up above the hills; and to it oil the nations must streom."-Isaiah 2:7,2. 5 Notice that what Isaiah foretells is not mere speculaUon. Isaiah is directed to record wents that "mr~sl occur" -without fail. Whatever Jehovah purposes has "certain success." (Isaiah 55:ll) Evidently to give emphasis to the reliabilityof his promise, God i n s p i ~ d prophet Micah, the a contemporary of Isaiah, to record in his book the same prophecy that is set out at Isaiah 2:2-4.-Micah 4 1-3, 6 When is Isaiah's prophecy to be fulfilled? "In the final part o the days." The New Inkrnational Version reads: f "In the last days."The Christian Greek Scriptures foretold features that wouId identify this period. Included among them are wars, earthquakes, pestilences, food shortages, and "critical fimes hard to deal with."' (2 'I'irnothy 3: 1 -5; Luke 21:SO, II) The fulfillment of such prophecies gives abundant Wzdence that ~ v e living "in the final part of ace the days," the last days of this present world system. h i * See the b k Knowledge Thnt Ccads to Everlasling Lift?, chaptcr 1 I, "These Are the Last Days!," published by the Watchtower Bil,lc nnd Tract Society o Nav York, Inc. f
4, 5 . What do the opening verses of lsaiah chapter 2 what underscum the reliability of those words? 6. When dws Isaiah's prophecg find h~lf~llrnent?

-.-

foretell, and

7 What pmphetlc plctuw does Isaiah paint? . 8. (a) With what are hills and mountains associated in Isaiah'sm? (h) What dms t hc stmmlng of the nations to "themountain OF the housc of J c h m h " picture? 4 What tines "the mountaln of the house of Jehovah"represent? .

42

Isaiah's Prophecy-Llght for AII Mankind I

Jehovah's Ifouse Liffed Up

has exdted his worship heaven b h , above all forms of unclean worship, yes, far above all "the kills" and "the top of the mountains." How so? Largely through the gathering together af those who want to worship him "with spirit and truth."-John 4:23.
12 Christ Jesus referred to "a conclusion of a system of things" as a time of harvest when the angels would gather in "the sons of the kingdomw-those with the hope of ruling with Jesus in heavenly glory. (Matthew 13:3643) Since 1919, Jehovah has empowered "the remaining ones" of these sons to share with the angels in the harvest work. (Revelation 1217) Thus to start with, "the sons of the kingdom," Jesus' anointed brothers, are the ones gathered. Then they share in a further gathering work. 13 During this time of harvest, Jehovah has progressively helped the anointed remnant to understand and apply his Word, the Bible. This too has contributed to the elevating of pure worship. Though 'darkness itself covers the earth, and thick gloom the national groups,' the anointed are "shining as illuminators" among humankind, having been cleansed and refined by Jehovah. (Isaiah 60:2;Philippians 2:15) "Filled with the accurate knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual comprehension,'' these spiritanointed ones "shine as brightly as the sun in the h g dom of their Father."-Colossians 1:9;Matthew 13:43. 14 Moreover, others have streamed to "the mountain o f the house of Jehovah." Called by Jesus his "other sheep," 12. Who are ?he sons of the kingdom," andwhat gathering has taken place? 13. How h Jehovah blessed the anointed remnant? s 14, 15. In addition t the gathering of *the sons o the kingdom," o f what ingathering has taken place, and how was this foretold by Hag-

I
I

1
I

these have the hope of living forever on a paradise earth. (John 10:16;Revelation 21:3, 4) Starting in the 19301s, they appeared by the thousands, then by the hundreds o thousands, and n r by the millions! In a vision given f cw to the apostle John, they are described as "a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all ~lations and tribes and peoples and tongues."-Revelation 7:9. 15 Thr prophet Haggai foretold the appearance of this great crowd. He wrote: "This is what Jehovah of armies has said, Yet once-it is a little while-and I am rocking the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry ground. And I will rock all the nations, and the desirable things of all the nations [those who join anointed Christians in pure worship] must come in; and I will fill this house with glory,' Jehovah o armies has said." (Haggai 2 5 , 7) f The existence of this still-growing"great crowd and their anointed companions elevates, yes glorifies, pure worship in Jehovah's house. Never before have so many been recorded as united in the worship o the true God, and this f brings glory to Jehovah and his enthroned King, Jesus Christ. King Solomon wrote: "In the multitude of people there is an adornment of a king."-Proverbs 1428.

Worship Exalted in the Lives of People 16 Jehovah deserves all credit for the elevating of pure worshp in our time. Still, those who approach him are privileged to share in this work Just as it requires effort t climb a mountain, so, too, it requires effort o to learn of and live according to God's righteous standards. L~keChristians in the first century, God's servants today have left behind life-styles and pxackices that are
16-18. What changes have some made so as to worship Jehovah ac-

gai?

ceptably?

44

Isaiah's Pruphecy-Lixht for All ,Udnkind I

Jchovnh's House Lifted Up

45

not compatible with -true worship. Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, thieves, greedy persons, drunkards, and others have changed their ways and been "washed dean" in God's sight.-1 Corinthians 6:9-11. 17 Typical is the experience of ane young woman who wrote: "I once was lost with no hope. I lived a life of immorality and drunkenness. I had sexual diseases. I also sold dmgs and just didn't cam about anything." After studying the Bible, she made major changes in order to conform to God's standards. Now she says: "I enjoy peace of mind, self-respect, a hope for the future, a real famiIy and, best of all, a relationship with our Father, Jehovah." 18 Even after coming to an approved standing before Jehovah, all must continue to elevate pure worship by gving it a place of prominence in their lives. Thousands of years ago, through Isaiah, Jehovah expressed his confidence that there would be multitudes today eager to make his worship the most important thing in their lives. Are you among them?

Iearn his ways. This knowledge equips them to "walk in his paths." Out of hearts filled with appreciation and in harmony with divine direction, they speak to one another about the ways of Jehovah. They gather together at large conventions and in smaller groups-at Kingdom Halls and in private homes-so as to listen t and learn the ways of o God, (Deuteronomy 31:12,13) Thus they imitate the pattern of the early Christians, who met together to eenourage and incite one another to abound in "love and h e works."-Hebrews 10:24,25.
21 They invite others to "go up" to the exalted worship of Jehovah God. Haw well this harmonizes with the command Jesus gave to his disdples just before his ascension to heaven! He told them: "Go therefore and make dirciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and o the Son and of the holy f spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19, 20) With &vine backing, Jehovah's Witnesses obediently go throughout the earth, teaching and making disciples, baptizing them.

A People Taught Jehovah's Way 19 Isaiah tells us more about those who embrace pure worship today. He says: "Many peoples will certainly go andsay: 'Come, you people, and let us go up to the mountain of lehovuh, to the house of the Cod of ]acob; and he will instruct us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths.' for out of Zion law will go forth, and the ward of Jehovah out of]erusalern."-lsaiah 2:3.
20 Jehwah does not let his people wander about Me Iost sheep. Through the Bible and Bible-based publications, he imparts to them his "law" and his "word so that they

Swords Into Plowshares

22 NOWwe come to the next verse, part of w h c h is inscribed on the wall at the L plaza. Isaiah writes: "He will N

certaip1ly render judgment among the nations and set matters stmight respecring many peoples. And they will have t~ beut their swords into plowshares and their speors into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore."-Isaiah 2:4.
21. In what work do Jehovah's servants share? 22, 23. What does Isaiah 2:4 foretell, and what did oae UN official say about it?

19, 20. What are God's people taught, and where?

46

Isnla11's Pmph~cy-I.l+yhtfhr Ail Mnrr kltlrl 1

23 TO achieve thjs

would be no small accomplishment.

Fedetico Mayor, director-generalo the United Nations Edf ucational, Scientific, and Cultural Organiir,ition, once said: "All the obscenities of war, brought home to us nowadays by audio-visual equipment, do not seem able t halt the o advance of the huge war machine set up and maintained

aver many centuries, Resent generations llavc the almost impossible, Biblical task o 'bcatlng their swords Into f ploughshares' and making the transition from an Instinct for war-developed since time immemorial-to a feeling for peace. To acheve this would bc the hert and most noble act that the 'global village' could accomplish, and the best legacy to our descendants." 24The nations as a whale will never achieve this lofty goal. It is simply beyond their reach. Isaiah's words are fulhlltd by individuals from many nations, who are united i pure worn ship. Jehovah has "set matters straight" among them. H has taught his e people to live at peace with one another. Truly, in a divided and strife-riddenworld, l ticy have f gl~ratlvely beaten their "swords into plowshares and ttielr sl?can into pruning shears."HOW?
24, 25. In whom do Isaiah's, words hnd lulftllrncnt, and I what n
way?

1
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25 For one thing, they do nnt take stdes in the wars of the nations. Shortly before Jesus' dcath, armed men came to arrest him. When I'etcr lashed out with a sword to defend his Master, Jesus said to him: "Return your sward to its place, for all those who take the sword will perish by the sword." (Matthew 26352) Slnm then, Jesus' footstep followers have beaten thelr swords Into plowshares and have refrained from takin~ weapons lu kill thelr fellow man up and from supporting war eflorts in othcr ways, 'I'hey "pursue peace with all penple."-Hcbrcws 12:14.

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Purst~ing Ways of Peace the 26The peace of God's people pm Far beyond a refus; a1 to engage in inarfilte. 'l'hough they arc found in more than 230 lands and represent muntluss Pan&vagesand cultures, they enjoy peace with one another. In thcm is found a modern fulfillment of tlie wnrds nf Jesus, who said to his disciples in the first century: "Ry this all will know that you are my disciples, if YOLI 1'1avc IOVC among yourselves." Uolm 13:35)Chrlstlans today are "peacemakers." (Matthew 5 9 , footnote) 'I'hey "seek pcacc and pursue it." (1 Peter 311) Sustaining them Is Jehovah, "the G a d who gives peace."-Ramans 15:33. 27There are dramatic examples of those who have learned to be peacemakers. A young man writes of his early life: "Hard experience taught me how to defend myself. It made me t o u ~ h and angry ahotit life. I would always end up in fights. L-ch clay, I would fight, a different kid in the neighborl~ood,sometimes with fists, soinetlrnes with rocks or bottles. I grcw up being very vlnlent." Eventually, however, he responderl to the invitation to go to "the
26, 27. How do God's pnple "seek pew" nntl pursue it"? G i w an example.

48

fsaiah's Prophecy-Light pr All Munkind I

CHAPTER FIVE

mountain of the house of Jehovah." He learned God's ways and became a peaceable servant of God. 28 Most of Jehovah's w a n t s do not come from such a violent background. Still, wen in relatively small things -am of kindness, forgiveness, and empathy-they strive to promote peace with athers. Nthough imperfect, they endeavor to apply the Bible's counsel t "continue putting o up with one another and forgiving one another frwlv t f anyone has a cause or complaint against another."-Colossians 3:13.
A Future of Peace 29 Jehovahhas done a marvelous thing in this 'It he final part o the days." He has gathered from all natjons people f who want to serve hi. has taught them to walk In hls He wayi, ways of peace. These are the ones who will survive the coming "great tribulation" and pass into a peaceful new world in which war will be abolished forever.-Revelation 7 1 . :4 30 Swords-weaponry-will be no more. The psalmist wrote o that time: "Come, you people, behold the actlvif ties of Jehovah, how he has set astonishing events on the earth. He is making wars to cease to the extremity of the earth. The bow he breaks apart and does ctlt the spear In pieces; the wagons he burns in the fite." (Balm 46:8,9) In vkew ofsuch a prospea, Isaiah's f01laving exhortation is as appropriate t d a y as it was when he me it: "0 men t of the house of Jacob,come orid jet u walk in the tight of s jehowrh." (Isaioh 2:s) Yes, let JehwaWs light iflunr~nate our path now, and we will walk i his way for all eternity. n -Micah 45.

Jehovah Humiliates Self-Exalted Ones

DISGUSTED with the condition of Jerusalem and judah, the prophet Isaiah now turns to JehovahGod and declares: "You hove forsaken your people, the house of Jamb."(150Tah 2:do) What has provoked Gad to reject thc people whom he himself had chosen as his "spcial property"? -Deutcmnomy 14:2, 2 Isaiah's denunclatlon of the Jews of his time is of great Interest to tu.Why? Because the condition of Christendom tcxlay Is very similar to that of Isaiah's people, and so is thc judgment that Jehoval~ pronounces. Paying attention to Isala11's proclamation will give us a clear understanding of what God condemns and wlll help us to shun practices that he disapproves of. With keen anticipation, then, let u s conslrlcr Jrhwah's prophetic word as recorded at Isaiah 2:6-4:l.

In Pride They Bow Down

3 Confessing the error of his people, Isaiah says: 'They hwe become f d of what is h m the Emt, and they are practicers of mogk like the PhiEistines, and with the chi!&en of brelgners they abound.'' (kuioh 2:bb) Some 800 years carlier, Iehc>val~ con? had rnanded his chosen people: "Do not make yourselves unclean hv any of these things
1, 2. Why Lq the pmphetic message of Isaiah to the Jews of his d q of Intcrcqt tn u! s ' 3. What crror r,F hls people does Isaiah confess?

28. What can Christians do to pursue peace? 29, 30. What prospect ir there for the earth?

Idols, rlchw, and military p m m s do not saw lemsaIetn on the day of lehowh's judgment

which] the nations whom 1 a sen& m ~ o u t m ~ p ~ R l & d e t h ~ selves tmdwnmR tJ.mltttctx~ 18:243 Concernfng those whom he had selected as his spedal pw o I Jehovahfar& B a b n t say: "Fmm the top of a the rocks I see them, and from the Mils I behold them m r as a W I e they keep tabemading isolared, ee and among rhe mti- they do not reckon lNumbers m , Z Yet, by W 9 L) s d q Jehovah's chosen ones haw adoped the abominable pracdm of the surIounding nationsand are "fullofwhat I from the East" s Rather than putt@ faith i Jebcwah and his word, they n are pm3idng 'magic lk the FWstlaes." Far from heep ie Ing separate fmm the nations, the land 'abounds' with "therhil- ofhr&gntrsJ'-doubtless, foreigners who i. n troduse ungodIy ~ ~to Gsd's people, B S 4 Nattng the m n t m n m i c prusplty and the dlltwy stmgth d JW under King Uzzhh, Isaiah states: Vt&lcrndbWwithdkandgdd,rrndthstrrk~U~~kbWr~u~es.Arld~rlandls~~horses,md thew k mr Umtt i W r Ca&' b hd. (Isubh 2:7)DOthe ple thank Jei~wah such W t h and millmy strength? fur (2 Qwmlclm 26Cl, 6-15)Par ~ it1 ZnsWd, they p t OI II their trust in the wealth itaelf and turn m v from its ~ Source, Jehovah Gadt The nsult?%eIr Imd fs #lkd wM w i ~ i e gods. To the wlork: af one's hanB they bow down, s to that which me's angers mode, And ear&/hgm c l ~
4. Wher than awing t thank Jehovah, how do riches and o muitary S-Igth a f f e the J7 -

r -

bamdom,andmrrnbsccutseshw,avtdyou~~~nnotp sib& pardon m." (lu1Irrh 2:4 9)They turn their faces away fmn the livIng God and bow d m t Ufeless idols. o Bowing dawn can be a sign of humility. &It bowing d m to lifeless thhgs is futlle, making the Idol worship er no : degenerate. Haw can Jehovahpardon such a sin? kw What wllI these idolaters do when Jehovah d s them t o account?

'Haughty Eyes Must Become Low'

6Mahoontlnw: u E n t e r i & t h s r o d c d h l d e ~ in the dust because of the dmdhlnas of jehmh, a d trwn Ms s p W # wpkdty.."( i d a h 2:IO) But no nock

willbebigenoughtopmtectthem,nocoverthickenough t mncd them, from Jehwat.1, the Almighty, When he o comes to execute his judgment, MHte h u h e p of agy ewihihg man must k o m low, and the loi3nas of men mustbow tibwtq andjehowh afonemmcst beputon h/ghh &at duy."-Is~tah 71, 2: 7 m day belong/n$ b]e#tovrrh of umies" is coming. It e wiir be a time b God t express his anger 'upon ali ~e cer o brr~sof&hm thatarelotlycmdlhdup~mdupor~ a# t h e m a s k ~ o f ~ ~ a n d lrllthsloftymunu p m ~~~mdupond1tkehtlk~mlWup;du e m y h ~ ~ a n d u p n e w y f o d ~ ~ a v r d u a# thsship of T d h h and U P ~ Jdl & I d bwk"(1I icrh 2~72-76) e ,msy organization r&ed up by man as a Ys symbol o his pride and wwy ungdy individual will be f given attendm in the day of Jehwahlswrath. Thus, "the haughtiness of the wrthIIng mun must bow down, and the

5. W y Is bowing down c idols not an act of humillQ? 6, 7. (a) What happens tu ~ l ~ t o c on the day d Jehovah's m d iudgment? (b) Upon what and whom da# Jehovah express his mget, and why?

52

Isniah's Prophecy-Light f o AII Mallkind I ~

{ehovah Humiliates Self-Exalhd Ones

53

loftiness of men must become low; and]ehovah alone must be put on high in that day."-Isaiah 2:1Z 8 The foretold day of judgment comes upon the Jews in 607 B.C.B. when Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem, The inhabitants see their beloved city aflame, its proud buildings demolished, its mighty wall smashed. The temple o Jehovah is reduced to rubble. f Neither their treasures nor their chariots amount to anything on "the day belonging to Jehovah of armies." And their idols? I t happens just as Isaiah foretells: '5% valueless gods themselves will pass away completely. " (Isaiah2: 78) The Jews-princes and mighty men included-are taken into exile to Babylon. Jerusalem is to Iie desolate for 70

years. 9 How similar the condition of Christendom is to that of Jerusalem and Judah in Isaiah's day! Christendom has certainly cultivated a close relationship with the nations of this world. She is an enthusiastic supporter o the United f Nations and has filIed her house with idols and unscriptura1 practices. Her adherents are materialistic and put their confidence in military might. And do they not view their clergy as worthy of great distinction, attributing to them titles and honors? Christendom's self-exaltation will without fail be brought to nothing. But when?

presence of the enthroned King Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 2:1,2) Peter spoke o that day in connection with the f establishment o 'new heavens and a new earth in which f righteousness is to dwell.' (2 Peter 31CL13) It is the day on which Jehovah will execute his judgment upon the entire wicked system o things, including Christendom. f fl "Alas for the day," says the prophet JoeI, "because the day of Jehovah is near, and like a despoiling from the Almighty One it will come!" In view of the imminence of that "day," should not security during that fear-inspiring time concern everyone? "Who can hold up under it?" asks Joel. He answers: "Jehovah will be a refuge for his people." (Joel 1:lS; 211; 3:16) Will Jehovah God be a refuge for those who have a haughty spirit and who put their confidence in riches, military might, and man-made gods? Impossible! God abandoned even his chosen people when they acted in this way. How vital that all of God's servants "seek righteousness, seek meekness," and examine seriously the place of Jehovah's worship in their lives!--Zephaniah 2 2 , 3.

"To the Shrewmice and to the Bats"

12 How will idol worshipers view their idols during Jehovah's great day? Isaiah answers: "People will enter into the caves of the rocks and into the holes of the dust because of the dreadfulness of jehovah and from his splendid superiority, when he rises up for the earth to suffershocks, In that day rhe earthling man wiII throw his worthless gods o f rilver and his vuiueless gods of gold. , to the shrewmice and to the bats, in order to enter into the holes in the rocks and

The Impending "Day of Jehovah"

10 The Scriptures point to a "day of Jehavah" that will be o far greater significance than the day of judgment upon f ancient Jerusalem and Judah. The apostle Paul, under inspiration, associated the coming "day of Jehovah with the

8. How doe5 the foretold day of judgment come upon JerusaIern in 607 B.C.E.? 9. In what way i5 the condition of Chr~stendom similar to that of Jerusalem and Jltdah in Isaiah's day? 10. To what "day of Jehovah" do the apostles I'aul and Peter point?

11. (a) Who will "hold up under" the upcoming "day of Jehovah"? (b) How can we make Jehovah our refuge? 12, 13. Why is it f~tting the idol worshipers to thow thelr gods for *'tothe shrewmice and to thc bats" on the day of Jehovah?

into the clefts of the crags, because Of the dreadfuinw of jehmh dnd from his spiendld ruprlariq when he rises up for the earth bo suffershocks, For your own sakes, hkeM ofi k.om the w&Iity man, whose breath i 1~ his nostriis, for s on Wqt basis is be himself f be token intu account?"-tsao

i 2:19-22. d
13 Shrewmice live in holes in the ground, and bats roost in dark and desolate caves. Moreaver, whae a large number s bats raost i ane place, these is a repulsivesmdI a d f n n a buildup of thick layers of w i n g s . Casting- idols into such places is fitting.A place of darhess and uncleamas is all that they dedesem. Ps for the people, they witl seek

refuge in am and clefts i the rock on the day o Jehcn f vah3 judgment. So t h f i~@ o the idols and their worshipt f ers will be the same. True ta Isaiah's prophecy, lifeless id& saved neither their wunhiplers nor Jerusalem 'from Metsuchah-9 hands in 407 3,C.E.
14 During the cuming day af JehmWs judgment upon Chrismdam and other se&mm~ the worid emplrte of of false. religion, *hat wiII pop3-e do? Faced with detetiumting cbpditions w t h wide, mast will likely come to realkz that their Idols are valueless. In pIsrce of these, they may well seek refuge and pmtdon i ~ ~ i x i t l f a earthly n l, organhatlam, -haps including the United Nations, the ~ ~ ~ l e t a l wiId beast'' ofk l a t i o n chapter 1 . It i oml 7 s "W ten horn" ~ 3 that q m b l i c wild beast +.hatwill d s f s q Babylon the Greatjthe world empin of fabe digion, of which ChrWndornis a s i p i f ~ c mpart-Revelation 17: t 3, 8-12,1 ,17. 6

14. During the upcoming day ofjehovah's judgment upan the wodd empire of Qlsereligion, What wiI1 mddly-minded men do? On "He dojr of jehovahIR the warId empire of false religion wjll he devastated

56

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light fo~A11Mankind I

Iehova h Humiliates Sclf-Exalted Ones

57

15 AIthough the devastating and burning of BabyIon the Great may be the direct work of those symbolic ten horns, it is, in fact, the execution ofJehovah's judgment, Concerning Babylon the Great, Revelation 18:8 states: "That is why in one day her plagues will come, death and mourning and famine, and she will be completely burned w t fire, beih cause Jehovah God, who judged her, is strong." So to Jehcvah God, the m i g h t y , goes the credit for liberating mankind from domination by false religion. As Isaiah states, "Jehovah done must be put on high in that day. For it is the day belonging to Jehovah of armies."-Isaiah 2:llb, 12a.

have a mantle. A dictator you ought t become t us, and o o

'Leadexs Are Causing You to Wander'

16 For a human society to be stable, it must have its "support and stayn-such necessities as food and wa-

ter and, more important, trustworthy leaders who are able to guide the people and maintain social order. Concerning ancient Israel, though, Isaiah foretells: "Look! the twe
Lord, jehovah of armies, is removing from lerusalem and from judah support and stay, the whole support of bread and the whole suppor-l of wates, mighty man and warrior, judge and prophet, and practicer of divination and elderly man, chief of fifty und highly respected man and counselor and expert in magical am, and the skilled charmer." (Isaiah 3:73) Mere boys will become princes and rule capriciously. Not onIy will the rulers oppress the people but "the people will actually tyrannize one over the other. . They will storm, the boy against the old man, and the light/y esteemed one against the one t be honored." (Isaiah 3: o 4 , s ) Children "storm" against their elders, lacking respect for them. So low will be the condition of life that one will say to another who has no qualification for rulership: "You
15. How will Jehovah alone "be puton high" In his day of judgment? 16. (a) What constitute the "support and stay" of a human society? (b) How will Isaiah's people suffer f r o m the removal of the "support

this overthrown mass should be under your hond." (Isaiah 3:6) But the ones thus invited wdl refuse, insisting that they have neither the ability to heal the wounded land nor the wealth to handle the responsibility. They will say: "I shall not become a wound dresser; and in my house there is neither bread nor a mantle. You men must not set me a s dictator over the people."-isaiah 3.2 17 Isaiah continues: ")erusalem has stumbled, and judah itself has fallen, because their tongue and their dealings are against lehovah, i behaving rebelliously in the eyes o f n his glory. The very expression of their faces actually testifies against them, and of their sin like that of Sodom they do tell. They have not hidden it. Woe to their soul! For they have dealtout to themselves calamity." ((Isaiah3:8,9)God's pe+ ple have rebelled against the true God in words and deeds. Even the shameless and unrepentant expressions on their faces expose their sins, whch are as disgusting as those of Sodom. They are in a covenant with Jehovah God, yet he wl not change his standards for them. "It will be well with il the righteous one, for they will eat the very fruitage o f their dealings. Woe to the wicked one!-Calamity; for the treatment rendered by his awn hands will k rendered to him!As for my people, its task assigners are dealing severely, and mere women aactudy rule over i t 0 my people, those leading you on are causing you to wander, and the way of your paths they have con fused."-lsaiah 3: 10-12. 18 To the elders and the princes in Judah, Jehovah 'passes sentence' and 'enters into judgment': "You yourselves have
17, (a) In what sense was the sin of Jerusalem and Judah "like that of Sodom"? (b) Whom does Isaiah blame for the condition of his

and stay" of their society?

people? 18. (a) What judgment does Jehovah pronounce upon the elders and the princes of Isaiah's day? (b) What lesson do we learn from Jehovah's judgrncnt of the elders and the princes?

58

Isaiah's Propk~y-Light faa All Mankirnd I

Jehovah Humiiiafes SeIf-exaIted Ones

59

burned dowrr the vineyard. What wus takn by robbery fPom the affticted cme is in your houses. What do p u men mean in that you crush my people, and that you grind the very fates of the afflicted ones?" {lsaiah 3: 73- 15) Instead s f working E the welfare of t h e people, leaders engage in dem ceitful practices. They misuse their authority by enriching themselves and depriving the poor and needy, But these leaders must answer ta Jehovah of armies for their qpression of the afflicted, What a warning this 9s to those in pcsitions of responsibility today! May they be ever careful not t misuse their authoriry. o 19 Christendom-particularly her clergy and principal ones-has fraudulentlyacquired much that should belong to t h e common people, &torn she has oppressed and continues to oppress. She has also beaten, persecuted,and mdtreated the people of God and has brought great reproach upon Jehovah's name. In his due time, Jehovah will certainIy enter into fudgment against her,
"A Brand Mark Instead of Prettinesst' After denouncing the wrongs of the leaders, Jehavah turns t the women o of Zion, o Jerusalem. Apparently for r reasons of fashion, "the daughters of Zim" wear "step chains"-chainlets fastened to their ankles-which make a melodious tinkling sound. The women ws&ict their stride and walk along "with tripping steps, " rultivating what might be considered a genteel feminine gait. What, if anything, is wrong with
-

this? It is the attitude af these women. Jehovah says: 'The doughten of Zion have become haughty and they walk with their throatr stretched forth nnd ogling with their eyes. (Clsaiah 3:1 )Such haughtiness does not escape retribution. 6 21 H m when Jehovah's judgment comes u p n the e , land, these haughty "daughters of Zlon" will lose everytMng+ven the beauty o which they are so proud, Jehuf vah prophesies: "Jehovahalso wjil actrruIiy make the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion scabby, and jehovah himself wil! lay their wty forehead bare. In that day jehe vah will take away the beauty of the bangles and the headbands and the moon-sha ed ornammts, the eardrops and the bmcelets and the w I, the headdfesses and the step s chains and the bmsrbnds and the 'houses of the soul' Iprobably perfume receptacles] and the ornammtal humming shells [or, charms], the finger rings and the nose dngs, the robes ofshte and the mrtutlics and the dmks and the purses, and fhe hand mirrors and the undfergarmenb and the turbans and the large veils." [Isuiah 3:77-23; see hotnotes.) What a tragic reversal! The plophetic message goes on ta say: "Instead of balsam oil there wiii come t be rnerdy a musty smerl; and ino steed of a belt, a r p and fnstead af an artistic hair aro ; rangement, baldness; and instead of a rich garmenl, a girdiy of saclfrlotk; a brand murk instead of prettiness." (Isaiah3:24) In 607 BC.E., the proud women of Jerusalem fall from wealth to poverty. They lase their freedomand receive "a b m d mark" of slavery

19. Of what oppression and persecution lias Christendom been guilty? 20. Why does Jehovah denounce "the dayghters of Zion"?

'

"She Will Certainly Be Cleaned Out" 23 Speahng now to the city o Jerusalem, Jehwah f
21. Haw does Jehovah's judgment of Jerusalem afhx? the Jewish women? 22. Besida their o r r ~ ~ ~ e n t s , else do the women of Jemdalem what

lase? 23. What does Jehovahprodaim concerningJerusalem?

1
proclaims: "By the sword your own men will full, and your mightiness by war. And her entrances wjl have to moum and express sorrow ond she wit/ ccertulnty be cfeaned out. She will sit down on the very wrth." (Isaiah 3:25, 26) The nlcn ol' Jerusalem, even her mighty nnes, will t ~ slain in e hattle. 'The city will be leveled lo l.he ground. Fur "her entrances," it will be a time b "mourn ancE cxpress sorrow." Jcn~salem be "cleaned out" and laid derolate. W11 24 The loss of men by the sword will have drastic consequences for the women of Jcmsalern.Concluding this part nf his prophetic book, Isaiah tnretells: "Seven women will uctuaEly grab hold of one man In that day, saying: We shall eat our own bread and wear our own mantles; only may we be caljed by your name to mke away our reproach.'" (Isaiah 4: 1 ) The shortage of marriageable men will become s severe that several women will attach o themselves to one man in order to be ci~lled his name by -that is, to be publicly known as his wives-and thus be frcc of the reproach of beinl: without a husband. The Mosaic Law required that a husband provldc sustenance and clnthlng for his wife. (Exodus 21:I 0 ) I-lowever, agreeing to 'cat their own bread and wear their own clothing,' these women are willing t release the man hum his legal oblio gations. What a desperate situation for Ihe once tlaughty "daughters of Zion"! 2.T Jehovah h u d i a t e s self-exalted ones, In 607 B.C.E., he does Indeed make the haughtiness of his chosen people "how clown" and cause their "loftiness" t become "low." o May true Christians never forget thal "Chd opposes the haughty ones, but he g i w undcserv~dkindness t the o hurnMe ones."-James 46.
2 4 . Thc loss o men by thesword has what cfrit~tSc f consequences for

CHAPTER SIX

Jehovah God Has Mercy on a Remnant

--

Isaiah 4:2-6

- --

--

A VIOl,EW storm descends upon a densely populard region. Strong winds, torrential rains, and heavy finding cut a wldc swath through the land, dcstroylng homes, darna~lng crops, and claiming llves. I311t so011 the storm passes, and In its aftermath a perlod of calm scts i . For n those who have survived, it is a time for restoratinn and re-

I
1

bui lcling. 2 The prophet Tsaiah foretells something st rnilar concernL g Jr~dah Jerusalem. The storm cloud4 o divkne tuclgn and f mcnt are moving ominously closer-anrl with goad reasnn! The guilt of the nation is heavy. Both the rulers and the people have filled the land Wth Injustice and bEoodshed. 'Through Isaiah, Jehovah lays bare Judah's guilt and warns that He will execute judgment on that delinquent nation. (Isaiah 3:25) The land o J ~ ~ d a h be left comf will pletely desolate in t h e wake of this storm. That prospect must sadden Isaiah. 3 Rut there is good news! The storm of Jehovah's righteous judgment will pass, and a remnant wlll survive. Yrs, Jehovah's judgment of Judah will be tempered with
1, 2, The prophet Isaiah faretells what mncrrnlng ludith and Jeru-

satcm?
3. Whnt goocl news does the inspirccl mcssanr o t lsalah 4:Z-6con-

the wtmen of Jerusalem?

25. What Is in t h e ofing for self-exr~ltccl rmes?

raln7

IsdaP's h p h q - L l g h t fbr All Mankind I

maql Isaiah's lnsplred rn m e d at Isaiah 4:M 1& ahead l thls blessed time. It is as if the s u n breaks o out horn W n d the douds; the mne shifts frwn the
sights and m d s o judgment+bdxd at Isaiah 2 6 f 41-to a beaddly renewed h d andfwople.
4 Ism's propheq tqpdhg the retomtion of a wnnant and their subsequent semlty a h An& a merit in our tlme-uthe 6Ml part of the days." (m 224)L t e w d f s w thlstlmelyrn-, for notonlydms it have prophetic signifbut i also teaches us abut Jeh* t

vah'smercyandhowwea~~~ualsmight~~it

The Spmuting o Jehovah' f

5 Isaiah's tone becomes warm as he looks W n d the pwdd t h e . H writes: e coming t e m p t ta a #In that day wh@ IpfroVprh t w k spmut ["the spmubing 0 of bmte] MI come ~o be br d m d m and for g I q i and the fryWg& of rhs iand wlll be somdhhg ta be pmud dm8 semerhIng hL(tlfu1 b r #IS& wfro h~sGQ@,~-!wM 42, 6 Isatah hae s p d x o rstoliltton. The Hebm noun f rendered "spmt"refers -tie 'that which springs up, a shoot, a branch' It is ztsmcbted with p o p fv lnr s ei , maw, and blesings fmn Jehavah. Isaiah thus paints a piaure of b-the approaching demlat3m will not k f m v a w i t h ~ e hb sl e the o n c e - p m s ~ t ~

4. Why should w d k w s s I U ' s prophecy of the resbratlon of a e

Amn9nt?

S 6. [a) How d w s Isaiah dmxbe the pcmreful tlme that follows , the c o tamp&? (b]What is the meaning of the tern Yspm~t,Y w and what does tbis hWte abtnrt the land o Jwlah? f
A so ofdivTn~/udgm@ntcoming upon ludah tm b

k v hWHad Y I Hon r mvtsrat &d ' ~

85

Amwikan Bible] o all the lands? , & i 26 B ~ W P f (kd & ~.thusassu~the~1ethatttreQtado mimed tp ib horxner glory and beauv. h d w $ i Pum be t J i k r ~ ~ d o n t h e ~

d 4& who -:w - : ~ u V d & land1 mpd," wit& W h , m, e rn gutvim the;humm

~tz.FWna,~~wllltwMidaaen&y*m

W g dapumn pmlously fdtebld, (Isaiah &tS, %)-A ~ ~ O s ~ ~ ~ ~ l I r e t u n3 ~ r a t l r F these n w ewpid -*~ ~ ~ ~ 1 5 ~S~tokpImddartd~hlng~~fut i a b ~ ~ ) m h ~ o n o

~~~*

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[Z;

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EMM*, ~d M ~ ~ n p l w y d w 3&27-21) Then, Jn 537 Be=, the G M d

m ~ ~ n ~ @ d ~ H t o ~ ~ J u mrEskQRtrue wmhip.* ( E m 1:1* 29)The heuwt ~ -o f t h e s e ~ ~

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hod n & ~ - t l bestrortion. w

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%+ W I s a ' ~ l ~ ~ n h m d C ~ ~ t 0 e5 ' t h e i ~ ~ b wl m % d m IWah d chU r kdlw? t 9. (3 I f m h m l t ol ~ b ! k w & n WlMt happed In $37 K g L f @)why#IayitbesrtlBth%mma#dmen hcllldeaow* hde wrl b n tn d e T (Src iwnole.)

Jehovah God Has Mcrcy on n f l ~ r r ~ t ~ n r i t

67

in Psalm 137, which w s Iikety written during the captivity a or shortly thereafter. Back in Judah they tlllcd Ihe wil and soweci seed i the land. Think of how thcy must haw felt n when they saw that God was blessing their efforts, causing the land to sprout like the fruitful "gattlcn of Et1enW!-Emklel36:34-36.
10 A similar restoration has taken placc i our day. Farn ly in the ZMh century, the Bible Students, as Jehovnll's Witnesses were then known, came into spiritual captivlty to "Babylon the Great," the world empire uf false religion. (ReveIation 175) Althotlgh havlng rejected many

turned against Jehovah, he had mercy on a repentant remnant We can draw comfort horn knowing that even those who err seriously can return t Jehovah with hope. o Repentant oncs need not fwl. that t h q are beyond Jehe vah's mercy, for he doer; not reject a contrite heart. (Psalm 51:17] The Bible assures u ~ "]ehovah Is merciful and @a: cious, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness.As a father shows mercy ta his sons, Jehovah has shown mercy to those fcadng him," (Psalm 103:8, 13) Surely, such a merciful God deserves all our pralre!

false religiousteachings, the BibIe Students were still tainterl by certain Babylonish ideas and practices. AF a result of clergy-inspired opposition, some of thcm wcrc Hterally irnprismcd. Their spiritual land-their ~ligious, r spirio tual, estate-was left desolate. 11 Ifut in the spring of 1919,Jehovah had rncrcy on this I remnant of spirituaE Tsraelites, (tia1;itians 6:15) He saw their repentance and their desire ta wflrshlp h m in l ~ ~ u ~ h , i sa he brought about their release from literal imprisonment and, more important, from splrl tual captivity, 'I'hesc "escaped ones" were & o ~ d to their Gd-given spiri hlal estate, which he caused to sprout abundantly. This spiritllat estate has presented an inviting, attmctivc appearance, which has drawn millions of other God-fearing ~wnp!e to join the remnant in true worship. 12 Isaiah's words here magnify thc mcrcy that Gnd has toward his people. Although the Israclllcs os a natlan

A Remnant Becomes Holy to Jehovah

13 We haw already been int mduced to the remnant that would be shown mercy by Jehovah, hut now Isaiah describes them in more detail. He writes: "It mustoccur hat the ones rernafningIn Zion and the ones leftover in jerusalem will be said t be holy to him, everyone written down o for life in jerusalern,"-lsaiah 4:3.

i
I

Who are "the ones remaining" and "the ones left escaped ones mentioned I t h e pren ceding verse-the Jewlsh exlles who wlll be permitted to return tuJudah. Now tsatah shows why Jehovahwill haw r n q on them-they will "be holy to him." Holiness means "religious deannm or purity; sacredness." To be holy involves being clean, or pure, In word and action, t~ measure up l Jehovah's standard of what is right and n proper. Yes, Jehovah wlll have mercy on those who are "holy to him," and 11e will allow them to return to "the holy city," Jerusalem.-Nehemiah 11 :1.
14

over"? They are the

10, 21, (a) In what way were thc Bible Students In captlvlty m "nabylon thc Great" early in the 20th cer~tury'l !-low dltl J e ! l < ~ ~ i ~ h (b) hless Ihe remnant of spiritua1 I>raelites! 12. Hmv de Isaiah's words magnfFy the mercy that Jrhuvah has towatt1 his peopie?

13. As recorded at Isalah 4 3 , how does lsalah descrlhe the remnant that would be shown mercy by Jehnvnh? 14. Who are "theones remalnlng" ant1 "the ones left m r , " and why will Jehovah haw mercy on them?

hH

I.sainh's Prulrl~~cy-Llxlrt All M n t ~ k l r ~Ir i for

JehovnT~ God Hns Mercy nrr n Rrrnnntrt

651

15 WiIE this faithful remnant rernaln there? They w It be i "wrlctendown f r life in Jerusalem,"promises Isaiah. T h i s o reminds us of the Jewish custom of keeping careful rep;isters o Israel's families and tribes. (Nehemiah 7:s) 'To be f written I a regjster meant to k alive, for when a pern son died, his name was removed. In other parts of the Bible, we read of a figurative register, or book, containing the names of those whom Jehovah rewards with Ilfe, But this book receives names conditianally, for Jehovah can 'wipe aut'names. (Fmdus 3232, 33; Psalm 6928) lraiah's wards, then, imply a sobering warning-the returnees may continue living in thdr restored [and only if they remait1 holy in God's sight 16 In 537 B.C.E., the remnant that returned t Jerusalem o did so with a pure motiveto restore true worship. No one cantaminated by pagan religious practices or by the unclean conduct that Isaiah had so forcefully warned against had a right to return. (Isaiah 1:15-17) Only those whom Jehovah viewed as holy could head hack to Jurlah. (Isaiah 358) Similarly, since thelr release from spiritual captivity in 1919,the anointed remnant, now loined by millions of "othersheep"-those wlth the hope o everlasting f life on earth-haw made w r y effort to be holy in God's si~ht. (John10%) They have rid themselves of BabyIonish teachings and pmctlces. Individually, they swive to hold to God's high standards o morality. (1 Feter 1:14-16) f Jehovah's mercy on them has not been In vain.

1 Recall that Jehwah n o t 4 those In Israel who were 7 holy and that he 'wrote down thelr names for life.' Today, too, Jehovah notices out cndcavors to bc clean in mind and body as we 'present our bodies a sacrifice living, holy, acceptable t God.' (Romans 12:l) And all who follow o such a life course are recorded by God In his "book of Life" -the figurative record conti~ininl: names of those who the are i line to receive everlnrtlr~g rlther In heaven or on n life, earth. (Philippians 4 3 ; Mali~chi3:M) k t us, then, do our utmost to remain holy In Gfld's eyes, for then we may keep our names I that preciaus "baok."-Rwclatlon 3:s. n

A Promise of Loving Care

18 Next Isaiah shows how the Inhabitants of the restored land will come to be holy and what blessings await them. He says: "Whenjehowh will h w e washed away the excrement of the dough ters of Zion and he will rinse w a y even the bloodshed of jerusalem fmm within her by the spirit.of judgment and by the spirit of burning down, jehovah will also certainly create over every established place of Mount Zion and over her convention place a cloud by day and o smoke, and the brightness of a Flaming fire by night because over aN the glory there will be a shelw"

-Isaiah 4:4,5.
19 Earlier Isaiah rebuked "the daughten of Zion," whose moral corruption was hidden beneath their showy ornamen@.He also exposed the hloodgullt of the people generally, urging them to wash themselves. (Isaiah 1:15, 16; 3%-23) Here, though, he looks ahcad to the time when God himself will have "washed away the excrement," or

us

15. (a) The expression "written down for Hfc in Jerusalem" remlnds of what Jewish custom? (b) What snherlng w a r n l r l ~ Isdinh's do wards imply? 16. (a) What did Jehovah require n those wham hc permitted to F head hack toludah i 537 B.C.E.? (b) Why can It he said thnt Jehon vah's mercyon theanointed remnant and the "orhersheep" has not
k e n In vain?

17. Whose name3 does Jehwah wrlte In his "book of life," and what should we be determined to (lo? I&, 19. Accotdfng to hatah 4 4 , 5, what clcansin~ to be e f f d is byJehovah, and hnw wltl tt he a~nmpEEshd?

70

Is9iah's @phq-Lfglrt far All Mankind I

jehawk God H a Mcrcy an a Retnsrast

71

burning dmm"The coming d m c t l o n ofJerwknand the W e i BabylonwiU be blasts of Gad's judgment and n burning anger on an unclean &on. The mumant: that s w v M these d a d t i l e s and Mums home will h m been humbkd, mined ThaO b why they will be holy a3 Jehovah and receivemagg4dmpareMslIachi 3:2,3. ZOJehm thm~gh, T & promises that he wIU take

moral ath, and ' c l e d the b h ~ . (haiah 8:4, ' Nau I n m n a i Vmim)How will thh deans@ be effected? By "the spirit ofjudgmenuD and by "the splrit of

t h t s c l ~ m m a n t I n t o M s l ~ m e , T k ~ dons 'a cloud,'' 3 and "a b m i q h e u aw Wniscent~fhawjehop.ahearedfmthe~~~the]r

20. (a) Of w mt the w

l t h ~ ~ n o n T ~ w l*al GWW e smoke," aDdt *a a e d 3"

"4

left Eg)rpt, A "pillarof fire and cloud'' pmMted them from the pursuing Egyptians; It a h led them In the wildernas. {Fxodus 13:21, 22; 14:19, 20, 24) When Jehovah inanifested himself at Mount Stnal, the mountain "smokedall m r . " ( M u s 19:18) The cleansed exlln, then, will not need to ear. Jehovah will be their Protector. He will wtth them whdher they gather in thelr own homa cat meet together i holy conventions, n 31 Idah m c h & s his dnrrri tlan o d1We p r o m o n f by fmuiryy on everyday life. e writes: " f i e r e will cot%? ~ ~ u b o O f h t b r o s h u d e b y d a y i r 0 r r l t h e d r y h em a td mandbgeandhra hidlngplacakwn hemimbm rrnd from dl@ ~ I ~ {Isabf! 4.e A both, o hut, was ~ . n r ofhm bullt in a vineyard o I a field to p m d e muchr n

ueed&l *elW

from the burnlnIJ sun of

;an$ from the cold and storms of

the dry season the rainy season~4om

pare Jonah 4:5.

When f a d with the scorching heat of persecuthn and the storms of opposition, the cleansed remnant FrplIl FrhdJehumhto be their Source o prot&od, semdty, and f re'fiq$e-(Psalm 91:I, 2; 121:5) A behutiful pmspwt tstset k m them: If they leaw behlnd the unclean beliefs f and practices of Babylon, submit to the cleansing of J e b W ' s judgment, and endeavor to remain holy, they will r e main safe, as If in 'a booth" o divine protection. f w Notice that k t comes the cteaming, then the blessF in@. ThlS hm proved true I our day. Back in 1 1 the n 99 anointed remnant humbty submitted t being refmd? a and Jehovah "washed away'qheir undemness, Since
W , ZZ. [a) A booth, cr hut, wan often built Rw what purpose? Ib) What p m p e a ls sat bbefore tb@ h w d amant? c 23- Why has J blessed the anahbd r e m ~ nand their cornt WnS?

72

Isnlnh's Pmplrrcy-L(qht fi)r All Mtinklttd I

-

CHAPTER

then, '51 a t crowd" o other shccp haw also aIiowcd f t h e m l v e to be cleansed by Jehovah. (Ilcvelatlon 7 9 ) Thus cleansed, the remnant and thcir mmpaninm have been blessed-Jehovah has taken them i t ~ b proter-tiw his care. He does not rniraculousIy prevent the hcat o pcrsef culion or the storms of opposition from braring down on them.Rut he does pmtect them, as If erect lng over thcm 'a booth for shade and for a hiding place krm the ralnstorm.' How? 24 Consider this: Some of the most powerftll governments i history have banned the preaching wt~rk f Jen o hovah" Witnesses or have tded to eliminntc thcm completely. Yet, the Wihesses have rcrnained f ~ r m and haw continued t preach without letup! Why have mighty nno tions been unable to put a stop to the activity o 'Ihis rell ativcly small and seemingly defenseless gmup of pwple? Recause Jehovah has placed his clean servnnls in "a hooth" of pmtection that nu human can tear down l 2s What about us as individuals? I-lav11~ Jehovah as aur Protector does not mean that we 11avc a pmhlem-fwc lifc in this system of things. Many falthful Christians face sewrc adversities, such as poverty, nnttlral dirasten, war, sickness, and death. When facing such dlstres~es,Ict us never forget chat our God i s with us. He protech us spiritually, providing what we need-even "powcr l~cyond what Is normal"-to e n d w trials faithhl1y. (2 Corlnthhns 4:7) Safe in his presence, we need not fear. After all, as inn^ as we do our best to k e q ~ ourselves holy In his sight, nnthing "wlll be able to separate us From God's love,"-liomans 8:38, 39.

SEVEN -

Woe to the Unfaithful Vineyard!

-lsalah- 5 1 -30.
-

"FOR exquisltc beauty of languaw and consummate ski11 in effeeive communicatlon, this prahle is virtua11 peerless." So said onc Riblc commentator referring to y the opening verses of Isaiah chapacr 5. More than s i n ply a work of art, Isaiah's words paint a touching portrait of the loving care that Jehwah lias For his people. At the same time, these words warn us against things that displease him, 2 Isaiah's parable beglns: "ktme sing, please, to my beloved one a song of m loved one concerning his vineyard, y There was a vineyard that my beloved one came to have on o fruitful hillside. And he proceeded t dig Ir up and to o rid it of stones and to plant i t wlth a choice md vine, and to build a tower in the middle of it And these was olso a winepresz that he hewed out in i t And he kept hoping for it to produce gmpes, but it gmduo/ly pmduced wild gropes."-Isaiah 5: 1,2; cornpare Mark I 2:1.

The Care of the Vineyard

3 Whether Tsalah literally sings this parable to his listeners or not, it surely captures their attention. Most are

24. How is it evident that Jehovah has blessed his pcoplr as an or~anlzatlon? 25. What does having Jehwah as our Pmtector mean fr u s as Indio vtduals!

1, 2. What does the "bclovc(l one" plant, but hcm clues It prove d i s appointing? 3, 4. What loving cam Is cxpndcd nn the vineyard?

Woe to the U ~ f i l t h F Vineyard1 I

75

probably familiar with the work uf planting a vineand W ' s daaiptron i vivid and realtsdc. Wke s vlne growers todayi tltr:pineyard c~wner plants, not grape seeds, but a "choice," or rich, #red vine"--8. cutting o r shcrot mmanother vine. Appropriatety' he plants tW aeyand "on a fruitfulhillside," a place where a vineyard
wlt m ll h . 4lttakhard1aatrdrkbo ~avlneyardproduce, Isaiah d-i the owner's ';dqghg the land and ridIt of stones'-tdba, e x b m t q work! He likely uses the k g er stones # obuild a mmcV andent times such towers t In xNed as WQM watxtmen who guarded the crops for againstthieves md animals."AIsoI he buil& a stone w d t lfne the vineyard W m m . Chiah 5:s) Thjs was mmo monly d ~ n tn p r m t the washing away of vital topsoil. e s Having wo&d w hard t pmtect W vineyard, the o owner h a ewrg right ta q e c t &at it wlll bear fruit, Fn antidpatianofthh, he hew m a winepress. But d ~ ethe f s hoped-farharvest materialize?No, the vineyard produces

vlnsyrrd. What Is them p to do fw my vineyard k I t t h m not almdy done kt ft? Why Is it hat I hoped k>r fi to @uce grope, but itgrduolly produced wlklg m p ? And now, m , e nmy I make known t p u men what I o am ddng to my vineyard: 7hem &wil be n d n g of hs IPedge, and it must be destined br burning down. There must be a 6twWng down of its Itone ww4 and It must be ddnd &a piace of tmmpling~u-Isabh 53-5. 7 Yes, JehovahIs the owner of the vineyard, and he has put hfmself, as it were, Ln a mwtnmm, asking Sot judgment t be rendered o him and his h p p d n t w l q l what, then, ii thevlneyaKl7 The OWller@xvn m. ! p ~ A 7 h e ~ r d o f ~ ~ o f ~ i s t % r s

MtlMgmp.

The Vineyard rrnd Its Owner 6 Mlka i the m , s aand what b the vineyard?The vineyard owner paintst the answwsto these questions when o he himself sp* "Mwr 0 pr inhabitants of l m I e m t and p man o fudah, * u g f jde bemeen me and my

* Some scholars k h that cheaper t e m p m y structures, such 8s bmths, or huts, wexe far more wmmon than stone t-I. (tsalah 1:8) The p e n c e o a trPwer would I da t b t unusual e r t s had f n i k been put farth by the owner i h t d f of hts "vineyard" n

5. What dtxs the owner p w y i q m t fmm his meyard, but what does he get? 6, 7. (a) Who ls tbe owner af the vineyard, 8nd what I the v b s p'd7 ibl What ludgment d m the owner Invite?

76

Irainli's Prophecy-Ll,g/rt for All Mnrlklrrd I

Israel, and the men of luduh am the plantation of which he was fond."-hiah 5:7a.
8 Isaiah caIls Jehovah, the owner o the vineyard, "my f Ioved m e . " (Isaiah 51) Isaiah can speak of God tn such an intimate way only because he has a close relationship with Him. (CompareJob294; Psalm 25:14.) However, the prophet's love for God pales i cornpatison with the lwc n God has shown for his "vineyard"-the nation that he 31anted.'-Compare Exodus 15:17; Psalm tK):8,9.

g Jehovah " p h t d " his nation in the land of Canaan and gave them his laws and regulations, which served as a wall t protect them h r n being corrupted by other o nations. (Exodus 195, 6; Psalm 147:14, 20; Ephesians 2: 14) Furthermore, Jehovah gave them judges, priests, and prophets to instruct them. (2 Kings 17:13; Malachi 2:7; Acts 13:20) When Israel was threatened by military aggression, Jehovah raised up deliverers. (Hebrews 1132, 33) With reason, Jehovah asks: "What is them yet to du for my vineyard that I have not already done in it?"

Identifying God's Vineyard Today

1 Jesus may have had Tsaiah's words i mind when he 0 n gave the parable of the murderous cuitlvators: "There was a man, a householder, who planted a vineyard and put a fence aromd it and dug a winepress in it and erected a tower, and let it out to cultivators, ant! traveled abro9d." Unhappily, the cultivators betrayed the vineyard owner, even killing his son. Jesus went on t show that this pato able involved more than just literal Israel when he said:
8. What is significantabout Isaiah's calllng Jehovah "my l m d one*? 9. How has Jehovah treated his nation like a valued vineyard? 10. What parable involving a vineyard did J m s give?

"The klngdom of God will he taken from you [fleshly Israel] and be glven to a nation procludng its hits."-Matthew 21:3341,43. 11 That new "nation" ptiovd ta be "the Is& o God" f -a spiritual natlon of anointed Christians t~taIing144,MK). (Galatians 6:W; Peter 2:9,10; Revelation 7:3,4) Je1 sus compared these discipla to "branches"on "the m e vine," nnmcly, himself. Naturally, these branches are expected to bear fruit. Uohn 151-5) They musr manifest Christlike quallticrs and partidpate In the work of preaching "this garxl news of the Kingdom." (Matthew 2414; Galatians 5~22,23) Rut ever since the death of the twelve aposllcr, t l ~ e great majority of those who daim t be o brancllrs of "'the true vine" have proved to be counterfeib -producing wild grapes instead of good frui~.-Matthew t3:24-30, 38, 39. 12 Therefore, Isaiah's condemnation of Judah applies today to Chrhtcndom. A study of her history-her wars, her crusades, her ~nqulsitions-reveals just how sou her frult has hecn! Nevcrtheless, the true vineyard of anointed Chrlstbns and their "great crowd" companions must h c d Isalah's words. (Revelation 7:9) If they are tn please the vineyard's owner, they must, individually and a a s group, produce frultq that please him.

I !
1

"Wild Grapes"
13 Having gene to extraordinary lengths to nurture and cultivate his vineyard, Jehovah rightfully expects it
11. What spiritual vineyard existed In the first century. butwhat happened alter the death o t l ~ c f apostles? 12. Hmv rlo I s a j n l ~ words mndemn Christendom, and what lesson '~ dn they hold for true Christiaus? 13. What will Jehovah do lo his vineyard because of Its producing Imd fruit?

78

Isaiuh's Ptia~lrecy-l.bht for All Mtinklrrcl I

to become "a vineyard of foaming winel" (Isaiah 27:2) However, instead of producing usable h i t , It produces "wild grapes," literally "stinking things" or "putrid (rotten) berries." (Isaiah 5 2 ; foomote; Jeremiah 221,) Thcrufore, Jehcrvah decIam that he W remove his protective "hedge"horn around the nation. The nation will he 'set as a thing desboyed' and will experience abandonment and drought (Rwd Isaiah 5:6.) Moses had warncd that they would undergo such things if they disabeyed God's Law.-Deuteronomy 11:17; 28:63,64; 29:22,23.
14 God expects the nation to produce good Fruits. Isaiah's contemporary Micah dedares: "Whatis J e h mh askingback horn you but t exercise justice and to Iwe kindo ness and t be modest inwalking with y w r God?" (Micah o 6:8;Zechariah 79) However, the nation fails tu heed Jchovah's exhortation. "[CodJ kept hoping forjudgment, buZ look! the breaking of law; for righteousness, but, look! on outcry." (Isaiah 5:7b) Moses predicted that the unfaithful nation would produce poisonous grapes from "the vine of Sodom." (Deuteronomy 3232) Likely, then, sexual immorality, including hornosermallty, Is part of their deviation from God's Law. (Lwiticus 1822) The expression "breaking of Iaw" can also be rendered "outpouring of blood" Such brutal treatment has no doubt resulted in "an outcry" b m mistreated ones-an outcry that has reached the ears of the Mmkr oft he vineyard.-Compare Job 3428.

(Psalm 33:s) I-Ee mrnmanded the Jcws: "You people must not do In]ustlce In the judxrnent, You must not treat the lowly wlth partlsrllty, and you m s not prefer the peson ut of a greak one. Witlr justice yort should judge yotrr *soctatc."(Leviticus 19:lS) We must thew oreshun partiality In our dealings wilt11 one anothcr, never allowing such thlnfis i ram, age, wealth, nr poverty to color our judgn ment of people. (James 21-4) It is particularly important that thocc. serving in positions of oversight 'do nothIng according to a biam! Icaning,' alwav seeking to hear both $idesol' a matter bcfc)re making judgment.-1 Tim@ thy 521; Proverbs 18:13. 16 !:t~rther, would he easy for Christians living in a it lawless world to develop a negative or a rehelljous attitude toward godly standads. 13ut true Christians must be "rcady tn ot~uy"God's laws. Uame? 317) Dcspite the sexual Irnmosnllty and violence of "the present wicked systcm of things," they need to 'keep strict watch that how thcy walk is riot as unwlse but as wise persons.' (Galatians 1:4;Hpheslans 5: 15) Thcy want to shun permissive views of sex, and when dba~rccments arise, they should settle these wlthaut "anger and wrath and screaming and abuslve .upucch." (Ep heslans 431 ) Ry cultivating righteousness, trtre Chclstianr hrtng honor to God and gain his
favor.

15 JehovahGod is "a lover of righteousnessand justice."

24. What h i t a g e does Jehovah expectof his nation, butwhat clocs it produce instead? 15, 16, How can me Christians m i d producing the had ftulb that Brae1produd?

The Price of Greed 17 In verse 8, lsaiah Is no longer quoting Jehovah's words. Condemning samc of the "wild grapes" pmduced in Judah, hc prmnally pronouncm the first of six woes: "Woe to the ones joining house to house, and those who annex field t field until them ir m more mom m p u o d

17. What w l c k d ronrluct Is condemned In Isaiah's first woe?

RO

Iscria11's Prnpliccy-Light fbr All MrrrrkIr~dI

men have been made to dwell alt by purrelm in the midst of the land! E my ears jehowlh of o r m h has n sworn that many houses, though g m t and good, wl/i become an outright obpct of astonishment without on inhobitant For .even ten acres of vineyard will produce but one bath measure, and m n a homer measure of seed will produce but an ephah measure."-Isaiah 5:8-10. 18 In ancient Israel all land ultirnatcly belonged to Jehovah, Each family had a God-glven inhcrltnnce, which they could rent or loan out but nevcr sell "in perpchllty." (Leviticus 25:23) 'This law prevented abuses, such as lraE estate monopolies. It aIso pmtected farnilics from sinking too f r into poverty. Some i Judah, howcver, a n were greedily breaking God's laws tegarcling pmpeq. Micah wrote: 'They have desired fields and have reizcd them; also houses, and have taken them; and they have defrauded an able-bodied man and his household, a man and his hereditary possession." (Micah 22) Ibt l'rvwrbs 20:2t warns: "An inheritance is being got by greed a t first, but Its own future will not be hfessecl,'" 19 Jehovah promises to strip these greedy ones of thcir ill-gotten gain. The houses they cxtort will bc "without an inhabitant."The lands they covet will produce a mere Fnction of their capacity, Exactly how and when thls curse will be fulfilled is nat stated. Likely it refers, at least In part, to the conditions brought on I y thc future I3ab ylnnian exile.-Isaiah 27:lO. 20 Christians today must abhor insatiable greed Ilkc that manifcsted by some Israelite5 back ihcn, (Proverbs 27320)
18, 19. How do Isaiah's cnntempclr;irles lgnnre Jchovnh's law5 regarding property, and what wlIl be the result for them? 2r). Flow can Christian? todav avoftl Irnltatltlg ttic #rcetEv altltudc \Itown by some in Israel?

11

Woe to t h e U~rffllHtfirl Vlr~~ynrrll

When material t h i n ~ s take on exag~eratec1 importance, it is easy to stoop to unscrupulous ru,?ys af getting money. One could easl!y kcomc cnsnaml in shady business dealings o unrealistic get-richquick schcmm. "He that is r hasteningto gain riches will not rcrnain Innocent." (Proverbs 2820) How important it Is, then, to he content with what we have!-1 Timothy 6:8.

I t

The Snare of Questionable Entertainment 21 Next comes Isaiah's second woe: "Woe lo those who are getting up eor/yin the mornlng that they may seek just intoxicating liquos, who are llngerlng till /ate in the evening darkness so that wine ltsetf inflames them! And there must prove lo be harp ond stringed instroment tambourine and flute, and wine at their feasts; but the activity of Jehovah they do not look wt, and the work of his hands they have not seen,"-lsalah 5: 17, 72. 22 Jehwah is "the happy God" and does not begrudge his servants reasonable rccr~atlon. 'Timothy 1:I1 ) How(1. wer, these pleasure-seekers go beyund all limits! "Thase who get drunk are usually drunk at night," says the BibIe. (1 Thessalonians 5 7 ) nut the revelers of the prophecy begin their drunken spms at dayhreak and carry on drinking into the ~veninx! 'I'hcy behave ar i f Cod did not exist, as if he would not. holrl them accountable for their actions. Isaiah pwdicb a dilrk future for such ones, "Mypeople will haw to go into exile b r Iack of knowledge; and their glory will be famished men, and their crowd will be parched with thirst" (isdoh 5 7 3 tiecause of refusing to :3 act according to true k ~ ~ o w l e d God's covenant people g,
-

21. What sins are cnndernnt?d In Isainh's scmnd woe? 22. What tack of restratnt Ir rnantfvbt In Isracl, and what will be the result for the nation?

Is%iuhlsProphrry--Light for All Muwkf d I

v k t d l y ail -5

-the high, and the I - l go down into Shed.-Read mW l~akfh 14- li! 5: 23 "Rw&es,* o %d pmksb" were also a problem r among some Chris&ms in the lint emhuy. [GWans 5: 21; &'r@&z; 2 E'eter 213)So it b not surprising that some dediad today have shown poor judgment when Itcomes t~ s d gatherings. Unrestrained use o alf coholic beverages has a u s d some to k m e loud and boistmw. (Proverbs m1) There have even k n those who behaved ~o~ under the inauenm of acesive atmhol, and gatherings have &n a l l M to go on
inbaferhgwrth C h r M m activities the

26 What a vMd picture this paints o prackbrs of sin1 f They are attached to sin the way draft a d m h are tfed to wagons. T h e &men do not f a r any coming day o f judgment. Macbgly they say "fRt [Gad's 1 come qulcklyl" Rather than submitting t God's Law, they mbt o thfryFs,d~thatlYgwdfsbadand'badisgoodP 4ompmJeremiah&IS; 2 Peter 3:3-7.

next day.
Balanced Ch+sdml h m m r , produce godly Eruit ratmint and moderatjon in ~ e f choice of r -tian. They head Paul's &ice found at Romans 13: 13: 'A I the daylime let m walk decently, not in m1rks 9 n
24

and exe-

and drunken bouts?

25 Hear now Idah's third and fourth woes: Woe & those d f w h g arrw with topes of untruth, and a wkh s wugon & E s ;em who s: h h o 'kt his wo& has-

ten;do&Rmmeqer~,hkrhfhatw~sesit;rtnd
kt the c w d of the Holy One of I s d drnw near and w m ,aRutwmcgrknw~~'w0eto whoatesup tiwe Ing hatgoad Is h d omi bod Is @ thobe who UR put, ting dothas h light and light h dothess, those who r r am puttfng Bmw far sweet and s w a /Or bM*-4mbh 5:78-20.

23, 24. What matnt and znodemtivn are Chkthm al d upon te

an show?

25, 26. What wideed thfndiiag i his third and fouxth woes? n

f i e Lra&tes dws Isaiah expose

Isatah's m ie - g t fir All Mdnkind d pt qU h

help those who haw Zzllen and need ~ sU ~ E5: ~ S 14, 15) With the aid of pmyers and Biblehed counsel, s p M W muwry is p"sib1e. Othmvk, there i the dans ger of bwmhg "a&m of sin." (John8.34) bther than mock4gGadmdlming~ofthecomingdaJrof m , t UuMans strive bo mmh uspotlessand unblemished"b h J&mah--Z Peter 314; Gdatians 6:7,8. ea ZsApproprWeIy, Mahaddsthesebaiwaes: %bedo thosewkin theirown qesunddrscreetem In frontof Ekeir wwt faces! IYoe fo those wbo am rn#gMyIn dtfnkfng
he,anddD~menwZthMm~formMgIntkxld n g# w q &me who m prwlounchg the wicked one , righmus in considmtion ofu hibe, and who b e away k em^ the r $ h k w s of ~ ~/@hkws one 1Lorn Mmlu ~ the ( h i a h 527-23)These w w b were evidently addreBsed t o those swing a jsu i the land. Cangregatl~n n eiders today amid seernhg #wiseh their own e y ~ ~ , ~ 7 humhey bly accept mmd b m Mw elders and adhere doseo ly to orgmbational W c l i o n s . ( P m b s 15; 1 Corinthians 14:s) T h q are modate in their u e of dcohohc s beverages, D e V a hEtugpg b e h e cmyhg out m r p gq tion mpmities. (Hosea 4:ll) Eldm also m i d gMng even the appearance of s h m i q hritlsm. (lama 2 9 ) Haw Werent from the clergy of Chdstendornl himy o f these whitewash the h h e n t i d and d t h y sinners In their midst, in direct contu the apostle Paul's warnhgs at Romans 1 1 , %*27; 1 Codnthhs 6:9, 10; and :8 FpheSimS 53-5.
29 h i a h concludesthis propheticma&q@ destrlblng by
28. Wwtsmat~amdemmLIn ' s i i n a l and, how ran ~ ~ ckrMW~ m i d such 29. What cabmitow 4 amits Jehovah's k a e W vlneyard?

s? u

86

Tsainh's Prophecy-Llxlrl f i r All Uanklrrd

r
-

a calamitous end for those who "haw mjected the low of jehowh" and have failed to bear righteous fruit, (Isaiah 5: 24, 25; Hosea 9:16; Malachi 4 2 ) He declares: "2lehovahI has mised up a signal f a grwt nodon fur mfi and he a has whistled to it at the extremity o the earth; ond, look1 f in haste it will swiftly come in.'Llsalah 926; Deutcrt~no-

CHAPTER EIGHT

lehovah God Is in His Holy Temple

%ITHE year thut King Uzlah died I, however, got to see jehovah, sitting on o throne lofty and lifted up, and his skim were fillEng rhe temple." (lsaiah 6 7 ) With these : words sf the prnptrct, thc 6th chapter of the hook o Isaf iah begins, It is t l ~ e 778 11.C.1:. year 2 Uzziah's reign of 52 ycats as king of Judah r m , for the most part, a brilliant aucrrss. 1)oing what "was right in Jehovah'seyes," he enjoyed Gorl's hacking in his military, building, and agrlc~ilturalventures, But his success also came t be his undoing, I:.ventunlly, his heart b c o came haughty, "so that hc aclcd un F;~ithfully agalnstJ e h a vah his Cud and crltrle Into the tcrnplc of Jchovah to burn incense." Becitttse of thlr presump~iiou!, ;~nrl rage act his against the priests who censured him, Uzziah dicd a leper. (2Chronicles 26:s-22) It was about this time that Isaiah started his prophetic strrvicc. 3 We are not told whcrc Isaiah is stationed when he sees the vision. nut: what hc sccs with his physical eyes is clearly a vision, not an actual sighting of the Almighty, as "no man has seen Cnd at any iimc." (John 1: 18; Exodus 33:20) Still, ti1 sce the Creator, Jehovah, even
1, 2 (a) When does the prnphet Iselah rcctivc his temple vlslon? . {b) Why did King V~llah lusc Jcllovi111'5 favor? 3. (a) Doe5 lsaiah acluatly src Jchwah? Explaln, (h) What rcene does Isaiah beholrl, ant1 fur what reamn?

my 28:49;Jeremiah 515. 30 In ancient times a pale on an elmated site could serve as "a signal,"or rallylng polnt, for people ns arrnlcs. (Compare Isaiah 18:3;Jeremiah 51:27.) Now Jehovah himself will raliy this unnamed "great natlon" to execute hb [udgrnent.*He will 'whistle to it,' that 1 draw its attention ta 5 his wayward people as an object worthy of conquest. The prophet next describes the swift and terrifying onslaught o these IionLilce conquerers who will "gmb hold of the f p v 8 that is, God's nation, #and bring it safely away" Into " captivity, (Read Isaiah 5:27-300.) And what a sad result for the land of Jehovah's people! "One will actualw gaze at the land, and, look! there is distressing darkness; and even the light has grown dark because of the drops fulling on
it,"-Isaiah 5305.
31 Yes, the vineyard that God x, lwIngEy planted prwes Itself to be barren-worthy only of destruction. What a powerful lesson Isaiah's words hold for all who would serve Jehcwah today! May they skiw t bear nothing o but righteous h i t , t Jehovah's praise and to their o m o salvation !

In nther prophecies, Isaiah idensffies Babylon as the natlon that cxecutes Jehovah's devastating judgment on Judah. 30. Who wf1l rally "a great nation" against Jehovah's people, and wlth what outcome? 31. How can true Christians avoid s w f i r t n ~ puntshrnent Inflictthc erl on Jehwah's Israebte vineyard?

88

Isainh'r P f ~ p ~ l c c y - L l , ~ h t All M ~ rkinrl 1 fir r

in vision, is an awesome sight. Sitting on a lofty throne, which symbolizes his role as everlasting King and Judge, is the Universal Ruler and Source of all rightful government! The skirts of his long, flowing robe f i l I the ternp1e. Isajah is Wing called t a prophetic service that will o magnifyJehovah1s sovereign power md justice. In preparation, he will be given a vision of God's holiness.
4 Isaiah provides no description ofJehovah'sappeamncc in his vision-unlike the visions reporred by kckiel, Ihniel, and John.And those accounts all vary as to what is seen in heaven. (Ezeluel 1:25-28; Daniel 7 9 , 1O; Ikvclat - j m 42, 3 However, the nature and purpose of thesc vi3 sions must be borne in mind. They are nut literal descriptions of Jehovah's presence. The physical eye cannot ssue what is spiritual, nor can the finite human mind colnprchend the spirit realm. Hence, the visions present in 1111man terms the information that is to he c o i ~ v q ~(Comd. pare Revelation 1:l.) In Isaiah's vidon a description nf God's appearance is not necessary. The vlslon informs h a lah that Jehovah is in his holy temple and that he is holy and his judgmrllntr are pure.

servlce who rank vcry highly in privileges and i honn or, bdng stationed about Jehovah's heavenly throne. Unlike pmud King Umiah, they occupy their position in d l l~t~mlllty modesty. Recause o being I the presence and f n o thc heavenly Sovcrcign, they cover their faces with one f sct of wings; and with reverence for the holy location, thcy o v e r thcir lcct with another set. Qose to the h i vcrwl Sovereign, thc seraphs an. all the more selfeffacing, so as not to distract from CmI's penonal glory. The term "seraphs," meaning "fiery ones" or "burning ones," suggests that they radiate brlghtncss, yet they hide their faces lrorn lhc greater hrlllianw and glory ofJehovah.
6 The seraphs use thcir third set of wings for flying and, no doubt, lo hovcr, or 'stand,' in their places. (Compare Ileutcmnomy 31 :IS.)As to their position, I'rtlfessor Franz l>clitXsch cnmmcnts: "'l'he seraphim would not indeed tower above the hcnd o Him that sat upon the throne, f but thcy hovered abovc the rnhc bdonging to Him with whlch the hall was filled," (I:ot?~t?rc~lfi~ry the Old Testuon ~vrrrrt) sccms rcasonabic. They are "standing above," Thi5 not as supcrlor t.o Jehovah, hut as waiting on him, obedien t and rcady to serve. 7 I,lrten, ntw, to thnsc privileged seraphs! "This one called to that one and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is lehowrh of armies. The fullness of all the earth is his glory.'" Elsaiah 6:3)'I'hcirasflgnmcnt i? to SIT that Jehovah's holiness ir dcclared and that his glory IFacknowledged throughout the universe, o which the earth is a part. His glory f is wen in all that hc created and will soon be discmned by all earth's inhabitants, (Numkrs 1421; Psalm 191-3;

The Seraphs 5 Listen! Isaiah continues: "Semphsw m standlng above him. Each one hod six wings. Wifh two he kept 11;s face covered, and with twcJ he kept his feet covered, and with two he would fly about" (fsuiah6:2)Isaiah chaptcr h is the only place in the BibIe where we find mention of wraphs. Obviously, they arc angelic creatures in Jehovah's 4. (a) Why must descriptions oflehwah seen In vislon and rccortled in the Bible be syrnhnlic? @) What is learned about Jehmlali Imrn
Isaiah's vision? 5. (a) Who are the seraphs, and what does the term mean? (1,) Why do the seraphs hide their fams and fect?

6 What is thc po%llion thc ncnphs In relatlon to Jehmah? . nf 7, '.ak EWl~atas3l~nment lthc scrap117 fulf~ll? Why dn the sertlo [b) a p h rlc~law (intl'q h~illne%s Il~ree Zlnles?

90

Isalrrh's Pmpkw-Llghtfir All M~nklad r

Habakkuk 214) Tlw threefold dedaradon, 'holy' hob, holy," is no evidene ofa IMnlty, Rather, it fs a threefold emphashing ofa ' s holiness. (Campare Rwelation 4:8-3 Jehovahis holy to m superlative d e w . ! t a Although the number of seraphs is not mentioned, there may be groups of seraphs stationed near the W e . In melodious song they repeat one after anuther the &b t l o n of God's h o W and glory. What result do we note? Listen again as Isaiah continua: '7he phts o the f thrwhoIds BegPn t q ~ at k wko of the one cadC u thtr IN, and the house &dfgrrrduu#y Med wftk smoke," ({soIdh 6:41 h the Bible, moh or a cbud often provides &Ible evidenceof God's p m c e . {Exodus 19:18; 40:34,35; 1 Kings 8:10,ll; kwlation B S 8 ) It denotes a gImy m which we human aeahw camat approach.

Unworthy, Yet CIeansed 9 This Asion ofJeh~ah7s throne has a profound & & on Isaiah. H recards: "I m e d e d t wy:W e to mel h r e o 1 am rn g o d QS h q h t t sllmce, h a u s e a mrm tino
rlwninllpIum,6ndhamonga~unclerrnhIiprI am dwelling; for my grips haw seen the King, J & m h of annles, himself!'" (Isaiah6:s) What a stark comast there is between Isaiah and King Uwahi U a a h usurped the position of the andnbd priesthod and impioudy h d e the Holy compmeslt: of the temple, Although U a d ah saw the goIm hpstands, the gotden al&r of i n cense, and the table o "the bread of Presence," he did f not see Jehowh's h e o approval or m e any sp&d f l v commission fromhim. (1Kings 7:48-50; foolnote) On the

8. W h mdts from the seraphs* declmtfons? 0, (a) What affect dm5 t r vision have on I mi&? (b] What con-t R fs evldent between Isaiah and IUng Uzzhh?

other hand, the propnet ~ i u m not bnrsh aside the on the m q l e , Yet, he sees a vision priesthood or of Jehovah i his holy mple md is honofed Wth a an red commission from God. Whlle t h e seraphs do n& presume t Look upon the enthroned Loxd of the temple, hao lah h allawred, i vision, t look upon "theKing, Jehovah n o o armies, hhmdf!" f 1 The con0 that hiah sees between God's holiness and his own sinfulness mab hlm f most unclean. d Filled with fesr, he reasons that he will die. (Exodus 33: 20) H hears the seqphs praise God with clean Ups, but e hb m Ups are d e a n and are further sullied by the u d a u of the M p s of ?hepeople among whom he n en w dwells and whose speech he beats. Jehovah t9 holy, and his senrants must reflect that quality. (1 R k I:lS, 16) Although Isaiah has a h d y been chosen as a sp4bmm f r God, he 1s struck with the realization of hrs sinful o

1 . Why does Isaiah k l dxead at seeing the vlsion? 0

Ichuvah God Is trt His Holy ?IrmpL

condilh~ ladcj the dean Ups befitMng a s p o h m m and of the gloriausand holy King, What will the hearesponse be? U Instead o b a n i s 9 lrrwfy IsaIah from bew Jehof vah's pmwncer the setaphs act t help him. The recod o
s m t w H A t W o p l e o f f h e ~ ~ f k w d&inhis o, handthemmaghwlngcoalthathehadtakend&

-Whatdwsaneoftheseraphsb, 11. (a1

bd, 7 ) X a sylnbaIic s wf has puripurlf power. Wheo n e ,m applying the @owing coal from the holy fire of the dtar to Isaiah's lip,the seraph assum bafrah that Ma a h haw been atoned for to the extent newismy t enable him to a recek Gud's EaPor and a wmmlssion, How msurlng this Is t us! W e b o o a r e W and uaw~rthyboappnwrhGod o But mk n r e k m e d by the merit o Jesus1 b f rzmsom s a d h i and can receive Gad's favor and approach him In prayer,-2 & ~ ~ W E M S 1 John410, 5:18,21; 12 Remind@ w again that thb is a &Ion is the mention of *the altartarn (Compare Mation 8:3; 913.) Thm mtpWJ altas at the temple in J e d e r n .Just before the curtain of the Most Holy was the small altar of incense and in h n t of the entrance t the smctmy was the large o altar of sadfm, w m the fire was kept constantly bumh ing, (Levfticus 612, 16:12,13]But these earthly 4Ptaxs B; were t)rpical, repentaw of grrater things. (Hebrews 85; 9 3 10:s-10) It was fite from heam that consumed 2; the burnt offer@ u p the aitar when the temple was InaugmaW by King Solomon. (2 Chrdcles 7:13) And now it Is hfrom the true, hemnly altar that mvs oe the uncleanness ofIsaiah's Ups. 13 Let: us Wen with h h h . '1 began b hear the vake of jhovoh saflttg: M o r n rhall I send, and who wkcl go for us? And / proceadsd t ~ a y' :H e m I am! Send me,'"(lro h h 6:8) The question pmpwnded by Jehovah is deadp Wlgned t elicit a mpnse from IsaiahI as no other huo man prophet appears in the vision. It is mmhkably an
clude when he says "usPl'
12. What altar dws Isaiah me, and wbat I s the effKtof fire? t 3. What questkon d m J e h a h propound, and whom doa he in-

cm t o ~ * & o k l ~ h a r ~ y o u r i l p s , a n d y a u r w w h e r -andyoursin Itreffk aWW"(IsProP1

T off the

&I:

And he p m a k d to touch my morrtk

endwimtdowtMs

~YnbOliZe? How can &ecUng on what the seraph tens Isaiah fb) help ui when we feel unworthy as W'sservants?

J t h m k God is In His Haly X W p l e

am!Send me." Neither does he ask what he e h t galn by ampthg the agslgnment. HISuvl1lhg splrlt Is a fine example for all ~f God's servanb Myfwho have the c o r n sicm t peach the 'good n w of the kfngdom fn aU o h Wd earth,' (Matthew &kN)L& Wab, they faltht f d y stick t their assignment and amrnpllsh the "wito nm to ail the nations," despitewidepmd unrespaasim nm. A d they go farward with mnFidene, as did Isaiah, bowing that thelr c o m m o n has the highest authsrfzatbn.
15 Jehwah now outlLn& what Isatah is t~ say and what the response will be: "Go, and you must suy to this people, 'Hmr -In and agahr, O men, but do not undemnd; and s agdn and again, but do not get any knowle@e/ e Make the heort o thk people unreceptlw, and make their f my eurs u n m p n s k , and p i h e theh w w tag&& y that they may not see W#J their e p and wlth their e m h )may not k a r , and that thek own heart may not une, dmtPnd and that they m y not cKduaI& turn bClCk cfnd get hwlhg Ibr themselw." (Isabh 6:9, 10) Does this mean that blah Is ta be blmt and tactless and repel the Jm, keeping them at odds with Jehovah?Absolutely not1 These are Isaiah's awn people f r whom ha feels an a f i a iv But Jehovahrs words indimtt! how the people will respond t his message, no o how faithfully Isaiah Nm his task,

*HenI am! Send me,# invitation for Isaiah to be Jehovah'srnesmyp. But why does Jehwah ask, "Who will go for ~ 7 By swttchhg " from the stngular paonal pronoun "I" t the plural proo noun 's" Jehovahnow Indudes at least one &peru, son with himself. Who? Was this not Ms orilprbegotten Son, who t m b m m e the man Jews Christ?Indeed, it a was this same Son to whom God saf4 "LRt us make man i our image? (Genesis 1:26; Proverbs8:30,31) Y s n e, alongside Jehovah i the heavlenly courts i his onlyn s begotten Son.-John 1:14. 14 Idahdoes not hesitate torespond1 Regmiles o what f the message might be, he Imedhl~ly replie: "Here I

16The fault lies wlth the people, Isaiah s @ t th "again and again/ hit they wlll not accept o -m the mesage or gain u h t a n d l n g . The majority will be
1 , 16. (a) What Is Jsalah t say to "this people: and what will be 5 a their response7 (b) b the mctlon o the peoplc due ta arry fault an f Isaiah's pact? &plain.

14. HOW b h i a h y n d to Jehovah's imltatiion, 4 what ex. ample ~ O E S set fur w. he

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light fir All Mankind I

Jekavah God B In HI3 HaEy Temple

97

stubborn and u n m p e , as if W y blind and deat By going t them ~ e p a t d l y ,Isalah will let "thiis peao ple" show that they do not m i undenmd. They will ta p m that they m shutling their minds and hmts to Isaiah's message-God's mew@-ta them. How true this L ~f people today1So many of them refuse t Wm t Jehoo o vah's Mn tas they preach the good news o the inf coming Wngdom of W. 17 Isaiah is con-& #At #Is 1 said: 'How Iong 0 j&ovdtrfimhsmM:%vi:Ithedortuallyareshin~fn.~ to k without an Infrabitm~ the homs be w&hwt and eorthihg m,a d the gmund I W k rulned inbo a koluthn; and IsClomh actually mmm e a ~ l h g h rnen r w,and the dwe-d condI#on d m hornsm y exfenh / n thmldstdtheIcmd.IU(krahh 6:fl,12)Bya&ng, #How hg?' -1 is not askinky how long he wU1 have to anthue. p m c b g t an unrspnsive people. hao er, he i concerned abwt the people and asks haw long s t h l x bad spiritual stake will continue and how long J&CF vah's name will be dishomred on earth. (See Psalm 74911.1So, then, how longwiI1 the senseless slfttation go on? l&Alas,Jehwahlsangww shows that the bad spirltua1 sbk of the people d l anthue until the ftlll mnsequmca of &bedieme to God, as outlined I his n cwwmtE fulfilled. (Levlths m21-33; Deuteronomy are 28:49-48} The ration will come t ruin, the people will o be deported, and the land will lie desotate, bhhwill nM live to see the destmdlon o Jerusalem and M temple f by the Babylonian army In 607 &C&, although he wfll prophesy for over 40 yeas, conunuing Inta the Ngn of
17. When W h asks, "Row long?"to what does he refed 18, Until when Wll, the bad apldtud stare of the peo 4 wntfnue, and wtll Isaiah jive to see the pmphecy's complete &mt?

King U W Sgwat-pdson & H Still, b h h wlU keep faithfullyat h!s c~m&on until he dies, m m than 100years before that natlonal diwikrocc~~s. 19 Destructton that will' leave~udah "ruinedInto a d m WonA brrund t come, but the situation Is not hope i s o 'ThZ Will less. (2 Wngs 231-26) j e h d assure^

Mb8bitamtJI,artdItmurt@n~~eso~ns~~fwbumhgdown,mSeablg~u~~armw s h t in &&, when there Is a cumg down d them, m ahere Is a stump;a holy seed wiii be the stump of ita (Isuioh 6:13) Yes,'a mth, . .a holy seed/ will remain, fust like the slump o a rnwW f that Is klled, Thfs wurme, no doubt, comforts Isaiah-a holy m n a n t will be b u d within bfs people. 'IBough the nation e x w m

19. Althougtt the ntltlon win be Mled Ik a me, what assurance l aoes God g h Isaiah?

96

Isaiah's PMphecp-Light fir All Mankfnd I

J'arRaugh God h

in Hta Hoip lbmppk

99

a repea& burning, like ablg w cut down for fuel, a vie t a i ~ t l n n p ~ f t h e ~ i ie c w l~ m i .Itwill h l ~ l f an be a seed, ot 06- that i holy to Jehovah. I time, it s n will sprout againJand the bee will regrow.-Compe Job

147-9; DstnieI 4%. Did the words of the prophcym e true?Ye.Went years after the land of Judahhad been desolated, a Gody

fearlng~emnant~fromexlleinEaby1an.Theyre built the temple and the city, and they remd m e worship to the lana This ratmation o theJews to thelr f God-given homeland made passible a s a n d fuHillment of this propheq that Jehovah gave to Isaiah. What was that t be?-o 1:14

a b h h l s prophetic task foreshadowed the work that

the Messiah, JesusChrist, would do some 800 years later.
2Q. How m the k part of Isaiah's propby ipidally fulfilled? 1 t 5L23. {a) Wth w a r n & f s pmplwq 3 4 a brat-centuryhtl. 4I W

fdhkm,rtriahm? &)WWBBseed1!l the irst mtuq the 'holy n

s n d ~ ~ t t p d ?

(Isatah 8:f & 61:1, 2; Luke 4:16-21; Hebrew5 2113,14) Although g r e w than Isaiah, Jesus was just as wWng t be o sent by hls heavenly Father, Wng: " M k t I a m e to m do p u t will."-Hebrews 105-9; Psalm 4Q:M. 22 Like l &i , Jaw faithfully carded out his w e d s h work and met with the same readion. TheJews i Jam' n day vwre no more wflllng t acoept the m o q than were those t whom the prophet Isaiah preached (Isaiah k4) o The use of Uusbatlons was a feature ofJesus' ministry. Thlspmmptdhisdisdplesmask:W h y l s i t y a u ~ E o them by the use o illutmtlom?"Jesus replied: "E'a you f It is g a w to understand tbt! s a d semAs of the kingxn dom of the heavens, but to those people It is not grantedThis Is why I speak t than by the me o lUuStmtlom,beo f cause, lookin& they look i valn, and f n i m they hear in vain, xmelther do they get the sense of it; and towad them the prophecy of Isaiah Is having f u W e n t , wuch says, 'By hearing, you will hear but by no means get the sense of it; and, looking, you will look but by m m c m see. Fox the heart of t h i s people h grown umcepttye, s and with thatrearsthey h m heardwithwt wpumerand they have shut their eya; that they might new see with thdreyesand hmrwiththeireaffandgetthesawofit wlth their hmts and turnb & and I heal them'"-Mat, thew 13:lQ 11,13-15; M d k 0 1 ;hh 8:9,10. 1.2 23 I quotlng fmm Isaiah, Jewwas showing that the n pmphw had a merit i his day. The people as a n whole had a heart attitude Wte that of theJewsi Isa=hht5 n day. They made themselves blind and deaf t his o sage and H h w h met with destntctlon. (Matthew 233538; 241, 2) Thb occurred when the Rornan f w uau derG@n~Tltwcame~~J~eminTOCJL

ion

Isaiah's PrupIt~cy-Llght for All Mcrrtkind I

demolished the city and its temple. Yet,some had listened to Jesus and had berome his disaples. Jesus pronauncecZ these "happy." (Matthew 13:16-23, He had inlormcd 51) them that when they saw "Jerusalem surrounded by en-

1
-

CHAPTER NINE

camped armies," they should "beginfleeing to the rnnuntabs." (Luke 21:20-22) Thus the "hoIys c d " that had exercised faith and that had been formed into a spiritual nation, "theIsrael of God," was saved."--Galatians 6:1 . 6
24 About 60 CE, the apostle Paul found himself under house arrest in Rome. There he a r r a n ~ d meeting with a "the principal men of the Jews" as &ll as others and gave them a "thoroughwitness concerning the kingdom of God."When many would not accept his message, Paul explained that this was in fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. (A& 28:17-27; Isaiah 6:9,20) So Jcsus'disciples carried out a commission comparable to that of Isaiah

Trust in Jehovah in the Face o Adversity f

Isaiah 7:l-8.18

25 SimiIarly! Jehovah's Witnesses today discern that Jehovah God is in h holy temple. (Malachi 3:1) Like Isaiah, s they say: "Here I am!Send me." Zealousty, they sound the warning rnessaF about the approaching end of this wicked system of things. But, as Jesus indicated, relatively few people open their eyes and ears to see and hear and be saved. (Matthew 713, 14.) Happy, indeed, are those who incline their hearb to listen and "get healing for themse1ws"I-Isaiah 6:8,10.

ISAIAH chapters 7 and 8 are a study in conbasb. Tsa iah and h a z both belonged t a nation dedimted t Jeo o hmral~; both had God-given assignments, one as a prophet) the other as a krng of Judah; and both faced the same thmat-thc invasion of Judah by superior enemy forces. Isalah, however, faced the threat with confidence in Jehovah, wherear Ahaz gave way to fear. Why the different reactions? Since Christians today are likewise surrounded by hostile forces, they de well to examine these two chapters of Isalah to discover what lessons they contain.

In 66 CE,responding t a Jewish m l t , Roman forces under Ceso tivs GaUus surrounded Jerusalemand penetrated the city as far ar the temple walls. Then t h q w i t h d m , all&ngjesus' disclplcs to flee to the mountains ofPerea before the Romans returned in 70 C.E,
24. What application did Paul make of Isaiah's prophecy, and what does tNs indicate? 25. What have maernday W m s e af God discerned, and how do ~ess they pond?

Facing a Decision 2 Much like an artist who defines the outline of a new palntlng wlt h a few sweeping strokes, Isaiah starts h acs count wlth a few broad statements that mark the b w ning anrl the end o the events he is about to relate: "15 f come about in the days of Aha. the son of Jothamthe son of Uniah, the king of judoh, that Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, the king of Ismel, come trp to jerusnlern for war ogoinst if and he proved unoble to war against it."-baiah 7:1. . It Is the dghth century R.C.E. Ahaz has succeeded his 1

GWhy benefit by exarnlnlng Isaiah chapters 7 will Chrlstlans today

and 8?

2, 3. What summary does l~aiah give I hb openlng wmrds? n

15 01

aabha PmpR#cy-Light for AlE Manklttd I

father, Jotham,a king cwex Judah. M n , the king of Syrlai and BkaIr, the king o the northern kingdom of Israt4 f b a d e Judah, and their armies hit hard. Eventually, thw wlU beskge J@rusalem W.H m , the siege will fall. (2 Kings l&S, 2 Chronicles 2.85-8)Why? That we will 6; learn l m a . 4 Earlier i the war, " report w a made & the house of n a M d , sayfry: '5yrffa hm l e a d upon EphmIm.'And hi3 he& and the heart ofhis pmpk beyan t g u k , ilk o Ehequhdngof t h e ~ o f t h e b m t b e c m s e o fwind" a ( I d R2)Yes,it i s to dhtte and his people t o learn that the Syrians and the L i m U b have teamed up atid that their armies are at thls wry moment encamped on Ephmim's Wel's) so& They are merely a twu- or *-day marchfromJ-em! 5 J&ovah telk Isaiah:"Go ou2 please, to metllha4 you and Shear-*hub your son, Eo tha end of the conduit of the upper pod by the highway Of the iuundiynan's Wd," (isaiurh Z ) 3 Just W! A a t h e when the klng should t belooking for Jehmdfsp q M and asking forguidaram, the prophet has to go and h d the king1 mfen so, Isaiahwlllf@yohpJebwah Similarly, W ' s p p l e t o d q re;sdilygomttoliridpoplewhoarefearfdbemwof the pressures o this world (Matthew 24:6,14) H m satf isfying &at each year hundreds of thousands respond t o the visits o these preachers of the good news and take f hold of Jehovah'sp hand1

~~

4. Why am the heam of Ahaz and h s people Wed wlth feat? i S. I what w w da Gad's peaple today resemble [satah? n

Isaiah took SheurJoshub along when he mnwyed Iehmh's message to Ahar

104

Isaiah's Prophecy-Ll,rht for All Mrrnklrid I

6 Isaiah finds Ahaz outside the walls of Jerusalem, where, in preparation for the expected siege, the klng Is inspectIng the city's water supply. Isaiah gives him Jehovah's message: "Watch yourself and keep undisturbed. Do not be afraid, and do not let prrr heart /&elf be timid because of the two tajl ends a these smoking logs, becuuse F o the hot anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaf lid?." (Isaiah 7:4 When the attackers ravaged Jludahcarlier, their anger was a hot as flames. Now they are meres ly 'two tail ends of smoking logs.' A h a need not cl rcad Syrian King Rezin or Israelite h g Pekah, son of Remaliah. Today it is similar. For centuries, Christendom'sleaders have subjected true Christians to fiery persecution. Now, though, Christendom resembles a log that is nearly burned up. Her days are numbered. 7 I Ahaz' day, not only Isaiah's messas but also the n meaning of Isaiah's name and that of his son glve hopc t those trusting i Jehovah, Rue, Judah is in danger, but o n the name Isaiah, meaning "Salvationof Jehovah," signals that Jehovah will prwide deliverance. Jehovah tells Isaiah to take with hm his son Shear-jashub, whose name means "A Mere Remnant WiU Return." Even when the kingdom of Judah finally falls, Cad will mercifully bring a remnant back to the land.

side It, the son of Tabeel," (Isaiah 75, 6) The Syrc-Tsraelite league schemes to conquer Judah and replace Ahaz a son of Ilavlcl, with tlldr man, Clearly, the attack on Jerusalem 1 now more than a war b m c c n nations. It has become 5 ; stntggte k t w c c n Satan and Jchovah. Why? Because JeI hovah God made a covenant with King David, thus assurlnfi him that his sans would rule over Jehovah's people. ( 2 Samuel 7:11, 16) What a triumph for Satan i f he ccluld install some other myal dynasty on the throne in Jerusalem! I le might even frustrateJehovah'spurpose for !)avid's linc to prrduce a permanent heir, the "I'rince of Pea~-e."-Isaiah96,7.

1
'1

Jehovah's Loving Assurances

Wlll the scheme o Syria and Brael succeed? No. Jellcf vah dcclarrs: Yt wijl not stand, neither wilt it take place." (Isaiah 7:f) Through Isaiah, Jehovah says that not only will 111c siegc oaf Jerusalcm fail but "within just sixty-five years Ephruim wlll be shattered iW pieces so a not to be s a people." (/solah 7:8) Yes, within 65 years Israel will no l o n ~ e exlst as a people," This assurance, with its specifr f timctnhle, shotlld give Ahaz courage. I the same way, c n God's pcnplc today are strengthened hy knowing that the tlme left for Satan's world is running out. 10 Rrhaps Ahaz' face registers disklkef, since Jehovah, r htough [satah, says: "Unless you people haw foith, p u will in that c w not be of long duration." Jehovah,in his

More T h a n a War Between Natf ons 8 Jehovah,through Isaiah, meals the strategy o Judah's f enemies. Here is what they are planning: "let u go up s against judah and twr it aport m d by brwkthmughs toke it for o u m k ; and let us make another king d g n in6. (a) What heartening message does the prophet convey to KIng Ahaz? @) What situation exim today? 7 Why do Isaiah's name and that of his son give mason for hope? . 8. Why is the attackon Jerusalemmore than a war hchwen aatluns?

For further dctalls about this pmphecy's fulhllment, see I n s ~ han t

IJw Srriptr~rrs, Volume 1, pngm 62 rlrld 758, publishrrl by the Watchlower nlhle ant1 'lract Society of N u York, Inc. m

9. What asquranctls should give courage to Ahaz a well as t Chriso tians today? 10. (a) I Iuw can true ChrlstIans today ImltateJehwah?@) What offer d o ~ J e h o v a make to Ahax? h

tOh

Isninlr'r Pmphcy-ti,qht for AIl Mrtnkind I

patience, "went on speaking some more to Ahaz. " (lsuiuh 7:9, 10) What a fine example! M a y , although many do not readily respond to the Klngdorn message, we do well to Imitate Jehovah by "spc;~klng some more" as we visit agaln anrl again. Jehovah next tells Ahaz: "Ask for yourself a sign fmm Jehovc~h u r God, making if as deep a Sheol p s or making it high a the uppermgions." (Isaiah 7:7T)Ahaz s may ask for a sign, and Jehovah will perform it as a guman tee that he will protect the hutue of David.
11 Note that Jehovah says: 'Ask a sign from yorrr God.' Jehovah is truly kind Ahaz i s already reportedly worship L g false gmls and following disgusting pagan pratims. n (2 Kinas 16:3,4) Despite that and despite Ahaz' fearful attltude, Jehovahstill calls himself the God of Ahaz. This assures us that Jehovah does not reject humans rashly. He Is wIlllng to reach out t~ those who err o whose faith has r grown weak. Will this assurance of God's love move Ahaz to take hold of Jehovah's hantl?

Trrtst In jcltaunh ltt tllr F<tccof drlverstry

7, 8) Meanwhile, the Syro-Israelik army encircles Jerusalem and the s i c n is on. 13 With the kln$s sack af faith on his rnlnd, Isaiah says: "tistm, please, 0 house sf david, Is it such a little thing for you to tire out men, that you should oiso SEre out my God?" [lsaiah 7:?3) Jchavahcan gel tin4 of constarlt Yes, dcfiancc. Olncrvrr, too, that the pm~rhclnow says "ury God," not "p~iir I'rod." An ominous hangv! When Ahaz rejects Jehovah and lztrns to Assyria, he lol;cs a. fine opporm i t y to restnre his relationship with God. May we never sacrifice our relationship with God lly compromising our Scriptural belief% artlcr to gain temporary i~dvantages. In

The Sign of ImmanucI

David. A sign was crffc~cml, sign will be given! Isaiah contina ues: 'yehovah himself will give you men a sign: look! The maiden herself will actualIy become pn?gnarsC and she is giving birth to a son, and she will certainly call his name lmmanuel. Btrlter and honey he will eat by the time that he knows how to reject the bad and choose the good. For before the boy will know how b reject the bad and choose the good, the ground of whose two kings you are feeling o sickening dmad will be left entirely "-lsaioh 7:14- 16.
15 Here is good news for anyone fearing that the Invadets will put an cncl to the Davichc line of kings. "lmmanuel" means "With Us Is God." God is with judah and will not allow his covenant with David to be nullilicd, 1n acldition, Ahaz and hi5 people are told not only what Jchovah will
14 Jehovah remains falthfuI toward hls covenant with

From Doubt to Disobedience 12 Ahaz replies defiantly: "I shall not a k neither shall s, I put jehowh to the tat" (lsaioh R l ) A l m is not hem observing the words o the law: "You must not put Jef hovah your God to the test," (Deuteronomy 6%) Centuries later, Jesus quotes that same law when Satan tempts him. (Matthew 4:7) In Aha? case, though, Jehovah is Inviting him to turn back to true worship and is offeringto strengthen his faith by performing a sign. However, Aha2 prefers to seek protection elsewhere, It is possibly at this point that the king sends a large sum oi money .to Assyria, seeklng help against his northern enemies. (2Kings 16:
11. What assurance is found In Jehovah's expression mpttrGcd"? 12. (a) What haughty attirude d m Aha2 adopt? (h) Instead o turnf ing tu Jchovah, to whom does Ahax go for hclp?

13. What chanp do w notice in verse 13, slgfllfylng what? 14. HowdocsJthclvah show his faithfulness to hi\ cowrtent wlth Da-

vid? 15. What two qricqtlonq does the prophecy abnut Iinrnanucl anrwer?

Trust in JeRoval~in t)!c I:ricc ofAllvetslty

109

do but aIsa when he wifI do It. Before the b y lrnmanuel is old enough to distinguish between good and h d , the enemy nations will be destroyed, Anci this proves true! 16 The Bible does not m a 1 whose child lrnmanuel Is. But since the young Immanuel i s to serve as n sign and Isaiah later states that he and his children "are as signs," lmmanuel may be a son of the prophet. (Bajah 8:18) Perhaps Jehovah leaves the identity of Imnlanuel In Ahaz' clay uncertain so as not to distract later generations from the Greater Immanuel. Who is that? T7 Outside o the book of Isaiah, the name trnmanuf d occurs ody once in the Bibte, at Matthew k23.Jehe vah inspired Matthew to apply the prophecy of I mrnanuel's birth t the birth of Jesus, the rightful Heir to the o throne of David. (Matthew 1:18-23) hirth of the first The Immanuel was a sign that God had not forsaken the house of David. Likewise, the birth o Jesus, the G ~ a t e r f Tmmanuel, was a sign that God had not hrsaken mankind or his Kingdom covenant with David's house. (Luke 1:3133) Wlth Jehovah's chief representative now among mankind, Matthew could truly say, 'With us b God.' 'Today, Jesus rules as heavenly King and is with his congregatlnn on earth. Watthew 2820) S m l y , God's people haw artded reason to cry out boldly: "With us is God!"
More Consequences of Unfal t hfu l ness 18 Comforting though his latest words are, Isaiah's next statement brings terror to his hearers: 'yehouuh wlll bring
16, Why may Jehovah have left thc Identity of lrnrn~nuel Ahas' in day uncertain? 17, (a) Who is the Greater Immanuel, and whet did hls hlrth s l ~ n l fy7 (b) Why can God's people cry out today, "Wlth us Is Gotl"?

against you and against. your people ~ n against the d house o f your father doyj such a haw not come since s the dcry of Ephrcrim's turning away fmm alongside judoh, namely, the king of Aaynr'o." (Isaiah 7:77$ Yes, disaster is corning, and at thr. hand of the king of Assyria. The prospect of domination by the notoriously cruel Assyrians must be the causc nf Inany sleepless nights for Ahaz and his people. Ahaz has seasoned that llefriendlng hsyria would relieve him of Israel and Syria, Intleed, Assyria's king will respond to Ahaz' plea hy rvcnh~ally attacking Israel and Syria. (2 Kingsl6:9) Thls Is Ilkciy why Pekah and Rein will be forced to lift thetr siege of Jerusalem. Thus, the Syro-Israellre Ieaqc will have prwed unable to take Jerusalem. (lsaiali 7:1 ) Now,though, Isaiah t ~ l l s his shocked audience that Anyria, their hoped-for protector, will become their oppressor!-Compare Proverbs 29:25. 1 For Christians today, thls true historical account con9 tains awarning, When under pressure we may be tempted to compromise ChrjsNan prjnciples, thereby rejecting Jehovah's protection. Thls 1s shortsighted, even suicidal, as becomes evident horn Baiah's further words. The prophet goes on to describe what the Assyrian invasion will do t the land and Its people. o 20 Isaiah divides his pronouncements into bur parts, each fo-lling what will happen "in that day"-that is, the day when Assyrla attacks Judah. "It must occur in thut day thatjehawh will whistle for the flies that are at the extremity of the Nile cunals o f Egypt ond for the bees that are in the land of Assyria, and they will certainly come in and setlle down, all of them, upon the precipitous torrent valleys and upon the clefi3 of the crags and upon all the
19. What warnlna does this Wstarlcal drama contaln for Chdsttam
today? 20. Who are "the flEesW and "he bees," and what will they do?

18, (a) Why do Isaiah's next words hrlng terror to his Ilrtcners? {b) What turn of evenh is soon to take place?

thorn thand upon a# the watering p k l c e ~(imbh .~ Z78, 19) The armia of Egypt and P\sSynq like s w a m of fib and trees, will h m their amtion directed to the Promised taad. This will nut be a passing W o n , The m' and "the beesmwill settle down, In-ng a' every nook and craany of the land. 21 lSalzthwnxlnues: "In that by mmm of a h l d mzor in the mo of the W, in ewn by mwns of the klng of Arryria, jlehowf~ w171 the head avrd the halr of the liee& andItwHlnwq away- t h e b e ~ m i M . ~ ( / s a h h Z2@ Now only Assyna, the chief threat, Is mentioned, Ahaz hires the byrian king t "shad Syria and h a o el. Howev~r, "hired razor" from the Euphrab regJon this will move againstJud;this ''head* and shave It clean, even removing the bmd! 22 What will be the d t ? ''It musl occur In &at day that on indMtllaMf will pmerw a I k a ywng cow of the herd and two sheep,And If mustoccurt e due t the h o abundance of the pmhcing of milk, he will eut butter; because b u m aitd honey ~ f H o t everyone !eft rema.lnhg e I the midst of t h tarid will WE" (Isulah 7:2?,24 By the n ~ ti= t e Assyrians h 'shaved' the fmd, so few people h will be left that unlp a mall number of animals will be n d d t provide W *WlUer and honey" will be eato en-mthg else,no wine, no bread, no ather staples,k i

md sheep. (IsaIoh 723-29 Thfs p p h q W s t be n o fulfilled I Bhaz' own day,-2 Chtanfcles 28$Ov n

w,

Precise Predictions to the h e b situation. W e md k 23 Wah now JeruIS stlll undet siege by the S ~ h # e l i &camb e , Isaiah reports: "jehwh p w d k d b r r ~ yb me: Tok h poundfa Irrrga tabktand Wte upon It with the t ~ 4 4 ~ 1 s mor&d m, of "IWah~akrMash-bgz" let And

23. (a) Whrt Is Iaalah now commanded to do? (b) How Is the sign of thc tablet anfirmedl

iftostcessthed~ofda~on,lsaiahthwetlm~says that where there used t be a l e , productive land, o there will novv be thornbushe and weeds. Those mturing into the countryside will need "ammand the bowu for prokctiun againstwild animals hddng in the thickets. Cleared fields will h m e kmpling grounds -for oxen
In what way w&Il Asspalan h g be liLe a razor? the 2. What examples d m Isaiah use to show the conquences of k2 syrla's I r n d n m t inmiion7
21.

Trust in Jeliomh In tltr Ihcf of Adversity

113

me how attestation for myself by faIhh/witnesses, Urhh the pn'est and Zechariah the $on of Jebe~chiah." (lsaiah " 8:1, 2) '[he name Maher-rhalal-hash-l~itz means "Haslcn, (1 Spnlll I-le I-Ias Come Quickly to thc Plunder." lsaiah asks two respected men In the cornmunjty b attest his wrltlng this name on a large tabl~t, o that they can lats er confirm the authenticity of thc document This sign, though, i5 tu be confimteclhy a sucond sign. 2.1 Isaiah says: "Then I went near to the prophetess, m d she mme to be pregnant and in time gave birth to a son. jehowh now suid to me: " C d his name Maher-sholalhnsh-baz, for before the boy will know how f call out, o "My father!" and "My mother!'' one will carry away the resources of Dtrmascur and the spoil of Sumaria before the king ofhsyriu.'" (Isaiah 8:3, 4) IEoth the large tablet and tlrr newl-rornboy will serve as signs that Assyria will soon pli~nder Judah's opprecwrs, Syria and Israel. Now soon? Refore the boy is able to Fay the first words that most t9a hles learn-"Father" and 'Mot hcr." Such an exact pndict Inn s h w Id build the people's confidence in Jehovah. Or It could cause some to ridiculu Isaiah and his sons. Whatever the ase, Isaiah's prophetic words come true,
-2 Kings 17:14. 2s Christians can learn from Isalah's repeated warnings. The apostle Paul revealed to us that In this historic drama, Iwiah portrayed Jesus Chrlst and Iraiah's sons foreshadowed Jesus' anointed disciples. (Hebrews 210-13) Jesus, thrnugh his anointtlcl followers on earth, has been remlndlng true C r s i n of the need to "keep awake" In hitas

these critical times. (Luke 21:34-36)At the same time, unrepentant opposers are w m e d of thelr corning destruction, a l r h o u ~ h such warnings are often met wlth riclicule, (2 Peter 3:3,4) ?'he fulfillment. of time-related prophecies in Tsaiah's day is a guarantw that God's timctalrlr for our day will alro "without fail come m e , It will nnt bc late." -Habakkuk 23.

Devastating "Waters" 26 Tsaiah continues h l warnings: "For the reason that ~ this peopk has rejected f-hewaters of the Shiloah hut are goimg gently, nod there is exultation o w Rexin and the son of Remallah; even therefore, laok! lehowh is bringing
up agoinsr them the mighty and the many waters a f the River, the king of Assyria and oil his glory. And he will rertoinly come up over ail his streambeds and go over all his bonks and mow on through ludah. H will ochrully flood e and pass o m Up to the neck he will m c h . And the outspreading of his wings must occur to fill the breadth of

24. What effect should the sign of Mriher-shalal-hah-baz haw on the pmple of Judah? 25. What sirnllarltim are there between the clays of Tsaiah and thc present tl me?

your land, 0 Irnrnanueli"-lsaioh 85-8. 27 ''This people," the northern kingdom of Israel, reject Jehovah% covenant with David. (2 Kings 1216-18 ) To them, it Iooks as weak as the trickling watc rs a f S hiloah, Jerusalem's water supply. They exult In tl~clr a ~ a i n s t war Judah. But this contempt: will not go unpunished, J e h ~ vah will allow the A~syrians "flood,"or o v c r l n , Syria to and Israel, much as Jehovah will soon allow the present political part of the wnrfd to flood the realm o False relif gion. (Revetation 17:16;compare Danlel 9:26.)Next, says Isaiah, the swelling "waters" will "move on through Judah," reaching riglit "up to the neck," up to J~crusalem,
26, 2 . (a) What events does Isaiah fomtell? (b3 What do Isaiah's 7 words indicate fur Jchnvah'r servants today?

114

Isaiah's Pruphecy-1.Jglrt for All r\.iorrkirrri 1

where Judah's head (king) rules." I our time the polltin cal executioners of false religion wlll llkewise close in on Jehovah's servants, surrounding them " t ~ p the neck." to (Ezekiel 382, 10-16) What wilt be the outcome? Well, what happens in Isaiah's time? Do the Assyrians suwc across the city walks and sweep God's people away? No. God is with them.

Fear Not-"God Xs With Us!" 2s Isaiah warns: "Be injurious, O you peoples [opposer! to God's covenant people], and be shattered to pieces; and g k ear, all you in distont purls of the earth! Gird yourselves, and be shattered to pieces! Gird yourselves, ond be shattered to pieces! Pion out a scheme, and it will be braken up! Speak any word, and it will not stand, for God is with US!" (Isaiah 8 9 , 10) Some yean later, during t t ~ c reign of Ahaz' faithful son Hezekiah, these words come true. When the Assyrians threaten Jerusalem, Jehovah's angel strikes down 185,000of them. Clearly, God is with h s people and the myal line of David. (Isaiah 3733-37) i During the coming battle of Armageddon, Jehovah wlll likewise send the Greater Irnrnanuel not only to clash His enemies to pieces but also to rescue all those who trust In Him.-Psah 2:2,9,12. 29 Unlike Jews in Hezekiah's time, Ahaz' contemporaries Tack faith in Jehovah's protectton. TI-rey favor a confedArjsyria is also compared to a bird whose outspread w l n ~ s "hll thc breadth of yourland."Thus,w h e m r the land extends, It lvlll he c w e r d by the Assyrian army. 28. Despite the sb-enuousefforts of thelr enem ier, of what docs Jeb m d assure Judah? ~ 29. (a) How do Jews I Ahaz' day differ fmm tl~osc the days of n In Hezekiah? (b) Why do Jehovah'sservants today refraln fmm rnaklng religious and political alliances?
+

cracy, er "conspiracy," with the Assyrians as a bulwark against the Sym-Israeliteleague. However, Jehovah's "hand" prods Isalah to speak against "the way of this peoplu," or t.he poputar trend. I-le warns: ' e objectof their m fear you men must nos fear, nor must you tremble at it. lehowh of armies-he Is the One whom you should ns holy, and he should be the object of p u r fwr, and he should he the One causing you to tremble." (Isaiah 8: 11-73) With this in mind, jchovah'~ senlant+s today guard agaitist amspiring with o putting their trust in religious r counclls and political leagues. Scrvants o Jehovah h v e f full cnnfrdcnm in I;odls protective power. After all, if "ehwah is an our sidc, what can earthling man do to us?' -Psalm 118:6, 30 Isaiah Roes on tn reiterate that Jehovah will prove to be "a sacsed place," a protection, for tli~se trusting in hlm, In contrast, those rejecting him "will be certain t o stumble and to fail and be broken, and to be snored and caughtn-live vlvld verbs that leave no doubt about the fate of those not trusting inJehnvah. (Isaiah 8:74 15) In the first century, thosc rejecting Jesus likewise stumbled and tell. (Luke 20:17, 18) A similar outcome awaits those today who fall to give allegiance to the enthroned heavenly King, Jesus.-Psalm 25-9. 31 In Isatah's day, not all are srurnbld. Isaiah says: "Wrap up the uttestation, put o seul about fhe tuw among my disciples! And I w keep in expectation o f Jehovah, who l H Is concealing his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him." (Isaiah 8:16,77) Isaiah and those who heed hi5 teachin# will not abandon God's Law. They keep on
30. What wlll he the fntc of those not ttrustlng in Jehmah? 11 Hmv can true Chrislians today follow the example of Isaiah and t 3 l thaw who l l ~ t c n !lit; tcaclling7 tn

116

Isaiah's Prophecy-Llbyllt for All

Miit! klnrl

trusting in Jehmah, even though their dclhquent compatriots refuse tw and thus have Jehovah conceal his face from them. May we follow the example of those trusting in Jehovah and have the same dekrmination to cling to pure worship!-Daniel 12:4, 9; Matthew 24:45; compare Hebrews 6:11,12.
" S i p s " and "Miracles" 32 Isaiah now proclaims; "Look! I and the children whom ]ehovah has given me are as signs and as mlmcIes in Ismel from Jehovah of armies, who Is miding in Mount Zion. " {Isaioh 8: 78) Yes, h i a h , Shear-jashub, and Mahcr-shalalhash-baz are signs of Jehovah'spu rpo.wF forJ ~tdah. Today, Jesus and his anointed brothers similarly serve as signs, (Hebrews 2:ll-13) And they are joined in their work by "a great crowd" of "othersheep."(Revelation 7:9,14; John 10:16)O course, a sign is valuable only If It stands out f from its surroundings, Likewise, Christians fulfill their rommisdon as slgns only If they stantl out as belng different from this world, putting thelr full trust InJehovah and boldly proclaiming his purposes, 33 Let dl, then, observe God's standards, not those of this warId. Continue to stand out fearlessly--as signs-carrying hsward the mmmissien gwn te the Grcater Fsalah, J m s Christs "Proclaim the year of gdwI11 . . . and the day o vengeance on the part of our God," (Isaiah 61: f 1,2;Luke 437-21) Indeed, when the Assyrlan flooci surges across the earth-even if it reaches up to our necks-true Christians will not be swept. away, We will stand firm I)(?cause "God is with us,"
32. (a) Who today serve "as slgns and as mlracles"7 (b) Why should Christians stand out from the world? 33. [a) W h a t are trueChristiam determlrred tn do? (b) Why wtll true Christians be able to stand hrm?

CHAPTER TEN

The Promise of a Prince of Peace

SOME six thousand years ago, the first human baby was born. His name was Cain, and hls blrth was very special. Neither his parents, nor the angels, nor even the C e r ator had seen a human baby before. This newborn infant could have brought hope to a condemned human rate, How disappointing it was when, after he grew up, he b e came a murderer! (I John 312) Since then mankind has witnessed countless othcr murders. Humans, inclined as they are to do bad, are not at peace with one another o r with God.-Genesis 6:s;Isaial~ 48:22.
2 Some four millenniums aftcr the birth o Cain, another f baby was born. His name was Jesus, and his blrth too was very special. He was horn o a virgin, by the power of holy f spirit-the only such birth in history, At the time o his f birth, a rnultltude of joyful anpis sang praises to God, saying: "Glory in the heights above to God, and upon earth peace among men of goodwill." (Luke 213, 14) Far from being a murderer, Jesus opencd the way for humans to be at peace with God and to gain ewrlasting 1lfe.-John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 1555.

3 Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be

called "Prince of

1. W h a t has mankind experienced slnce the tlme of Cain?

2, 3. What prospects werc opened up by Jesus Chrlst, and what m~tst we do to rrreive such blrsslngx?

b (Isaiah 9 6 ) He wuld o f bhb own life i M l f . " n ofm&d, thus makingpible rhe bqlveness of dm.
(Isaiah S3:ll) Todayj pace Mth God and the fmghness

of sins can be attained on the basis of faith inJesusChist

But such blssings m not -matic. (Colossians 121-23) Those wtro want them must learn to obey J e h c d ~ God. (1 kter 3:11; cornpate Hehews 5:8, 9.) I W ' s day, Isn rael and Jdah do the oppiie.
'Ihmiog t the Demons o 4 Because of *eir disobedience, Isaiah's conOemporaries mi a depI01abk moral sme, a pebble pit of spiritual n darkurn. Even the smithern kingdom of Judah, the l a tron of m ' s tempie,b no p-. As a rermlt o th& mf aithfuhess, the people of Judahaw threatened with invasion by the Assp5mPand hW Cima Ue ahead. To whom do they turn far M p ? 'Sad@ many turn to Satan, not to Jehmah. No, they dq not Inwk Satan by name. Rather, 1 King Saul.of old, Ehey engage i spfrtth, looking for W n

atrswm t t & pmbIem9 bSf tryiRg to mmmutmicab?d t h oh the dead.-1 Sm*l @:l-W. 5 Some are am p m m q this pmt$e. Isaiah pofntg tosuchapcmaywh he s a y ~ : ~ l r ? atheyshoulds0)r se
t o j w ~ : ' ~ ~ ~ s p ~ ~ m a d f ~ ~ t ~ o r t o d r w e havJng a spfrif of predirfiim wtlo pre rhiplng and d n g ~ h l o w ~ ' i r N n o t f v i b ~ d i h t m y p m -

p l e s h ~ m ~ ? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ f i o d w d p sons In M l d lkring personst" ( i d a h 8:19) Spirit me af dhsms rran trick ~ l e"ddrplng and maktng utterances ,
4, 5. Whatis thestateof a f f a i f s i n ~ ~ s d q , to whomdo and =me turn?
7 k births of Calm and jesus wcare both vsry rpecM,

Only that of /&us had a happy outcame

120

Isaiah3 PrapkeEy-LigR t fir All Mank d I h

The Promise afa P~incrvof Ruce

in b~ ma." sound eik&, attdb~ted the ~plrStarh to ib of &ad ma, dan k worked Plrrough venlrllqnhm by a living medlm. At WP though, the demons may get dimclly ~~and impersonate the dead, as a p p ently happned Wtren Sad i n q u d of the witch o Endbr. f
-1 Samwl28:&19. 6 All o thlS is going on in hdah despite the fact that Je f Ouwah has fmblddm the practice ofspiritism. tFnder the Mosaic Law, it i a capital offense. ~ t l c u 1 . 1 U1:6, s s93 ; 27; Rutemnomy 18:9l2) Why do a people who are Je hwah's special -n o commit such a grave kmsgresslon? B e a u s e they have tuned t e r backs on Jehovah's hi Lmandcouaselandhavebecame Wetredbythed+ wptlve pclwer o s h * f 3:13) 'Their heart has becomeuddhgjustlikefat,"a r d theyhavebemme allen-

God's 'Law and Attestation' 8 Jehovah'sIaw banning spMism, together with his otb er commands, is not hidden in Judah. It is pmerved in wrlthg. Today hh W d i available in its completed s form lnwrlthg, It i the Bible, w h i ins eludes not only a compila#on of divlne lawr and regulationsbut a h an account of God's W g with his people. This i s n Bible account o JehaMh'sdealqp forms f

,-

1
1

an a m t i o n , or kstlmony, kachlng us
abwt Jehovah's nature and quallth. I - 1 n s e d of consulthag with the d d 1where ba should the Ismlim be going for direction? Isaiah aMWED: T o the law and to the dterCationl " (Isalah 8:20cr) Yes, those seeking true enlightenment should go to God's written Ward.

~~

aaed from their G d - P s h 119:711.*

when we are faced with an imminent attack by the Assyrians?' They want a quick and easy solution totheir predicament and are not:a b u t to wait: forJehwah to work out his wfll. En our day tow, many &nureJehovahJs and search law out spirit mediums1comdt hor~scofres, resort to 0 h and ter f o r m of mxhbm Pio mhe their problems. However, for t h e ~ b 6 s e e l r ~ w e r s f m m thedeadis justas rldiculoustodayas itwasbackthen. %future o anywhounf repentantlypractice such +hgswill be with the " m d ers and fwnicatorsand.. .idolaters and aU the ku They ham no f u l m p m s p c t ~ Pk-Rmhtfon 21:8. of

Wythey-I.'OfwhavgoodIsaeLgW~fJ&wah

1
~r

9 Some Isradites dabbling fn spMthm may profess n-

for

7 .

Many Wm tbat Psalm 219 was written bg HesfeW -re he becameklng. I f s o , i t w a s l i k e I y e v r i ~whJleIsalahwas prophesytne.

of empty and h p am hay ai t h a :"Sum/ythqwlllkeqsoyingw h 4 t i s d g d P asp bhlo sWmmt that will h m no llght of dam." (1-h 8: ZOb)Towhat statement is Isaiahbexe refemng?Perhaps t u the sMement: "To the law and m the atWxUm!"It may be that some apoetate haelites refer t the Word of God, o
8. What is "the iawwd *the attestationu bwhkh we todag should

* ~~ But such

T m w#I bed k r m h h wna &an a hunger ~w bread and a thirst for warn

~ustasaposta&3andothmtoday a y q y o t e S a l ~ B u t m -

6. Why am the hacks who him resaacd to splrlttsm eqedaIly blammvmhy?

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TITI: Prornl~enfa klnce of Pence

12 Will calling down evil upon God bring p a c e to the inhabitant% Judah? No. Isaiah foretells: "To fhe earth af he will look, and, iro! distress and darkness, oBscurl& hard times and gloominess with no brightness." (lsuiuh 8:22) After raising their eyes 2o heaver1 to t~lanie God, they look l~ack the earth, back to their hopclcss prospeas, Their to turning (?way from God has led to calamity. (Proverbs 19:3) What, though, o the prorniscs that God made t f o Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? (Gencsls 22: 15-18; 28:14, 15) Will Jchovah default? Will the Assyrians or some other military power bring to an end the royal Ilne promised to Judah and David? (Genesis 49:8-1O; 2 Samuel 211-16) Will tlre Israelites be forever condemned to darkness?

125

How is this land "treated with contempt"?Thc pagan Assyrians wnquer it, take the Israelites into exile, and resett'le the whole region with pagans, who are not descendants of Abraham. Thus the ten-tribe northern kingdom dlsap pears from hlstory as a distinct nation !-Z Kings 17:5,6,18, 23,24. 14 Judah too is under pressup from the Aqsyrlans. W 1 it 11 sink Into a permanent "obscureness"as cIid the ten-tribe kingdom represent& by Zebulun and Naphtall?Na. At a "lal~r time,"Jehovahwill bring blessings to the region of the southern kingdom of Judah and ewrl to the land formerly ruled by the northern klngdum. I-low? 1s The apostle Matthew answers this questlon in his Insptrecl record of the earthly ministry o Jesus. Describing f the early days o that ministry, Matthew says: "After leavf ing Nazareth, [Jesus] came and took up residence I Can pernaum 'bcside the sea in the districts of Zebulun and Naphtali, that there might be fulfilled what was spoken throu~h Isaiah the prophet, saying: '0 land ai Zebulun and land of Naphtali, along the road of the sea, an the other side of the Jordan, GaliIge ofthe natlons! the people sitting In darkness saw a great light, and as for those sitting in a region o deathly shadow, light mse upon them."" f -Marthew 413-16. 16 Yes, "the later time" foretold by Isaiah B the time of Christ's earthly ministry. Most o Jesus' earthly life was f spent I Galilee. It was in the district of Galilee that he ben gan his ministry and started to announce: "The kngdom o the heavens has drawn near." (Matthew 4:17) In f

A Land "Treated With Contempt" 13 Isaiah now alludes to one o the worst of the cabf clysmlc events that come upon the descendants o Abraf ham: "The o b s c u m ~ wfllnot be us when the Iond had s stress, a at the former time when one treated with cons tempt the /and of Zebulun and the land of Naph tali and when at the later time one coused I lo be honored-the t w a y by the sea, in the region of the lordan, Colilee of the nations." (Isaiah 9:J)Galilee is a territory in thc northern kingdom of Israel. In Isaiah's prophecy i t lndudes "the land of Zebulun and the land of Nnphtali" and also "the way by the sea," an ancient road that ran 'bythe Sea of Galilee and led to the Mcdlkrranean Sea. In Isaiah's d<ay,the region is called "Galilee of t l ~ c natlonr," likely because many of its cities are inhabited ly non-Israelites."
' Samc havesuggestedthat the 20 dtles o Callleethat King Sdomm f oflcrcd to Ilirarn the king of Tpe were probably tnhahited by nonIrraell2es.-l Kinp 9:1&13.

12. (a) Ta what h a turn@ away fmm God Icd Judah?(b)What important questtons are raised? 13. What I s "Galilee o the natfans," and how does It come to be f "treated wlth contempt"?

14. In what sense willjudah's PobscurenpssH less than that of the be ten-krlhe kingdom? 15, 16. (a) At what "later time" will the sltuatfon c h a n ~ e "the fur dlstrlctfi of Zebulun and Naphtallf'?(b)How does the land that was trratud wlrh contempt come to be honored?

126

lsdoh's Pmphdcy-&&ht fir All Mankind I

W e e , he d e h d his famous Sermon on the Mount, chose hls apostles, w r m e d hh fist W e , and spp x e d a0 some 500 fo11mm after his remmdon. (Matthew 51-7:27; a16-;?0;Mark 3:13,14; John 28-11; 1 Corinthians 1551In this way Jesus fulfdld hiah's prophey by honoring "the land of a h f u n and the land o Naphf talL'' Of course, Jesus d d not m c his minkmy t the Mt o people of Galilee. 3y m n g the good news throughout the land, Jesus 'awedt be honored' the entire nation of o Israel, IncludingJudah.

The *Great UghV 17What, though, of Matthew's mention of "a great light" h mike?Be? m i a q r t l u n from Imh's s pmpheq, Iserlah m people that were wikfng In e
~ d a ~ ~ h ~ ~ ~ I l ingh ahsiadofdtspshdow, Ilghtheifharshoneupon them," (Isdub 9G!) By lhe Arst century C.E, light o the f mh had been hiddm by pagm falsehoods. J W h ret llglous leaders had compnded the pmb1011 by holding to thetr ml@ous traditionwfth whlch theyhad "made the ward o G a l invalid"(Matthew 15:6) Humble ones f wax oppressed and W d e r e d , C o U m h g 'Wind guides,' (Matkhew 2324,16) When Jesus the M&sW a w e d , the eyes of many humble people were opefled i a wonn drous way. (John1:9,12) Jes& work W e on earth and the bIangs Wdng from his sacrib are aptly characterized in Isaiah's pophay as "a great IfgkH-jahn 8:'12. 18 Those who xespntkd to the Ught had much reason 1 , HQW 7 do= "a g t ll&P ahlnc in Galllce? m 18, 19. What reason, dfd the who rlspmded to the light haw fbr

gat re)oidn$?

laus w s a light in ehe land

for rejoicing. Isaiah continued:'You haw made the nation populous; for it you have made the rejoicing greet They have rejoiced before you as with the rejoicing in the harvesttime, a those who are joyful when they divide up s She spoil." (lsoiuh 9:3) As a m u I t o she prcacliing acf tivity ofJ m s and his followers, honestheartecl oncs came forward, showing themselves desirous o twrshiping Jcf hovah with spirit and truth. (John424) In less than four years, multitudes embraced Christianity. Three tliousand were baptized on the day of Pentecost 33 C.I. Shortly afterward, "the number of the men hecame about five 1.housand." (Acts 241; 4:4) As the disciples zealously rcffectcd the light, "the number of the disciples kept multiply in^ in Jerusalem very much;and a great cmwd of priests began ta be obedient to the fajth."-Acts 6:7. 19 Like those who rejoice in a bounteous harvest or who delight over the division o valuable spoil after a great milf itary victory, Jesus' followers rejoiced over the increase. (Acts 246, 47) In time, Jehovah caused the light to shine among the nations. ( A m 14:27) Sa people or all races rejoiced that the way of approach to Jehovah had been opened to them.--Acts 13:48.

I
I

"As i the Day of Midian" n

20 The effech of the activity of the Messiah are permanent, as we see from Isaiah's next' words: '7he yoke of their toad onti the rod upon their shoulders, the staff of the one driving &em to work, you have shcrttemd to pjeces a in she day of Midian."(Isaiah 9:#)Cenhrries ixfore Isas iah's day, the Midianites conspired wit11 the Mmhltes to
20. (a) In what ways did the MIdianitPs prove to be enemies of Israel. and how did Jehovah bring an end to the threat they pncctl? (b) How on a future "day of Midian" wilt Jesus bring an cnd t the o threat posed by enemies of God's people?

liire Israel into sin. (Numbers 251-9, 14-t8; 31~15, Lat16) er, Mldlanltcs tcrrorlzed the Israelites by raiding and plundering their villages and farms for seven years. (Judges6: 1-61 nut then Jcho~vah, through his servant Gideon, routecl MldI~n'sarmles. After that "day of Midian," there i s no cviclcnce that Jehovah" people ever again suffered a t the hands of the Midianltes. (Judgts 6:7-16; 828) I the n near future, Jesus Christ, the greater Gidmn, will ddiver a dcalhblow to rntxlern-day enemies oflehovah's people. (llevelation 1214; 19:11-21) Then, "as in the day o Midif an," a complete and lasting victory will be gained, not by human prowess, but by Jehovah9 power. (Judges 7:222) tiocl's people will never again suffer under the yoke of uppscsslan! 21 Displays of divine powcr am-not a glorification of warfare. 'l'he resurrected Jesus i s the Prlnce of Peace, and by annlhtlatlng 111s enemies, he will usher in eternal peace. Isaiah now speaks of rnllitary paraphernalia as being totally dcstroycd by tire: "Every boot of the one tramping with tremors and the mantle rolled in blood have even come to be for burning a bod for fire,"(Izoioh 95) The tremors s caused by t hc trampin# of t hc boots of marching soldiers wlll never agaln he felt. The bloody ~mlforrns combatof hardcnctl warriors will no longer be seen. War will be no more!-I1sal m 4h:9.
22 At

the

"Wonderful Counselor" time of his miraculous birth, the one born

to

bc thc Messiah rcccived the name Jesus, meaning "Jehovah Is hlvntion." But he has other names, prophetic names that outline his key mle and his elevated position.

21. What dms Isatah's prophecy indicate as to the future of warfare? 22. Whdt r~ir~ltiplc prol,herlc name Ir Jmuq given in the book of 1%
Inh?

130

Isainh's Prophecy-Light for All Mankind I

The Promise of a Prince of Peace

131.

One such name is I ~ a n u e lmeaning "With Us Is God." , (Isaiah 214, footnote) Isaiah now describes another pmphetic name: "Therehas been a child born to us, there has been a son given to us; and the princely rule will come to be upon his shoulder. And his name will he called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6) Consider the rich meaning of t h s multiple prophetic name. 23 A counselor is one who gves counsel, or advice. When on earth Jesus Christ provided wonderfuI counsel. In the Bible we read that "crowds were astounded at h way s of teaching." (Matthew 228) He is a wise and empathetic Counselor, with an extraordinary understanding of human nature. His counsel is not restrided to reprimands or chastisement. More often, it is in the form of instruction and loving advice. JesusJ counsel is wonderful because it is always wise, perfect, and infallible. When followed, it leads to everlasting life.-John 658. 24 Jesus' counseI is not simply the product of his brilliant mind. Rather, he says: "What I teach is not mine, but belongs to him that sent me." (John7: 16) As was the case with Solomon, Jehovah God is the Source of Jesus' wisdom. (1 Kings 37-14; Matthew 12342) Jesus' exampIe should motivate teachers and counseIors in the Christian congregation always to base their instruction on God's Word.-Proverbs 21:30.

of Jehovah, who is 'God our Father." (2 Corinthians 1:2) "He lJesusj . . . gave no consideration to a seizure, nameIy, that he should be equal to God." (Philippians 2:h) He is caIled Mighty God; not Almighty God. Jesus never thought of himself as God ALmighty, for he spoke of his Father as "the only true God," that is, the only God who should be worshiped. (John 173; Revelation 4:ll) In the Scriptures, the word "god" can mean "mighty one" or "strang one." (Exodus 12:12; Psalm 8:s; Corinthians 4:4) 2 Before Jesus came to earth, he was "a god," "existing in God's form."After h resurrection, he returned to an even s higher position in the heavens. (John 1:l;Phjlippians 2: 6-11) Further, the designation "god" carries an additional implication. Judges in Israel were called "godsn-once by Jesus himself. (Psalm 826; John 10:35) Jesus is Jehovah's appointed Judge, "destined to judge the living and the dead." (2 Timothy 4:1; John 530) Clearly, he is well named Mighty God. 26 The title "Eternal Father" refers to the Messianic King's power and authority to give humans the prospect of eternal life on earth. (John 11:25, 26) The legacy of our firrt parent, Adam, was death. Jesus, the last Adam, "became a life-gwing spirit." (1 Corinthians 15:22, 45; Romans 5: 12, 18) Just as Jesus, the Eternal Father, will live forever, so obedient mankind will enjoy the benefits of his fatherhood eternally.-Romans 6:9.

"Mighty God" and "Eternal Father" 25 Jesus is also "Mighty God" and "Eternal Father." This does not mean that he usurps the authority and position
23, 24. (a) In what way is Jesus a "Wonderful Counselor"? (b) H o w can Christian counselors today irnltate Jesus' example? 25. What does the name "Mighty God" tell us about thc heavenly

"Prince of Peace" 27 Besides everlasting life, man also needs peace, both with God and with his fellowman. Even today, those
26. Why can Jesus be called "Eternal Father"? 27, 28. What wonderful benefits come both now and in the future to subjects o the "Pr~nce Peace"? f of

Jesus?

132

Isninh!~Prp/~~r+y-L/,~!rtA l l Mrrnklr~rlI Ihr

-

CHAPTER ELEVEN

subjecting themelm to the ruIe uf the "Prlncc af Peace" have 'beaten their swords i t plowshares and their spears no into pruning shears.' (Isaiah 2:24)They do not nune hatrcds because of political, territorial, racial, or economIc differences. They are united in the worship o the one f

Woe to,the Rebels!

true God, Jehovah?and they work to maintain peacetill relations, with their neighbors, both inside and outside the conpegation.-Galatians 6:lU; Ephesians 412, 3; 2 Tim* thy 224. 28 In God's due time, Christ will establish on carth a peace that will be global, firmly estahlishetl, permanent, (Acts 1:7) "To rjte abundance of She princely rule and to peace them wilt be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom in order to esroblish it firmly and to sustain it by means of justice and by means of righteousness, from now on and to time indefinite." (Isaiah 9:70) In exercising his authority as the Prillcc of Pcacc, Jcsus will not rcrsort to tyrannical means, His subjccts will nut br stripped of rhefr free will and subjugated by force. Ilathcr, all that he will accomplish will bc "by means of justlcc and by means of righteousness." What a rcfrcshln~ change! 29 ln view of the wonderful ImpticatIons of Jcsus' prophetic name, tsaiah's conclusion to this part of his prophecy is truly thrilling. H e writ-: 'The veryxmlof~ehovuh of armies will do this." (Isaiah P:7b) Ycr, J c h m h acts wlth zeal. Ile does nothing in a halfhcarteri way. Wc can be sure that whatever he promises, he will fi~lly accomplish, Il' anyone, then, longs to enloy werlastlng peace, let h m i serve Jehovah wholehearteclIy. Like Jehnvah God and Jcsus, the Prince of Peace, may all servants uf God be "zcalnus for fine works."-Titus 2:14.

W E N Jehovah's c m n n n t people were divided Into two kingdoms, the nart helm ten-tribe kingdom came under the rulership of Jeroboam. The new klng w s an able, ena ergetic ruler. Rut he lacked real falth In Jehovah, Because o this he made a krtlMe error that bli~hrcd whole f the history of the northern kingdom. Undcr the Mosaic Law, the Israelites;were cornnanrlrrl to t m l three times a year up t the temple in Jerusalem, which was now i the o n southern kingdom of Jt~clah. (1)euteronorny 16:16) Afraid that such regular journeys would make his subjects think about reunification wlth their southern brnthers, Jeroboam "made two golden calves and said to the pcaple: 'It is too much for you to go up .loJerusalem. Here is your God, 0 Israel, that brought you up out of the land of Egypt.' Then he placed the one in Brthcl, and the other he put in Dm"-l Kings 12:28,29.
2 I the short term, Jcroboam's plan seemed to work. n The people gradually Icft off goin# to Jerusalemand t k m up worshjping beforc thc t 4 calws. ( 1 Wngs I2:SCF) Howi0 ever, this apostate rellglous practice corrupted the tentribe kingdom. In later years, even jehu, who had shown such commendable r.eal ln clearing Dan1worshlp out of Israel, continued to bow down t thc golden calves, (2Kings o 10:28, 29) What else rcsulted from Jerobuam'h tragically
I. #at terrlblc error dirt Icmt~mm make? 2, 3. W a t e f f e d ~ Jernlmm'% did trrcjr have on IiracE?

29. What should wc do if I rtk pace7

WT

wish tu entoy the blesslng nl werlast-

134

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for All Mankind I

Woe to thp Rebels!

135

wrong decision? Political instability and suffering for the people. 3 Because Jeroboam had become apostate, Jehovah said that his seed would not reign over the land, and in the end the northern kingdom would suffer a terrible disaster, (1 Nngs 14:14,15) Jehovah's word proved true. Seven of Israel's kings ruled for two years or Iess-some for only a few days. One king committed suicide, and six were assassinated by ambitious men who usurped the throne. Especially after t h e reign of Jeroboam 1 , which ended 1 about 804 B.C.E. whiIe Uzziah was reigning in Judah, Israel was plagued with unrest, violence, and assassinations, It is against this backdrop that Jehovah through Isaiah sends a direct warning, or "word," to the northern kingdom. 'There was a word that Iehovah sent against Jacob, and it fell upon Israel."-lsaioh 9:8.*

Haughtiness and Insolence Earn God" Wrath "word" will not be ignored. 'mepeople will certainly know it, even all of them, Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, because of their haughtiness and because of their insolence of heart" (Isaiah 9:9)"Jacob," "Israel," "Ephraim," and "Samaria" all refer to the northern Iungdom of Israel, of which Ephraim is the predominant tribe and Samaria the capital. Jehovah's word against that kingdom is a shong judicial statement, for Ephraim has
4 Jehovah's

become hardened in apostasy and is brazenly insolent toward Jehovah. God will not protect the people from the consequences of their wicked ways. They will be forced to hear, or pay attention to, God's word.-Galatians 6:7. 5 As conditions deteriorate, the people experience severe losses, including their homes-commonly made of mud bricks and inexpensive wood. Are their hearts softened a s a result? Wdl they heed Jehovah's prophets and return to the bxe God?" Isaiah records the people's insolent response: "Bricks are what have fallen, but with hewn stone we shall build. Sycamore trees are what have been cut down, but with cedan we shall make replacement " (haiah 9: 10) The Israelites defy Jehovah and spurn his prophets, who tell them why they are suffering such hardships. In effect, the people say: 'We may lose houses made o perf ishable mud bricks and inexpensive wood, hut we will do more than make good for these losses by rebuilding with superior materials-hewn stone and cedar!' (CompareJob 4:19.) They leaveJehovah no choice but to discipline them furthet-Compare Isaiah 48:22.
6 Isaiah continues: "Jehovahwill set headversaries of Rezin on high against him." (Isaiah 9: 7 Ja) King Pekah of IsraeI and King Rezin of Syria are allies. They are scheming to conquer the two-tribe kingdom of Judah and to place on Jehovah's throne in Jerusalem a puppet king-a certain "son of Tabeel." (Isaiah 7:6) the conspiracy is doomed. But
-

* Isaiah 98-10:4 is made up of four strophes (sections of a rhythmic

passage), each ending with the ominous refrain: "In view of all this his anger has not turned back, but his hand is sketched out still." (Isaiah 9:12,17, 21; 10:4) This literary device h a the effect of binding Isaiah 9%-10:4 into one composite "word."(Isaiah 9%)Note, too, that Jehovah's "hand is stretched out still,"not to offer recondliation, but to judge.-Isaiah 9:13.

"Jehovah's prophets to the northern kingdom of Israel include Jehu (not the king), Eliiah, blicaiah, Elisha, Jonah, Oded, Hosea, Amos,
and Micah
-

5. How do the Israelites show themselves unaffemd by Jehovah's a d s of lodgment? 6 . How does Jehovah undermine the Syro-Israelite scheme against
Judah?

4. What "word"does Jehovah send against Israel, and why?

136

Isainit's I'roplvrc}~-Li,fI~t All Mrrnkind I /iur

Reztn has powerful enemies, and Jehovah wlll '.xt un h l ~ l ~ ' enemies against "him,"Israel. The term 'seton these hlxh' means t allow them to wage effcaive warfare that o will bring about the destruction clE thc alliance and its ob-

jectlws, 7 The dlssolvjng of thls alllance beglnr when Aqsyria attacks Syria. 'The king of Arsyria went up to L~nrnascwsithe capital of Syria] and captured it and Icd its puple into exilc at Kir, and Re& he put to dmth." (2 K i n ~ s 16:9) Having Iwt his puwerfuI ally, Pekah finds that I ~ l r designs on Judahare thwarted rn fact, rliortly after Rexln" death, Pek a l ~himself Is assassinated by Hnshen, wlzo thereafter uFurps the throne of Samaria,-2 Kings 1523-25,30. 8 Syria, Israel's former ally, is now a v3ssal of Assyrja, the dominant power i the region. Isaiah prophesies a b u t n how Jehovah will use this new political alignment: '7k enemies of that one [Isme!] he [ jehovah] will goad on, Syria from the east and the Philistines [ram behind, and they will eat up Israel with open mouth. in view of oil this his anger has not turned bock, but his hand is stretched out still,," (Isaiah 9:19b, 12) Yes, Syrb ir now Ismel's enemy, and Israel must prepare for attack from Aqyria nrrd Syria. 'I'he invasion succeeds. Assyria makes the usurper Hoshea his servant, exacting a hefty tributc. (A fcw decades earlier, Assyria received a large sum from Klng Menahem of Israel,) How true the prophet Hosea's PY~KIS: "Strangers have eaten up his [Ephraim's] power"!-I-lasea 79;2 Kings 15:
19, 20; 171-3.
9 Dws not Isaiah also say that the Philistlns will invade "from behind"? Y s Prior to the days o magnetic come. f
7, R. Pnr Israel, what is the result of hsyria's conrlucst uf Syria? 9 , Why can we say that the Phlllatlnes attack "l'rom t~elilnd"?

passes, the Hebrews indicated direction from the viewpnint o a person facing the sunridng. 'Thus, "the cast" f W ~ thc b n t , white the west, the coastal home o the PhiF f Ilstincs, was "hehlnd." The "Israel"mcntlonerl a l Isaiah 9: 12 may Include Judah in this instance hccause the Philistines Invaded Judah during the reign of Pcknh's conjrcrnp m r y , Aha%, capturing and om~pying rnrrnber of Judea an cities n11d slrongholds. Likc liphraim ro t11c north, Judah cleserv~ discipline fmm Jel~nvah, she ton is this for slddlert w th apostasyr2 Chronicles 28:1-4, 18, 19, l

From 'Head to Tail1-A Nation of Rebels

In 111 spltc of all I t s suffering-and desplt~ strong prothe nounccments of Jehovah's prophets-the northern kingdam persists in rebellion against Jehovah. 'The people themselves h m mt returned to the One striking them, and jehovah of armies they hove not sought"(Isaiah9:13) Consequently, the prophet says: 'Yehovuh will cut off from Ismel head and tail, shoot and rush, In one doy. The aged and high/y rerespected one b the head, and the prophet giving Idse Instru&'on is the tailI And those who ore lmding this people on prove to be the ones causing them to wander; and those of them who am being led on, the ones who are being confused."-Isaiah 9:14- 16, 11 'I'he "head" and the "shoat" represent "the aged and highly respected oneu-the leaders nf the nation. The "tall" and the "tush" refer to false prophets who utter wods pleasing to their leaders. A Bitlle scholar writer: "The false Prophets are called the tail, because they wrc morally the basest ofthe people, and because they
10, 11. Whnt punishment wflI Jehovah brlng against Israel because of their persistent rebellion?

Woe ta thr Rebels!

were the g$rvlte adherents and mprters o w i c W rub f IXL" b b o r W.J. Yxmg says o these fahe pmph f ets:UNa l d e ~ ~ mthey brat, folkwing where the ladm re led, they simply ~ a t k n and famed, a wagging tail on a d dog."-G3mp~ 2 T m t y 43. lOh

Faf se Waxship Breeds Violence 14 Forlse worship Is, in effect, the worship of &mom.
demon Influence leads m violence. ( G a d 6:1l,12)It is no surprise, then, that when hael tuns apostate and bea s worshiping the demons, violence and n iiIl the land.-DMwonorny 32:17; Psalm 106:3538. d a d b the spread of 15 I vMd word p l m , n wkkdnea and violence I Israel: W n e s s hm ben
(1 Codnthhm 1020) As demonstratedbefore the F l d J

Even Widows and Fatherless Boys' Are Rebels 12 Jehovahis the Champion of widows and fatMess bogs. W w 2E22,W) t hear what I& Y, e s now says: " ~ w i B m t ~ k e e m o w r W r p u n gcmd I m
upon~~~andrrponth&wldomhewlll ~nome~~usealloftkem mapshim and&& d m and e w y m & Js s p h g mwkmas. I vJew n of all this hk m p h nM turned back, but hk hand i s r W sM," r & orrE e @oak kl7) has mrr~pted all 1ewL of sod*> indud@ the widows and fatherless bop! j&mh patmtly sends kb pmpheq hoping that the people:W change their ways. For example, "Da come back, Q brad, ta Jehovah your God, 6M. you have stumbled i your e ~ m ~pleads H w a . (Hosea 1 : ) How it n ," 4l must pain the Chmrpion o f w f d m and fatheries bop to j-ent a d even them! gm have t o 13 Lfke Isaiah, w a l m g Ixl dtics] times prior tr,Jeh* e & vah's day of judgment a m &e wicked. (2 nmothy 3 : 1-51 How impoztant, then, that true CMstians, regardless of their situation i lf, remain spiritually, morally, and n ie maWydan i ordw t rettljn W ' s &or. k each one n o t jealwsly guard hk rM b with Jehuuah. k none e mi p t W h Q k e s m p e d h r n "Eiabylmthe GRaYmeragdn ''share With h a in her s i t ~ . * - ~ W 18:2,4. How d8ep info b r ~ s m i e b cmqtlon penetrarctl7 ys u t 13. What cnn m km ham the s i M l o n in W ' r day?
12.

mrneatlomejurtll&eamthombt~hesand~&~ Itwili eat up. A d It wlll mtch flm In the M i of the h?sC &s and t q will bs borne aM as the billbwing of snwke. in h
14, 15, (a) What mults from demonworship? (b) W h pqhesre~ that Imel will experlenw what ongoing sufferlag?

Wlckedniss and violence sweep thmugh I m e l Ilks a Ibwt #re

rhe fury of j-h of mmia w I d has k n s@t m afim, and f h k p y k w i l f k o m e a r W b r thefke. No one d1l w compmsbn even on his brother. And one WIN cut l down on the right and will camink be hungry; and one Msrrton &el&, undtheyM~~in&notbewtlsfled. Thqrwfll&mmfthefleslrofhkormm,M~ Ephmim, and @raim km&. Together t h q d l 1 be againstludoh. In view of ail this h& orup h a not tomed but ~s hand is art rtia.u--i~ai~h1&27. 9: 1 Uke a flame that spreads from thornbush t thorn6 o bush, vtolace m m out o mntrol and quickly m h f ces "the Wckets of the fur&,* aeattng a full-blown forest frre of violence,Wle commenmtrln Kell and Deli*h d* scribe the level d vblence as be@ "the most Inhuman seifdestntctionduring ana m c h i d dvfl war. Mlue o tt t f any tender ernotEom, they & o u d one another without being satisfied" Likely, the t t l k of Ephraim arid Mmasseh are singled out here h a u s e they are the main represm of the northern Wgdom and, as descendants of JosepklsWO t k y are the M O d ~ ~ erelated of ~ ly the +Elltrfhs. Despite w, m a r they Intwrupt their f#Mddal Wlma only when they war e n s t Judah t o the south.-2 Qm,nides ml-&,

Caxrupt Judges Meet Their Judge 17Jehmah next focuses hb judicial eye on tsrael's mrupt judges and other offichh. abuse their paww by plundering the lowly and a c t e d ones who come to 16. How m the words o Idah 9 1 - 1hr1611ed7 f :82 1 , 18. What mrmption exists In hael's legal and 7

s 7 -

Ishovah dl1 hold m account those who prey on others

1
142

Isaiah's Prophecy-Ligh t for All Mankind I

Woc to

t71c Rebels!

them seeking justice. Isaiah says: "Woe to those who are enacting harmful regulations and those who, constantry writing, have written out sheer trouble, in order to push away the lowly ones from a legal case and to wrest away justice from the afflic&dones of m people, for the widows y to become their spoil, and thot they may plunder even the fatherless boys !"-Isaiah 7 : 1,2. 0 1 Jehovah's Law forbids all forms of injustice: "You peos ple must not do injustice in the judgment. You must not treat the lowly with partiality, and you must not prefer the person of a great one." (Leviticus 1915) Disregarding that Iaw, these officials draw up their own "harmful regulations" so as to legitimize what amounts to outright theft of the cruelest kind-taking the scanty possessions of widows and fatherless boys. Israel's false gods are, of course, blind to this injustice, but Jehovah is not. Through Isaiah, Jehovah now focuses h attention on these wicked judges. s 1 "What will you men do at the day of being given at9 tention and at the ruin, when it comes from far away? Toward whom will you flee for assistance, and where will you leave your glory, except it be thot one must bow down under the prisoners ond that people keep falling under those who have been killed?" (Isaiah 70:3,4a) The widows and fatherless boys have no honest judges to whom to appeal. How appropriate, then, that Jehovah now asks those corrupt Israelite judges whom they will turn to now that Jehovah is holding them t account. Yes, they are about to o learn that "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."-Hebrews 10:31. 20 The "glory" of these wicked judges-the worldly prestige, honor, and power that come with their wealth and

I
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I I

position-will be short-lived. Some will become prisoners of war, 'bowing down,' or crouching, among other prisoners, while the rest will be slain, their corpses covered with the war dead. Their "glory" also includes ill-gotten riches, which will be plundered by the enemy. 2 Isaiah concludes this final strophe with a grim warn1 ing: "In view of all this [all the woe that the nation has so far suffered] his anger has not turned bock, but his hand is stretched out still.'' (Isaiah 10:46) Yes, Jehovah has more to say to Israel. Jehovah's outrtretched hand will not be drawn back untd he delivers a final, devastating blow to the rebellious northern kingdom. Never Fall Prey to Falsehood and Self-Interest 22 Jehovah's word through Isaiah fell heavily upon Israel and a d not return to him without results.' (Isaiah 55:10, 11) History records the tragic end of the northern kingdom of Israel, and we can only imagine the suffering that its inhabitants had to endure. Just as surely, God's word will be fulfilled on the present system of things, especially on apostate Christendom. How important, then, that Christians give no ear to lying, anti-God propagandal Thanks to God's Word, Satan's clwer strategies have iong been exposed, so that we nerd not be overreached by them as were the people of ancient Israel. (2 Corinthians 2:11) May all of us never cease to worship Jehovah "with spirit and truth." (John 424) In that case, his outstretched hand will not strike his worshipers as it did rebellious Ephraim; his arms will warmly embrace them, and he will help them along the road t everlasting life on a o paradise earth.-James 4:8.
21. In view of the punishments that Israel has -

19, 20. How will the situation of the corrupt Israelite judges be changed, and what will happen to their "glory"?

received, ha%Jehovah's anger against them ceased? 22. What lesson can we learn from what happened to Israel?

CHAPTER TWELVE

Do Not B e Afraid of the Assyrian

I THE middle of the ninth century B.C.E., the Flebm N prophet Jonah, son of Arnittaj, ventured into Ninw~h, the capital o the Assyrian Empire. He had a weighty mesf sage to deliver. Jehavah had told him: "Get up, go to Nineveh the great cityI and proclaim against her that their barfness has come up before me."-Jonah 1:2,3, 2 When he first received his commission, Jonah ran off in the opposite direction, toward Tanhish. From a human standpoint, Jonah had reason to be reluctant. ' f i e Assyrlans were a n u e l people. Notice how one Assyrian monarch dealt with his enemies: "I cut off the limbs of the officers , . . Many captives from among them I burner1 with fire, and many I took as living captives. From some I cut off their hands and theit fingers, and from others I cut off their noses."Still, when Jonah finally delivered Jehcwh's message, the Nirrwites repented of their sins and Jehovah spared the city at that time.-Jonah 33-10; Matthew 1.241.

spend'? (2 Klngs 14:25) No, They turn their backs on pure worship. Indecd, they go so far as "to how down to all the army of the heavens and to serve Baal." What is more, "they contlni~erl maketheir sons and their daughters to pass through the firc and to practice divination ancl to I w k for omens, and they kept selling themselves to do what was hnrl In the cycs o Jehovah, to offend him." f (2 Wngs 1 7 16, 17) Unlike the Ninevites, Israel does not r e spond when Jchovahsends prophets to warn them. So Jehovah determines to take stron~er measures. 4 Tar some time after Janah's visit to Ninewh, there is a decline In Assyrian aggression.' However, at the beannlng of the eighth century B.C,E., A q ~ i a reasserts itself as a military power, and Jchovah uses it in an astonishIng way, The prophet Isaiah conveys a warning from Jehovah to the northern kingdom of Israel: "Aha, thehyrian, the rod for my anger, and the stick &at I in their hand for s my denunciation! Against an apostate nation E l~hall send him, and against the people of my fury I shall issue a command to him, to toke much spoil and to take much plunder and to make it cr trampling place like the clay of the
strwtr,"-lsaiah 705, 6 .
5 What a humiliation for the Israelites1 God uses a pagan natlon-"the Assyrian"-as a "rod" to punish them. In 742 R.C.E,, Assyrian King Shalmaneser V Iays siege to Sarnarla, capital o the apostate nation of Israet. From its f strategic localion on a hilt some 300 feet high, Smaria warrls off thc enemy for almost zhm years. But no human strategy can black Gocl's purpose. In 740 B.CE, Samaria falls, trampled under Assyrian feet.-2 Kings 1S:lQ.
~ c / c ~ ~ i . @ N the Scrlpn~m, i O ~t Volume 1, page 203.
4, 5. (a1 What Is rncnnt by "the Arqrlan,"

Jehovah Takes Up "the Rod" 3 Do the Israelites, t whom Jonah also preach~l, o re1, 2. (a) Fmm a human standpoint, xvhy did Jonah sccm t haw o good mson to be reluctant to accept his comrnlwinn l prenrli to o the Assyrians? @) How did the NinevlZes read to Junahl rnctrnge? 3. How dws the reaction o the Israelites to the warninp clrlivr~rrrl f @Jehovah's prophets differ from that of the Ninevitcr?

w e h l i i ~ a "rod"? (h) Whcn does Samarla fall5 aq

and how will Jehovah

Ikuiah-3 mphrcy-L&ht

pr All Mankind I

6 Although w d by Jehovaht~ teach his people a lesson, the Assyrians themdm do not reco@ix Jehwah.That is why he g c e on t say: %ugh [WAsphn]may not o be that ~lyty, he Mi W inclined; though hls heart m y not h that wa;y, he willsdwme, k a u s e to a n n i W Is In h&hmtt and to cut offnations not a lkw." (lsalah 109)

Jehov& meaaz; the Asspian t be an InsWment in the o dlvlne hand. But t h +tan ~ feels indhed to be some Wng eise. His heat urges h h t scheme for somethhy o gmder-mnquest o the thm-knownworld1 f 7 Many of the nofiIsmUe di conquered by the Are tm syrian were pmiaudyruledbykhgs.Thm formerklngs now have t submit t the W n g of Assyrla a 4 o o prima, s he mtruly baast "h my prlnccr at the o mrt some h e Mng$Y {Jsaiah fO:8) The false gods of promlnent dues of the nations could not w e thdr w&ipers from d a t r W m . Tke gods worshiped by the inhabitants of $maria, am% as h a l , Molech, and the golden calves, wlli npt p~0tec-k dty. Having Eorsakn Jchaa Lh$t vah, Samarla has no right t expect him to Intervene, Let o m y today who f o e Jehovahtake notice of Samarh's fab! T h e k q r h mn w d bast regding Samarla and the other cities he has 6 0 n q u d #is mt Wno just Me C m h m b h ?b not Hamcrth just like Arpad? is not amarhu t llke DamamF (Ssaioh 70.9) They are all the same j s
totheAssyrian-qdforhfmtotak. aH , the Assyrrzuz g m too far In hls boasting.
6. In what way does the Assyrian p be)rond what Jchowh B In s mind for him? kin the ap~&&n *Are oat my prttrcei rrt the same time king?" I ) Of what sbould those today who forsake Jehovah take note?
7b

rT-' that pths#ng the nuttons

'-

muchertb reasms is ar easy us gathering eggs h m a nest

Elg

8, 9. W h y k i t P h a t t h e ~ a n ~ s t o o f a r l v h e n h e K t s h l s s l g b t f on Jerusalem?

He says: ' M m r my hand has #ached the klngdams of fhe v u ~ r r e b whose gmwn Images are m m than god those at hr$lst?kmand ot krmurlo, will A not be tkat just mIshaIIhowdone toScr& and t herwIu&pds, o e m so I M do to jenrsulem and b her kfokl" ( b b h i ItklO, 1I ) The Mngdoms already defeated by the Assyrla posxsed far more idols than do Jerusalemor wen San mada. What, he masons, 9s t prevent me from doing to o Jerusalmwhat T did t Sam&?' a 9 The braggart!JehovahwU1 not allow him t takeJeruo sdem. Bue, Judah does not have a spotless record of supparfmg me!w~tship, Kings 16:7-9; 2 Cbronides 28:24) (2 Jehwah has w m e d that 'because of her unfaithfulne~~ Judah suffer much during the Assyrian hvasfon. But Jerusalem will sutvkPe. (Isaiah 1:7, 8) When the Assydan invasion o m , H a a h Is k h g i Jemsde~. n Hezeldah

148

Irraifilr's Prophecy-Light for A11 Mankind I

I

Do Not Be Afraid

of the Assyrian

149

is not like his father, Ahaz. Why, in the very first month of h reign, Hezekiah reopens the temple doors and restores pure worship!-2 Chronicles 29:3-5.
10 So Assyria's proposed attack on Jerusalem does not have Jehovah's approval. Jehovahpmmises an accounting with that insolent world power: " I t must occur that when lehovoh terminates all his work in Mount Zion and in jerusulem, I shall make an accounting for the fruitage o f the insolence of the hearr o f the king ofAssyria and for the self-importanceof his loftiness of eyes."-Isaiah 70: 12.

1
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On t Judah and Jerusalem! o 11 Eight years after the northern hngdom fell in 740 B.C.E., a new Assyrian monarch, Sennacherib,marches against Jerusalem. Isaiah poetically describes Sennacherib's prideful plan: "I shall remove the boundaries ofpeoples, and their things stored up I shall certainly pillage, und I shall bring down the inhabitantsjust like a powerful one. And just a if a nest, my hand will reach the resources s o the peoples; and just as when one gathers eggs that f have been left+I myself will gather up even ail the earth, and there will certainly be no one fluttering his wings or opening his mouth or chirping." (Isaiah 70:13, 74) Sennacherib reasons that other cities have fallen and Samaria is no more, so Jerusalem will be easy prey! The city might put up a halfhearted light, hut with hardly a chirp, its inhabitants will be quickly subdued, their resources plucked up like eggs from an abandoned nest. 12 However, Sennacherib is forgetting something. Apos10. What does Jehovah promise regarding the Assyrian? 11. Why does the Assyrian think that Jerusalem will be easy prey? 12. What does Jehovah show to be the right way to view things with regard to the Assyr~an'sboasts?

I
I

tate Samaria deserved the punishment that it received. Under King Hereluah, however,Jerusalemhas once again become a bastion of pure worshp, Anyone wanting to touch Jerusalem will ha+ Jehovah to reckon with! Inhgnantly, Isaiah rtrks: "Will the ax enhance itrelf owr the one chopping with it, or the saw magnify itself over the one moving it bock and forth, o though the stoff moved r back and forth the ones raising it on high, as though the rod raised on high the one who is not woad?" (Isaiah 10: 15) The Assyrian Empire is a mere tool inJehovahPshand, much as an ax, a saw, a staff' or a md might he used by a woodsman, a sawyer, or a shepherd. HOWdare the rod now magnify itself over the one who uses it ! 13 What will happen to t h e Assyrian? "The true h r d , lehovah o f armies, will keep sending upon his fat ones a wasting disease, and under his glory a burning will keep burning away like the burning of a fire. And Israel's tight must become a fire, and his Holy One a flume; and it must blaze up and eat up his weeds and his thornbushes E one n day. And the glory o f his forest and of his orchard He will bring to an end, wen from the soul clear t the flesh, and o it. must become like the melting away o f one thaf is ailing. And the rest o f the Veer ofhis forest-they will become such a number that a mere boy will be uble to write them down." (Isaiah 10:16- 19) Yes, Jehovah will whittle that Assyrian "rod" down to size! The "fat ones" of the Assyrian's army, his stout soldiers, will be struck with "a warting disease." They will not look so strong! Like so many weeds and thornbushes, his ground troops will be burned by the Light of Israel, Jehovah God. And "the glory of h s
--

13. Identify and tell what happens to (a) the "fat ones." (b) 'the weeds and thornbushes.' (c) "the glory of h ~ forest." s

IS0

Isaiah's Prophecy-Llght for All Mnnklnd I

forest,"his military officers, will come to thelr end, After Jehovah finishes with the Assyrian, so few officers will remain that a mere boy wilI be abIe to number them on hls h e ! - S e e also lsoiah 70:33,34.
14 StiU, the Jews living in Jerusalem In 732 D.C.E.must 6nd It hard t believe that the Assyrian will be defeated. o The vast k y r i a n a r m y is advancing relentlessly. Listen to the list of cities in Judah that have fallen: "He has come upon Aiath . ..Migron Mickmash. Geba Ramah . Gibeoh of Soul. . Gallim .. . hishah. . . Anafhoth .. .Madmenoh ...Cebim Nob." (lsoiuh 10:28-32~)' Finally the invaders reach Lachish, just 30 miles from Jerwsalem. Soon a large & a @n army is threatening the clty. "He waves his hand ~thmmingly the mountoin of the at daughter of Zion, the hill of )erusulem." (Isaiah 10:32b) What can stop the Assyrian?

..

. ..

..

. ..

. ..

15 In h s palace i the dty,King Hezekiah grows anxlous. i n Ile rips his garments apart and covers himself wlth sackcloth. (Isaiah 37: 1)He sends men to the pmphet Isaiah to inquire o Jehovah on Judah's behalf. They soon return f with Jehovah's answer: *Do not be afraid , I shall certainly defend this city." (Isaiah 3?6,35)StiII, the Assyrians are menacing and supremely confident. 16 Faith-that is what wiiE carry King HezeMah through this crisis, Faith is "the evident demonstration o realif ties though not beheld." (Hebrws 11:1) It involves look-

..

" For clarity, isaiah 1028-32i s discuss4 bchm Isaiah 10:20-27.

14. Desaibe the

Ing beyond the obvlour. Rut faith i based on knowledge. s Hereklah Hkely remembers that ahead of time Jehovah spvkc these comfottlng wads: "Do not be afraid, 0 my people who arp dwelling in Zion, bemuse of the Assyrian . . . For yet a very littk while--and the denuncidion wit/ hove come to an end, and my anger, i their wearn ing away. And jehovah of armies wilf cerfuinly brandish against him a whip as at the defeot of Midian by the sock Oreb; and his staff will be upon the sea, and he will certainly I l f it up In the way that he did with Egypt" (lsoioh 10:24-26)" Ycs, God's people have heen in difficult situations before. Nezekiah's ancestors seemed hopelessly owtc1asr;ed by thc Emtian army at the Red Sea. His forefather Gideon faced staggering odds when Midian and Amalck Invaded Isl-ael. Yet, Jeehwah delivemd his people on thosc WO~cca~l~n~.--EXodus 13,28; Judges 6: 14:7-9, 3.1; 7:21, 22. 17 Wlll Jehovah do agaln what he did on those previous occasions? Ycs. Jehovah promises: "It must occur in that day that his load will depart from upon your shoulder, and his yoke from upon your neck, and the yoke will certainly be wrecked because of the oil." (Isaiah 10:27) The As~yrliinyoke will be llfted from the shoulder and the neck of God's covenant people. Indeed, the yoke wdl be "wrcckett"-and wrecked it is! In one night, the angel of Jehovah kills 185,000 of the As.ryrians. The threat is rernuvt~1, and the Aayrtans leavc the soil of Judah forwer. (2 Kings 1935, 36) Why? "Recause of the oil."This may rcfer to the oil used to anoint Hezekiah as king in the line
' Fnr a discu%qltsnuf Ahcar!," on page 155.

progms o the hyrian on the soil of Judah by f

732 3.C.E.
15, 16. (a) Why does King Hezeklah w c d strong falt h? (b)What hasis is there for Hezekiah's faith that Jehovah will come to his aid?

Isaiah 1k20-23, "Isaiah Lmks Further sec:

17. Him*I s the A\syrlan ynke "rvrixkd," and why?

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Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for All Mankind I

Da Not Be Afrnid of the Assyrian

20 Whom will Jehovah use to discipline rebellious Christendom? We find the answer in the 17th chapter of Revelation. There we are introduced to a harlot, "Babylon the Great," representing all the world's false religions, including Christendom. The harlot is riding a scarlet-colored wild beast that has seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 17:3, 5, 7-12) The wild beast represents the United Nations erganization.*Justas the ancient Assyrian destroyed Samaria, the scarlet-colored wild beast "will hate the harlot and will make her devastated and naked, and will eat up her fleshy parts and will completely burn her with fire." (Revelation 1716) Thus the modernday Assyrian (nations associated with the UN) will deal Christendom a mighty blow and will crush her out of existence. 21 Wirl Jehovah's faithful Witnesses perish along with Babylon the Great? No. God is not displeased with them. Pure worship will survive. However, the wild beast that destroys Babylon the Great also casts a greedy eye in the direction of Jehovah's people. In doing so, the beast carries out, not God's thought, but the thought of someone else. Who? Satan the Devil. 22 Jehovah exposes Satan's prideful scheme: "It must occur in that day that things will come up into your [Satan's] heart, and you will certainly think up an injurious scheme; and you must say: 'I shall . ..come in upon those having no disturbance, dwelling in security, all of them

of David. Thus, Jehovah fulfills his promise: "I shall certainly defend this city to save it for my own sake and for the sake o David my servant."-2 Kings 19:34. f 1% The account of Isaiah discussed in this chapter has to do with events in Judah more than 2,700 years ago. But those events have the umost relevance today. (Romans 154) Does this mean that the major players in this thrilling narrative-the inhabitants of Samaria and JerusaIem as well as the Assyrians-have modernday counterparts? Yes, it does. Like idolatrous Samaria, Christendom claims to worshp Jehwah, but she is apostate to the core. In An Essay on the Development of CJzristiarz Dochine, Roman Catholic John Henry Cardinal Newman admits that items Christendom has used for centuries, such as incense, candles, holy water, priestly garb, and images, "are all of pagan origin." Jehovah is no more pleased with Christendom's paganized worship than he was with Samaria's idolatry. 19 For years, Jehovah's Wilmesses have warned Christendom of Jehovah's displeasure. In 1955, for example, the public discourse entitled "Christendom or Christianity -Which One Is 'the Light of the World'?" was delivered worldwide. The talk graphically explained the way that Christendom had strayed from genuine Christian doctrine and practice. Thereafter, copies othis powerful lecture were mailed to clergymen in many countries. As an organization, Christendom has faiIed to heed the warning. She leaves Jehovah with no choice but to discipline her with a "rod."
-

" Additional information regarding the identity o the harlot and the f -

n scarlet-colored wild beast is f u n d i chapters 34 and 35 of the book Revelation-Its Grnnd Clirnnx A t Hand!, published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Socicv of New York, Inc
20, (a) What will serve as the modem-day Assyrian, and how will it be used as a rod? {b) To what extent will Christendombe disciplined? 21, 22. Who will motivate the wild beast to attack God's people?

18. {a) Does Isalah's prophecy have more than one fulfillment? Explain. (b) What organization today is like ancient Samaria? 19. Of what has Christendm been warned, and by whom?

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Jsainh:~ Proplirc}~-Ll,rlrl for All Man ki11d I

155

tlweIllng p:without [a proWve] wall . . .' It wlll be t get o a big spoil and to do much plundering." (Fzcklcl 38:10. 72) Satan will reason, Yes, why not Incite thc nations to attack Jehovah'sWitnesses? They are w l n e r a l ~ l e ,unprotected, wlthour political influence, 'l'hcy w1 offer no rel1 slstance. I-Iow easy it will be to phck them like eggs from an unprotnmt!' 23 But watch out, nations! Be advisd that if you much Jehovah's people, you will have to reckon with God himself I Jehovah loves h people, and he wilt fight for them lust as surely as he fought fur Jerusalem in the days of 3 Iczeklah. When the modern-day Assyrian tries to annihilate Jehovah's servants, he will really he battling Jehcvah God and the Lamb, Jesus Christ. That Is a battle that the Assyrian cannat win. "The h m h will rwnquer them," thc Rihle says, "because he is Lord of lords and King of kings." (Revetation 1Z14; compare Matthew 25:40.) Like the Assyrian of old,the scarlet-colorcd wild beast wlll 'go off Into destruction.' It will be fcared no more.-Revelatlon 1Z11. 24Tr'rule Christians m n face the future without fear if they keep their reIationship with Jchovah strong and if they make the doing of his will their primary concern i n l i f t (Matthew 6:33) Then they need 'Year nothing bad." (Psalm 23:4) With their eyes of faith, they will scc God's mighty arm raised high, not to punish them, but to shield thrm fmm his enemies. And thrrIr eats wlll hear these reanuring words: "Do not be afraid."-Isaiah 10:24.

ISAIAH LOOKS FURTHER AHEAD

Isaiah 1O:ZU-23

The 10th chapter of lraish'focures primarily on the way that Jehovah will use the Assyrian invasior~to execute judgment upon Israel and on his promise to defend Jerusalem. Since: verses 20 to 23 are located in the middle of this prophecy, they can be viewed as having a general fulfillment during the same period. (Compare Isaiah 1: 7-9.) However, the wording indicates that these verses apply more specifically to later periods when Jerusalemtoo would have to answer for the sins of her Inhabitants.
King Ahar tries to gain securit]r by turning to Assyria for help. The prophet lsaiah foretells that at a future time, the survivors of the house of Israel will nwer again pwrsue such a senseless course. lsaia h 1 : 0says that they will 02

"support themselves upon Jehovah, the Holy One of lsra-

el, in trueness." Verse 21 shows, however, that only a small number wlll do so: "A mere remnant wlll return." This reminds us of Isaiah's son Shear-jashub, who is a sign in Israel and whose name means "A Mere Remnant Will R e turn." (Isaiah 7:3) Verse 22 of chapter 10 warns of a corning
"extermination" that has been decided on. Such an extetminatlon will be righteous because it is a just punishment on a rebellious people. As a result, from a thickly populated nation that is "like the grains of sand of the sera," only a remnant will return. Verse 23 warns that this coming extermination will affect the whole land. jerusalem will not be spared this time.

23. Why rvfII the modem-dayA y t i a n be unabie tn i l w to God's peoplc whnl hc clues to Christendom? 24. (:I) What are true Christians determlnetl to do to prepnrr for tlic futl1rc7 [h) How does Iralah look furlher s h ~ t ~ d(See I ~ on 'l x 1)lIKP 15s.)

These verses well describe what happened in 607 B.C.E. when Jehovah used the Babylonian Empire as his "rod." The whale land, including Jerusalem, fell to the invader.

The were t a b captive to Bnbylon for 70 yean, M&r thaq h u g h , smn-n If only #a mere reremnanv-re; turned t m ~ b l i s t w h i p In Jerusalem. o hm The p p h q +t,Irnl~h @ a 2 3had a further fulfllhmt f In the first em%a sirown at bmans 9:27,2&. Cams ( ~ a Isaiah 1:9; Ramairs Pa.) J explains th~t a a p ~ p Pa In tual sense#a "mmnanY o Jw f 'Wrned* to jehovah in the flrst cenkrry CE, iinasmudh as a small number d faitMu1 j w b e m e f o l b of b s Chrlst and began worship u Ing IdwA *With qMtand'truth*' (john 424) These m , totter j o l d by k1leuing emtile, rnaktng u p s s i i a pru l natkm* "the I& s d E . (Galatians &16) On th0 wd' aston the words OT Isaiah 1020 were fuMlled: 'Nmr again* did a nation dediwted l e h d turn away kom hlrn to human souws for s p o , upR

Salvation and Rejoicing Under the Messiah's Reign

Isaiah 11: - 2 6 I1:

I THE days of Isaiah, the spiritual condition of God's N covenant pople was bad. Even under the rule of fafthful kings, such as Uzdah and Jotham, many o the peof ple worshiped at. the high places. (2 Kings IS:1-4, 35; 34, 2 Chronicles 2 : ,4) When HezeWah became king, he 61 had to remove the appendages o Baal worship from the f land. (2 Chronicles 31:l) No wonder that Jehovah urged hls people to return to him and warned of disclphe to

come!
2 Still, not all were out-and-out rebels. Jehovah had faithful prophets, and Likely there were some Jews who listened t them.Jehovah had comforting words for thest! o ones. After desuiblng the terrible depredations that Judah would experience during the Assyrian Invasion, the prophet Isaiah was inspired to pen one of the most beautiful passages h the whole Bible, a descrlptlan of the blessIngs ta come under the reign of the Messiah,* Some aspects of these blessings turned out to have a small-scale
7

' 'Messiah" ts derived torn the H e b m word tnu.dd'ach, mmeanlng "AnointedOne."The Greek equivalentis KhK-star, ar "ChrlstU-Matthew 2:4, footnote.
1. hscribe the spirltud d i t i u n of GodP covenant people I the n day# of Isai~h, 2, 3. What encouragement does Jehovah supply for those who desire to servc him despite widerpwad unfdthfulnc~s?

Salwklon and &1olcf11gUnder the Meisi~h'sRelgn

futhllmentwhen the Jm teturned from q t i v i I Eab~ n ylon. But the propas a whole has a major fdhllmerrt today.Tnre, IsabhandutherMthfulJewsofhisthnecHd not I t see thew blesiqp. But they looked forward to ko them fn h & and will see a fulfillment o isafh's words i f
a h the wsurrWim.-Iiebm 11:36 3 Jehovah's modanday people a h need enrjamgemmt. Rapidly moral Wues in the wodd, vldous a n t the -n o r =sage, and personal weaknesses &allall of thmn Idah's wonderful P\lylTdS abouttheMessl&andhisrdgn mstrengthenandhe@ M J s pmpIr*t meet these chalmga, a

Messiah-A Capable Leader 4 Centuries k f o Esaiah's b e , other Hebrew Bible mlt~ ers pointed Do a amhg o the Mwiah, the true M e r , h t e f whom Jehovah would spnd to Israel, (Genesis 49:1@ Dmternnomy 1&18; P s ~ h 11&22, 26)Now through Isafah, Jshsvahadds further W s . h h h wrlbes: m must $0 e m b t h a twfgoutoftheSacmp o f l m ; o n d outofhhmofs a sprout wHI k WflhI." (Isaiah 11:1; cornPsatrn 132: 11.) "Twjg" and "qmmt* bath Indkate that the Messiah wIl! be the desceprdmtofJessethrough his son David, who was andntd with oils king of Israel. (1 Samuel 16:13; Jeremi& 23:s; Redation 22%) When the m M e s M e a rm this "spraut; horn the house of David, k t prori , o duce good Crult. S The promised Messiah i Jesus. The gospel wrlW Mats thew alluded ua the words of Isaiah 11:l when he said that Jesus' being called "a Nazmme' fulfilled the words of the prophets. kause he was brought up I the t w n of Nam n Wh, Jesuswas called a Namne, a name apparently ~ b t ed to the Hebrew ward used In Isaiah 11:1 for 'fspmut''* -Matthew 223, M o t e ; W e 2:39,40. 6 What klnd of ruler dthe Messiah be?Wlll he be like the cruel, self-willed A s y r b who destroys the ten-northern kingdom of Ismel? O cotme not. O the Messif f ah, Isaiah says: "Uponhim the spirit of j h w h must settle dbwn, fite idt d Wdom and of undsrsIrrndIng, the spldt of cauns Imd sf mighthers, the splrk of knowlaS@e and o the h r oJJ&tawh;and them wlll Be emjuymenby f

'The Hebrew w r d for 'sprout" is ne'Wr, and for " N a ~ ~ e n e ' W ts

tl:

4, 5. What dld Isaiah pmphesy w r d l n g the mmlng of the M ~ s i ab, md what appUWn of Isaiah's wd dM Mstthm a p p m t l y xs

make? 6. What ldnd of ruler i s the h s k h prophesied to \rel

l(i0

Isaloll's Pmphtrcy-Ll,qlrt

pr

All Mnnklrrrl I

Salvation andR~]d~lcin# Utrtlrr fhr- Mer.slnl~'.rRrkrr

I61

him I the fear of Jehovah.'' (Isaiah 71:2, 3a) The Mcsn siah is anointed, not with oil, bttt with C;o<I's holy spirit. This happens atlesus' baptism, whcn John t he Raytizcr sees God" holy spirit descending on Jesus in the form of a dave. (Luke 322) Jehwah? spirit 'sctllcs down upon' Jesus, and he gives evidence of thls whcn he acts with wisdom, understanding, counrel, mlgh tjness, and knowledge. What excellent qualities for n rttlcrl 7Jesus' followers too can receive holy spirit. In one af his discourses, Jesus declared: "If you, although bcina wicked, h o w how to give goocl gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven ~ i v e holy spirit to those asking him!" (Cuke I t :13) Hence, we should never hesitate to ask God for holy spirit, nor shou ltl wc cease to cultivate its wholesome fru it a p N l o v c 8 jny, peacc, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mlldncss, selfcontrol." (Galatians 5:22,23)Jehovah promi~eq answer to the request of Jesus' followers for "wlrdom from ahove" to help them deal successfiilly with thc challenges of life. -James 1 5 ; 3:17. What h the fear o Jehovah that the Messlah displays? f Jesus certainly is not terrified by Gnrl, fcarfi~lof his condemnation. Rather, the Messiah has a reslleah~lawe of God, a loving rwerence for him. A Coct-fcnring person desires always to *do the things pleasing to him," as Jesus d m . (John8:29) By word and example, Jesus tcaches that there is no greater joy than walking wcry day in thc wl~olesome of Jehovah. fear
A Righteous and Merciful Judge lsaiah foretells more of the Messiah" schrackrlstlcs:"He

7. What pmmlse did Jesus make tn his blthtul followcr~? 8. How doer Jesus find enjoyment in the ienr af Jchovith? tl, What example does Jesm give to those calleci i i l i c ~ r tto lucl~e mittters In the Chr~stian congregation?

wi!! not judge by any mere appeamnce to hls eyesI nor rep m simply according to the thing head by his ~QTZ."{lsaiah 77:3b) If you h;wl to stirnd t)c.lom a court of law, would you not be gratefill Fr a judge ]like that? In his paci city a a s Judge of all mankind, the Mcsqlah Is not swayed by false arguments, clever courtroom tactics, rumors, or superhcial factors, such as wealth. 1-I@ sees through deccptlon and looks beyond unflattering outward appcannces, rliscernlng "the secret person of the heart," "thc hltlclen man." (1 Peter 3:4, footnote)Jesus' superlatlvc cxample serves as the model for all who are called upon to jutlgc matters In the Christian congregation.- 1Corinthians 6:1-4. 1 How will the Messiah's superlative qualities influence 0 his judicial decisions? Isaiah explains: "With righteousness he must judge the lowjy ones, and with uprightness he must giw reproof in behalf of the meek ones of the earth. And he must strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the spirit of his lips he will put the wicked one to death. And righteousness must prove to be the belt of his hips, and faithfulnessthe belr of his loins."-Isaiah 11:4, 5. 11 When hb followers need correction, Jesus delivers it the way that benefits them mmt-an excellent example for Christian elders. On the other hand, those who practice wickedness can expect iud~rnena a swere sort. of When God calls this system o things to amount, the Mesf siah wil "strikethe earth" with hls authoritativevoice, issuing a judgment of desl-ructian for all the wicked. (Psalm 2 9 ; compare llmlation 19:15.) Eventually, there will be no wicked people left to dlstuth thc peace of mankind. (Psalm 37:10,11) Jesus, with his hips m r l loins girded with righteousness and faithfulness, has the power to acmmplish this,-Psalm 453-7.
ID, 11. (a) In what way does jcsus correct his followers? (b) What judgment does Jesus rentlcr to the wicked?

u b & h ~ p & l t S 1 p m ~ f & l ? m n a h t G o d # r l l l ~ ~ f n ~ ~

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peace described here results from the knowledge o Jchof

vah. Hence, more is i n w I d than mere safety from wild animals. The howledge of Jehovah will not chanae animals, but it will adfect people. Neither on the way home

nor in their restored land will thc Ismcrlit~snecd to fear wild beastq or beastlike men.-km 8:2I, I ~ a i a h35:822; 10; h5:25. 14 This prophecy, however, has a larger i'ulfillrncnt. ln 1914, Jesus, the Messiah, was enth~~oned heavenly on Mount Zion. In 1919 the remaining oncs of "the Israel of God" experienced release from Babylonbh captlvlty and shared i the restomtion o true wnrsh lp. (Galatians 6 1 ) n f :6 h a rerult, the way was opened for a modern-day fi~lh!lment of Isaiah's Paradise prophecy. "Ac~urn kno~vledgc," tc the knowl~dge Jehovah,has changd persnnaliti~. of ((blossians 3 9 , 10) FormerIy violent people have lecome peaceabIe. (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:17-24) Thcse dcvelopments have now affected m I lions bccausc Jsa lah's i prophecy has come to include a rapidly Incrcaslng numher of Christians with an earthly hnpc. (I3snln~ 37:29; Isaiah 6022) These have learned to look to the tlme when the whole earth wilI be restored as a stlcure, peaceful paradise, according to W s original purpose.-Matt t ~ c w fi:9, En; 2 Peter 3:1J. I5 In that restored Paradise, will Isaiah's prophecy have a further, perhaps more literal, ful fi1 P ment? It seems rcasonable to think so. The prophecy gives to all w l ~ will live o under the Messiah's rule the same assurance that It gave to the returning Israelites; they and thcir childrcn will not feel threatened by harm from any suurcc-human or mimal. Under the Messiah's Kingdom rule, all earth's inhab14. What is the larger fuIfiIIment of Isatah l1:h-97 15. Can we reasenably expect Tsaiah's word* tr, hi!^^ n ItteraE ltetfillment in the new world? Lxplain.

itants d enjoy peaceful condItIons like thasc that Adam l and Eve enjoyed i Men. C3f course, thc Scriptures do not n reveal every detail of what life was li kc in Ggcn-cw of what it will be like in Paradiw, We can k confident, though, that under the wise and Iwing rule of the King Jesus Christ, everything will he just as it should be.

Pure Worship Restorer1 Thrt~ugh the Messiah 16 Pure worship first came under attack in Eden when Satan successfullyinfluenced Adam and Evc to disobey Jehovah. To this day, Satan has not given up his goal aturning as many as possible away from Gorl. Rut Jehovah will never p m i t pure wonhlp to vanish from the earth. His name is involved, and he cams about thnse who serve him. Hence, through Isaiah he makes a striking promise: 9 t must occur in that d q that there will be the mot o fIesse that will be standing up m o signal for the peoples. Ta him even the nations will furn inquiringly, and his resting-place must become glorious." (lsuialr 77: 76) liack in 537 R.C. E., Jerusalem, the city [hat David llatl made the national capital, served as a signal, c a l l i ~ ~ g a Faithful rcmnanl o the disf persed Jewish people to return and rebulld the temple. 17 However, the prophecy po-lnts to more than that. As already seen, it points to the rule o the Messiah, the one f true Leader for people of all nations. The apstte Paul quoted Isaiah 11:10 to shaw that in his day people o the naf tions would have a place In the Christian congregation. Quoting the Sepfrmngint rendering uf this verse, he wrote: "Isaiah says: 'There will be the root of Jesse, and there will be one arising to rule natlonr; on him nations will rest their hope.' " (Romans 15: 12) Moreover, the prophecy reaches even further-down to our day when people of
1 . FtXat stood a5 ; s l ~ n a Inr Gnrl's proplc In 537 R.C.E.? 6 I l 17. How did Jesus 'artsc tt) rule nirttnns' In the Rrst century and I n our day?

166

Isnfah's Propl~ruy-Ll,yhf fur All M ~ ~ r ~ k l rit r l

Sirfv(fHur~ r ~ n d npiolclt~,fU a d ~ r Mcssjah s Relp thr '

167

the nations show their Iove for Jehovah by supporting thc anointed brothers of the Messicah.-Isaiah 61:s-9; tlhcw Ma 25:31-40.
18 In the mdem-day fuIfiltrnent, "that day" refcrrcci to hy Isaiah began when the Mes.;iab w& enthroned as K l n ~ ol God's heavenly Kingdom in 1914. (Luke 21:10; 2 'Emothv 31-5; Revelalion 12:103 Since then, Jesus Christ has been a clear signal, a rallying p i n t , for spiritual Israel and for people of a11 nations who long for righteous government. Under the Messiah" direction, thc good news of the Kingdom has been carried to all the nations, a? J e w foretold. (Matthew 2 : 4 Mark 13:10)This good news has 41, a powerful effect. "A great crowd, which no man \Is] ahlc to number, out of alI nations" is nibmitring to the Messiah by joining the anointed remnant in pure worship. (Revelation 7 9 ) tls many new ones continue to comc into association with the remnant in Jehovah's spiritual "house of prayer," they add to the glory of thc Messiah's "testing-place," God's great spiritual temple.-lsalah Sh:7;

Haggai 27.

A United People Serve Jehovall 19 Isaiah next reminds the lsraelitm that Jehovah once before provided salvation for them when the nation faced oppression by a powerful enemy. That part of brael's history-Jehovah's liberation af the nation fmm captivity in Egpt-is dear t the hearts o all faithful Jews. Isaiah o f writes: "It must occur in that doy thotjehovah will again offer his hand, a second time, to acquire the remnant of his people who wit#remain over from Assyria and from Egypt and from M r o s and from Cush and from Elom and horn
18. In our day, how has Jesus hen a rdlylng p i n t ? 19. On what huo occasions doer Jehovah msttaW a remnant o l hlc pcople scattered throughout the earth?

Shlrrar and from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. And he will certainly raise up a signal for the nations and gather the dispersed ones o f Isroel; and the scattered ones of ludah he will collect together from the four extremities of the earth." (IsaiaIl f I: 7 1, 12) As i f taking them by the t-tnncl,Jchovah will lead a faithful. remnant of both lsracl i~nd Judah out from the nations to which they have lleen scattcrd and will bring tl~ern safejy home. In a minor way, this happens In 537 H.C:.E. How much more glorious, though, is the major fulfillment! In 1914, Jehwah raised thc mthroned Jesus Christ as "a signal for the nations." Starting in 1919 the rcmaininganes of "the IsraeI of ( h d " b e ~ a n flock to this d~nal, a g r to share i pure tu e n worship under God's Wngdom. 'This unique spiritual nation come? "out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation."-Revelatinn 5 9 :. 2D lsalah now describes the unity of the restored nation. Referring to the northern kingdom as Ephraim and to the soul hcrn kingdom as Judah, he says: "The jealousy of Epkralm must depart, and even those showing hostility to judah wlll be cut off. Ephrulm Itself will not be jealous of )udoh, nor will judah show hostility toward Epkraim. And they must fly at the shoulder of the Philistines to the west; together they will plunder the sons of the East Edom and Moob wlSl be those upon whom they will thrust out their hand, and the sons of Ammon will be their subjects." (Isaiah 17:73, 74) When thc Jews return from Babylon, they wi ll no longer be divided into two nations. Members from all tribes ofIsrael will return unitedly to their land, (Ezra 6: 17) N o longer will they show rewntment and hostility t e ward one another, As a united ptlople, they will take a ti rumphant stand agalnst their enemies in the surrounding
nations. -20. What unlly will God's people cnioy upon their &urn from R a b y Ion 7

21 Still more impressive is the unity of "the Israel of God." The 12 symbolic tribes of spiritual Isracl have for almost 2,000years enjoyed a unity h s d on love lor G d ie and for theit spiritual brothers and sisters. (Colmsians 3: 14; Revelation 74-8)Today, Jehwah's pcaplc-both splritual Israelites and those with an earthly holrr-enjoy pcacc and worldhide unity under the Mcllesslah's rule, conditions unknown in the churches of Chrlstendam. Jehovah's Witnesses present a united spiritual fmnt against Satan's cfforts Zo interfere with their worship, ATone peqjle, they carry out Jesus' commission to preach and teach the good news o the Messiah's Kingdom in itll the nations.-Matf

remain owq just as them came to be one b r Israel in the day of his coming up out of the land of Egypt" (isaioh 77:16) Jehovah will lencl returning exiles as it they were walking along a highway honl their place of exile to their l~omeland. Oppmem will attempt to stop them, but their God, Jehovah, will he with lhcm, Anointed Christians and their companions today Ilkcwisc come under vicjuus attack, but they go fonuiml co~~rapeouslyl They have come out of modern Assyria, Satan's world, and thcy help others to do the same. 'l'hey know that pure worship will succeed and flourish. It is not man's work, hut God's.

thew 28:19,20.

Endless Reiaicing for

the SuE~jcctso the Mcssiah! f 24 In joyful language Isaiah nmv descrlbw the exultalion of Jehovah's peoplc uvcr the Fulfillment of Iiis word: "In that day you will be sum to say: 7 shall thank you, 0 Jehowh, for although you got incensed at me, p u r anger gradually turned back, grid you proceeded t comfort o me.'" (Isaiah 12:1 ) Jclrova 11's disdpllne of his wayward people is severe. Hut It nccompltshcs its purpose of healing the nation's relationship wlth him and of testoring pure worship. Jehovah reassums his faithful worshipers that ulh t e l y he wiIl saw them. No wonder they expms appreciation? 25 The rrstord Israelites have their confidenee in Jehovah completely confirm~rl, they cry out: "'Look! God and is my salwtian. I shall trust and be in no dread; for Jahjehowh is my sfnength and my rnighc and he came t be the o salvation of me.With exultation you people will be certain to dmw water out of the springs of salvalion. " (Isaiah 72: 2, 3) The Hebrew word translated "might" in verse 2
24, 25. With what exprcsslnnsnt prdse ant1 ~ratltude Jehovah's wlll

Barriers Will Be Overcome 22 There are many barriers, both literal and figurative, to hlnder the Israelites' return from exile. How will they be overcome? Isaiah says: "jehowh will certainly cut off the tongue of the Egyptian sea, und wnve his hand nr the Rlver in the glow of his spirit And he must strike it In its sewn torrenlr, and he will actually cause people to walk in their sarfd~ls." (lsaiah 77: 15) rt is Jehovah who wilt temovc all impediments to his people" return. Even a barrlcr as formidable as a tongue of the Red Sea (sttch as the Gulf of Sues) or a impassable as the mighty Euphrates River will s be dried up, as it were, so that a penon can cross without having to take 08his sandals! 23 In Moses' day,Jehovah prepared a way f r Israel to ero cape from Egypt and march to the Promised Land. He wlll do something similar now: 'There must come t be a higho way out of dssyria for the mmnanr of his people who will 21. How Is the unity of God's people today tnily outstandfn~? 22. How will Jehovah "cut off the tonuue of the L~yptl;lnsea" and "wave hI%hand a t the River"? 23. In what way wiIl there "come to be n highway out o Assyrla"? f

people cly out?

hulah's PmpHecy-Light fir All Aarrnkhd I

- to8;tg Who
26.

appears m 'praiW h the kphaght m i o n . Worshipers b m k out h sangs d pratse over salvation fmm "Jah Jehuwh.' AS a abbmated form of the name Jehmh, *j& n is used in the Bible t convey hdghtened feelf rigs o paise o f and gratitude. the expreasim "jah JehovahJt-dmbltng the divine name-raises the intensity of pr* ta Gad & an even higher level, 26 Gmuioe worshipers of Jehovah annot k p their jay e
make h i ' s dealltqp known among the nations?

C
7
I

Salvatlun and Rejoicing Under the Mmluh's Reign

C ~ h 72:4,S, as lilapptra~s the Vead h a krolls h in (Occurrencesof W ' s nome are hlghllghtud)

t themselves. Isaiah f a r e k k "In drat day you w I cern H tdnh say: 'Clve fhmh to lehomh, you p p k i Call upon his n a m Make known among the people~hls deaIIngs. wake m e n w ehat his name is put on high. Make melody & lahowh, hr he has done surpwlng!y n&is mwke known In all the ear&." " (bdah 12:4, 5 ) Since 1919, anointed Christians-later with the help of their "other s h w " companions-have ' d e d a d abroad the excellend a of the one that mlled them out of darkness into his wonderful light.' They are "a chosen race, , a holy nation" set apart for this purr>ase. (John10:16; 1 Peter 2 9 ) Anointed ones dedare that Jehovah's holy name is put 0 1 x high and share in making jt known In all the earth, They lead d of Jehovah's worshipen in rejoichq In his pravlI slon Eor their sa!vatio& It is f ust as Isaiah exclaims: "Gy out shdlly and shout Wjoy,Q you Inhablbwss of Zion, b r gmt In the midst ofyw is the H One of I s W l (lsahh w 12:6)T e Holy One of Israel ts JehwahGad himself. h

..

Look to the Future With Confidencet 27 Today miIliom haw flacfsed t the "signal far the pmo
pl&"'Jesus Christenthmned in God's Kingdom. They r e loice t be sub/- to that Kingdom and are thrilled to o know Jehovah Gad a d his Son. (John123) T e find hy great happinas in their unikd Christian fellowship and strive had t p o m the pace that is the mark of Jehe vah's tnte sewmts, (W& 54:13) Convinced that JahJehovah is a God w h fulfills his pmmises, they are confident In thelr hope and 6md great delight in sharlng it with others.May each worshiper d J e h a v hcontinue t use all o hlsstrengtfrtosaveGodandt0 helpothersdoUhvk. L t all t a k Isaiah's words ta hart and mc in salvation e ie through Jehwa'sMessiah1
tlam confident?
27, WMLe aweitiq t k mdbtian af theb hope, t what are Chris n

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

- -

Jehovah Humbles an Arrogant Cjty

lsalah 13:l-1493

THE prophrtic book of Isaiah was written i the eighth n century B.C.E. against the background nf the Aqsyrlan invasion o the Fmmlsed Land. As has been seen In previous f chapters of h book, Isaiah forrtcl Is with remarltable accui racy the course that events will take. However, the bmk looks beyond the lime of Asyrian ascendancy. It foretells the return o Jehovah's covenant people from exile f in many lands, including Shinar, the location of Habylon. (Isaiah 11:ll)In Isaiah chapter 13, we find a remarkable prophecy that upon fulfillment will open t l way for such lc a return. This prophecy is introduced wlth these words: 'The pronouncement aguinst Babylon that Isaiah the son of Amoz sow in virion."-Isaiah 13:1.

'Haughtiness I Shall Abase' 2 Judah becorn- involved with Babylon durin): Isaiah's lifetime. King Hetekiah falls seriously III and then movers. Ambassadors f o Babylon come t cowratulate him rm o on his recovery, likely with the secret purpose of enlisting Hezekiah as an ally in their war against Assyrja. Unwisely, King Hezekiah shows them all his treasures,As a result, Tsnlah telIs Hezekiah that after the klng's death, all that 3. How far ahead does the book o lsalah now Took? f 2. (a) How does Hezekiah get involved with Rshylon7 (b) What Is the "slgnal" that will be raised up?

weaIth will be carrlcd off to Rahylnn. (Baiah 391-7)This is Mfilled in 607 B.C.E when Jerusalem is destroyed and the nation is taken into exilc. tiuwcvcr, God's chosen people will not stay in Ral,ylon+fnrmct. Jchovah foretells how he wilt open the way for their return home. He begins: "Upon a mounrain of bare rocks mlse up a signal, you men. Lift up the voice to them, wave the hand, that they muy came into the entrances of the nobles." (Isaiah 13:2) The "signal" i s a r i s l n ~ worlil powcr that will disloilge B a b ylon from its place of en~inetlcc. will he raised "upon It a mwntaln of bare suckr"-ln plaln view from a great distance. Summoned to assault: Ilahylon, that new world p e r will force its way throu~h he entrances of the no'7 bles," the gates o that great cityf and will conquer i t f 3 Jehovah now says: "I myself have Issued the command 5 my sanctified ones. I have also called my mighfy ones 0 for expressing my cfnger, my eminently exultant ones, Usten! A crowd in the mountulns, sornefhlng like i~ numerous people! Listen! The uproar of kingdoms, of nations gathered together! Jehovah of ormies is mustering fhe army of war." (Isaiah 13:3, 4 ) Who are these "sanctified ones" appointed to bring down haughty Rabylon? They are combined national nrmles, "nations gathered together." They descend againsk Babylon from a di~tant mountainous region. 'They are corning from the / ~ n d c~roy, for h r n the extremity of the heavens." (Isaiah 1 3 5 ) I what n sense are they sanctified? Ccrtainly not in thc sense of being holy. They are pagan armies with no interest in serving Jehovah,Howewr, in the I-le'lrrewScriptures, "sanctified" means "set apart for use by Gotl," Jehovah can sanctify the armies of the nntlons and use thelr selfish ambitions in order to express his anger, He used Assyria in this way.

3 (a) Who am the "sancttfiettuncs" thtJelroveh wlll alsc up? tb) In . what sense arc paEan arnlfeq "ranrtlhrd"?

Ec will use Babylon similarly. [Isaiah 10:s; Jeremiah259) i And he will use other nations lo punid1 Habylon.
3 Ral~ylon not yct the dornlnali t worlrl power. Yet, issrris lng a procIarnation through Batnh, Jehrwnh looks to the Ilmu whcn she will oca~pythat posi tlon, and he foretells hcr frill. He says: "Howl, you people, for the day of lehovrrh is near! As a despoiling from the Almighty it will come." (Isaiah 73:6) Yes, Hnhylor~'~ lhji~stin~ be reiciil pltlccd by grief-filled howl in^. Why'? [{ecause o "the f clay of Jehovah," the day whcn Jchovalr cseccrtes judgment against her. Hnw, though, will it be poslble far Haby1on to be despoiled? lNhenJehovahlstime for this comes, the city will appear to be secure. Invading armies wlll first have t deal o with the natural defenses prr~vided the Euphrates River, by which runs through the center of the city and is tapped to fill a protective moat and to supply the city with drinking water. Then there will be Babylon's massive double walls, which are seemingly irnpregnablc. Moreover, the city will he well stocked with food. 'Tl~ebook Dnily Rible JilusPrraliotts says that Nabonirlus-the last king of Babylon-"had takcn immense pains to store the town with provisions, arrd it was mkoned to contain enough [fond] 20 sustain the inhabitants for twenty years." 6 However, appearances can be dcccptlw. Isaiah says: 'That is why ail hands themselves will drop down, and the whole heart itself of morn/ man will melt And people have become disturbed. convulsion^ and birth pains themselves grub hold, like a woman that is giving birth they

h m bbw pains. They look ot each other h amazement Their foca are inflorned focps." f kojuh U:l; 8 ) When the conquering armies invade the city, the ease o its inhabitf ants will be replaced by pain as suddcn anrl Intense as that of a woman glving birth. Their hearts wlll melt with fear. Paralyzed, their hands will drop down,~ ~ n a hto make a le delensc. 'Thelr faces will be "inflamed"with fear and an&wish. In amazement they will look at nne another, wondering how theirgreat city could Fall. 7 Neverthetess, fall itwill. Babylon is to face a day ofreckfining, a "day of Jehovah,"that will be painful Indeed, The supreme Judge will express 111s anger and brlng welldescrv~djudgment upon Rabylon's sinful inhabitants. The prophecy says: " h k ! 7he day ofIehovah ltrelf is corning, cruel both wrth h y and with burning anger, in order r to make the land an object of ustonishment, and that it may unnihilate the land's sinners out of it " (lsaiah 73:9) Rnt)ylonls prospects are gIoomy, It is RF t h o ~ i ~ h sun, the moon, ancl stars all cease giving light. "For the very stars of the herrvens end their constellat/ons of Kesii will not flash forth theEr light the sun will actually grow dark at itr going forth, and the moon itrelf will not cause its light Co shine."
-Isaiah 73: 10.

4,5. (it) What doesJehovah forrtell lor Ilahylnnt (b) What will those attacking UihyIon have to deal wlth? 6. W l ~ i wlll i~nexpectedly ~t happen whcn the fnretold assault on Babylon nccurr?

a Why such a fate for this proud city? Jehovah says: "I shall certainly bring home its own badness upon the prod u c t / land, and their own error upon the wicked them~ selves. And I shall actually cause the prlde of the presumptuous ones to cease, and the haughtiness o the tpnts I f shall srb~se."(4saiah 13:lf) The outpouring of Jehovah's wrath will be punishment for &ai>y1ylan1scruelty to God's
7. What "dayof Jehovah" is coming, and what wlll be the results for Babylon7 H. Why does Jehovah decree the fall of Rabylnn?

176

Xsw &A's Propkey-Light far All Mgnklrrd I

]ehavak H t i m b k

aff Amgant dty

people, The whole land wlil Mer because of the badness o t Babyhdam. No Ionger will thm proud tyrentg f b m y defyJ m h !

Medes, w h o ~ l t c o u n t ~ i W f a s n o t h l n g a n d w l r o ~ u s ~ s m golcC take no de/&ht In It. And their h w s wifl dash ewn young man to pisces. And ths hibage o the f

~theywlllnot~;liorms+Wr~WimrtMscw 8 n d p I d , # n d ~ g ~ r r r r e v ~ ~ ~ g o W o f ryAnd&o~n,the~llonofklngdoms,tfrebeauq.ofthepwofmUla~&bewmtea~ O A "(isakrh 13:72)Y s the dty will come to be depopupk e, God OMM#UWW rrnd Eakm (lsrrlcrh 73:174J lated, waste. Jehovah mntinues: %t is why 1 SfroH muse

9Jehovahsags:7siwUmkmwtralmprtmuwahonm- ,

-."

ed, UaabletobeEpthecityinitstirneofnd, Theearth," the 3abyloaianEmpire, will be m d d out of p k e , passh gInto history as Just oh rdead empire. "it must occur mte thut,#ikeogaze&&asadaavrr)radlkaaock~lhout u y m e tu &f tisem ftgeth3 t h y wlll turn, each one i t o h i s o m p ~ o p k ~ a n d t h y w l l&onetohisown l~, fand,' ( r l h T3?T$)All of 3abylon's foreign mppsters b ru will famike her and flee, hopttrg. to set up new relationmps with the csquerhg d d pmm. Babylon will hallyeqxrlence the ago* of% conquered dty,an agony that she hftftted onaa many others fn the days o her giof ry: ~ a n e i f ~ & & f o i m d W h ~ t h r o u g h , a t d everymetfwthcaqhEbthe~wfllMIbythe~; ~ W r v e r p . c h ~ w i R b e ~ t o p ~ ~ t h e & epm,~ I s o u w w i U b e p i # a g & O n d W r u w n w h will be mpd"--Isaiah 13:IS, 76. God's Instrument of Destruction 1 Which p o w w w l I t J ~ u s e t bdngaboutthe fail 0 u of Babylon? Some 200 p ahead of tlme, Jehwah re
vwhthemwmukimdng~Instthembho
9. What aw&~ Babylon on Jebwh's day o judgmwt? f 10. Whom will Jehmsh use b defeat &byion?

~ M l o k o m @ ~ t m d h ? @ & r l h W I # r O t k autof&pkrcerrtlfPeiirryd~mhofddcrth day of hk bumkg angw.."(lsahh 73:13) hbyion's "heaven,* her d t l t u d e of gods and guddasa, will be agltat-

1721

& d d i k Pwfi&y-Llgfrt fir All hdrrrtkd~d I

momtabus country o Media.* Eventually, Babyfoa will f be as d as the grossly immoral dtk of Sodom and
Gomorrah.4amh W:13; 19:13,24. 11 I rsaiah's day, bothMedia and Babyion are under the n As!yrhn pk &out a century laterfI 632 B.C.E,, Media n

" baittll mtIom only tbe &edes by name, but a number of nations wlll be d k s aphst Babyim-kAlIa, Persia, Em and Other amalll , er mattons. Jeremiah SO:$; 5 : B 27, 28) NelghhrItq narfoas r t k r 12, t both Me& and PWam ~s Meda" Further, In l~aIah9 o 6 '"he dada)r, Media Is the dominant pwr,Only under Gyms d m P t m h k a m e daalhmt.
1 , 12. (a) H w does M & become a world powcr7 (b}What unusu1 e al. h i t does the p q h q mention about Mdh's armies?

Fallen Babyton wiI/ &emmethe haunt

of desert cmturer

and IkbyIonjoin b c s and overt& Mnweh, the =pire tal o A f s This o m the way for hbylon to become W the pmbmhnt world powr. Wttle does she w a l k that a m 100 pan after that, Media will destroy hetl Who but JehavahGod could m a k such a bold prediction? 12 When identifying hh chosen Instrument of destrucon, Jehovah says that Media's armies n~ccount silver itself as nothing and , ns b~pecks gold, take no delight in i' What a unusud trait fo~ t ' n battlehardened sd&mtBible -ah Aikrt B a r n says: "Few, i n d ~ dhaw been the , invz&g-armies whI& were not:influenced by the hope ofspaiLIr the Medim armles prove Jcrhwahtrue i rhis Do n regard? Yes. Consider thh comment found In The BibleW+ prepared by J. GknWorth Butlet:" U W most natfmthat have e r m g d war, the Medes, and w ly the P d a m , thought less of gold than of conquest and $ory."* In vim ofthis,it is not surprjslng that when he H+ l a e the Lmellta fmm Wybnian exile, the Persiannrt. ess er C p s r m t them thousands of gold and silwwe mo 4@ that Nebuchadnem looted fromJerusaIemtstemple. - a I:?-11. m 1 WhIle the M s e and the Persian warriors have We P~S~~M~OSS@, they I E W m 1 e s ambkbW W ~ d O not intend a6 main second bo any natlon on the wodd w.M m , JehoMh puts 'despollhg" it their no h m . (isaiah 13:6) Hence, with t & metal km-which h mnbewednotonlytoshmt~butahotostrikeand

..

w-

-they

m, b memy soldlasJthe affsprlng o Babylorn mathf a determined ?otonqcler Babylon. x

b~Iuxury,-Esthcr l:l.i",

* f wws, hamwr, that Iarer on the M d r a and the Perslam dW1o wa a 1 mt-

r l3,L4. (a) Although not intensted I s i t b what are the n and m Persian w m c n a m ~ t l o u r1~R ~ 4 1 o w . ( does OF.owcome the w t e d defenses oP Rabybn?

180

Isainh's Pruphcc)~-L1,ql1 fijr A / / Mnn klr~rlI t

t4 Cyms, leader of the Medo-Persian armies, is undeterred by nabylon's fortifications, On the night OF Or-okr S/h, 539 R.C.L, he orders the diverting of the waters ot the Euphrates River. A the water level kills, the invades stealthis ly make their way into the city, walking along the rivcrberl tl~rough thighdeep w t r Ifabylon'~ ae. inhnl>ibntsare caught unawares, and Babylon falls, (13anicl 5:30)Jchwall God inspires Isaiah to prophesy thew cvcnts, I c a v i n ~no doubt that He is directing matters,
1s How complete will the destruction of Rahylon bc? Llsten to Jehovah's pronouncement: "She wlll never be inhabIted, nor will she reside for generution uftrr~ter genera tlon,And there the Arab will not pitch his tent, and no shepherds will lle t their flocks lie down there. And there the haunters of woterlen ~ g i o n will certainly lie down, and their houses must s be filled with eagle owls. And there the ostriches must reside, and goat-shaped demons themselves will go skipping obout fhere.And jackals musf howl in her dwelling hwers, and the big snake will be in the palaces of exquisite d ~ l i gt h And the season for her i near to come, and her days tl~ems selves wilE not be postponed," (Isaiah 13:20-22)Iltter clcl;olation will be the city's fate. Ih Inis did nat happen immediately in 539 B.CE. Still, today it is very clear that everything lsaiah foretold regarding Babylonhas come true. Babylon "is now, and has bcen for centuries, a scene o wide clesolation, and is a Ilcap of f ruins," says one Bible commentator. Then he adds: "It is irnpossjble to behold this scene and not be rcrnlndcd how exactly the predictions o Isaiah and Jeremlnl~have hccn f fulfilled." Clearly, no man in Isalah's day could have foretold Babylon's fall and her eventual dcsalatlon, Alter all, nabylon's fall to the Medes and the Perslans occurred some t 5. What tuture awafs Babylon? 16. 'fhe present condition o Babylon glwr us what cnnhdence? f

200 years after Isaiah wmte his book! And her final desolation came centuria Datcr. Does this not strengthen our faith in the Bible as the impired Worcl of TI^? ( 2 Timothy 3:lS) Moremr, since Jehavah Fulfilled prophecies in times past, we can haw absolute confidcncc that Rible prophec i a yet unfulfilled will bc rcalizctl in God's due time.

"Rest Prom Yot~r Pafn" 17 Babylon's fall wjll he a tellef for Isracl. It will mean release from captivity and the opportunity to return to the Promised land. Hence, lsalah now mys: "lehowrh wiII show m e q tujacob, and he is yet certain to choose Esml; and he will oddly give them rest upon lhefr soil, and the alien resident must be joined to them, and h e y must dtach themselves to the house oflacob. And peoples will actually take them and bring them to thelr own place, und the house of Ismel must take them to themselves as a possession upon the SON of jcl~ovahas menservants and a s maidservants; and they must become the captors o f those holding them cciptlve, and they must have in subjection those who were driving them to work, (lsalah 14:1,2) "acob" here refers to Israel as n whole-all 12 tribes. Jehovah will show mercy to "Jacob" allowing the nation t by o return home. They will be accompanied hy thousands of foreigners, many of whom will scrve the lsraelitcs as temple servants. Somc Israelites will even come to have authority over thelr former captors." J8 Gone wU1 be the anbwish of living In exile. Instead,
For example, Danlel was appalnterl ns n hlgh officlal I R~bylon n under the Medes and thc I'crslnns. Aricl ohnut hQ year5 later, Enther hecame queen of the Perqian Klng Ahar;ueru?i,and Mnrclecai became prime rninlster of the wht~lc Ilcrsli~n Cn~plrc.
17,1&.The defeat n l Babylon will mean what blcsirsings b r Istael7

182

Isaiah's Prophecy-light fur All Mnrrkirrd I

Jehovah Humbles an Arrogc1 nt City

183

Jehovah will give h s people "rest fmm [their] pain and i from [their] agitation and from the hard slavery in which [they] were made a slave." (Isaiah 14:3) Having been freed born the physical burdens of slavery, Israel will no longer suffer the pain and agitation of living among worshipers o false gods. (Ezra 3:l; Esaiah 32:18)Commenting f on this, the book h n d s and Peoples of the Bible says: "To the Babylonian his gods were altogether such as himself, i all the worst aspects of his character. They were cown ards, drunkards and imbeciles." What a relief to escape such a degraded religious environment!
19 Nevertheless, Jehovah's mercy is not unconditional. His people must express mmorse for their wickedness, wrhich moved God to punish them so severely. (Jeremiah 3:25) Open, heartfelt confession will bring Jehovah's forgiveness. (See Nehemiah 9:6-37;Daniel 95.) This same principle holds true today. Since "there is no man that does not sin," all of us need Jehovah's mercy. (2 Chronicles 6:36)Jehovah, the merciful God, lovingly invjtes us to confess our sins to him, to repent, and to cease any wrong course, in order that we may get healed. (Deuteronomy 4~31;Isaiah 1:18;James 5:lb) This not only helps to restore us to his favor but also brings us comfort.-Psalm 51:l; Proverbs 28:13;2 Corinthians 2:7.

'How has the one driving others to work come t a stop, a the oppression come to a srop!jehovah has broken the rod of the wicked ones, the staffo f the ruling ones, the one striking peoples in fury with .a stroke incessantly, the one subduing nations i sheer anger with a persecution withn out restraint "' (Isaiah 7434-6) Babylon has built up quite a reputation as a conqueror, an oppressor who turns free
people into slaves. How fitting that her fall be celebrated with a "proverbial saying" directed primarily at the Babylonian dynasty-starting with Nebuchadnezzar and ending with Nabonidus and Belshana-that presided over the glory days of the great city! 2 What a difference her fall will make! 'The whole earth 1 has come to rest, has become free o f disturbance. People have become cheerful with joyful cries. Even the juniper trees have also rejoiced at you, the cedars of Lebanon, saying, 'Ever since you haw l i down, no woodcutter comes an up against us." (Isaiah 14:T 8 ) The kings of the nations round about were, to Bahylon's rulers, like m s to be cut e down and used for their own purposes. Well, all of that is finished.The Babylonian woodcutter has cut h last tree! s 22 So astonishing is the fall of Babylon that the grave itself reacts: "Even Sheol underneath has become agitated at you in order to meet you on coming in. At you it has awakened those impotent in death, all the goatlike leaders of the earth. If has made all the kings of the nations get up from their thrones. A/\ of them speak up and say to you, 'Have you yourself also been made weak like us? Is it to us that you have been made comparable? Dawn to Sheol your pride has been brought, the din of your stringed instruments. Beneath you, maggots are spread out a a s couch; und worms are your covering.' " (Isaiah 14:9-11)
22. In a poetic sense, how is Sheol affected by the fall of the Babylonian dynasty?

A "Proverbial Saying" Against Babylon 20 More than 100 years before Babylon's rise as the preeminent world power, Isaiah foretells the world's reaction to her fall. Prophetically, he commands Israelites who have been freed from captivity to her: 'You must raise up this proverbial saying against the king of Babylon and say:
19. What is needed if IsraeI is to enjoy Jehovah's fnrgiveness, and what do we learn irom this? 20, 21. How do Babylon's neighbors reloice a t her fall?

184

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light far A l l Mankind I

fehovah Hrrlwbles an Arrogant C i p

185

What a powerful poetic image! It is as if the common grave of mankind were to wake up all those kings who preceded the Babylonian dynasty into death so that they can greet the newcomer. They mock the Babylonian ruling power, which is now helpless, lying on a bed of maggots instead of on a costIy divan, covered with worms instead of expensive linens.

(
I

"Like a Carcass Trodden Down" 23 Isaiah continues the proverbial sayjng: " how you 0 have fallen from heaven, you shining one, son o f the dawn! How you have been cut down to the earth, you who were disabling the nations!" (Isaiah 14: 72) Selfish pride prompts Babylon's kings to elevate themselves above those around them. Like a star s h i n g brightly in the early morning sky, they arrogantly wield power and authority. A particular source of pride is Nebuchadnezzar's conquest ofJerusalern, a feat that Assyria failed to accomplish. The proverbial utterance portrays the proud dynasty of Babylon as saying '70 heavens I shall go up. Above the the stars of Cod 1 shall lift up my throne, and I shall sit down upon the mountain of meeting, in rhe remotest parts of the north. I shoJl go up above the high places of the clouds; I shall make myself resemble the Most High." (lsaiah 14:73, 74) Could there be anything more oubageous? 24 In the Bible the f i g s of the royal line of David are likened to stars. (Numbers 24:17) From David on, those "stars" ruled from Mount Zion. After Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, the name Zion came to apply to the whole c t . Under the Law covenant, all male kraeliy ites were obliged to bavel to Zion three times a year. Thus, it became "the mountain of meeting." By determining to subjugate the Judean kings and then remove them from
23, 24. What extreme arrogance is shown by Babylon's hngs?

1
I

that mountain, Nebuchadne~zar declaring his intention is to put himself above those "stars." He doer not givelehavah credit for his victory aVer them. Rather, in effect, he arrogantly puts himself in Jehovah's place. 25 What a reversal is in store for the proud Babylonian dynasty! Babylon is far from being elevated above the stars of God. Rather, Jehovah says: "Down to Sheol yo11 will be brought t the remotest ports of the pit Thore seeing o you will gaze even at you; they will give close examination even t you, saying, '1s this the man that was agitating the o earth, that was making kingdoms rock, that made the productive fund Iike the wilderness und that overthrew its very cities, that did not open the way homeward even for his prisoners?' " (Isaiah 74:15-77) The ambitious dynasty will come down to Hades (Sheol), just like any human. 26 Where, then, will be the power that conquered kingdoms, destroyed productive land, and overthrew cities without number? Where will be the world power that took captives and never alIowed them to go back home? Why, the Babylonian dynasty will not even have a decent burial! Jehovah says: '$41 other khgr o f the notions, yes, ail o f them, have iain down in glory, each one in his own house. But a for you, you have been thrown away withs out a burial place for you, Iike a detested sprout, clothed with killed men stabbed with the sword that are going down to the stones of a pit, like a carcass trodden down. You will not become united with them in a grave, because you brought your own land to ruin, you killed your own people. To time indefinite the offspring of evildoers will not be named." (Isaiah 74:78-20) In the ancient world, it was considered a disgrace for a king to be deprived of an honorable burial. So, what about Babylon's royal dynasty? It is true that individual kings are pmbably interred
25, 26. How does the Babylonian dynasty meet a disgraceful end?

lsh~wth Humbles an Amgant City

wlth honor, but the impxlal dynasty of ldngs that descended from N e b u w is discarded " k la d sprout.' It is as if the dynasty were thrown into an unmarked grave-& a mere f soldier slaln in battle. m t

What a hu-tionl 27 The pruwbial saying ends wlth m orders to the conquering Meds and PersW: "#ah Iready, p you a slaughtsrkrg block b his own sons because o the error r f oftfrolrhfatks, thtdsqrmaynotrlreupandQCCUoI~

~~lonoftkem~and~~~~ir#leofbhep t eht wfth Ma." h rd Clmiah 14:2f) The fall of Babylonwill be permanent. The Babylonian dynasty wflI be rooted out. There will be no mabance. Future p e r a m o Babylof n i a will suffer becaw of "the error af their Inrefathers.' ~ 28 The Wdpent pronounced against the Babylonian dynastp provides a valuable lwon h us. The root o the f Babylonian kings' sin w a endless ambition, (Daniel 523) Thetr hearts were filled with a dafre far pawer. They wanted to doarlnnte others, (Isaiah $75,6 ) And they IwM a& glary from men, which rightly belongs tu God. (Revelatton411)This Is a warnlng t any i authonto n ty-even I the Chdstkm c o ~ t l l o nAmbltfon and selfn . ish pride we that Jehwahwill not tolerate, ~ 4 t in ~n d i v i W or i nations. hi n 29 The pride of the Babylonian rulers was a reflection o f the spirit d "thegod of thb qskm of things,NSatan the

27. Ln what way do futue of BPbyIonlsar M e t for the ermr of their bmLtha? 28. What was the coot of the s i n of the Bnbylonlan kings, and what

~~

dowelesrnfmmthis?

29. The ride aad &ition o what{ f

of the Babylonian d e n was a refledon

Like anclen t Babylon, &&Ion wild becams a hwp of rurm

the Great

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

M .(2 Corinthians 44)He tm lusts for power and longs E to place himself above Jehovah Coct. As was the cnsc with the king of Baby!on and the people he subjugated, Satan's unholy ambition has resulted in misery and suffering for all mankind. 30 Moreover, in the book of Revelatlon, we read of another Rabylon-"Babylon the Great.'~l~cwlatlon 18:2) This organization, the world empire o False religion, has a s f lo shown a prideful, oppressive, and cruel spirit, IZs a result, she toe has to face a "day of Jehovah" and tre destroyed in God's due time. (Isaiah 136) Since 1919 the mrssag has sounded around the earth: "Babylon the Great has fallen!" (Rewlation 148) When she was unabIe to t~otd God's people in captivity, she experienced a bll. Soon she will be completely d m y d . Of ancient l<abylon,Jehovah cornmanded: "Pay back to her according to her activity. According to all that she has done, do to her, 1:or it is ngalnst Jehovah that she has acted presumptuously, against the Holy One of Israel." (Jeremiah50:2(7; James2 13 ) Ralrylon the Great will receive a similar juclgm~nt, 31 Hence, Jehovah's final statement of thls prophecy In the hook of Isaiah applies rtot only to ancient Babylon hut also to Babylon the Great: "I will rise up oquinst them And I will cut off h m Babylon name and rernnant and progeny and posterity. And I wiil rnclke her a porsession of porcupines and m d y pools of water, and I will sweep her with the h m of onnihiiation." (Isaiah 14:22, 23) The desolated ruins of ancient Iiabylon show what JFhovah will soon do t Babylon thc Great. What a como fort for lovers of true worship! What an cncouragment to strive never to allow the satanic chnracterl~tics pride, arof rogance, or cruelty to develop in us1

- -

Jehovah's Counsel Against the Nations

I
Isalah 1424-19:25

. ..

..

JEHOVAH can use thc natlons to dlsclpline hls people for their wickedness. liven sat hc cloer not excuse those nations for their unncccssnry cruelty#tthctr pride, and their animosity toward true worship. Thus, long in advance he inspires Isaiah to record "'thc pmnounccment against B a b ylon."(Isaiah 131) However, Rnbylon i~a future threat. In Isaiah's day, Assria is oppressing God's covenant people. hsyria destroys thc nartllcrn kirrgdom of Israel and devastates much of Judah. I'lut Assylhia'striumph is limited. Isaiah writes: ")eehavah af armlcs has sworn, saying: 'SureJy just as / have figured, so it must occur, , In order t o breuk the Assyrian in my /and and that 1 may tread him down on my own mauntulns; and that his yoke may actually depart from upon them and thar his very Ioad may deport from upon their shovlder.' " (Isahh 14:24,25) Not Iong after Isaiah uHcrs t h i ~ prnphecy, the Assyrian threat is removed from Judalt.

2 What, though, of other nations that are enemies of God"s covenant pcoplc? They too must he judged. Isaiah declares: mi^ is the counsel that Is counseled against all the earth, lrnd this is the hand that is stretched out against 1 W h a t judgment pmclamt~tlon . ngalnst Awyrln does Isnlah record? 2, 3. [a) In nnclent tlmcs, against whum rlnes Jehovah str~tch out

30,What other BabyIon is mentioned i the tllhle, and what splrit n has she sham? 31. What will soon happen to Babylon thc Great7

his hand? (h) What dclchr 11 mean th;htJuhnv&hstrutches out his hand against "a!! the nation$"?

BbasPmpkccy-Ught i l'

fir All Manklnd I

Phi/&rinew d um
the 12th century 8,C,E.)

dl the nrrtfomr. hr lebowh d mb h h e # has counseted,acrndwhonmhmkitup?AndhlshondIstheone strstched out and who can h m It hckP ( W a h 14:26, 27)Jehovah's "counsel" Is more than mere advice. It b hb firm demmbtion, his decm. U U h 4920, 30) Gad's "hand" is W appM power, In the final wises of Isalah chapter 14 and h chapters 15 t 19,Jehovah'scouna sel is against PhiliiGa, Moab, Damascus, Ethiopia, and

(Egyptian carving t b m

charging their enernler

m-

3 H o w e m f Isaiah says that Jehovah's hand

Is stretched

out against "all the nations? Hence, while these prophe da of Isaiah ate l k t W l e d in andent tlmes, they also apply i prindple during HtheW e of the enduwhen Je n hovah se -s out his hand against all the kingdoms of the earth. (Daniel 2 4 129; Romans 25:4; Revelation 19: 4; 11,19-21) Inng i advance, the P w t y God, Jehmah, n cunfidatly meals his a m e l . No one a n hrm back his

stretched-outhand-Wm 33:ll; Isaiah 4 . 0 81.

MA Flying Herp Snake"Against Phiftstia 4 The P~~ receive a t m t i m first, "In the p a r that

friendly neighbor. After Uz4& dled-'his staff WBS bsokcexlr-the falthful To. -,.-.---. t ruled, but 4he people were yet actfng rutnowiy."Next, Ahaz became king. Things changed, and the PhIhtlnes conducted rnca-3ful military mi& on Judah. (2 QlFonides 272; 28:17,18) Now, hmww, things are changing agah I 746 B . U , n King A h a dies and the young HezRkiah tala the throne. Lf the PhiMiues feel that thlngs M contlnue in their faU vor. they are sadiy mlstalpen. Hezeklah prwles m be a deadly h .A descendant of Uz&h (the "huff from his e Umt'l), a h i Hke "a flying fiery &"-rapidly HW s dartlng t the attack, skrlking I a u n fashion, and produdfig a burning dect, as if injecttng his vIctfms

m,0 *il&th, m y w e of pu, just baaus2 the W o f

5 King U * was stcong enough t contain the threat o posed by PhilMh. @ Chtonides 26:&8) To thhe was like n s e p m , ad his stag kept s~king that un.

Khg&ardkdtMrpnolnountsmentd:'Donotrs-

~eonedrlhgywPlarh~.~outofhmtof the serpmvrt tfrerre will c a m b& a pdmnow s e and h hit will be a tlyhg h y snuk/"4uIah 14:28,29.

d Jebwrah's pmmncwamt a m Phi1Wifi1 5 6. (4 In what way was U Ilke a serpent to the PhUstina? ib) What Hwekbh p m t be agalnst PhWsth? o

4. What are h ~ n ds e -

with venom. 6 This is an apt descrlptlon of the nmv king, "It was BaWah] h t rn& down the PhIlisdm dear to Gaza and a h its tenitoris." (2 KLngs 1&8) According to the amah o Assyrian King Sennacherlb, the Phllbtlna - e f m subjeas ofHtzkhh. W e lOWIy onesu-the weakened kingd m of J a - g e t to enjoy securlv and material plentp, while PhiMia s u f k a h d n e . - R m t Iroicrh 14:30,3?. 7 It seems that ambassadon are p m t I Judah-pern haps sh!ek;lngan alllance against Assyria, What shouldthey be told? 'What w/l/ anyone say In c s to he mam w s~ngarr the nation?" Should Kez~Mabseek security of
7. What ~ w o faIthn f must b k l a h make to the amdors pmmt InJerusalem?

isaiuh's Pmphtxy-Light fir AH Mankind I

iehovah's Counsal Against the Marian#

warrior ar god (betwen 17 th and 8bh century 8 L E )

Stone &of

aMwbh

Moab Xs Silenced
9 &t of the Dead ! m another neighbor of Israel ? Is -Moab,Unlike the PhiMhs, the Moabites are me to td Ismel, being descendanisofAbraham's nephew L t (Geno. esis 19:37)Despite that r&ttonship4 Mod ius a hisof e r i m i ~ lh IsraeL !?or example, batk irt the days of M+ wt ses, the khg of Moab hired the propw Balaam, hoping that he would curse tbe I s d k s . Wha that failad, Mmb ur&d Immotality and Eaal wrship t ensnare brao e. (Numbers 224-6; 251-5)Uttle wnder, then, that Jel h d now inspfres lsaiah t xmrd "tke pmun-t o

i foreign alliances? Noi He n should tell the messengers: " I e h W h h e # hrrs hd the i fctmdaa'on of & and In her , ~-on~ofh&polople w l l &b-." (IsuM 14:33 The king must h m full tnrst In Jehovd~ foundawn of Zion is The 7 firm.The dty will surdye as a fatk hawa from the Assyrfan menace.-Psabm 46:1-7. 8 Uke m ,some mtions today vldously oppose t h God's . CMstlan Wi-w of JefioPsh haw been m d m d i prisons and conwntmdon camps.They n h m been banned, A number haw been W e d . Up ponenfs continue t 'make sharp a h d s on the suuI o a f the righteous o m Y (Psalm 94:21) To thelr mantes, this Qlrlsttan p p m y seem "lowljPand *poor,"H m I with Jehovah'ssupport, they enlay spiritual plenty, W e their d e s suik famtne. (Isaiah 65:l3,14; a s &11) h When Jehowh out his hand against the modem day lWlMms, thm "lowly ones"W l be wcum Where? I a~wletlon ?he household of Gd of which j n wifh o: e s s i the sure boundation cornemom. mheians 219, u s ZQ) And they rvill be under the pm&lon of "hJerusalem,"Jehovah's ceIatIal Khgdoa wtkich has Jesus slat as -.-He1222; Rewbaon 14:1,

a fO s Mub#f-isc1iErA 75:70. gf n f to Isaiah's prophecy 3s M against m e m u s dtla and loc~tiansn Moab, hdudingAr, Kir (orHr-hareseth), I and Mbon. (bdoh 15:Jb, 220) Moabites wlll mourn Par

~ k P~IIW? e he W h ancient times, w b t hm J e h m d m ?to support his peopk MY?

a (a) m h S O M ~

KPc-WWh's ralsfn c&sl pahaps a pmdud of the dty. (Wah 1&6, 7)Slbmah and Jam,famous for vine dtivaUon, will be smitkn ( b h h 16:8-10)EgIa* sWbtph, whose name m9y mean H&r of Three P a Old,# will k Iik a stutdy young cow uwrlngpitiful cries of anguish. (Imfah 1S:J) The gma of the land wlll dry up while the "wttters of L m # become full of bid " because of the shughtet of the MoaMta. The Hwcrtsrs of NJmrrhnY wiU W e " s k r & d ~ " i either a ffgun Pative sense or a W seaseHCcely because enemy fom darn up their streams.-lsaioh fS:6-9. 11 Moabites will gird & m dwith sdcloth, the gar~ ment of mourning. They d l their heads bald t o spmbo13ze shame and lamentation. Thdr beards will be "cIipp&" shewng atfeaw grief and hwdiztion, (Isufoh lS2b-4) Isaiah himself, d n of the f d i h e n t of these

whom is the n e ~pwxl~uncement t made, and how l w this p p f e p w d w bk an enemy of W a p W e ? 1 , 11. What wlfl happnta Mmb? 0
9. AgalnSt

194

Isaioh's Prophecy-Light far AII ,Wfli?kirrrl I

Jehovuh's Counsel Againsf t h e Nations

195

judgments, feels deep emotions. Like thc vibrating strings of a harp, h s inward parts are moved with pity because of the message of woe against Moab.-Isaiah 76: 11,72. 12 When will this prophecy be fulfilled? Soon. "This is the word that lehovah spoke concerning Moab formerly. And now jehovah has spoken, saying: 'Wirhin three years, according to the years o f a hired laborer, the glory o f Moab must also be disgraced with much commotion of every sortt and those who remain aver will be a trifling few, not mighty "'((lsaiah 16:73, 74) In harmony with tl~is,there is archaeological evidence that during the eighth century B.C.E., Moab suffered grievously and many of its sites were depopulated. Tiglath-pileser 111mentioned Salamanu of Moab among the rulers who paid tribute to hum,Sennacherib received tribute from Kammusunadbi, king of Moab. Assyrian monarchs Esar-haddon and Ashurbanipal referred to Moabite Kings Musuri and Kamashaltu as being their subjects. Centuries ago, the Moabites ceased to exist as a people. Ruins of cities thought to be Moabite have been found, but little physicd evidence of this oncepowerful enemy of Israel has thus far been unearthed.

(James 4:4; 1John 5:21) As a class, Christendom's leaders oppose those who preach the good news of the h g d o m . -Matthew 24:9,14.
14 Moab was eventually silenced. The same will happen to Christendom.Jehwah, using a modern-day equivalent of Assyria, will cause her to be desolated. (Rwelation 17: 16,17) However, there is hope for people in this modernday Woab." In the midst of prophesying against Moab, Isaiah says: "In loving-kindness a throne will certainly be firmly established; and one must sit down upon it in trueness in the tent of David, judging and seeking justice and being prompt in righteousness." (Isaiah 16:s) In 1914, Jehovah firmly established the throne of Jesus, a Ruler in the line of King David. Jesus' kingship is an expression of Jehovah's loving-kindness and, in fulfillment of God's covenant with King David, will last forever. (Psalm 72:2; 85:10, 11; 8 9 3 , 4; Luke 1:32) Many meek ones have left modern-day "Moab" and haw submitted themselves to Jesus in order to gain life. (Revelation 18:4)How comforting for these to know that Jesus will 'make clear to the nations what justice is'! -Matthew 12:18; Jeremiah 33:15.

I
II
I

Modexn-Day "Moab" Perishes 13 Today there is a worldwide organization simiIar to ancient Moab. It is Christendom,the principal part of "Babylon the Great." (Revelation 175) Both Moab and Israel descended from Abraham's father, Terah. Similarly, Christendom, like the congregation of anointed Christians today, claims lo have roots in the first-century Christian congregation. (Galatians 6316) However, Cl~ristendom-like Moab-is corrupt, promoting spiritual immorality and the worship of gods other than the one true God, Jehovah.
12. How were Isaiah'? words against Moab fulfilled?

Damascus Becomes a Decaying Ruin 15 Next, Isaiah records "the pronouncement against Damascus." (Read Isaiah 77:1-6.) Damascus, to the north
of Israel, is "the head of Syria." (Isaiah 78) During the reign of King Ahaz of Judah, Rezin of Damascus in league with Pekah of Israel invades Judah. At Ahaz' request, howmr, Assyrian Tiglath-pileser 111 wars against
14. DespiteJehovah's counsel against the modern-day "Moab," what hope is there for individual members of that organization? 15, 16. (a) What hostile steps do Damascus and Israel take against Judah, and with what result for Damascus? (b) Who is included in the pronouncement against Damascus? {c) What can Christians today learn from Israel's example?

13. What organization today can be compared with Moab7

'-"<7

h's I h p h c ~ y - L i g k t for All Maaklnd I

.
'

Syrian warrior riding u camel (ninth cmtury B.C. E.)

gaze, either u the sacred pdes or at the incense stahds." r (Isaiah 1Zx 88)Yes, some i Israel heed Jehovah"s i n g n

Damascus, conquering it and exiling many o its inf habitants. Thed&r, Damascus r e a w t bea timat o tO J~dah.-Z KQs 36:s-9; 2 Chronides 28:5,16. 16 likely because of Israel's alliance with Damastus, JekwaWs pronouns;meat against Damascus also bdudeS eqxes$ion.s of judgment against the unfaithful northern kingdom. (Baiah 17:Mj Israel will b c a e U e a add at harvesttrma with very little grain. or like an alive We from which most of t h e dives ham b m shaken from the branches. Qsaiah 174-6)What a sobering example for those who arededicated t Jehovah!He e x p e t s exclusive o dmoimn and accepts ad7 heartfelt sacred service. And he hates those who tu~n against their b~others.-Fxdus 20:s; Isalah 17:1CI, 11; Matthew 2448-50,

Full Confidence in Jehovah 17 Isaiah now sap: ""In that day earthling man will look up t his MakerI md his own eyes wiil gaze utthe Holy One o o Isrue1 himsdf And he will not {oak to the slaps, the work f d h i s hqnds; and at what his fingers have made he wi#not
17, 18. W How do s m e in Israel reat4 t~ Jehovah's pronouncements but what is tb~gen&al respons2 @) How do events today resembk thaw of HegekiaKs d+?

pronouncement. For example, when Iiezekiah sends an invitation to the Inhabitants of Israel to jainJudahi a cdn ebration o the Passover+some Israelites respond and travf el south to lain their brothers i pure worship. (2 Chronn icles 361-12j Still, most of Israel's inhabitants mock the messengers bearing the invitatim. The country is incurably apostate. Hence, Jehovah's counse1 against her is fulfilled. Assyria destroys Israel's cities, the land becomes waste, the pastures urrpmductive.-Read Isaiah lZ9- I I. 18 What of today? Israel was an apostate nation. Hence, the way Hezekiah lned to help individuals in that nation to return to true worship reminds m of how hue Chrirtiam today try to help individuals in the apostate ownizatlon of Christendom. Since 1919, couriers horn "the Is~ael God" have gone through Christendom, inviting of people to share in pure worship. (Galatians 6:16) Most have refused. Many have mocked the messengers. Some, though, have responded. They now number into the millions, and they delight in 'gazing a t the Holy One of Israel,' being educated by him, (Isaiah 5 413)They abandon worship at the unholy altars-devotion to and trust in man-made gods-and eagerly turn toJehovah. (Psalm 146: 3, 4 Like Isaiah's contemporary Micah, each one of them ) says: "As fr me, It is for Jehovah that I shall keep on the o lookout. I will show a waiting attitude for the Gad of my salvation. M God will hear me."-Micah 7:7. y 19 What a contrast to those who put their trust in mortal man! Turbulentwaves o violence and upheaval bdet huf manlty in these last days. "The sea" of restless, rebellious humanity churns up discontent and rwolutton. (Isaiah 57:20; Revelation 8:8, 9;1 : ) Jehovah will "rabuk" this 3l
-

19. Whom will Jehovah rebuke, and what will this mean for them?

188

I$&tu&s mphecy-L&bt far All Manklnrl I

noisy crowd. US hawnip Kingdom wfll destmy w q troub1p.mkiq organimtion and individual, and these
wiU%tbrawq.../ikeathlrtlewhirlbeforeaPdomr wind."-Isakrh IZ?2,73; ReveWan 16:14,16. WThe mull?Wah sys: "At m I n g lime, why, look! thew & sudcXen temK. k h m mornitydt b no m a 7his &bre~oftfrosepiu@gus,andtheht~ Ing b pIunderfng a (Isaiah 1Z14)Many am plun' de&gJehavah's p q k , m gthem harshly and &ret h

v l d as easy p q by biased critics md M c op ponents. But G d ' s people are mnhdent t b t the "momIng" when their trlbulatlons will end Is fast a p p m d h g . -2 ThessEllonhns 16-9; 1~~ 56-11.

Ethiopia Brings a Gift to Jehovah 21 On at least two occasions, EthiopiaI t the smth of o Egypt, hasbeen involved I mWaryaction @nstJudabn
(2 Chronlclen 12:2,3; 1k1, P I S ; 16:8) Now Isaiah pralicb

~pBeca~tfieparenot-anddon0twishtube-a part o the d d l s maimhwn ~ o m I ChrisbIans f tnre

2 . mspw king 'patmtkml' by the natlons, what M e n m do 0
tnrecwthlsbave?

fudgment on that natton: ##a h the M of tfre whkr

dnglmerts withwlngs, w h i d r & i n ~ ~ i o n o f t f r e r f w e v s of EdraOpra!" ( R e d lrwlah 18:1 6 ) " Jehovah decrees that Ethioph will be 'cut off, remavsd,and lopped off.' =Secular hlsrory tells us that I the latter part of n the eighth century BC.E, W o p i a m n q m Egypt and ruled it h r some 6Q yam. Assyrian Eupmrs Esir-haddan and Ashurbanipal invaded i turn. With the d~~~ n

"?be s a J&Illous h u m & e" chums up 61scantknt M d m i u d o n

of Thebes by Ashurbanipal,A q f a sub]ugated Egypt, thm ending Ethiopian dominance over the Nile Valley. [See also Isaiah 20r3-6.) What about in modem tima? 23 In Dmfel's prophq o "thet h e af the end," the agf g~ssive "ktng of the north"is -bed as haKtag E W pia and LIbya "at his step," that i, mponsive to his dis &on. (Daniel 11:#43) F$hiogia b &o mentioned as being in the battle forces of "Gog of the land o Magog." f

'Some scholars suglpst that the expmlon "land of the whirring

lnsW with *In@ refers t the locusts that owuionally swam a In Ethla la. Othen point out that the Hebrew word fw "whlrrlngiY bda-&m[ resembles in m d the name glmn m the lrrtrc fly, &a& &alp,by the Cdh, a Hamltlc people ltvlng J m d r n EthIoph. n

21, 22. Whlch mthn neH W s a judgment pranomcement, c and how we- Isaiah's hplrsd wards iidlUIed7 2 . What pnrt d m s the d e m & y "Whiopla"play, and r#fry W 3 It meet Ia end? t

)rlrovnlrls Co~rrrscl p i t r ~ thc Natio!rs A t

201

(bckld 3R2-5,8) Gog's forces, including the king o the f north, meet their end when they attack Jehovah's holy nation, Hence, Jehwah's lrand will also be stretched out agi~instthe modern-day "Ethiopia" hecause of its opposition to Jehovah's sovereignty-Ezekiel 38:21-23; DmIcl 11:45.
24 Yet, the prophecy also says: "In that time Q gift will be bmught to Jehovah of armies, h m a p p f e drawn out and scoured, even from a people feur-inspiring everywhere to the place of the name of lehovatr of armies, Mount Zion." (Isaiah 18:7) Although the nations do not sec[~#nire Jehovah's sovereignty, thc3yhhac at times acted in ways that benefit Jehovah's people, In some landr the authorities have enacted leglrlalinn and rendered court deckions gbing legal sights to faithful worshipers of Jehovah. (Acts 529; Revelation 1 2 15, 16) And there a p other gifts, "Kings will bring gifts to you yourself. .. .B m m ware things wilI come out o Egypt; Cus h IEthiopia] itself f will qillckly stretch out its hands with sifts to God." (Psalm fi8:29-31) Today, millions of modcrn-day ''Ethiopians" who fear Jehovah are bringlnfi "a g1Ft" In the form of worship, (Malachi 1:ll)They arc sharl~ig the immense In task of preaching the good news of [he Kingdom in all the carth. (Matthew24:14; Revelation 14:6,7) What a fine gift to offer to Jehovahf-Hebrews 13:lS.
I

14) Historians present evidence af rival dynasties ruling diCTcrcnt parts d the country at the same timc. Thc vauntctI wisclorn o Egypt, with her 'valuetes%gods and charmf ers,' t l r l ~ ~ save her from "the hand OC a hard master." not (Isalah 193, 4) E ~ y pi t successivelymnquercd hy Anyria, s Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome, All thesc evcnts h~lfill !hc prophecies of lraiah 19:l-I 1.
26 Ilmvever, in the Bible, Egypt often symboli;r~s Satan's world. (lkekiel 293; Joel 3:19; Revelation I l :R) 'Therefore, cloes lsn iah' "pmnouncernentagoinst Egypt" have a larger s fulfillmcnt? Ycs, indeed! The opcning wtlrtls of the prophccy should give everyone cause to take nnticc: "look!Iehovah Is riding on a swift cloud and comlng Into Egypt And the mIueless gads of Egypt will certainly quiver because of him, and the very heart of Egypt will melt in the midst of it." (fsaiah 79:1) Jehovah will soon nlove against Sillan's orgitnizirtiorl. At that time, the gods OF this aystcm ot things wlll bc sccn t be valueIess. (Psalm 96:s; 977) "The very o htlart of Iigypt will melt" in fear, Jesus foretolrl that time: "There will be , , , anguish o nations, not knowing the f way out because of the roaring of the sea and It5 agitation, while men become faint out o fear and rxpuaatlcln of the f thin^ coming upon the inhabited earth."--Luke 21:25,2G.

.. .

The Heart of Egypt Melts

25 Judah's immediate neighbor to the south is Egypt, l o n ~ enemy of God's covenant people. Isalah chap an tcr 19 mounts the unsettled state of affairs in P i ~ y p durt ing Isaiah's lifetime. There is civil war in IIgypt, with "city against city, kingdom against kingdom."(lsiiah 19:2, 23,
24. In what ways has Jehuvah received " ~ i R 5 " from the naHonr? 25, In fulfillmcntof Isaiah 19:1+11,what lial>pensto at~clent Egypt?

27 Of the time leading up to his execution of judg rncnt, Jrhovah says prophetically: 7 wilf good Egyp tluns against Egyptians, and they will certalnIy war each one agoinst hls brother, and each one agalnst Ids cornpanion, city against city, kingdom against kingdom." (Isaiah 19:Z) Since thc establishment of God's KinffdornI 1914, n "lhc s i ~ nf 1Jesus'] presence" has h e m msrk~d nao by tion ri~ing against nation and kinadom again~t kingdom.

26, In the larger fulfillment, how wilt Inhabttants of modern-day "IIgypt" react t.o Jehovah's acts of iudgrnenr? 27, What lntcrnr~l divisions were Eoretuld for "II~ypt,"and how is this
I>clng fi~lfillctl today?

tsff hh's Prepkacy-L/ght for All Msrnkirrd I

tahopethatIru~~mW91iUbeofanyweInthe day o judgment! Rfen with all the world's knowled@ f at their dbpwal, they lack godly wisdom, (1 m t h l ans 3:19) They have Jehomh and haw turned to sdence walled, pMwp@, money, pleasure, and 0ther substitute gods. As a-t, they have no knowledge of God's purposes. They are decelmdand disconcerted,Their m sare In wain, (adlsolph 19:12-15.) The wise ones & have become ashamed+ They haw become terrified and wlH be caught. M k T They haw rejetted the wry woKi o f Jehovah, and what w i s h do they haw?"-Jeremiah 8:9.
28. In the dey of judgmat, what will false rellglm be able to da to s w this system d We? a 29. When JekoPah'sday emnm, of what use will p~lltldnm bs?

MM massaaest blolady gtmoddes, md s d l e d etMc cleanshgs haw daimed millions of Im during these last l days. Such "p~mgs distress" wiU only get worse as the d end draws nearer.-Matthew W3,7,8. m%splrit d E g y p f ~ ~ e b e In the ~ w l mi& of I f and I shad c o n h e Itr own mimid. And thy wid be c e ~ to nasmf lo the ~Iueless n go& md b the chcrmters and to i spIrlt mediums md t the profab o s l m I hwtetkrs of wenb" (tsdah 19:3) When Moses a p pemd before Fbmab, t e priests of Egypt were put to h shame, W l e t match J e b W in pawer. { M u s 8:18, a 1% Acts 13%; 2 ?kmhy38) Slmilady, In the day o )udgf m a t , false religionwiU be unable to save this corrupt S ~ S taa (Compm lsaiah 47:1,11-13.)Evenkrally, Egypt m e under "ahQlltl mustqMAssyda. (isabh 79:4) Thh forahadows the bleak fumefacingthls system o things, f 2 9 though, af the p ~ U t l leaded Can t y help? d h T h e p r i of Zoun ow Indeed hoIish. As mgarrfsthe wise ~~~ ones of Phmmh's cmnsebrs, adr counsel ls something u n m m H e a a( R e d Idah 1*5-11,) How unreasomb1e

ign and a Witness to J

204

fsttl;il?'s l ~ w ~ ~ l ~ r ~ ;fhr ~ - lMotrkjndt 1 ~ All , / , ~ l #

Ii~kovrih'sCnrrrtsel &tiinst the Nr~llons

205

amies that he is counseling against Mm." (Isaiah 19:17) The faitliful messengers nf Jehovahgo forth telling p p I e the trut h-including the announcrrnent o the plagues f fr,rctolcl by Jehwah. [Revdatinn R:7-12; 1632-12) T h s is dlsturhlng to the religious leaders of thc world,
31 What is the surprising result of thls proclamation work? 7 n that day there will prow t be five cities in o the land of Egypt speaking the Ianguoge of Conuan and
I

their "other sheep" companions-in more than 230 coun-

swearing to Jehovah of armies. The City of Twrfng Down will one city be cafled."(Isaiah 19:18) I: n ancient times this prophecy was apparently fulfilled when the I-lebrew language was spoken in Egyptian cltles hy Jcmwho had fled thcrc. (Jeremiah 24:1, 8-10; 41 :I-3;429-437; 44:l) 'raday, thcw are people in the territory o rnndern-day "Egypt" f who have learned to speak the "pure languageJ'of Bible truth. (Zephaniah 3:9) One of the five figurative cities is called "The City of Tearing Dawn," si~t~ifying part that nf the "pure language" is rclated t exposing and "tearing o

downJ'Satan's organization. 142 Thanks to the proclamation work of Jeliovah's people, his great name will certainly become known in this system o things. "In that day there will prove to be an alf tar t Jehowh in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pi!o tar to jehavoh beside its boundary." (Isaiah 19:t93 These words point to the position of anointerl Christians, who are in a covenant relationship with God, (Psalm 5 0 5 ) As "an altar"they are offering their sacrifices; as "a plllar and support of the truth,"they are bearing wltness to Jehovah. (1 'I'imothy 3:15; Romans 12:1 Hebrews 13:15, 16) They ; are "in the midst of the land," being found-along with

tries and islands o the sea. But they are "no part of the f world." (John 10:16; IE7:5,16) They arc, as It wete, standing nn thc boundary m e n this world and thc Kingdom uf Gad, prepared to cross that boundary and rcceive their heavenly reward, 3s Isaiah continues: "It must pro* t be for o sign and : o h r D witness ta jehomh of armies in the land of Egypt. for they will cry out t lehwoh because of the opprasors, and o he wllf send them a savior, even a gmnd one, who will octuafly deliver them." (Isoioh 19:20]As "a sign" and "a witncss,'' rhe anointed take the lead in thc preaching work ancl cxalt JchwnhJsname in tlils systc~n things. (Isaol' iah R: I R; Hehnwr 219) Thmugl~out world thr cries of thr oppressed people can be heard, but by and lar~e, human governments are unable to help thcm. I-lowwer, Jehovah wilt scnrl a Grand Savior, the King Jcsus Chtist, to liberate all the meek ones. When these last days reach their climew at the war of Armageddon, hc will llrlng rellef and ~wrlastlng blessings to God-fearing humans,-Psalm 72:2, 4, 7, 12-14. 34 In the meantime, it is God's will that all sorts of POple gain accurate knowledge ancl k saved. (1 Timothy 2:4$ I.lence, Isaiah writes: ")efiovah wilt certofnly become known to the Egyptians; und the Egyptians must know jehowrh In that doy, and they must render sacrtflce and gift and must make a vow to jehowll and pay i t And Jehovah will certainly deal Egypt a blow. There will be a dealing of a blow and a heo/ing; and they must return tu Iehovah,
33, In what ways are the anointed "a slgn" and "n wfmcss" In
"Egypt"?

31. How does it come to pass that "the languilge of Canaan" Is ~ p * krn In cEtlcr of Egypt fa) in anclenl tlmch? (b) In modern times? 32, (a) What "altar" is in the midst nf the land of Bgypt? (b) H a v nrv thc anointed like " a pillar" hesicle I':gyptls hbr~undaryl

34. (<I) How wllI Jehovahcome t be known to "the E~ypttans," o and whet sacrlrice and gift will they give to hlm? {b) WEicn wlll Jehovah deal a blow to "F,gypt," and what l l c ~ l l n g will tnllow?

206

Jsninh's Prupllecy-Li,fht for A l l Mrtnklnd I

and he must let himself be entreated by them and must heal them." (lsaiah 1921, 22) People from all nations of Satan's worId, individuaI "Egyptians," come to know Je hovah and render him sacrifie, *the frultof lips which makc public declaration to his name." (Hebrews t3:lS) They make a vow to Jehovah by dedicating themselves to him, and they pay their wrw by living a life o loyal service. Folf lowing the "blow" that Jehovah will deal this system of thing5 at Armageddon, he will use his Kingdom to heal humankind.DuringJmus8 MilIennial Reign, mankind will be elwated to spiritual, mental, rnoml, and physical p r fection-healing indeed!-Revelation 22: 1, 2,

"Blessed Be M People" y 35 The prophet then foresees a remarkable development: "in that day there wit1 come fo be a highway out of Egypt to Assyrio, and Assyria will actually come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria; and they will cerbinly render service, Egypt with Assyria. In that day israel wiJl come to he the third with Egypt and with Assyrid, namely, a blessing in the midst of the earth, because lehowh of armies will have blessed it, saying: 'Blessed be my people, Egypt crnd the work of my hands, Assyria, and my inheslfoncc, /srael,'" (Isaiah 19:23-25)Yes, one day friendly relations will
exist between J?gypt and Assyria. Mow? 36 When Jehovah rescued his people from the nations in the past, he made for them highways to freedom, so to speak. (Isaiah 11:16; 358-10; 4911-13; J m i a h 3E:ZP) A limited fulfillment of this prophecy t m k place after the defeatof Babylon when exiles from Assyria and Egypt, as well as h r n Babylon, were brought back to the Promised Land. (Isaiah 31:11) But what of modern times?
35, 36. L Iullillment of Isaiah 1923-25,what connections came to n exist in ancient times between Egypt, hsyrla, and Israel?

37 l'oday, the remnant ofanointed spiritual Israelites is ' Illlesslnfi In thc midst of the earth." They promote true 9 wnrrhll~and arc dcclarlng the Kingdom message to peoplc In all the nations, Some .oft hcse nations are like Assyria, hriavily militaristic. Other nations are more Liberal, pcrhaps t ikc Ihypt-at on" timc "the king of the south" in Ihnirt's proplrcry. (I Sanlcl 115, Millions of individuals 8) from thc militaristic nations and the mare liberal nations l ~ i ~ taken up Ihc way al' true worship. Thus, people from vc all nations am unitcd in 'rendering service.' There are no nation8llstlc divisions among thew ones. They love one annthcr, and i t can truly he said that Bsyria comes into IIgypl and T w into Aqqyria.' I t is as if there were a high: t , h way from o11cto the other.-1 Rter 217. 38 HOW, though, doe? Israel "come to be the third with E ~ y p and with Assyrla"? Early in "the time o the end," t f nwai of those servlny:Jehovah on. earth were members of "I Israel of God." (Ilanid 12:9;Galatians 6:16) Since the lie Ic):$O's, a gr@atcrmvcl of "other sheep," with an earthly hope, havc ap~~carcd. (John 10:1ha;Revelation 29) ComIng out nl' ~ h c nations-foreshadowed by Egypt and Assyrla-they strcam to Jrhovilh's house o worship and invite f nthcrs to loin rhcm. (lralah 22-4) They perform the same preachln): work as thclr anointcd brothers, endure simiInr ttasts, milnifest the same faithfulness and integrit$ and f p i ~ li ~ thc same splritital tablc. 'l'ruly, the a~ointed t and the "r~ther shecp" arc "(me flock, one shepherd." (John to:l(,h) T A a n p n c douht that Jehovah, viewing their ~ zeal and endurance, ir pleased with their activity? Little wnndcs that hc prunounces a benediction on them, say ing: "Rlessed be my ~ ~ e q ~ l e " !
-

37. How (In rnl!Hnnr tc~liiylive 3%thougli thew were a hjghrvay bet w c m *:lr\yha" ant1 "lippt"? 78. (a) Ilow wlll Israfl "wmc to he the third with Egypt and with A\rvrlaH? (h) Why dnos Ichrwah ray "Rlemerl be my people"?

- .-

.-

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

- -

Trust in Jehovah for Guidance

and Protection
AS SERN in earlier chapters o this hook, God's p o p ! f a t a f ~ ~ frlghknlng threat in the eighth century R.C.T:,. 'rhc hload1hll.styAssyrians are ravaging one lanil after anather, and it Is only a milficrof time before they attack the southern kingdom of Juclah. To whom will thc land's 1nhaI~ltant.r for turn pmtectlon? l'hey are in a covenant relatinnlihip with J e h a vah and should rely on him for help. (l.kutlus195, 6) That is what K David did. He acknowlettjicrl: "Jehovah is my i w crag and my stronghold and the Provlclrr of escape for me." (2 Samuel 22:2) Evidently, though, many in tlic cighth century B.C:.R do not put trust In Jehovah as thcir stronghold. 'I'hey are more inclined to look to Egypt and F-tthlopla,h o p in# that these two nations will provide a hulwnrk against thc Zhrefitcned Assyrian invasion. They are wrong.
2 'firough hls prophet Isaiah, Jehovahwarns that seeking refirgc i l3hwt or in Ethiopia will be dlsast rota. 'l'he prophn et? insplrerl worcls providc a salutary Icsson for his csontcrnporarles nlid contain a valuable lesson for us about the impltxtancc of trusting i Jehovah. n

The Assyrians used tn blind some of their cuptlves

A Land of Bloodshed :% Arsyrinns WIT known for their military might. The Thc

I , 2. What d a n g t do God's people face Inthc c l ~ h t h ucntilry B.C.E., and to whom are many of them inclined to turn lor prntc~tlonl 3. Ilcscrll~c emphasis that Assyrla put an mllli:lry power. the

bonk A r ~ ~ * i cCities notes: T h e y worshiped strength, and ~tt woc~ld tlielr prayers only to colossal idols of stone, 1 ions say anrl hulls whose ponderous limbs, caglc winas, and human hcads were symbols of strength, courage, and vlctary, Fightln~ the business of the nation, and the priests was werc inccrqrant fomenters of war." It is with goml wason that the Aihle prophet Nahum described Nineveh, Assyrla's capital, its '"he city o b1ood~hed."-Nahum 3 1 . f 4 T h e war tactics of the Assyrians were unusually cruel, Carvcd rciiefs from those days show Assyrian warriors leading riff captives by means of hooks stuck through the noses or the lips. Wjth spears they blinded some captives. One inscrjption tells of a conquest in which thc Assyrian army cllsmernbered its captives and made two mounds outsldc thc city--one of hearts and the other of Hrnbs. '!+he children of the conquered were burned E fire. 'the fcar n
4. Howdld the Assyrians strike terror in the hrarts o otlier natlonr? f

210

Isuiuh's I'mpl~ecy-L~,~I~tAll Mrt~rk/t/rt fir I

'IS~rst jrlinvtll; for I;rridnnre trnd P r v t e c t i o ~ Itr

21 1

inspired by such cruelty must have s e m d thc tlssyrlans well m a military sense, discmtragi~ resistance hy thostl who stood i the way o thclr armies. n f

The War Against Ashdod In Isaiah's day the Assyrian Empim reached an unprcccdented level of p w e r under King Sargon."For many yean, critics doubted the exiFtence of this ruler, as they knew o f no mention of him in secular sources. In time, horvrwcr, archaeoIogisbuncovered the ruins of Sargc>nms palacc, and the Bible" account was vindicated. 6 Isaiah briefly describes one o Sargan's military camf paigns: Tartun came to Asfrdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, ond he proceeded t wur against Ashdod o and to capture it." (Isaiah 20:l)" Why docs Sargnn oi.cirr an attack on the Philistine city of Ashdod? For one thlng, Phillstia is an ally of Egypt, and Ashdod, hotne to n tcrnplc o Dagon, is located on the road that rum along the coast f from Egypt through Palestine. The city is thur i a slratcglc n location. its captu~e be viewed as ii prcllminnry step tu can the conquest of Egypt. In addition, bsyrian records report that Azuri, Ashdod's king, was conspiring rigninst Assyrla. Hcnce, Sargon has the rebellious king rcmovtd and ~mts the king's younger brother, Ahimiti, on the throne. Still, that dws not settle matters. Another rtlrolt breaks out, and
Historians refer t thir king as Sargon 11. An earllet kin^, nut oI I\<o svria. but of Rabylon, is des~gnaled "5nrgon 1." as " "Tartan" is not a name but a title designating the rr>mrnantler 111 clriefof theAssyrianarmy, likely thc s'cwnd most powerl~~l Iwrwn in thr. empire.
S. Who was a pcnverhl Assyrian ruler in Isaiat~'!, day, and liow wa5 the Bible's account or him vindicated? h, 7. (a) Likely, f o r what reawns dnes Sar~cln order an aitnckor~ Ashdod? Ib) How doe5 the fall of h h d a d atTeck Philirtio's ncixhhnn!

this time Sargon takes more forceful action. He orders an attack on Ashdod, which Is besieged and conquered. Lk ily, Isaiah 2R1 is allucllng to this event. 7 The fall s Ashdod casts a griin shadowmr her neighf bors, especially Judah. Jehovah knows that his people are fnclinerl to look to "an arm a#flesh," such as Egyptor Ethiopia to the south. Ihercfore, he commissions lsaiah to act out a dire wtlrnlng.-2 Chronicles 32:7,8.

"Naked and Barefoot" A Jehovah tells I.wiah: "'Go, rrnd p u must loosen the sockcloth from off your hips; and p u r sandals p u should d m
from off your feet." Iralah complies with Jehovah's command. "He proceeded & do so, wolking abour naked and borefoot." (Isaiah 20:2) Sackcloth is a cwarse garment often worn by the prophets, sometimes In conjunction with a warning message. It is also warn in Slmes o crisis or f upon hearing ctllitinitous news, (2 Kings 19~2; Psalm 35:13; Daniel Y:3) Does Isslah really walk around naked i the n seme of belng without any protective covering at all? Not neccssarlly,The I-lebrew word translated "naked" can also rcfcr to one's belng partially or scantily clothed. (1 Samuel 1924, footnote) So Isaiah may have merely taken off hls outer garment, while retaining the shorttunic that w s a carnrnonly worn close to the body, Male captlves are often represented in this manner i A s r a sculptures. n syin 9 Thc meaning of Isaiah's unusual action is not left io doubt: "jehwlah went on t say: yust as m swvrrnt Isoo y ;ah has walked about naked and borefoot three ywrs os o sign and a portent ogainst Egypt and agairtst Ethioplo, so the king of Assyriol will Ieod the body of captives of
8. What Inspired prophetic act dries Isaiah carry out? 9. What h t h e pruphctic meanlng of Isaiah? action?

Isaiah's P i q h q - L i g h t for All Wdnkiprd I

Egypt and the exiles of Ethiopia, boys and old men, naked and barehot, and with buttocks stripped, the nakedness crf Egypt' (lscoioh 20:3, 4) Yes4 the Emtiam and Ethiopjans WlI soon be carried 08captive. No one will be spared. Even 'boys and old men"-the chiId~rl and the elderly-will be stripped of aU their possessions and taken into exile. By means of this bleak imagery, Jehwah warns the inhabitan& ofludah that it wiIl be futile for them to put their trust in Egypt and Ethiopia. The- l d of these nations wilI lead t &ir "nak&ms"-their ultimate h d o
iatim 1

Hope Crumbles, Beauty Fades 18 Next, Jehovah prophetically destliha .the response of his people as they realize that Egypt and Ethiopia, their hoped-for refuge, has proved powerless before the ksydans. They will certain& be terrified and be ashamed of Ethiopia their looked-fur h o p and of Egpt their beauty And the inhabitant of thjs c o d a n d will be rertain t say in o that day, ITRere is haw our looked-hr hope is, to which we fled for ossjstance, J wder to be delivered becouse of the n king of ksyrlol A d how shall we wrseCv& escape? "-Iwigh 20;5, 6, 11Judah s e m s I.& a mere strip of coatland when campared with the powm of Egypt and Ethiopia Perhaps some of the Inhabitants o "this roasdmdl' are mamared f with Egypt's beauty-its impressive pyrnmids, its towering temples, and its spacious villas w i t h their surrounding gardens, orchards# and ponds. The magnificent architecture ofEgypt seems to be evidence of stability and permanence. Surely this land c m t be devastated! Likely, the Jews are
1 ,11, [a) What will the respaasp of Judahbe when 6 he f-lizes that 0 Egypt and Ethiopia are powerless before Asqria? (b) W y may the h inhabitas& of Judah be incIlned to twt in Egyp and ExMopia?

Some may be imptessed by men's achievements, but ft I better to trustin jehovah s

also Imppressed by the a ~ h e ~ chariot& and horsemen of s,

Ethiopia, 12 In view of the acted-uut warning of Isaiah and t h e

prophetic words of.Jehovah, any of Gbd's professed p a ple who are inclined to trat in Egypt and Ethiopia haw same serious thinking t-o do. H w much &tier 'to put their trust in Jehovah rather than in earthling man! (Psalm 25:z; m4)As thing's work out, Judahsuffers terribly at the hand of the king of Assyria, and later, she sees her ternpJe and apital ciQ destroyedby Babylon. Yet, "a tenth," "a h~lg wed,"is 1ef&like the stump of a maaiw W. (Isaiah 6:B) When tlhe time comes, Isaiah's message will greatly
12, In whom should Judnh put her trust7

214

Isahh's P r o p k ~ c y - C I . ~ ~ t t All Mankind 1 fur

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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN -

strengthen the faith of that srnaEl gmup who continue to trust in Jehovah!
Put Your Trust In Jchavah 13 Thc warning in Isaiah concerning the futility of trusting in Egypt and Ethiopia Is not just dead history. It has practical value for our day. Wc arc llving in "critical times bard to deal with" (2 Timothy 3:1) Financial disasters, widespread poverty, political z~nmrtalnty, civil unrest; and small- or largemle wan have devastating effects-not only on those who spurn G d s rulcrsllip Ilut also on those o' who worship Jehovah.The question lacing each one Is, 'To whom will I turn for help?' 14 Some might be impressed by today's financial wizards, politicians, and scientistr, who talk ofsolving man" problems using man's ingenuity and technology. Homer, the nlble plainly states: "It i s beeter to take refuge in Jehovah than to trust in nobles,'~Psalm 8:9) man's schemes 11 All i?)r pcace and security will come to naught Ibr the reason aptly stated by the prophet Jeremiah: "Iwell know,0Jehovah, that to earthIing man his w y does not: belong. It does a not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step." -Jeremiah 1023. 1s lt b imperative, therefore, that servants o God not be f unduly impressed by any seeming strengtll or wisdom of thls world, (Psalm 33:lO; 1 Corinthians 3: 19, 20) The only hope for distressed humankind rests wlth the Creator, Jehovah, Those who put their trust In hlm wlll be saved. As the inspired apostIe John wrote, "theworld I passing away s and so i s Its desire, but he that does the wilt of God remains fomer."-1 John 2:17.
13. What pressurns affect all-both h ~ i l w e r s unbclimrs-today? and 14. Wlly qhould we put trust only In J C ~ O V A ~ I ? 15. Where Ires the only hope for dlstrcissed rnanklnd?

'Babylon Has Fallen!"

-

Isaiah 21:l-'17

'I'H E I!ihlc may be likened to a great piece nf music with a rlominant theme and with minor thcmcs intrduced to add to the distinctiveness of Ihc whole, In a similar way, thc Bi blc has a major theme-the vindication of Jehovah's sovcrrigniy by mcans of the Messlanlc Klngdnm government, It also has other important, rccurrin~ themes. One o these Is the fall of Babylon. f 2 That theme Is inbmduwcl in Isaiah chapters 13 and 14. It recurs I chapter 2 and again in chnptcrr 44 and 45.A n 1 century later, Jeremiahenlarges on the samc thcme, and the lmok or Rwclation brings it to ;I thundering conclusll>rr. (Jcrcmiah 53:60-64; Revelation 18:l-194) [,veryserious s t ~ t d c t of the Bible needs to bc concerned about this n Irn['ortnnt sut~sidiarytheme of God's Word. Isilia h chap tcr 21 helps In this regard, far it suppf ics fascinating details nhout thc prophesied fall of that great world power. later, wc will see that Isaiah chapter 21 slnbsswnnothcr Importnnt Rlblc theme-one that helps us assess our vlgilnnfe as

Chrlstiiins today.
"A Hard Vision"
3 Isaiah chapter 21 opens on an ominous nrbte: "The -1, 2. [a) What is the owmll theme of tlic Rll?le, hut rvh;~timportant sul~$idiary theme appears in Iraiah? (b) Ilirw dnrs tlic Hihlr devclop illu thcmc of the Call of fiabylon'! 3. Why Ic Ital,ylon t e ~ m c d "the wlldernes~l t tlic sra," and w h t dues r 1 ha1 tlklc portcnd regardillg her fi~tt~rc:'

pmnouncement against the wilderness of the sm:Like storm winds in the south in moving onward, from the wiEderness it is coming, from a fear-inspiring land." (t5aiah
27: 7) Straddling the Euphratcr Rlver 15 Hilhylon, with its ca5tern half in the region between the two great rlvers Eul~hrates and Tigris. It is some distancv from Ihc actual sea, Why, then, is it called "thc wildcmesr of the sea"? Bc cause the region of baby lor^ used to flootl annually, treating a vast, marshy "sea." Hawmr, the tlelylonians have cnntroEEd this watery wilderness by creating a complex system of dikes, sluices, and canals. They ingeniously use tbcse waters as part of the city's defense system, Still, no human works will saw Bahylnn fmm rlivinc judgment. A wilderness she had been-a wildrrness she will again become. Calamity i s heading hcr way brewing Iike onc o the fierce storms that somctimtls blow in upon Isf rael f rorn the fearsomewi Gderness to the mut h.-Compare Zechariah 9:14.
4 A?WWF lrarned in Chapter 14 of thlr hook, ancient Babylon has a modern counterpart-"nal~ylon the Great," the

I I

5 In Isaiah's day BabyIon is not yet the dominant world powrr, hul Jehovah already forewes that w l ~ e n her lime corncs, shc will abu.se her power. tsalah prtrcdr: "There is a hard vision that has been hki to me: The Ineacherous dealer is dealing treacherously, and the despoiler is despoiling," (Isaiah 21:Za) Babylon wlll Indcet l despoil and dcsl lr~ochrmusly with the nations shu ronrluerr, includin^ Juclah. 'l'he Babylonians will sack Jerusalem, pillage it5 tcrnplr, and take-its people caplivc to Ibl?ylon. lhere, tllmc hclpless captives will be tmtcci treacherously, ridictrlccl for their faith, and offered no hope of return lo theit homclanrl.-2 Chronicles 36:17-21; I'solm 137:1-4. fi Yes, Rabylon richly deserves this "hard vlslon," whidz wJl1 mean hard rimes for her, lsaiah cclntinucs: "Go up, 0 Eltarn! lay siege, 0 Media! All sighing due Eo her J have caused to cease.'' (Isaiah 21:2b) 'l'ho~c opprr%ed by this treacl~erous empire will have relief. At last i n cnd to their sigtilng! (Psalm 79:11, 12) By what means will this reIief cornc'? Isaiah names two nations that will attiick Rrtbylon: Illarrl and Meclia. 'ltvo centuries later, Irr 539 I!.(:.C., Cyrus Ihc Persian wiIl lead a combined force of I'etsians and Medes aaainst Babylon. As for Elam, hrslan monarchs will possess at least part of that land prior to 539 H.C.I.:.* The Persian k>ws will thus inclucic Hamits. 7 Notc how Isaiah describes the effect of this vision

world empire of false religion. In Rcwlatlan, Rabylon the Great is likewise portrayed in connection with "a wilderncss" and "waters."The apostle John is carried away to a wilderness to be shown Babylon the Great, Ile is told that she "sits on many waters" representing "peoples and crowcls and nations and tongues." {lEcwlatlon 17:1-3, 5, 15) I1opular support has always bccn a key in the survival of false religion, but such "waters"wl1I not protect her i the end. Like her ancient counterpart, shc will end up n empty, neglected, and desolate.

-Anshan [ ~ c l n f i reg~onr city in Elam. 'I'hc Imull tcs ot' Isalah's day a o -I hc c l ~ htt ccntury R.C.E.-may have hccn ~inlimlllar 11 I)ursia, i wlt whrrew thcy wnuld have known of Etam. I'hh ~ n , i y rxplain why Isa+ la11 hcrc I I ~ ~ T I I C S Elarn instead of Persia.

' 'l'ht. I'crsli111King Cyrus was at tlrnes drllgnntc~l"Klng nf hnshan"

--

4 Flow cfoes the Rerelation vision of "Ilahylon the Great" indude thc cfumcnts of "waters" and "a wlldrrncss," anti what do the "watcr~"mean l

S. I ~ R W dues Babylon come to earn a reputation as llelnp, "treacherous" and 31 " d e r p i l e l ' ? 6 (a) What sifihlng &ill Jehovah cauw to cease? (h) What nations

;ire k>retnld to attack Rabylon, and how Ir t h l h lulfillcrl? 7. Hnw drwa Isaiah's vision affect hi~ri, sigllllylng whut7

upon him: %at i why m h i p h#e become full of ses y w~ pins. C o n w h h s t h m s e k ha^? g t w W hdd of me, Iik the c m w b of u w m u n that k g#ng bid. I haw beoome it4h-m so tbat I do trot harr; I haw fnmme d&u&ed so that I do not s e My heut has me. d e d a b u t ; a shuddering itdf has M e d me. 7 twlh Ilght tbr which I had an uftachrnent has been made tbr me u tremMIng." Clmiah IT:$ 4) The prophet, It seems, snjoys the twilight hours, a lovely h e for quiet contemplatlon. But nightfall h a now lost its charm, bringing inst& only fear, pain, and wmbhg. He sufiers mnvuldons llke those o a woman in labor, and hh heart Ehas wandered f about." One scholar renders this p h m "my heart beats wildly; noting that the expression refers t 9 fwerlsh o and irregularbeating o the pulse."Why such distress? Evf Idently, hiah's feehgs are prophetic. On the nlght of QcQober 516,539 B.CE, the BabyIonbns will experiena slmi h wmr.
8 As darkness fails on that fateful night, terror b the last thlng on the BabylO&nsl minds. Soare two centurks f n advance, Isaiah foek "Let them be o setting of the W e in order, an a m g b o ttrs Iwdn of swb, an wthg, a f drSnkhgln (Isuicrh 2J:Sa) Yes, the m g a n t Klng k b zar is hosting a feast Seats are arrilnged 6w a thwsand of his grandees,as well as many w b a and concublmi. (Daniel 5:1,2) The d e r s hm h a t there Is an army outside the d s , but they klim that the1r cv Is Impregnable. l Her massive walls and deep moat appear t makc her c p o a ture impassibIe; her many gods make It unthinkable, So let thm be "an cat@ a drinking!" Belshaaar gets drunk, and he probably is not done. The hatted state of the 8, As pmphetied, h w do the Babylonians a d , wen though their enrmlep are m ~ d the mu? e

high offichh i qgeskd by the ned to rouse them, as s Isaiah's n dwords prophetically show. 9 *teY q, u prlntet, a d n t #w shlakl," (Isulah27:Sb) p Sudddy~thepartybcrper.Thep~have~muse them&=! The aged prophet Daniel has beea died t o thesamIandhe~howJehovahhm~~ King Mhamr into a state o terror similar bo that de f s a k d by Isaiah T h e king's grmdes are plunged into confusion m the comblned foms of Meks, Pmtans, and Hamites breach the dty's defenses. Babylon fsrlls quickl! What, thou& does it mean to "mhtthe shidd*? y 9. Why does Y become n ~ s a r t "anoint the shleld"? y o

The Bfble sometimes refers to a nation's Wrrg as Its shield because he is the deknder and prowtor of the land.* (hh9:l8) So t h i s wm I Isaiah Is W I y breklbg 8 n tfre need for a new hng. Why? k a u e Belshmr is ldlled that "very +t,* Thus, therrr Is a need e "anoint the o sbleid,* or appoint a new king.-Daniel 5: 1-9,30. IQ All lovers of true worshfp driiw comfort fmm this account. Modem-day Babylon, Babylon the Great, b as mu& a treacherous dealer md despoiler as was h anm dent caunteprt. lb this day religious leaders conspire t have Jehovah'sWitness% o banned, pemmted, or puniW y taxed.But as this prophecy m d s us,Jehovahsees d su& tm&msdealing, and he wlll nut l t it go unl e punished, H wSlI brhg an end to all religions that mise r e p m t him and -t hls people. (RevelatIan 1 8 &) ls sucXl a thing possible? To build our &thIwe have only t see how his warnings regaxd1ng the fall o both m&nt o f Babyion md her modernday counterput have already k e n Eutahd.

"She Has Psllenl" UJehmah now speak to the prophd -1

I

w:

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I

I
I

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1. What comfort a wonhipet8 of J e h R d m from the W0 n mrtt of Is&hls prophecy regarding the &reachemus dealer? 11. (a) W M la the nsponUbllIty of 1watchman, and who hw barn a c i h ;lsa today?(b) What I tepxemtd by the war chars W ofasses and that d c~lrnekl

* Many Bible commentators think tbat the words "anolnttbeshieldn re& t the andent millmry pctlee of o1lInj~ o leather shields befoff battle so that mast blows will glance 08, Whlle this i p i b l e ina ~~, It should be noted that a r ~ the t the dty feU, the &aby10nbu barely had Um@ put up rm hght, et alone prepare Por to htde by w i n g r b k sMeldjl

~~

f i e watchman "pme*ded to c d out like a lionn

ZZ2

Isaiah9 Progh~cy-Lightfar Ali Mankind f

"i?nbylorr Har FallrnlY

a 3

"Thb Is whotfebmh has ~ t ' d me: 'Go, post u lookout t o that he moy W j u s t what he sea'' (ImCah n:6) These words Introduce another important theme of this chap &-that of the lookout, o watchman. T i is of In-t r hs to all true CMstiam today, forJesusurged his followe~s to Ymp an the watch." The faithfuland &meet s h e " has never stopped Wing what it sees regarding the nearness of Gad's day of judgment and the dangers o thh corrupt f world. (Matthew 2*42,4547) What does Isaiah's vislonarywmhmnsee? "Hexawu wurchotiot WM span of a a wurdrarbtd~,a~rcharJotofca&,And he paid s t k t attention, wibh mucb [Isahh 2 : Thae slngiewar chariots M y representcdumnsd 7-

-" .

7 am stondng constondy by dufi and.

. .all the nfghtr"

chariots advancing i battle farmation with the speed d n trained steeds. The war chariot of ma and that of c a d s Rttlngly represent:the two powers, Media and Pe~sia, that will unite t launth this attackk.Furthamofe,history cono firms that the Persian army used bath asses and cam& i n warfare. 12 The watchman, then, is ~r)mpelleda make a rqmrt. t #He p m c d d to d l out like a lion: 'Upon the wotGhtower, 0 j-h, 1 am W r p g constan* by drry, and at m guardposl I am stutionpd dl the nights. And h, y now, them Is m l n g a wur charlot of men, with a y#ut of stesdrl'" (lsuhh 21:8,9a) The vbknary watchman d s out courageously, "likea lloa" It takes cowage t call out o a judgment message against so formidable a nation a W yion. Something eIse fs requited as well--endurance The watchman nmains at hls p s t day and night:, never-1 his vigilance flag. SlrnilarIy, the watchman class i tbex n last days has n d e d courage and endurance. (Rwektron 14:12) hlltrue Chrlsdans need these qualities. 1.3 k1ah's visionary watchman sees a war charfatactvanclng. What I s the newd "He begon to speak up m soy: d The has faiIenl w n has b h , and a# the images of her p& hns broken b tke d f ' " (lsuhh 21: he Pb) What a t h r l h g report! At last, this mcherws des p h r of God's people has fallen! Inwhat sense,though,

Dlbh critlcs hnw theorlzttd that L must haw k n writtcn after the t m n t . But as H c b m scholar F. Nitzsch notes, such speculatlon is unnmsary If we ampt that a prophet might be impbxl t~ foretell m n t s hundnds of years In advancc.
12. Isalah's vl~lonarywatchman dbplays what qualttiea and who need thcse ualldes today7 s 13, 14, (A) ow d m anrlcnt Babylon fare, and in what m e hw idols broken?(b) How and when dld Babylon the Great saffer a simllar $ 1 11

'Isrrlah's prqphccy wwrdlng bbylanJsMI i s so atmuate th& same

"i'lflhylon Hns FfillenS"

225

are Babylon's graven images and idols broken? Will the Medo-Persian invaders march into Babylon's temples and smash the innumerable idols? No, nothing of the sort ir needed. Babylon's idol gods will be broken I that they are n exposed as potverless t protect the city And Rabylon will o e~perience fall when she hecomes unahlc to m~~tlnuc a oppressing God's people. 14 What of Babylon the Great? Ry engineering the oppression of God's people during World War I, she eff~ctively held them in exile for a time. Their preaching work was virtually brought to a halt. The president and other prominent officers o the Watch T m r Socicty were imf prisoned on false charge?. But I919 saw an astounding reversal. 'The officers were released Ervm prison, the headquarters office was reopened, and the preaching work was recommenced. Thus, Babylon the Great fell in that 11cr hold over God's people was broken." In Revelation, this fall is twice heralded by an angel uslng the words of thc announcement at Isaiah 21:9.-Revelation 143; 18:2. 1s Isaiah concludes this prophetic m s a e on a noic esg of compassion toward his own people. 1-le says: ''0 m y threshed onex and the son of my threshing floor, what I have heard from lehovah of armies, the God af Israel, / how reported to you people." (Isaiah 21:10) In thc nit-rle, threshng often symbolizes the disciplining and refin inx of God's people. God's covenant peopte will bemrnc "sons of the threshing floor,' where wheat is forcibly separated from the chaff, leaving only the refined, desirable grains, Isaiah is not gloating over this discipline, Rather, he has compassion for these future 'sonsof the threshing floor,'
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some of whom will spend their entire l k s as captives in a forcign land. 16 This may sene as a usefuI reminder to d of u . In the I s Christian congre~ation today, 'some may be inched t o lose thcir compassion for wrongdoers. And those who receive discipllnc may of ten be prone to resent it- However, If we keep in mind that Jehwah disciplines his people in order to refine them, we will neither belittle the discipline ant1 those who humbly undergo it nor resist it when if comes our way. Lct us accept godly discipline as an expression of C d ' s love.-Hebrew 12:6,

Inquiring of the Watchman

17The seconcl prophetic message of Isaiah chapter 21 brlngs the figure of the watchman to the fore. It begins: ' e pmnormcement ogrrinst Dumah: To me there m is one calllng out from Seic 'Watchman, what about the night? Watchman, whut crbouf the night?" (Isaiah 21:11) Whrse Is t hl5 Dumah?Tl-rcrewere eviclently several towns wllh that llnme in nlble times, but none of them are inte~~derl Durnah is not found in Seir, which is another here, name f-or I:,dorn. However,"Dumah"means "Silence."So It seems that, a$ was the case I the previous pronouncen mcnt, the region is given a name suggestive o its future. f Morn, long a vindictive enemy of Cod's people, will end rip in sllcnm-the silence of death. Hefore that happens, though, some will anxiously inquire about the future. 1fl At the time o the writing of Isaiah, Edom lies in f the path of the powerful hsyrian army. Some in Edom yearn to know when the night o oppresion will end for f thcrn. "I'heanswer? m e watchman said: 'The morning has
I?. Why ir F h m approprlntcly termed "Dumah"? 18. I hlw Is t hc pront ~unct~nirnt, ~nnrning tfl mme, and also "TEic liar tlrr night," iulhllril upon ;I rlcicnt I'do~n?

See Revelation-Tts Grand Clin1n.x A t Hand!, p a p s 164-9.

15, 16. I what sense are Isaiah's p p l e "threshcrl ones," and what n can r w learn from Iraiah's attitude ton,arrl them?

"Babylon Has r*llenl"

night."'(l~iohZl:7Zo) 'a+---.---7irT Things do not bode wl el far Edom, A glimmer of morning will show on the horimn, but it will be brief, Illusary. Night-anather dark time of oppression-will follow quickly on the heels of morning. What an apt picture of Edorn's futufe! The Assyrian oppresion wjll end, but Babplon will succeed Assyria as a world power and will decimate Edom. (Jeremiah25:17,21; 272-8)This cycle will be repeated. Babylonian oppression will be hllowed by Persian and then Greek oppression, There will then be a brief "morning" during Roman times, when the Herods-Edomite in origin-gain power in Jenssalem. But that "morning" not last, Finally, Edam will will descend permanently into silence, vanishing from history. The name Dumah will fittingly describe her at Iast, 1 The watchman concludes hls brief message with the 9
19. When the watchman says, "lf you people would inquire, m i r e .

wads: "Ifyou people would inquire, inquire. Come again I" (Isaiah 21: Y2b) The expression "Came again!" may refer to the endless successtan of "e h' ahead of Edam. Or bemuse the expression may also be txamlated "return," the prophet may be suggestingthat any Edomites who want to escape the nation's doom should repent and "return" to Jehovah. In either case, the watchman invites further inquiries. This short pronouncement has meant a great deal to Jehovah's peopIe i modern times." We understand that n m&nd is deep into the dark night of spiritual blindness and alienation Etom God that wiIl lead to the desmction o this system o things, (Romans 13:12; 2 Corinthians f f 4 4 ) Dwring this nahttirnq any glimmerings o hope that f rnanhnd can somehow bring about peace and security are like those iIlusory gleadngs of dawn that are followed only by still, darker limes. A genuine dawn is approaching -the dawn of Christ's Millennld R e i p over this earth, But as long as the night lasts, we must fallow the lead of the watchman class by staying spiritually alert and murageously announcing the nearness of the end of this carrupt system of things.--1 Thessalonians 56.

Might Fails on the Desert Plain 21The final pronourrCernen-t of Isaiah chapter 2l is directed against "the desert plain." It hegins: 'me pronouncement against the desert plain: In the forest in the
* During the first 59 p a r s of its publicafion, the Watchtower ma a zinc featu&d Isaiah 21:11 on its C m r . The same scripture povi&i the theme d t h e last written sermon of Charles T.Russell, the Watch Tower Satiety's first pmidem. [See illustrati~n preceding page.) an
imnt t Jehovah s people taday? o 21. (a) What play on words may be intended h the phrase "the pmi nouncement . dnut the desert plaln"?(b) What are the caravans of mnl of Dedan.
28. Why i s the mnouncernent recorded at baiah 21:11, 12 dgnif-

Come again!"what may he mean?

Y'

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Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for All Munkind I

"Babylon Hns Fallen! "

224

desert plain you will spend the night, 0 caravans o f men of Dedun." (Isaiah 21:73) The desert plain referred to is evidently Arabia, for the pronouncement is directed at a number o Arab tribes. The word for "desert plain" is f sometimes rendered "evening," a very similar word in Hebrew. Some suggest that this is a play on words, as if a dark

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evening-a time of trouble-is about to fall upon this region. The pronouncement opens with a nocturna1 scene featuring caravans of men of Dedan, a prominent Arab tribe. Such caravans follow trade routes from one desert oasis to the next, bearing spices, pearls, and othcr treasures. But here we see them forced to leave their welIbaveled tracks to spend the nights in hiding. Why? 22 Isaiah explains: 'To meet the thirsty one bring water. 0 you inhahftantr of the land of Tema, confront the one fleeing away with bread for him. For because of the swards they have fled away, because of the drawn sword, and because of the bent bow and because of the heaviness of the war." (Isaiah 21:14, 15) Yes, the crushing burden of war will fall upon these Arab tribes. Tema, located on one of the most mll-watered oaes in the region, is forced to bring water and bread to the hapless refugees of war. When will t h s trouble come? 23 Isaiah continues: 'This is whot]ehovah has said to me: 'Within yet a year, according to the years of o hired iaborer, all the glory o f Kedar must wen come to its end. And the ones remaining over of the number of bowmen, the rnightymen of the sons of Kedar, will become few, forjehovah himself, the God of Israel, has spoken i' (Isaiah 21: t " 16, 17) Kedar is so prominent a tribe that it is sometimes used to represent all of Arabia. Jehovah has determined that the bowmen and rnlghty men of this tribe will dwin22, 23. (a) What crushing b u d e n is about to befa11 the Arab tribes, and with what effect upon them? (b) How soon will this disaster mrne, and at whose hands?

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dle in number to a mere remnant. When? "Within yet a year," no more, just as a hired laborer works no more than the amount of time for which he is paid. Precisely how all of this was fulfilled is uncertain. Two Assyrian rulers -Sargon II and Sennacherib-claimed credit for subjugating Arabia. Either may well have decimated these proud Arab tribes, as foretold. 24 We can be sure, h o m e r , that this prophecy was fu1filled to the letter. Nothing can make that point more forcefully than the closing words of the pronouncemmt: vehhrsvah himself, the God of Israel, has spoken it." To people in Isaiah's day, it may seem unlrkely that Babylon will ascend above Assyria and then be toppled from power during the debauched merrymaking of a single evening. It may seem equally unlikely that powerful Edom will end up in deathly silence or that a night of hardship and privation will fall on the wealthy Arab tribes. But Jehovah says it wl,and so it happens. Today, Jehovah tells us that the il world empire of false religion will come to nothing. This is not just a possibility; it is a certainty. Jehovah himself has spoken it! 2 Let us, then, be like the watchman. Let us remain vig5 . ilant, as if posted on a lofty watchtower, scanning the horizon for any sign of impending danger. Let us ally ourseIves closely with the faithful watchman dass, the remaining anointed Christians on earth today. Let us join them in courageously calling out just what rve see-the overwhelming evidence that Christ is ruling in heaven; that he will soon bring an end to mankind's long, dark night of alienation from God; and that thereafter he wdl usher in the @uedawn, the Millennia1 Reign over a paradise earth!
24. How can we be sure that Isaiah's prophey against Arabia was fulfilled? 25. How may we imitate the example o the watchman? f

Lessons About Unfaithfulness

Isaiah 22:l-15

When Zedekiah flees, he is captured and blinded

found today among many who claim ta worship Gad.

IMAGJNE what it was lile to be in arm ancient dty under siege. Outside the walls i the emrn-stmng and ruths less. Y w know that other cities haw ahady fallen to him. Now he is determined to conquer and plunder your city and r a p and ~ L its inhabitants. The enemy armies are far U tau powerful to confront directly i combat; you ou only n hope that the walls of the city will keep them out. As you look out over the walls, you can see siege tawers brought by the enemy, They alsa haw siege engines apable o f hurling boddm to smash your defenses, YOU see their battering r m and scalhg ladders, their archers and &aiots, a their hordes o soldiers. What a terrifying sight! f 2 In Isaiah chapter 22,we read about such a siege+ siege ag@mt Jerusalem. When does It happen? It is di@mItto pinpoint m y one siege in which irll the features described are fdHled. Evidently,the prophecy is best undestood as a generic descpipticm o the various sieges that will befall f Jerusalem, a general warning of what lies ahead, 3 In the face of the siege that Isaiah describes, what are the inhabitants a Jemalm doing? As Cad's menant f peaple, are they eryirpg out to Jehovah f save them? No, a thry are showing a wry W e attitude, one like that
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A City Under Siege 4 In chapter 21 of halah, each af the three

judgment messages was Introduced with the expresstan "The pronouncement." (Isaiah 21:1, 11, 13) Chapr 22 opens the same way: %re p r o n w m e n t of the valley of the vision: Whet IS b e maiter with you, thenpthat you haw gone up in p u r e n t i m lo the roofs?" (Isaiah 2 2 1 ) 'The ~ k of y the vision' refers to JerusaIem.The city is call& the vallq because even though elevated, it is surrounded by higher m nam It is asuciaredwfth '#the u ti . vision' bemuse m y &vine visions and fY!velati~ns @wn are there. For thh reason, the city's inhabitanb should pay h d to Jehovah's words. Instead, theyhave ignored him andhave strayed into false worship. The enemq besiglng the atPj b m in9tmmmt qf God's judgrnmt against his m w dpeople,-Deuy a t e r m w y 28:45,49,50,52

1. What might it have been like t~ be insi@ an ancient city under siege? 2. When dws t siege d ~ c r i h i Isaiah chapter 22 happm? h d n 3. Haw are Jerusalem's inhab~tants remng to the Uege that Csaiah

describes?

4 [, W M is "the valley of the vision,"m why does it have thia . a) d name? ($1 Wkmt is the spiritual mndltlm of the i n h a b i m ofJP rusalem?

h o n s About lfPt~lth#L~ln#ss
5 Notice kbat thehhaWmb of Jmsdmhave 'gone up hth&m~btfied'ofrh&h~*Inmde~t times, the m& o Emelite homes wme Bat and fmiW f often c m p j p d - t h e r e . hhhdmnottefl why they& so on tW,6wskn, but his words indicate d b q p m a l .

233

LU&yIthen,they4avegnetotherm5toappdto~

~g~Thlsis~~mfntheyear~leadIngupto
the m c t i o n of J d e m in 607 B . U - j e 19: 13; Zephaniah 1:s.

Multitudeshavedocked tothedty, and it i tntumotl. Fkb s pie i the meets are noiq and fearfuL Some, though, are n exulthg,pathapsbec~use~W~mthq~ that the dsurget ispssing.*Zbexuitatthisdme, lmwewr, O fooirsh.Mqiathedtymgodfigtodkadeathfarmore cxuel than by& edge o the sword.A dtyunder siege is art f
offrnoutSidesaurcesbf~S~**~ dwindle. S u w h g people and cnrppded m ih lead t d s t o

epldemlcs.MangInJ~aiemwillthusdeby~eand ptilence. This h a p bath I 6W B.CE and i 70 CE n n

-2 K h @ 25:3; W b t h t i 4:9,10.*

'In 66 C,L, marry Jm l t e d when the Itoman amlW Wqhg w f w Wwtthdrpw, Wrdlng to ftmt-ou~tuty hi!mri~ Jowphua, in 70 CB., tamhe fn Phs* W u so scwra Wt M e ate Te&thert aad -,a one grass, .l,
~ l n r t u s e e , a ~ ~ a n d a t e b e r o w n ~

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Isnitth's Prophecy-Light far AII ,Wnnkind 1

7 In this crisis, what Iead do Jerusalem's rulers give? Isaiah answers: "Allyourdidotors themselves have fled at one time. Without n e d of o bow they h m b m taken prisoner. All those of p u who have been found haw been to&en prisoner together. Far off they had run away," (Isaiah 22:3) The rttlecs and the rni~hty men run away and are then caught! Without ewn a bow bending against thm, they are captured and ledl off as prtsoners, This l~appens in 607 D.C.B. After Jerusalem's wall Is breached, King Zedekiah flees by night with his rnlghty men. The encIny learns o this, pursues them, and catches up with them on the f plains of Jericho, The mighly men scarier. Zedeklah is seixed, blinded, bound in copper fetters, and dragged off to Babylon. ( 2 Kings 2527)What a hagic conseqtlence of his unfaithfulness?

Dismay at the Calamity 8 This prophecy mows Isaiah deeply. He says: "Turnp u r guze away from me. I will show bitterness In weeping. Do not you people insist an comforting me over the despoiling af the daughter of my people." (/mioh 224) Baiah
grieved over the pmphesiecl fate of Moab and Babylon. (Isaiah 16:11; 21:3) Now his dismay and lamentation are even more intense as he contemplates the dlraster coming upon his own people. We Is inconsolable.Why? "Forit is the day of confusion and of downtreading and of confounding that the Sovereign Lord, jehowh of armies, has in the valley of the vision. There is the demoiisher of the wIi, and the cry to the mauntoin." (Isaiah 22:5)Jerusalemwill b filled with i d d confurion, I'eople will wander about e panic-stricken, without purpose, As the etlerny hegins to

break through the city walls, there will be a "cry lul the mountain," lion this mean that the city's inhabltanls wlll cry out to God in his holy temple on Mount Moriatl? k r haps. In view of thcir unfaithfulness, however, it probably means no mom than that their cries of terror will ccho in the sumtrnrllng mountains. 9 What sort of enemy is threatening Jemsalcm? Isaiah tells us:"Elam itselfhas token up the quiver, in the warchariot of earthling man, with steeds; and Klr itself has uncovered the shield." (lsdah 22:d) Thc Arcs itre fully armvd. 'l+httv have arcllem whnqe qujwrs arc filled with arrtms. Wnrriors are retldylrlg their shields fur I3aLtle. There arc chariots and hatlle-traincd horses. 'l'he army includes solctiers from Elam, locatcd north o what i s now the Persian C;ulf, and f from f i r , probably located close to Elam. Mention o those f lands indiciltcs the great dista!~n. fl-ornwhlch the lnvsdcrs come. It also indicates that Elarnltc archers may haw bccn in the army threateningJerusalcm In Hezekiah's day.

Attempts a t Defense 10 Isaiah clescrrbes the developing situation: "It will occur that the choicest of your law plains must become full of war chariots, and the very steeds must without fail set themselves in position a the gate, and one wlll remove t the screen of fuduh." (Isaiah 2 2 2 80) Chariots and Iqorses crowd tllc plains outside thc city of Jerusalem and position il~cmsclws attack the ga:es of the city. What ls ta "thescreen o Judah"that i s removed?Likely, it is a gate of f the city,the capture of which bocles ill for the defenders." ' Alternattwly, "the screen of Judah" mlght refer to something e l ~ e that protwks the city, such as fortresses wliere arm5 arestorctt iinrt soldiers quartcml.
9. Dacrfbe the army threatening Jerusalem. 10. What davcluprnent bodes 111 for the city?

7 What doJerusalem's rulers do during thesiege, and what happens . to them? 8. (a) How does Isaiah react to the prophecy foretelling calamity upon Jerusalem? (b) What wlll be the scene In Jeruralcm'l

236

Isaiah's Prophecy-lfglit fi)r A l l Mnnklntl I

I

When this defensive screen is removed, the city is open to Its attackers. 11 Isaiah now focuses on the attempts by the people t defend themsdves. Their first thought-weapons! "Yov a will look i that day towgrd the armory of the hwse of the n f a r e and you people will certainly see the very brwclies of the City of David, for they will ochfally be many. And you wiII collect the w k of the lower pool." (Isaiah 22:8br9 ) an Weapons are stored in the armory of the hourc of thc forest. This armory was built by SoIomon, Sinrr- it was constructed o cedars from Lebanon, it b m m e known as "the f House of t h e F r of Lebanon." (1 Kings Z 2 5 ) Breaches o& in the wall are examined. Water Is collected-an important measure o defense. The people need water to Itw. Withf out it, a cjty cannot stand. Notice, though, that nothing Is said of their looking to Jehwahfor deliverance, Rather, they rely on their own resources. May we newr make that mistake1-Psalm 127:1, 12 What can be done about those breaches in the city wall? 'The houses of jenrsalem you wlll actually count. You will also pull down the houses to make the wall unattuinable." (Isaiah 22:10) Houses are evaluated to see whlch ones might be demolished to provide materials for repalring the breaches. l h s is an effort to prevent the enemy from gaining complete control o the wall. f
A EaitMess People wit! be o coIIecSing basin hat p u must mcrke between the hwdls for she W e 0 of the old p o d And you will certainly not look at the gmnd maker o it, f
13 There

and the one forming lt long ago you will certainly not see. " (Isaiah 22:1 7 ) 'I'he efforts to collect water, described both here and in verse 9,remind us of the action King Hezekiah took to protect the city against the Invading Assyrians. (2 Chronicles 32:2-5) FIowever, the people o the aty f i this prophecy of Lsatah are absolutely faithless. As they n work on the defense of the city, they give no thought to the Creator, unlike H e ~ k i a h . 14 Isaiah continues: 'The Sowmin Lord, Iehmb of armies, will call in that day tofor weeping and for mournIng and lor boldness and for girding on sackcloth. B a look! exultation and rejoicing, tlte killing of cottfe and the sloughrering of sheep, the eating of flesh and the drinking of wine, ' l e t there he eating and drinking, for tomorrow we shall die.' " (Isaiah22:12, 73) The inhabitants of JerusaIrm show no remorse for their rebellion against Jehovah. 'I'hey do not wecp, mt their hair, or wear sackcloth as a sign of repentance. T thcy were doing so, likely Jehovah f would spare them the coming horr~rs. Instead, they abandon themselves to sensual enjoyment. The same attitude exists today among many who do not put faith in God. Rccausc they have no hope-either of a resurrection from the dead or of life in the fiiture Paradise earth-they pursue lives of self-indulgence, saying: "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we are to dle." (1 Corinthians 1532) How shortsighted! If only they would put their trust in Jehm vah, thry would have a lasting hope!-Psalm 46-8; Rwerhs 1 :33. 15 The 'beslegcd Inhabitants o Jerusalem will not h o w f

11, 12. What defemiw measures do the Inhabitants of J e r l ~ ~ l e m take? 13. How do the people try to ensure a supply of water, hut whom do they forget?

14. DcsplteJehmtah'swr~rnlng rncssage, what unwise attitude do the 1wople have? 1.5. (a) What Is Jehovah's judgment rnessapy against Jerusalem, and wlro crarrlus out his (udplrncnz?(b) Why wit1 CIhristendom suffer a farc rlmilnr to that of Icrzisnlcm?

Le59dns A b u t Unfaithfilnw

mrlty. Isaiah ays: "In my eon /ehorr$l of m r has a l e wuld hlm& '7hls m r will not be atoned Ibr In p r M # you papk die,# the M g n hd, jehovak a until of m l e ~h a said," { b d ~ 22:14) , h of the hadheartednessof the pople, there will be no pardan. Without fail, death will mme. This is a certainty, The Swereign Lord, Jehovahofa d = , has said it, I fulfdhent of n Isaiah's prophetic words, damity comes twlce upon unfaithfulJ e d e m . it is by the arrnics of w o n and law by those o Rome. So, too, calamity will come f upan unWthfu1 C W s t e n l i o ~ whose mernhrs claim t o worshtp God but actually disown him by their works. (Titus 1:16) The sins dChrt&&m, along Wth those Of the world's other rd@iornthat flout Gd's righteous mys, have "massedtogether dear up t heaven? Like the error o of a p t a t e Jerusalem,their error i too great t k atoned s o br.-Rw&doa 1 : 8,21. 8s

dnthhm 42) Yet, when he should be gMng fitrst

attention b the a&in of the nation, Shebat is

pttrsuing glory for himself, He Is having a rumrIous tom&compmble to that of a or himself Mgh on a crag. Jehovah, obwrvin& thlts, inspires Isalab 1 warn the unfaf0
steward: "Look! ~& k hurfing you down with Writ hurling, 0 ubkbodled man, and g m p Incr mu W b k W I W

A Selfish Stewerxld 14 The prophet now turns his amtion from an u f i naa ful people t an unfaithful indMdual, Isaiahwrites: %Is Ar o what the kwdgn Lorb, ] a h of o m k , has suki: 'Go, en& In b thls u Shsbna, who is owr the h a m , &Whatk tbm of interest to yrw he* and who i them of s i n & m s t b p h , thatphmhewdouthrpu~df here a burJaI pime?"o a height he Is h w h g outhis burial r piace; In a uag he is wl#q aut a residence hr H m K ' " -422:I tM. S 17 Shebna is ' s t m a d mw the house,' pmbably the house of KIng H W a h . As nrch, he has an M1uenU podtlon, second only t the king. Much i errpaed o him, t l C o s f b
16, 17, la) Who now wceiws a warning message Erom Jehovah, ~ n d 7 (b) Because o frls I i aspirations, whni wlll happen m wh f dy

die, and there t chariotssfywrglory will be the d/shonk orofthehouseofpur~.And! wlllpushpcnwy b m your podtion; a d Iiom pw OW standing one d1 l r l down." {lsakrh 22:17-79)B e a of his Af~ CenWness, Shebnawill nothave even an ordinarytomb i Jerusalem,Instead, hex411be hurled like a ball, to die i n n a distant land I this t e is alirfardng t all of those enn h o tnxsted with authofiq among God's people. Abuse of powa will lead to the loss ofthat authority and possibly t lmnhlment. o 18Hav, though, wilI Shebna k r e d horn his
18, Who wlll re Iaw Shebna, andwhat dws it mem that this m e wlil receive ~hefna's offrcid garments and the key of the hwss o f David?

Skebna

240

isfijah'sPreph~r~pLight All M ~ n k l n d for I

Lessons Abau t (Infiithfiltrcss

241

be mmd, and it no] that & d r h n In a Irrsdng place must behewn down undibil, and the h a d thotisupon it must bs cut off, I b r j h w h himself hos spoken &'"-4mioh 22:23-25, l s h c r l l ~ b l ~ ~ ~ a r n d h e r n ~ ~ m e u ~ e 20 In thse vmm the first peg is Eliakim H e will bemme r b fhe I n k b h n t o P I m m b und tO thehouse of]udph.And 'a throne o dory" t the house o his father, Hilliah f o f Iwirrputthe~oftheh~ofPQYIdup~nhlsshwldw, U We Shebna, he will not &grace his f t e ' house or n l ahrs andkmrrstqmwirtrwt~e'sshutdng,~dkrnust repulatlon, Elialdm WU a l a m support ta household be shut m t r ps i ~ . (" m a h 22:a24 ~eplacw~ l o p ' wsels, that I, t others i the ldng9 service (2 Thos o n ingSbebaa, E b k h w i l lbe given the mard*somal garthy 220,211 In contrast, the second peg refers t Sheb o ments dong with the keyof the house of David. The Bible m.Thoughhemayseemwcm, h e w i l l b e m d . A n y usa the tarn to symbolize authority, govmment, who continue t look lnhim will fall. o o r (Campre Matthew X19.) I andent times, a n 21 Shebna's experience reminds us that lang's aatviser, emmmd with the keys, might haw general among those who daim t worship o supemhion af the myal dmnks, m n deddhg on anGod, those who accept privilege didata for the lang's sewice,(Compare Rewlath 3:7,8.) of semlce should use them Thus, the ofice of steward is Important, and much i as to serve others and t o paed of whoever s a w s in it. (Luke 12:48) Shebna may 21, In mbdern times, be capable, but because he is unfaithful, Jehavah will rewha, Ilke %b&na, Was place him. repiad, why, and try
positton?Though bhh,lehavah c t x p k *ltmJtoccur in WdcryhtI Wlcaflnrysmwnt, , EliaWm the son of HIIkioh. And I wlfl clothe him d t h p u r robe, d pursashlshrrCI~Bind~thlm, rrndyourdomlnion

'Xlvo Symbolic Pegs

19 Pfnall~ Jdmahuses

whom?

symbolic hgmge to d e s d x

the tramfa of powex from Shebna to IWdm.

H states: e

"1 wM d& Aim [EfiaWm] in as a p g in a /&g place, a n d h e m u s t h m e a s a throne ofgbtyb the house of his Itrther. And thq must h g u p hlm all the giory d the house ofhis Wq ahe m n t s and the offshoo& all the *& ofthe small W the = o the & f b o w l x o r t c n w e l l m a l l t h e ~ ohelugejam. IntM f day,' is the uttemnce af w w of uwnies, 'the p g [Sheboh 19, 20. (a) Haw will Elialdm prove t be a blesslug tp his people? o (b) What will happen to thaw who mllnue t look t Shebnal o o

Uke Shebna, m n y o Chr~dom's f leaders how brought dishonor on #e W m rby u d n g rkhes

BEhakim replacedshebmwhen Sennachertband bis horde wwe threaanhg Janrsdem. SMMy, #the f%ith-

In modem times a
Rulthful steward dass has been appoimted over ]esus* househofd

Nsteward,~~one,"hasbeenqpolntpdtn during the thne of the end, whi& will come t a cono

bring praise $0 J&m& They W d nat abuse their psitlon in order t @nrlch themselva o o r @in personal pminenm. For example, Chrlsmdom has 1 q promuted herself , as an appointal steward, the earthly representadw of Jw Clhrlst. Howw~er, just as Shebna brought dlshofim on his father by seeking Mo o m gtoq Christen. domls kadm have bmught dlshmor on the -tor by amassing tlcha and power fort h. HenceJ when the tlme of fudgment "to start with the b e of God" m e in 1918, Jehovahremoved Christendom. Anothe~steward was i d e n a d -"the faithful stm-4, dkaet o n e M 4 the apphted mer Jesus' housebold (1 R k r 417; Luke 1242 44) Thls m r l l p a t e h has shown wwo*hyofshouldertng the royal ''key" of the hwse of David, Like a trustworthy "peg,"it has proved to be a reliable support b all r the different "vessels; minted Chrlstlm with m n t fpspomiblISdeswho 'took t it for spiriw sustenance. The o " d msheep" too, like 'the allen mident within the gates' of andent Jerudm, depend on this the modemd EUaldm.-John 1 1 ; DeuQronomy 514, g &6

I -

dM~nwhenSawnandhisSO~~e~mmbOrafIIlal on W e Israel of W 1 their other 8and cornpani~ll~ [Grslatlans 6:16) lls in HsmIclah1sd&y, that am&will end In dWmUon for the enemies of r i g h w n e s ~ ~ Those wkr9 support themselves on the "peg i a hstlng placqQ n the W s w a r d , rnsurvive, lust as fatthful ma bit^ m t ms ofJerusalemm f d the hs@m Irwasia ofludab Hm~,then,not~clhgtothe~ted"peg* ChriSmldomI a Whathappenst~Shebna? Wehmeno recordofhaw the prophecg abwt him, m r d d at Isaiah 22:18, w fulfilIed.W e he exalts h h l f and Is then disgmd, rehn he xmbh Christendom, but he may have Iemed b m the discipline. In this, he Is very differentfrom Christendom. W n the M ra Rabshuh demands Jmusalem's sur. e yi n ren&r, HaekIahk ssteward, B ,leads k h d e l e l W tianthatgces cut tomeet him,However, Shebnais at his sldeassemmytotheMng, Evidently, ShebnaIsstlllin the king's sewice. (bhh3 : ,22) What a 6m b m for 62 s time who lose pwltlons of h c e in G a l ' s orgadmuon! Rather than b e .bitter and repwtul,they are w k t o continue sewing Jehovahi whatever c 8 p a d ~ allows. n he [Hehews 186) By sa do@ they will m i d the diwm that wilt ,Mall Christendom, They wlll enjoy God's faand blessing k u g h o u t eternity,

a. W

Why ms the

''ma

&smw one; tlmeiy? 23. ~ e v m t u U y b a p p e m t b S h e h & a n d ~ c a a w l e m ~ tMs?

modem times, v&y wnS the appoint@

of Shebna tta stmhrd timely? fb) In of "the faithful stemrd, t h e

CHAPTER NINETEEN

l~lravrl Prnfirn~s~ I I PPride of p r f lr

245

Jehovah Profanes the Pride of Tyre

Isalah 23:l-18

declares: "Howl, you ships of Tarshlsh! for it has been despoiled from being (I por& from being a place to enter in. " (lmiah 2 :7 a) Tarshish is Ewl i e v d to haw been a 3 part of Spain, far frornTyre in the eastern Mediterranean." 5 1 1 the Phoenicians were expert seamen, and their rhips 1 1, were l a r h ~ seaworthy. Some hlstoriatls b c l i w that the and I'l~ornlcians were the first to notice the link between the tnonn and the tides and t use astronomy as a navigationo al aid. So the long distance from Tyre to Tarshish was no
obstacle for them. 4 In Isaiah's day, distant Tarshish fs a market for T~E,perhaps the main source of her wealth during part of her history, Spain has mines rich with deposits 01' silver, Iron, tin, and other metals. (CompareJeremiah 109; Ezekiel 27:12.) "Ships of "lrshish," likely ships from 'l'yre trading wJth Tnrshish, will have good reason b "howE," lamenting the destruction o their home port. f 5 How will mariners at sea learn of the downfall of me? Xsalah answers: "From the land of Kittim S has been ret vealed t them." (Isaiah 23:7b) "The land of Kittim" likeo ly refen to the island of Cyprus, about 60 miles west of the ITihenidan coat. This is the last stop for thc eastbound ships from Tarshish before they arrive at Tyre. Hence, the sailors will receive news o the overthrow o their bef f loved home port when they make I? stopover in Cyprus, What a shock for them! Grief-stricken,they will "howl"in dismay, 6 Dismay will aIso be felt by the people of the fioenjrian
* Some scholars have identified Tarshish with Sadlnla, an island in thc wmtcrn Mediterranean Sardinia too was far Irnm

SHE was "perfect i beauty" and abundant In "wealth of n

cvcry kind." (Ezekiel 27:4, 12, An Amrricnn 7h~tslation) I-ler large fleet of ships sailed across the sea to faraway places. She became "very glorious In the heart of the open S C ~ , "and with her "valuable thlngs," she "made e a M s kings rich." (Ezekiel 2225, 33) In the seventh century 12.C,E., such was the stahre o Tyre-a Phoenician city f on the eastern end of the Meditetmnean. 2 Yet, destruction was in the ofling for '@. Some 1 W years before Ezekiel described her, the prophet Isalah foreL l I the downfall of this I'hoenician stronghold and the oc grlef of those depending upon hcr. Isalah also prophesicd that after some time God would turn hls attention to tlic city, granting her rencwcd prosperity. How were the prnplret's words fulfilled? And what can we learn from all that happened to V e ? Havinx a clear understanding of what befell her and why such things happened w d strengthen our faith in Jehwah and his promises.

"Howl, You Ships of Tarshishiv 3 Under the tide, " f i e pronouncement of Tyre," Isaiah
1, 2. (a) What kind o d y was ancient 9 r e 7 (11) What did Isaiah f k prophr~y 'I'yre? for .I, 4, (a) Whew was TarshIsh, and what WiH the relationship betwern 'lyre and Tanhish? (b) Why wlll thc sailor% trading with 'l'ara l l l s h have reason to "howl"?

'lw.

Tyrc'/

5. Wherc will mariners corning born Tarshlsh

learn nf the fall of

6. Vfscrlhc the relationship between lyre and Sldon.

246

Isainlt's S r u p l ~ c r y - t l ~ hfur All Mcr t~k l ~ r I~ l t

Jehovah Profanes the Prldc of Qre

seacoast. The prophet says: "Be silent, you inhabitants of the coospfand. ? 3 ~ merchanfs h m Sidon, the ones cmssing over the sea-they haw filled you. And an many waters has been the seed of Shihos, the harvest of the Nile, her revenue; and it came to be the profit of the nations."(Isaiah 232, 33 'The "inhabitants of the coastland"-Tyrc's neighbors-will be silent j utter amaze~nent the calarnltous n at fall of Tyre. Who are "the merchnntr fmm Sicton" who "haw filled" thcse inhabitants, making them rlch? 'lyre w s nriginaIly a colony of the seaport city o l Sldon, just a 22 rnlIes t the north. On her coins, SirIon clcscrlbes hero self a the mother of T)w. Althou#h 'I'yre has ectlpsed SIs don in wealth, she is still a "dauglrter ol Sldnn," and her inhahitam still call themselves Sidonians. (lsaiah 23:12) Hence, the expmsion "the merrrllants from Sidon" pmhably refers to the commercial inhahitants of I@.
7 Engaging in commercial entcrprlse, the wealthy Sldonlan merchants traverse the Mediterranean Sea. 'l'hey carry to many places the seed, or grain, of Shlhor, the easternmost branch o the Nile Rives In the rlelta r~gian E t f of m, (Compare Jeremiah 2:18.) "Ti-te harvest of thc Nlle" also Inclucles other produce from Egypt. Trading and bartering In such gmds is highly ptofrtablc for thew seafaring merchants as well as for the nations with which they dd business. The Sidonian traders 611 m wlth revenuc. Indeed, e

the coastline where the dty formerly stood wlll look barren and desotate. The sea will appear to cry out I ann guish, like a mother who has lost her children and is so distraught that she now disclalrns w e r having had them.

Sidon will be ashamed at what happens to her daughter. will cause wide9 Yes,the news of the destruction o f spread grief. Isaiah says: "just a at the report pertaining r~ s Egypt, people will likewise be In severe pains at the report on Tyre.'' (Isaiah 235) 'The paln o the mourning ones f will be comparable to that ltsululnng horn the report about Egypt. Which report does the prophet mean?Possibly the fulfdhent o E his eadler "pronouncementagainst Egypt."' (Isaiah 191-25) Or perhaps the prophet means the report of the destruction of Pharaoh's army in Moses' day, which caused widespread consternation. (bodus 154, 5, 1416; Joshua 29-11) any case, those hearing the report In of 'T)m's destruction will be in severe pains. They are invited to flee to distant 'I'arshlsh for refuge and are commanded to make a noisy expression of their gdeE "Cross over t~ Tarshish; howl, you inhobitan& of the coastland." -Isaiah 2 : , 36

they will grieve at her desolation!

ExuItant "From Her Early Times" 10i an ancient c t , as Isaiah reminds us when he s iy asks: "is this y w r city hat WQS exultant from duys of Eong ago, from her w r l y times?" (Isaiah 23:7a}Vre's prosperous history extends at least as Jar hack as Joshua's time. (Joshua 19:29) Over the years, T p has become famous as a manufacturer of metal objects, glassware, and purple
* See Chapter 15,pages 200-207, thls book. of
9. The grfef of the people follawlng the fall of % will be compa&1e t the consternation following what othct cwnts? o 10-12. Describe the wealth, antiquity, and influence of T p e .

lsaiah next addresses Sidon wlth the words: "Be ashamed, 0 Sidan; because the sea, O you stronghold of the sea, has said: '1 have not had birth pains, m d 1 have not given birth, nor have I brought up young men, mised up virgins,"' {lsaioh 23:4) After the deftructlon of Tyr~, -H

7. Mow have Stdonian merchants spread wealth?

8. What effectwill -r' @es

destrurtlon have on Sidan?

7
248

JsalaR's Proplr~cy-Ltqr'rt fur A / / Motrkit~rlI

I

Jehovah PrnfFlnes thc Prldr of ' V W

dye. Robes of m a n purple command the highest prices, and Tyre's costly fabrics aR sought after by tho nobility, (Cornpare Ezekiel 27: 7'24.1 'Ifw is also a hading ccntcr for wedand caravans as well as a great Import-export depot. 11 Mureover, the city is militarily strong. L. Sprape de Camp writes: "Although not espedally warlikc-they w r businessmen, not soldiers-the I'hoenlcians dcfcndee ed their cities with fanatical courage and stubbornness, These qualities, as well as their naval might, enabled the Tyrlans to hold out against the Assyrian army, the strongest ofits time." 12 Indeed, Tp~e makes her mark on the Mediterranean world. "Her feet used to Mng her fur away to reside as an alien.."(lsaiuh23:7b) Phoenicians travel to distant places, setting up trading posb and ports of call, which In some Instances grow into colonies. For example, Cnrthage, on the north coast of Africa, Is a colony of v e In time, it will r, surpass Tyre and rival Rome for influtrnm In the Mediterranean world.
Her Pride Will Be Profaned 13 I view ofW n s antiquity and wealth, the next quation is fitting: W h o is it that has gEwn this c o w sel q ~ J n s l b e besbwer of cmwns, whose merchants Tp, h were princes, whose tmdesrnen w w the honorabk ones of the earth?" (Isaiah 23:8) Who dares to sprak againrt the city that has appointed powerfi~lindtviduals to positions of high authorjty in her colonii~sand elsewhere -thus becoming "the bestower of crowns"? Who dares to speak against the metropolis whose merchants are princes and wtlose tradesmen are honorable ones? Sald Maurice
23. Why i the question raised as to who d a m to pronounce turdg. s
ment agarnst Tpe?

Chehab, former director o antlqultIes at the National Muf seum o Refrut, Lebanon: "From the ninth to the slxth f century R C ,T)w retained the position d imprtance .. known to London at the lqinninl: of the twentieth centr.'SO who dares to speak awinst this city? uy' J4 The inspired reply wlll cause consternation in 'lfw. lsaiah says: 'Tehowh of armies himself has g;ven this counseh t prokne the pride of 01, beoub to treat wjtth contempt o all the honorable ones of the earth.' (Isaiah 2 3 9 ) Why dms Jehovah pronounce jurlgment agalnst this wealthy, ancient city? B It because its inhabitants are worshipers of the false god Baal? Is If k a u s e of '1)w's relationship with Jezebel-the daughter of King Ethl~aalof Sidon, including w - w h o married King Ahab o Israel and massacred f the prophets o Jehovah? ( 1 Kin@ 16:29, 31; 18:4,13,19) f The m w e r to both questions Is no. is condemned because of her arrogant pride-she has grown fat a t the expense of other peoples, including the Israelites. h the ninth century B,C,F,,, through the prophet Joel, Jehovah said to IIf.re and other cities: "The sons of Judah and the sons of Jerusalem you haw sold to the sons of the Greeks, for the purpose of removing them far from their own territory." (Joel 3:6) Can God owrtook WS heating his menant people as mere trading commodities? fi The passing of a hundred years will not change Tpe. When the army o Ktng Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon def stroys Jerusalem In 407 B.C,E,, e will exult: "Aha! She w [Jerusalem] has been broken, the clours of the peoples! The trend will certainly be to me,1 shall be filled-she has been devastated." (Ezekiel 26:2) 'I)w will rejoice, expecting to benefit fromthe destruction ofJerusalem.With

l w

14. Wha pronounces judgment qalnst and why? 15. Hmr will T p react when Jcrusatem falls to Ncbuchadn-r?

m,

I
I

je)twuA Profanes, the FMt of

5e r

251

the Judean capital no longer a mmpedtor, she will a @ more trade for hemelf. Jehovahwill treat with contempt self-proclaimed Y h o n ~ b lones," who pridefully stand e with the enemies o his pople. f 16 Isaiah continues Jehovah's condemnatTon of T m s OW y ~ u Eand /Hoe the Nile Rlw4 0 duughter of Tarr shM. l%erre is rna ship@ any Hh hand he h a

m:

~outowrthesecr;heh~WngdomBnk agltohd, j&mh hl& has g h u command against Phmklb, f# r m n I h l h her$t?wngM.And h e w : 'Xw m u s t ~ u p l exad&Ooppresfed om, the vlrgn daughn aproflydon.Wyl, c r w r o w & M r n i t s e I I I E Ehera!k m will not be mi#Wfw y . *A& 2 :TO- 12. w' 3 17 Why IS) ?called the '/daughtero TmhhhT Perkaps rH f

* .

because after the defeat aim, TarsMsh will k the more powerful of the two." The inhabitants of W d Tpe WU be scattered like a rhnr h flood, its banks bmken d m and its waters m r f l o w i q into all the nelgbbtlm plains. IsnlahJsmessage t the "daughkrofm s h "undmmws o the severity o what will happen to me.Jehovah h i d f stretches out hls hand end gives the wmmd. No m e can alter the outcome. as ""the vhgh daughter of 18 Isaiah a h speaks of

AitHnati~ly, 'nda~ghtwof TafsMsh" may refer to the -itthe antJ o lbrshtsh. One &erence w r k f : The nattveg o f l h h h a r e n o w ~ w w m l m d ~ & ~ ~ ~ t ~ N I k w h e all dlrectlons." Wl, the emphasb b on the dmHc rep%trussionsof the fall of Tyro.

16, 17. What d U happen t the Inhabitants o ?pre when the dty o f falls? (See foomote.) 18. Why L caU4 "the vlan daughter of Sidon,"and how d l

her state change?

Tmwould submit h Bubyion, not Assyrtu )

252

Isainh's I'ropl~rry-1.1,qllt fur A l l Mnnkind I

Sidon,"indicating that she has not previously been seized and ravished foreign conquerors and still enjoys an unsubdud state. (Compare 2 Kings 1921; Eralah 472; Jere mlnh 46:ll.)Now, though, she is to be annihilated, and llkc refuges, some of her resicicnts wlll cross over to the Phoenician colony of Kildrn. Nevertheless, l~avinglost their cconornic power, they will find no rest there.

land about half a mile from the shore. Lading a fleet of ships, the Chaldean king i unable to take the i5lantl. A h s 1.7 years, Ve capitulates, but she wilt survive and see the r hdfr Ilmcnt of further prophecies.

The Chaldeans Will Despoil Her

Ig Which political power will execute Jehovah's judgment upon Tyre?Isaiah procIaims: "Lookl The land of the Chaldeans. This is the people-dssyria did not pmve to be the one-they founded her for the desert haunters. They hove erected their siege towers; they haw stripped bare her dwelling towen; one has set her u a crumbling ruin. s Howl, you ships o Tbrshish, b your stmnghold has k e n f r despoiled." (Isaiah23:73, T4.4) The Chaldcnns-trot she Assyrlans-will conquer vre,They MI1 erect thelr siege t c w ers, lcwl the dwelling places of 'lyre, and make that stronghold of the ships of Tarshlsh s crumbling heap of rulns, 20 Truc t the pmphecy, not long after the fall af Jemo salem, 'l)m rebels against Babylon, and N e h u c h a d n w lays siege to the dty. Bellevlng herself impregnable, Tyre wsists. In the course of the siege, thc heads of Babylon's soldiers are "made bald" from the chafing of their helmets ancl thelr shoulders are "rubbed bars" from carrying materials used in the consmalon of sjegwnsks. (Ezekiel 29:

38) The siege is costly to Nebuchadnezlar. 'The mainland city of 'l)w is deswoyed, yet its spoil eltides him. The bulk of the treastm of Tyre have been transferrer1 to a small is-

"She Must Return to T-Ter HireN 21 lsa l ah goes on to prophesy: "It must occur in that day thot Tyre must be Forgotten seventy years, the same as she days of one king." (Isaiah 23:tSa) Following the destructint1 nf the mainland city by thc Babylonians, the islandclty of 7yre will "be forgotten," True to the prophecy, for thc duratlon of "one kingu-the BalyZonlsn [:mplsc-the island-dty of Tyre will not be an Important financial pawcr. Jchovah, through Jeremiah, includes Vre among the nations that will be singled out to drink the wine nf His rafie, I ie says: "These nations will have to scrvc the king n Rahylan swenty years." (Jeremiah25:R-17,22, 27) True, T t hc Is Innrl-clty of Tyre is not subject to Babyion for a full 70 years, since the Babylonian Empire falls In 539 O.C.E, EvIrlently, the 70 years repreqenh the pcrlocl nl' Babylonia's grcntrst domination-when the Dal7ylonian royal dynasty hoasts wl having lifted it., throne even above "tl'lrstars o God." (Isaiah 14:13) Different nations comc under that f darnlnaklon at different times, But at the end of70 years, that clomination will crumble. What wil! then happen to ? y e ? 22 lsalah cnntinues: "At the end of seventy years it will happen to Tyre as in the song of a prostitute: 'Take a harp, go oround the city, O forgotten prostitute. Do your best at playing on the swings; make yaur songs many, in order that you may be remembered.' And ir must occur at she
21. In what way Is 'Qw"forgotten,"and for how lflrlg? 22, 23. What wlll happen to'ryrc when a l ~ r comes o u t frnrn under Ilnl,y ll~nlan domination?

19, 20. Who Is prophesied to be the conquerur of Qre, and how is that plnphecy fulfilled?

end of seventy yeam that jehovah wiil turn his attention to Tyre, and she must return b her hire and commit prostitution with al the kingdoms of the earth upon the surfoce of F the ground."-Isaiah 23: t5b- 1Z 2 3 FoElowing the fall of Babylon in 539 B.C.E., Phoenlcia becomes a sattapy of the Medo-Persian Empire. 'l'he Persian monarch, Cyms the Great, is a tolerant ruler. Under this new rulership, T r will resume her former activity ye and try hard t regain recognition as a world corno mercial center-just as a prostitute who has been forgotten and h a lost her clientele seeks to attract new clicnts 'by going around the dty, playmg her harp and singing her songs. Will T r succeed?Yes,Jehovah will grant her ye success. I time, the islandsity will become so prosperous n that toward the end o the sixth century R,C,E.,the prophf et Zechariah will say: "Tyre proceeded to bulld a rampart for herself, and to pile up silver like dust and gold like tlie mire of the streets."-Zechariah 9:3.
'Her Profit Must Become Something Holy' 24 How remarkable are the following prophetic words1 "Her profit and her hire must become something holy t o lehowh, It will not be stored up, nor be laid up, because her hire will come to be for those dwelling behm jehovah, foreating to satisfaction and for elegont covering." (/miah 23:18) H m F does Tyre's material profit hecome somet tiing hoIy?Jehomhmaneuvers matters so that it is used accorcling to Ms will-for the eating to satisfadon of his people and for their covering. This comes about following thr Esraelites' mturn from Babylonian exile. The people o 'Vre i assist them by supplying cedar timbers for rehuildlng the
24, 25. [a) How does VR'sprofit becornc somethln~ holy to lchw \,ah? (b) Despite Tyw's helping W ' s people, what prophecy doer Jehovah inspire regarding her7

temple. They also resume trade with the c t of Jerusalem. iy - b r a 3:7; Nehcrniah 13:lh. 25 Despite this, Jehovah Inspires a further pmnouncement against l)m. Zechariah prophesies concerning the now wcalthy island-city: "laok! Jehovah himself will disr possess her, and Ento the sea he will certainly .strike down her military force; and in the fiw she herself will be dewurecl." (Dcharlah 9 4 ) This Is fulfilled inJuIy 332 B.CE. when Alexander the Great demolishes that proud mistress o Zhc sca. f
Avold Materialism and Pride

26 J e h m h cnndcrnned 5 r e for her pride, a characteris tic that he despiser. "l.ofty eyer" are listed first among the srven things that Jehovah hatcs. (l'roverbs 6:16-19) Paul assodatcd pride with Satan the Devil, and Ezekiel's description of proud Tyrc has elements that describe Satan himself. (Ezekjcl 28~13-15;1 Timothy 3:h) Why was lyre proud? kcklcl, addresshng says: "Your heart be-

gan to be haughty 11eca~:ause your wealth." (Ezehe128:5) of The city was dedicated to trade and the amassing of maney. rffre's success I this made her unbearably haughn t . Through bekiel, Jehovah said to "the leader of T ' " : y "Your heart has hecome haughtyl and you keep saying, 'I am a god. In the seat o god I have seated myself.'" f -F~~kict 28:2. 27 Natlens can succumb to pride and a wrong view of wealth-and so can individuals. Jesus gave a pafable that s h o d how subtle this snare can be, H e spoke of a rich man whose fields produced very well. Delighted, the man
26. Why did Gad mndcrnn 27. 28. Whni rnp can humans fall Into, and how dld Jesus illusbate I his?

we,

TLfF?

2,56

Esrrfah's Pmph#pL&ht fir All. Matrkfwcl'i

p l a n n e d t o b u i l d ~ s ~ m ~ h i 3 ~ o l n d hstppiIylaokd69mtardsoalonglifeofcomfiort,Butthis did not happen Gad said t hlm:"Umewnable one, this o nighttheyarrdemar?rdfngpursoulh m p u Who, then, is t kthe things you stored up?" Ya, the man did, o and his d t h d e d him nothing,-tulPe a16-20. 28 Jesus condudd the m , a .'So It goa wlth esw tStemm~tI~up~uteh~1lhtisnotrIchb mrd God." (Luke 12213 3% wealthy was not wrong i n &elf, and h m a g d harvest was no sin. The man's erroriqfnhUs~tbethemalnthhgsInhislilrsHls whole confidence was i his r i a , When looking b the n future,he didnut t k JehovahCud into mount ae
coin ctspkthg Melka* chief d i of WM ev

d -

5# mJames wry strongly made the swne pht He said: Tome, mw, you who T&ay or tomorraw we win iDumey e this dty and wlll spend a y themland we will o m engage i busin- and m n & profitsI'whereas you do not lmow what your Ufe will be tornorm. For you are a mist a p p d q Eos a little while and then dhppearhg. Instead, you mght bO say 'If Jehovah~ U Swe shaII live and alW , dofiis or that,' Uamw 4: 13-15) Then,James showed tbe relationship between math md pride when he cantlslued, "You take pride f your s a - a s s m b g brags. n Al3 such taking o pride is Wckd."-James 4:16. f Again, do@ bushes Is not a sln, T e sin is tbe pride, h the arroganceIthe coddmce in self that gaining wealth can -dm. W y , the mdent proverb s a M "Give me neither pverty nor rlches." can &lifie ~ rbity tr But riches can lead a person ao "deny [Call and say: e. 'Wha IS J&ovah?' "-Proverbs 30:8,9, 3 We llue i n world where many have fallen a 1 n i m to greed and sdbhness. Bemuse of the prwaiMg c m r o ecraI ciimnate, much emphasis is pl~ced d t b . HemeI on a Chrlstlan does well to examine himself t be s r W o ue he is not falling Into the same trap that ensnared the mmr& n d y of Tyre. Does he spend s much of his tbne t o
JePPgwh Prsfanss the M d t of

Modal of a

andenergyinma~~tsthatheis,iufaa,a of rich=? (Matthew 6:24) I he envlow of some who mag s haw m o or better possessions than he ha57 ( G a l a m 5: ~ 26) If he happens to be Wh ,does he p d y feel that ty he desmes more atteation o prlvlIega than others do? r (Campam James%I-9,)If he Is not rich is he " d e ta k I&" whatever the cost? (I Thothy 6 9 ) 1s he so S, occupied with business mattas that he leaves only a v q
29, 30. Hew did James warn @mt reba on 31. Wrhat q u d o n s does a ChMhn do well t ask kimself? o

258

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for All Mankind I

CHAPTER TWENTY

small corner in his life for serving God? (2 Timothy 2:4) Does he become so consumed with the pursuit of wealth that he ignores Christian principles in his business prac-

tices?-1 Timothy 6:lO. 32 Whatever our economic situation, the Kingdom should always have first place in o w lives. It is vital that we never lose sight of the words of the apostle John: "Do not be loving either the world or the things in the wodd. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (I John 2:15) True, we have to use the world's economic arrangements in order to survive, (2 ThessaIonians 310) Hence, we 'use the world1-but we do not use it "to the full." (1 Corinthians 7:31) If we have an excessive love of material things-the things in the world-we no longer love Jehovah. Chasing after "the desire of the flesh and the derire of the eyes and the showy display of one's means of life" is incompatible with doing the will of God." And it ir doing the will of God that leads to eternal life.- 1John 2:16, 17. 33 The trap of putting the pursuit of material things ahead of all else ensnared She was successful in a material sense, became very proud, and was punished for her pride. Her example stands as a warning t nations o and individuals today. How much better to folluw the admonition of the apostle Paul! He urges Christians "not to be high-minded, and to rest their hope, not on uncertain riches, but on God, who furnishes us all things richly for our enjoyment."-l Timothy 6:17,

Jehovah Is King

1
1

BABYLON, Philistia, Moab, Syria, Ethiopia, Figypt! Edom,

T r ,Asryria-all will experience Jehovah's wrath. Isaiah ye has foretold the calamities that wdl befall these hostile nations and cities. What, though, of judah? Will the inhabitants of Judah be exempt from punishment for their sinful ways? The historical record answers with a resounding no! 2 Consider what happened to Samaria, the capital of the ten-tribe kingdom o Israel. That nation did not keep its f covenant with God. It did not keep separate from the lewd practices o the nations round about. Instead, the inhabitf ants of Samaria "kept doing bad things to offend Jehovah . . . Therefore Jehovah got very incensed against Israel, so that he remwed them from his sight." Forcibly removed from its land, "Israel went off its own soil into exile in Assyria." (2 Kings 129-12, 16-18,23; Hosea 4:IZ-14) What happened to Israel bodes ill for her sister lungdorn,]udah.

m.

1
I

"Showy display" is a translation of the Greek word a.ln.zo.ni'a, which is descr~bedas "an impious and empty presumption which trusts in the stability of earthly things."-?l?e New Tliqcr's GreekEnglish Lexicon.
32. What warning did John give, and how can we apply it? 33. How can Christians avoid the trap that ensnared Tyre?

Isaiah Foretells the Desolation of Judah Some kings of Judah were faithful, but most were not. Even under a faithful king, such as Jotham, the people did not turn completely away from false worship. ('2 Kings 15:3335) A climax in the wickedness of Judah is reached during the reign of bloodthirsty King Manasseh, who according to Jewish tradition, murders the faithful prophet
3

1, 2 . (a) Who will experience Jehovah's wrath? (b) Will Judah be exempt fram punishment, ancl how do we know? 3. (a) Why does Jehovah forsake the two-tribe kingdom of Judah? (b) W h a t i? Jehovah determined to da?

260

Isnfalr's Pmplrtbry-Li.ylrl f i ~ All r

Mitriklt~df

Isaiah by commanding that he be sawed apart, (Compare Hebrews 1 : 7 ) This wickcd king "kept ?;ecEuclng 13. Judah and the inhabitants of Jes~lsalen~ (lo worse than to the nations that Jehnvah had annihilated from lwffirc the sons of Israel." (2 Chronicles 33:9) Under Manasseh's rule

Jehovah Is King

261

the land becomes even more polluted than when the CAnannites controlIed it. Hence, Jehovah declares: "l-lere I am Ixinglng a calamity upon Jerusalem and Judah, of which if anyone hears both his ears will tingle, , , 1 shall simply wipe JcrusaIem clean just as one wipcs the hanclleless bowl clean, wiping it clean and turning it upside clown. And t shall indeed forsake rhe remnant of my Inheritance and give them into the hand o thekr enemies, ancl they will f simply become plunder and pillage to al E their cnernies, for the reason that they did what was bad in my eyes ancl were continually olTend'ig me."-2 Kings 221:ll-15. 4 Like a bowl that i turned upside down, allowlng all its s contents to spill out, the land will Ile cmptled of Its I~uman inhabitants. This coming desolation of Judnh and Jcrusa!em is again the subject of prophecy hy Isalah. He hcgins: "Lookl jehovah ir emptying the /and and laying If waste, and he has twisted the face of it and scattered Its Inhabitants." (Isaiah 24: 7) Thi5 prophecy is lullillcri when Jerusalem and i & temple are destroyed by the lr~vnding L ~ h t ylonian armies under King Nehuchadne~jsar whcn the and inhabitants of Judah are decimated by sword, famine, and pestilence. Most of the Jewish survivors are taken captive to Rnbylon, and the few left behind flee to E w. Thus k t the land ofJudah is wrecked and completely depopulated. Not even domestic animals remain. 'lhe descrtcd land becomes a wilderness with dreary ruins inhabited only by wlld beast5 and birds. 5 Will anyone in Judah recelve preferential treatment

during the coming judgment? Isaiah answers: 4f must c a m to be the same for the people as for the priest; the same for the serwrnt 05 for his master; the same for the maidserwrnt a for her mistress; the stme for the buyer as s for the seller; the some for the lender as for the borrower; the same for the interest toker as Fr the one puyhg She o interest. Without fail the land wlll be emptied, and without fail it will be plundered, for jehovrrh himself has spoken this word." (Isaiah 242, 3 ) Wealth ancl privileges of temple service will rnnke t ~ o dllTcrence, No exceptions will be made. The land is so corrupted that evcryonc survlvlng -priests, servants and mastcrs, buyers and sellers-must go into exile. 6 In order that there be no misunderstanding, Isaiah describes the completeness of this corning disarter and explains the reason for it: "The land has gone to mourning, has faded awuy. The productive land has withered, has faded oway. The hlgh ones of the people o tile land haw f withered. And the very land has been polluted under its inhabirants, for they have bypassed the laws, changed the regulation, broken the indefinitely lasting covenank That is . why the curse ItreH hcfs eaten up the land, and those inhabiting it are held guilty, That Is why the in habitants of the land hove decreased in number, and very few mortal men have remained over." (Isaiah 24:4-6) When the Israelites weregiven the land oi Canaan, they found It to be "a land flofiing with milk and honey." (Dcutcronomy 27:3) Still, they continued to bo dependent on jchovah's blessing. If they faithfully kept Ills sia2utcs and commandments, the land would "give its yielrl," but If thcy hypasscd his laws and commandments, thrir cl'forts to cultivate the land would bc "expended for n d h l n g " and thc earth would "nut give its yield." (Levitlms 265-5, 14, 15, 20) Jehovah's curse would 'eat up the land.' (Deuteronomy 28:15-20,
6. W l y does jehwah wtthdnw t ~ blessing Fmm the land? l ~

4. What wUJehovahdnto Judah, and how ts thts pro hcty fulhltedl 5. Will anyone be exempt from Jehovah'r jtrtlgrnent tlxplnln.

M Q IS m~ W~

263

~fTOmfReland,NomercywlllbeshIn thearm Jng. judgmemt. A o the fmt t 'wlthd haw ofJemw o withdnwing ids protdlon and favor wlll l "the x high om," the 110bUty. In MHIment of this, as the ds s t r w t i m of Jausdem approachesI Hrst the tbm the Bslbyloh make Judean M n g i SubsequentI5 KtngJehoWn and other members of the @ r family are amang the &st ones taken Into BabyloxrEaPl&plVrty1-2 Qmnlctes 36!4,9,10,
Music and rejoicing will no lot~ger h. heard iff the land

%esd

33-42,62,63) Judah mmt naw q x c t oc, experience that

Curse.

7 Some 800 years before Isaiah's day, the Israelites will. lagly entered into a covenant r~latlonshfpwlth J e b mh and qpxd t abide by it. ( u 249-8) The terms o Ws o t h t Zm covenant stlpulated that if they obeyed J+ f rw hwahYs o ~ n ~ nthey w d d experience his rich c b , blessing but If W y the covenant,they wwld lose htrs biasing and be taken a * by their enemies. (b dus 19:5,6; Dwtemmmy 2fk1-68) This bw covenant, given though Moses, was t remain in iozce foran Indehik, o unspedfied time. If would safeguadthe IsmeUtes until the apparanm of the MessIah.-GaIatians 3:19,24. 8 But the people bave "broken the L n W t e l y lasting covenant." They haw b p m d the dlvlnely given laws, i g noring them have "changedthe regulaUonlHfollowing legal p m W s &rent horn those that Jehmh gm. (Exodw 32:2Si &i &d a121 Hence, the people will be re-

Rejoicing Leaves the band 9 Themtion of Israel la an agriculhtrd sod* Frpm the t h e that the Israelites entered the Pmmhd W, tbq havesettleridowntoallEeohdttMthg~ywandherdXsg livW&~Thus, agrlcultum m p k an importantptaSe i n tlw hgkhtlon g rn Isml. A compuIsMy sabbathmsl Es i m ~ d e d E a E ~ ~ d ~ ~ t ltp'm k m w d to the mil. ( W u s 23;10,11; Lmittcus 255-aThe t h e e annud tkfitiwls that the mtlan L mnlrn t celebsate are timed-to d n & e wlth agfiCulklro
al ~ ~ m . - & ~ d 23:14-16. us

S c r p w list Nne, a p&a

IQVhqards are common throughout the W The

8. (a)

3.

regulation'? (b) J what ways are 4he high onu" the bnt a 'withn ,

now wwld the h w -t be a Uesshg for the Israellm? How have the p p l e m s e d the lawsu and ' c h r q d the

of the vine, as a gift horn the heart of mortal man rejoice."( W m 1W15)F one 'sitking under hls awn vine and fig We,* & I denotes pros^, peace, and securlq under God's righ m s rule (1 Khgs 42.5; Micah 4A) A sucwsful vintage u sexan i mnslded a Mmlng and i a cause for singtng s s mdrepidq, audges 927; Jeremiah 2330) The 3s d 0me, When the v h a ~ 4 t or produce no p a p s 3 h ~ and tly$59aep& bccome dadate wastes ,of tho- it B e? tbi lEh0vah h~ wlthdr8m his bhSW+ sm ofp a t wlmwGod that
9 1 (a) What role doa k

er'?

h n c e o each om 'ri* f

sulhur! lay in Im 7 (b) W W Ls the s 1 underh own vtnr md 8g mem?

264

Isaitrh's IJmplt~cy-Lklrtfor A l l M l r t ~ k l r ~I d
Some will survlve jehovoh's judgment, justas fruit remains on a tree after the harvest

11 Appmpriatelv, then, Isaiah uses vineyards and thelr produck to illustrate the conditions resulting from Jehcr vah's withdrawing his bkrsing from thr. land: "The new wine has gone to mourning, the vine hus withered, all those glad a heart hwe gone to sighing. The exultation t of the tambourines has ceased, the noise of the highly cloted ones has discontinued, the exultation of the t w r p hm ceased. It is with no song fhot they drink wine; the intoxicating liquor becomes bitter to those drinking it. 'She deserted town has been broken down; every house has been shut up from entering. There is an outcry in the streeB for wont of wine. AN rejoicing has passed awoy; the exultation of the lond has departed. !n the city on astonishing condition has been left behind; the gate has been crushed to a mere rubble heap."-lsuiah 24:772.
12 The tambourine and the harp are pleasant jnstsuments used to praise Jehovah and express joy. (2 CElronicles 29: 25;Psalm 81:Z) Their music will not be heard at this ti~nc of divine punishment. There will be no joyfill grape hnrvests. There will be no happy sounds i the dvsolatcd rulnr; n ofJerusalem,with its gate "crushed to a mcrc rubble heap" and its l~ouses "shut up," so that no onc can enter. What grim prospeck for inhabitants o a land that by nature hiis l been so fertile!

they are forbidden to go over t hc ho~lghs the trees of to collect the remainiw dives. Nor should they gather thc Icftover grapes after harvesting their vineyards. The remnants of thc harvest are to be left for the poor-"for the alien resident, for the fatherless boy and for the widow"-to glean. (Deuteronomy 24:19-21) Drawing on these well-known laws, Isalah Illustmtes the comfortwill hc survivors of Jehovah's corning iilg ti~ctI h;~ I l1c.r~ jutl~mcnl:"Th~a will become In the midst of the /and, It In among the peoples, like the beating off af the olive tree, llke rhe gleaning when the grape gathering has come to an end. They themselves will mise lhek voice, they will cry olr t joyfully, tn rhe superiority of jehowh they will certainly cry out shrilly from the sea. That is why in the region of light they must glorify jehovwh, in the islands of the sea the name of jehovah, the Cod of Isroel. from the extremity of the land there are rnelodier that we haw heard: 'Decoration to the Righteous One!' "-Esoiah 24: 13- 160. 14 Just as some fruit rcmains on the tree o vine a f r ter harvesting, so thcrc will k some who are left aver after Jehovah's cxccution or judgmcn t-"the gleaning when I hc grape #atherin~ has comc to an end." As secorded in versr 6 , the prophet has already rpokcn of these, saying

A Remnant "Cry Out Joyfully" 13 I order t harvest dives, the Ismelites bcak the t r m n o with rods so that the fruit will fall. Accorcling to I~orl's law,
1 I. 12. la) Hmv does lwiah illustrate the conditions that will rC~tilt from Jehovah's ludgmc-t? (b) What grim pro~pcc-ts rloc~ Iralah dcsr~ibe?

13, 14. (a) What are Jehmqh's laws on hnrvcstin~? l Inw clot% (I,) I<aiah use the Inws on haw~sting jllurlr.?tc that rtlrnc rvHI F U X V to jehmah's judgment? (c) Although there ate dark 5r:lwlns o trlal f coming, of what can faithful Judeans be crrtiliri?

~ ~

1~8rrh's J'mplteq-Llg4t f i r All Mrurk4md f

that * w y ewmortal men have remained OWL" Still, &w asthey are, t h e r e m t o b e ~ r s o thedatrucUmof f JmuaIern andJudah, and later a remnant will returnfrom ct@Ivfty to ~ p p ~ t f laid, (hatah 42, 3 ; 1 : - ) & k 3 4lS T h g h righthe~ted will e p d w dark sehsons srw trial, the c a n b e ~ t h & ~ w U l b e d e l t ~ c c a n d f ~ i ahead T e S N ~ W O C S seeJehovah's prophetic word uuwiU Mdandwlll tealhe WIsafahhas beenatruepphetof G a t They wiil be filled with joy as they witness the ful~entofthe~~n~.mOmwhereverthey have k n xatkmd4eit the blands of the Me&aerr~neaul e h the WestI Babylon h ''the regfun o lfght" (the sun*$ f or the hf), any ~aeristant place-they vvfll po r d r God bemuse they have beenpreserved, and they will siryF Qecm&tionto the Bightems OneEY

iah 24: 1 6 2 0 , 1 Isaiah fs ftIled wlth grief 6 m r what wlll befall his people. The state of &airs around hlm atuses feelings of d ~ k n and woe. 7 h d 1 a emus ones abound and cause dread to the inhabitants of the Imd. When jehmah withhaws hb proteF
tion, unfaithful hihabitan& of Judahwlll experienceter-

and it must HI, so that it wlll nab a up @. "-han

outhrrtAdrtsmlqn?s.slonhm~mh~uponit

ing Jehovah's carmmdE m w l t l l ~ t k ~ d e a l e r s h m ~ t ~mats and Ignoring gadly wisdom. ( r s mb 1:2427) ~~.'~~dtheho#owdthsimpmuponymr, Calamity will come wen puinha#tmtdf~~.Anditrnustmurthatanptw Ona In 'hiah lr illled ~ 1 S w t r i h e ~ ~ ~ h d o f t h e d ~ t M n g w I b J 1 h ~ though hchm the la@ ww to ha and a n p mming up irom !nMe the hoUow ~ what vNl &&/I his peopl~ the people that everything will be cau h t h t e , the wry WdgoCs b t ~ h wFor higk will k all right, use fahehad and deceit:t l e d them on o wlll uctuo$ be o m , a d he Wc1Llwu of W km8 a course to destruction. ( J e r e W279-15) Enemles from d rock. Ihe dpnd has a8s&te& &mt cryla@ the land has t outside watt come In md plunder them and w y them r &duaely h up, the I d h a absdaway aptlw. AU o this is m y & w i n g t Isaiah. f o sent m n g . The hnd &dutel)l mom unstmd& I l k ackunhmcm, a t t d i t h a s ~ & a n d h w I / k a l a d r 17 Yet, the prophet Is bmd t declare that there will be o
met The M e r o u s t h k h m dgalt W&mw&
17. (a) Why wM no escape k posibk? (b) When Jehrwah%judgmtnt p m r ir released from t e h a m s , what wlll happen to t h h land?

his contempor&& back t the present gating: "ButI s q ~ o 'For ma them is lrnnmf fir me them I Ie~nnwd s Woe & I

No &+apeFmm Jehovah's Judgment 1s For now, tho-, repicing is p t u r e , hgJahbrings

ror both day and night. They will be uncertain of their Ihres. There will be no escapfng the d h t w that will befall them for hrsak-

1
I

15, 14. In1 How d w Idatah E$$l qbWt what will httppen to h 4 ao1 @el t b ) What wfll b W t k uunRiW inhahicant3 d the land!

mi&$Pruphap-Llght

fir All Marakknd J

no e s a Wherever p q i e try t~ Bee, they will be caught. ~ Some m2ip &ape atme calamityI but they will be caught In another-there will be no security. It wiIl be just as with
ahunted~that~fallingintoapitodyto b~ aught In a snare. (Compare Amos 5:18,19.) Jehmah's judgmeutpwrwiIIbedeasdbmtheheavwlsandwlll sbalcethe~ery~datlmsofthetand.Ltlrea~ man, the land reel5 and falls, heavy with guilt and unable
Qo rfse again (kmos 52)JehcPPah's judgment is h

a l Utter

datmctloa and ruin wilI bddlthe land

Jehovah Will Reign in Glory Isaiab's p m p h e now takes on a greater scope, polnt~ h g to the final outmMng o Jehovah's purpose: "It must f mcurin thtltdaytbt@& wHI tum hisatention upon the umy of the w t in fivehefghl; aml u p r ~ kings h the of the ground upon the ground. And tfrey wlN certainly be g a M d wlrh a g d n d n g as of p r k w Into the plb and be shut up In the dungme md &r an abundance of days they wlil be g/wn Wentftm. &d the full moan h become ahhad, and tke glowing sun has fiecome ashmed, fw jehowh of amfa has become Mng In Moun! Zion and I n lerusuh and h front of hk e& l@ men with glory.''-I~~~

!h M21-23. a 19 "The army o the h f may r f r to the demonic ee "worldrulers &f this .. .the wi&d spirit forces I the heavenly p W - "(Fphesians5:12) These 4ave had a n powwfd iduence on thew odd^. (Daniel 10:13,20; 1John 519)Their goal is t tutn people away frwr Jehe o vah and his pure worship. Haw well they succeed i seducn

~~

Nsither tfra sun nor the moon wlll match jehovoh i gJory n

ing Istad - to f

a h the corrupt practices of the nations that

1 , 1 . (4 TO what may She army of the heighr refer, m d how 8 9 are thea gathtmd " n the dunpn'? (b) Llkty, how will "the army i of the h e m f be @ven a t m t l o n 'after an abundance of days"? (c) HOW dwsJehovahgive attention tr, "the kings of the ground*?

surround them and thw merit God's divine judgment! But Satan and his demons must answa to Gad when he finally tums hh attention t them and to the rulexs on o earth, "theIdngs of the grwnd upon the ground," whom they haw Muendt turn agahst God and t~ trslnsgress o his laws. (Rwehtlon 16:U1 Sywaklng symboHdy, I14) & hh says that they will be gathered and "shut up in the dungeon.* "After an abundance of Clap,' perhaps when

Satan and his demons (but not "the kings of the ground upon the ground") are temporarily released at the end of the Thousand Year Reign of Jesus Chrlst, God will b r l q upon them the h a 1 punishment they deserve.-Revelatian 203, 7-10. 20 T h i s part of I a a ' prophecy thus left the Jews with sihs a wonderful assurance. I Jehovah9 due timc, he would n bring about the fall of ancient Babylon ancl restore the jcws b their homeland. In 537 B.C.E., when he demonsbates his power and sovereignty in this way in khalf of his people, it could truly be said to them: "Your God has become king?" (Isaiah 527) In modern times,Jehovah 'hecame king i 1914 when he installedJesusChrist as Klng n in His heawnly Kingdom. (Balm 96:10) I-le also "became king' in 1919when he demonstrated the power o his k ngf l ship by liberating spiritual Israel fmm bondage to Rabylon the Great. 21 Jehovah will again "become king" when he brings an end to Rabylon the Great and the rest of this wicked system of things, (Zechariah 14:9; Kwelation 19:1,2, 19-21) Afterward, Jehovah's Kingdom rule will be so magnificent that neither the gleaming full moon at night nor the glowing sun at hlgh noon will match it in glary, (Compare Revelation 22:5.) They wlEI be ashamed, so to speak, to compare themselves t the glorious Jehovah of armies. Jeo hovah wifl reign supreme. Hls almighty pmwr and glory will be manifest to all. (Revelation 4:Rll; 513, 14) What a marvelous prospect! At that time, the call o balm 97:E. f wlll resound throughout the earth in its grandest fulfi tirnent: "Jehovahhimself has become king! Let the cart h tw joyful. k the many islands rejoice!' t
20. In both ancient and modern times, how and when does Jehw vah "become king"? 21. (a) How will 'the full moon become abashed and the glowrng sun become ashamed'? (b) What mounding ~ 3 1 1 have Itc grandwlil
est fulfillment?

p p

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Jehovah's Hand Becomes High

h x dmp love for Jehovah and delights in prais in^ him. I-le crEcs out: '"'0 jehowfi, you one my Cod. I exalt you, I laud your name." What hclps the prophet to haw such fine npprcciatiun for hi5 Creator? A major factor is his knowledge o Jel~ovnh f and of his activities. Isaiah's next words rrvcal this knowledge: "For you have done wonderful things, counsels from early times, in faithfulness, in trustworthln~ss." (Isaiah 25: 7) Like Joshua hefore him, lsala h knows that Jehovah ir taithful and trustworthy and that all his "coun~e1s"-the things he purposes-come trt~c.-Joshua23:14. 2 The counsels of Jehovah Include his Iudgment declarations against Ismel's enernles, Isaiah now pronounces one of t h e x : "You haw made a dty o pile of stoner, a fortified town o crumbling nrin, a dwelling tower of stranger5 to be no city, which will nor be rebuilt even to t h e indefinite." (lsdah 2532) What is this unnamed city?Isaiah may be referring to Ar of Moab-Moab has long been at enmity with C~CKI'CPCOPIC.* he may be referring to another, stronger Or city-Rnby Ion,-Isaiah 15~1; Zephaniah 2:8,9 3 How will Jehovah's enemies react when his counsel
ISAIAH
' Tlie nallie Ar pmhahlv means "City."

1
I

1
1

3 . Why does lsalali haw appreciation b r J e h m h ? 2. What ~rn~nxci Jeliwnh does lralah now pronounce, and what of

may ~ I P ~>l>jrct t hls C O ~ I ~ ~ C I ? the nf 1. In whnl way do ,Ichtwiih's crlemles glorify him?

against their strong city comcs true? "Those who are a strong people will glorfw you; the town of the tymnnical nations, they will fearpu." (lsabk 293) It is undc~tnndalsle that the enemies of the almighty Cbd will fcnr him. How, though, do they glorify him? Will thcy ahantton t hcir false gads and adopt pun worship? i laaclly! Ratl~cr, like Pharaoh and Nebuchadne7mr, they glorify jchovah whcn they are compelled to recngnlxe tiis clvtlrwhclming superiority.-hodus 10:16, 17; 12:30-,33; ll~nlel 4::37.
4 Today "the town u T 1 tyrannical natlnns" Is "(he great E 1c city that has a kingdom over the k i n g of the earth," namely, "Babylon the Great," the world cmpir~ lnlsc reof ligion. (Revelation 17:5,18) The principiil part oi this cmpire Is Christendom. How do tlle religious Imtlcn o f Christendom glorify Jehovah? By bitterly conceding the wonderful Ehings he has accomplishcri in bchall a l his Witnesses. Particularly in t919 when Jehovah rcstorcd his servants to dynamic activity after their release from spiritual captivity to Babylon the Great, t h e ~ e lealrlars "l~evnrne frightcncd and gave glmy t the God of heaven."-I<e17rlno tion I 1 33." 5 Although fearsome when viewed by hls cncmles, J e h ~ vah is a refuge to the meek and humble who want to s c m him. Religious and political tyrants may try cv~rylhlng to break the faith o m e f hut tl-rqt hi1 bccausc these have ahsolute confidence inJehovah.i:vcntually, he casi 1 siIcnccs his opposers, doing s as it he were covering y n thc burning desert sun with a cloud or blocking thc forw o a rainstorm with a walI.-Read Isaiah 254, 5. f

'A Ranquct for A l l the I'eoples'

6 Like a loving father, Jehovah not only protgcts but also feeds his children, especially in+aspiritual way. After liberating his people in 1!)19, hc set Ixfnrc?them a victory banquet, an abundant supply of spiritual fond: "khomh of armies will certainly make far all the peoples, in this mountain, a banquet o f well-oiled dishes, a banquet of wine kept on the dregs, of well-oiled dishes fl,eNed with marrow, of wine kept on the dregs, filtered."-lsalah 256. 7 The banquet is spread i Jchovah's "mountain." What n is this mountain? I1 Is "thc matintain of the house of Jehm&" to which all nations stream "In the final part of the days." It is Jchovnli's "holy mountain," where his faithful worshipers do no harm and cause no ruin. (Isaiah 22; II:Y) I this elevated placr o l worship, Jehovah n spreads his lush hanquet for faithful ones. And the spiritual good things now supptled s ~encmuslyforeshado ow the physical good thitlgs that will l ~ c w i d r d when p God's Kingdom becom~sIhe solc ~ovcrnmcnt manof hnd. 'I'hen hungr will be no rnclrc. "There will come to be plenty of grain on the earth; on the top o tile mounf tains there will be an ovetflow."-Psalm 72:8,16. 8 Those who now partake of th@ divlnely prodded spiti b a l feast have gloriuus prospects. Listen to Isaiah's next words. Comparing sin ancl death to a nlffocating "woven work," or "enwtopment," he says: "In this mountain Ljehovak] wif\certainly swnjlow up the face of the envelopment that is enveloping over all the peoples, and the woven wark that is interwoven upon all the nations, He will actually s wa/lolow irp death forever, and the Sovereign lord

1
I

1
I

. * See l<rwlntiotr-ftF Granil C ~ ~ H AtHt/tsd!, p a ~ 170. ICIX ~!

him?

4. What "town of the tyrannical natluns" cxl\t\ todny, ant! 11nw rlr>e< even she have tn glorify Jehovah? 5. 1 m doer Jehovah pmtect t l l o s ~ Iv who hnw ahsnlutr rulnfirlcncc In

6, 7 (a) What kind of iensl doe5 Jellovah spwad, ancl for whom? . (b)What does the banquet 11mplrerl~~2l ~ a i a l itc)rcshaduw? by 8 9. [a) What t ~ r o r t ' ~ !nI e ~ ~ inlern:!nklnd wlll I>crc~novd? , ~ r l ~ Explain. (b) What will Litxi do to rwllnve Ihc rel~roach his people? of

274

&~lak"s Pmphap-Ltght for All MaPjgitd I

wiCl certaJfi& wipe the m3 h dl hmx"-hor r n lah 2 8a. % 9 Y s n~m m sin md'death! ( m t o 21:3,4) MOP e, R l rn a am, the lying @p& t h a t ~ s~ m Ira- enm ~* s dudfar ~ ~ o f y e a r s Wbedoneawqwlth. ~ m m mpmach of his p p l e be will bk oway h n all the e earthD Jskowak h i d fm qmken it*(ImW 25:8b) hr HmPvJnfbis happa?Jehcwabwillrmnm mrce of the that mpach, Man a hts seed. (Redation UI:1-3) lit& tle wonder t& Galr% h people wlll be moved to exclaim: %&I 7hkIxoui.W. We haw hopdin him, a d h e will save LIS. n is J&whh W lime hoped In him, let us k k i && * W h W by hM."-l~dEoh 25:9. @@I and The Hiaugbq M e A b e d 1 0 ~f hi$ W o -st h huI T & @ . , H Brael'spqg@ImMwb b m d an8 jeu, h W detests pride @ 16;1@) M &B W W , therefore, fs gI slated for humfii&m. '?he hand of jewlA settle down on o f r i s m a r m ~ ~ andMoab must be tmdhn down in Ib plow w when a ~~p h t d d e n downln a mu~ f u m ~ e , & d h e r n i & ~ p o t r s h i s ~ & b m&& fie af It us wheh a swimerslaps &em out to swimt and he m a t 0Its bughihas the Mcky m mnsof w eE hls hmds.And the fbrHYer4 c W p r high Wh of se& u w*, he must lay low; k rnustahe tt, it I n f con~ tact with the d# dld W-ha 2 :to.12. tD the 5 1 Jehmhls b a d will 'settle dawnn on the mountain 1 ~fMoab.Therqult?HaugWyMoabistobe slappedand tdden d m as "in a manm place: I I+hWs timeD n sm~~strampZdinto~ofdungtomak~~~w
-wh

1 ,U. Wbat hash wtment dioE?sJehovah m m for Moab? 0

"A bmguet of weII~iled #&esa

276

Imhh's Prophecy-~ighr far All Mankind 1

Isal& fowkelb hufntliation for Moab, despite her high* snemjngiy secure walls. 12 Why does Jehovah single out Mmb for such harsh counsel? 'Ilw Moabltes are desmximts Of Lut, the nephew of&Pi raham and a worshiper ofS&QV&. Thus, they axe b not mly neighbors of God's w * m t nation but also relatives. Despik this, thq haveadopted falsegods and manifested hard-set e n m i 9 toward Brad They deserve their fate. In this, Modb is E ~ the enemies of Jehovah's serP vants today. She is especialIy like Christendom, which claims t have mots in the first-century Christian coqrea gation but which, as seen edier, i the printipaI part of s Babylon the Gteat
A Song of Salvakion a What of God's peqle? Thrilled to have Jdwah's favor and protection, t&y raise their v~ices sang. "in that In this song will be sung in the blrd of fudah: 'We haw a strong ci& He sets salvatfofl itreif fbr walls and rumpart Open the gates, p u men, that tk righteous nation thaf s keeping faithfrrI conduct may enter."' (Isainh 2 : ; 6 3,Z) While these words no doubt had a fulfillment In ancient times, they also ha& a dear fulfillmenttoday. Jehcm h ' s "righteous nation;' spiritual Emjis endowird with s l a Str~ng, citylike urganimtim. Wiat a cause for rejoicing, far song! 14 What kind o people come into this "city"?The song f gives the answer: 'me hciination throt is well ruppo&ed you [ will satkguurd in continuouspeacq because if k q in you that ons i5 made to trust. Trust in jehowh, p peau pled for ail times, for in]oh jehowh i the Rock oftimes ins
1 . Why is Moab .singfed out fer Jehovah's judgment decIaration? 2 today, and who 1 ! 14. What "8imng cityRdoes God's people 3 am allowed to enter it?

definite." (Isaiah 26:3, 4) "The inclination" Jehovahsuppats is the desire to obey his righteous principles and to trust in hlm,not in the floundering commercial, political, and religious systems of the world. "Jah Jehovah"is the only reliable Rack of security. Those having full confidence in jehwah receive his protection and enjoy "continuous peace."-Proverbs 35, 6; Philippians 46, 7 . 15 What a contrast to what happens t the enemies a a God's people! "He has laid low those inhabiting the height, the elevated mwn. He abases it, he abases it to the earth; he Brings it in touch with the dust The h o t will tmmpfe it down, the feet o f the afflicted one, the steps of the lowly ones." (Isaiah 26:$ 6) Again, Isaiah may be here referring to an "elevatedtown" in Moab, or he may mean some other sty? such as Babylon, which is certainly elevated in haughtiness. Whatever the case, Jehevah has turned the tables an "theelevated tom," and his 'lowly and afflicted ones' trample it. Today this prophecy aptly fits Babylon the Great, particuIarly Christendom. T 1919 this "elevated town" was forced to release n Jehovah's people-a humiliating fall--and they, in

pling upon their old cap tor. (Revelation 148)How? By publicly announcing
-

7 1

15. How has "the elevated town" been abased todq*and in what way do "the feet of the afRi~ted one" tfampk it?

I
4

Babylon is trampled under the feet of those who were prisoners

Jed's a m v q e a n c e upon h e r . - 8~ : ~~ U; 14-19. 9:

~Aftm~Mumphtintsoag, IsaiahrwealstbedPgffi of his mdWQblonPlnd the reward$ of sewing khe God of righhou~ness~ (Read lsalah 26:7-9,) The prophet p ~ > . pf&s a W example o 'haping inJtW&h' a haye f and P iqe d q d& for Jehwah's and "memorm#IIU What is JehavahSmemorhl? W w 3:IS a s ?elm& y:

dal o me a0 meration atag~neradon,~ &&hf blab aJefrovaht5name and alt that it stands h, hdudhq M s smW and ways. T o ewho d t f v a t e a &mihs h b e .EbrJehovahrn a~rmFed his bking.-R&n 5 4 r of 25:4,5; 135: H m 125 13; 17Nrjt: dl), o r n , h 1 J&W& low && (&@dkduh 2b:ll),)The w l c W men when bvitI . d, t t r b w *fuse to l w n r@teowness in ordm to ens t e r % e f a d a f ~ ~ h ~ ~ Y t t r eql P en d y a db Jehmh'smotally and sfltually str4ghtfmvardsewants. m u e n t l y , the w k k d not sse the eminence of]& l a o h ' They MInot live b enjay the blwhgs that will f h w to mankind after Jehovah's name has been sand6ed E m i the new wndd, when the whole enrth will h n a 9 d o f , f ~ e s s ~ s o m e m a ) r k i l t a taJ&mh's lovhpktndness,The names of su& oneswill not be in the book of life,-Isaiah 652% RweIrttbu 2O:IZ, 15,

...&mynarne&~eIrldeMte,andtbijfsthememw

~~

1 . What hne example of r i m t h a b n Ixalab set? 6 ZX W t p~~ will be withheld from the wW i ?

#Enifitinto your intwlw moms"

280

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for All Mankind I

Jehovah's Hand Recowres I-lixIi

281

18 "0 lehovah, your hand has become high, but they do not behold it. They will behold and be ashamed at the zeal for yourpeople. Yes, the very fire for your own adversaries will eat them up." (Isaiah 26:11) In Isaiah's day, the hand of Jehovah has shown itself to be exalted when Jehwah

protects his people by acting against their enemies. But most have not recognized this. Such ones, spiritually blind by choice, will eventually be forced to "behold," or acknowledge,Jehovah when they are eaten up by the fire o f his zeal. (Zephaniah 1:18)God later says. to Ezekiel: "They will have to know that I am Jehovah."-Ezekiel 38:23.

"Whom Jehovah Loves He Disciplines" 19 Isaiah knows that any peace and prosperity that his fellow countrymen enjoy is due to Jehovah's blessing. " je0 hovah, you wiiI adjudge peace to us, because even all our works you have performed for us." (Isaiah 26:72) In spite of this and in spite of Jehovah's having set before his people the opportunity to become "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation," Judah has had a checkered history. (Exodus 196) Repeatedly, her people have turned to the worship of false gods. As a resuIt, time after time they haw been disciplined. Such discipline, however, is evidence of Jehcvah's love because "whom Jehovah loves he disciplines." -Hebrews 1 2 4 ,
20 Often, Jehovah hsciplines

his people by allowing oth-

er nations, "other m s e s " to dominate them. (Read Isaatr,

iah 26:13.) I 607 B.C.E, he allows the Babylonians to n take them into exile. Does this benefit them? Suffering in itself does not benefit a person. However, if the sufferer learns from what happens, repents, and gives Jehovah
18. In what way are some in Isaiah's day blind by choice, and when will they be forced to "behold" Jehovah? 19, 20. Why and how has Jehovah d~sciplined people, and who his have benefited from such discipline?

exclusive devotion, then he benefits. (Deuteronomy 4:2531) Do any Jews show godly repentance? Yes! Isaiah says prophet-ically: "By you only shall we make mention of your name."After their return from exile in 537 B.C.E., the Jews often need discipline for other sins, brut they never again fall prey to worshiping gods of stone. 21 What of Judah's captors? Ympotent in death, they will not rise up. Therefore yo~t have turned your attention that you migb t annihilate them and destroy all mention of them." (Isaiah 26:14) Babylon will suffer for the cruelties visited upon Jehovah's chosen nation. By means of the Medes and the Persians, Jehovah Wll overturn proud Babylon and free his exiled people. That great city, Babylon, will be rendered impotent, as good as dead. Eventually, she will cease to exist. 22 In the modern fulfillment, a remnant of chastened spiritual Israel was set free from Babylon the Great and restored to Jehovah's service in 1919. Revitalized, anointed Christians threw themselves into their preaching work. {Matthew 24:14) In turn, Jehwah has blessed them with increase, even bringing in a great crowd o "other sheep" f to serve with them. (John 10:16) "You haw added to the nation; 0 Jehovahtyou have added to the nation; you have glorified yourself. You have extended afar all the borders of the land. 0lehovuh, during distress they have turned their attention to you; they have poured out a whisper ofprayer when they had your disciplining."-Isaiah 26:15, 16.

"They Will Rise Up" 23 Isaiah returns to the situation facing Judah while she
21. What will happen to thow who have oppressed God's people? 22. In modem times, how have God's people been blessed? 23, (a) What outstanding demonstration of Jehovah's power occurs in 537 R.C.E.? (b) What similar demonqtration occurred in 1919 C.E.?

282

Isalah4 Propllccy-L1.yIiL

filx

A l l Mon kltrd I

Jehovah's Iinnd BPCOVIPSl r h lf

283

is still captiw to Babylon. He compares the nation to a woman who is in Iabos but who withnut help is unable to give birth. (Rend Isaiah 26:Iz 18.) Thal help coma in 537 R.C.E, and Jehovah's ~'eoplereturn to h c i t homeland, eager to rebuild the temple and restore true worship. In effect, the nation is raised from thc dcad. "Your dead ones will live. A corpse of mine-they will rise up, Awake and cry out joyfully, you residents in the dust! For your dew is as the dew of mallows, and the earth Itself will let even those impotent in death drop in birth," (tsalah26: 19) What n demonstration of Jehovah's powccl I:urther, what a great dernomtration there was when thcsc words were hifrlIed in a spiritual sense in 1913! (Revelation t l:7-11) And how we look fomrd t the timc whcn these words o are fizlfilled in a literal way In the new worlcl and thaw lrnpotent in death 'hear Jesus' voice and come nut' from the

memorial tombs!-John 5:28,29. 24 However, if faithful ones are to enjoy the splrllual blessings promised through Isaiah, lhey mtnt o h ~ y Jehovah's commands: "Go, my people, enter Into your interlor roams, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for but a moment until the denunciation passes over. For, look! jehovoh is coming forth from his place to call to account the error of the inhabibnt of the land ogainsl him, and the land will certainly expose her bloodshed and will no longer c o w over her killed ones." (Isoiah 26:20, 21; compare Zephaniah 1:14,) -llzis passam may have ;In h i tlal fulfillment when the Medes anci Ihc I1crslanr, led hy King Cyrus, conquer Babylon in 539 R.C.II. Acm~ulingto the Greek historian Xenophon, wlien Cyrt~senters Iinb24, 25, la) How may theJews In 539 tl.l:.I:. h a w nheytct sc21ovah's commi~nrl hide themselves? (hl What ma): t h e "lnrcr lor roorn~'' to polnt tn in ntodem times, and what altltuile, nw,t wc citltlvate I&
ward these?

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ylon, he commands everyone to stay I their homes ben cause his cavalry has "orders to cut down all whom they found out of doors." Tarlay, the "interior rooms" of this prophecy could be closely linked with the tens o thouf sands of congregations o Jehovah's people around the f world. Such rongregatlnns will continue to phy a key role in our lives, even through "the great tribulation."(Revelation 214) How vltal thi~t maintain a wholesome attiwe tude toward the congregation anci regularly associate with it!-Hebrews 10:24,25, 25 Soon the end will come for Satan's world. How Jehcvah WlI protect his people during that fear-inspiring time, we do not yet know. (Zephaniah 2 3 ) However, we do know that our suwival will depend on our faith in Jehovah and OUT loyalty and obedience to him. 26 LOOkjng w a r d that time, Isaiah prophesies: "In that day [ehovah, with his hard and great and strong sword, will turn his attention to Leviathan, the gliding serpent, even to Leviathhan, the crooked serpent, and he will certuinly kill the seo monster that is in the sea," (Isabh 2Z 1 ) In the initial fulfillment, "Leviathan" refers to the countries to which IsraeE hnr becn scattered, such as Babylon, Egypt, and Pssyria. Thme countries wiEl k unable to PITvent the seturn of Jehovah's people to their homeland at the proper time. Who, though, i s the mdernday L i mz than? It appears lo be Satan-"the original swpemw-and his wicked system of thinas here on earth, his tool for WTring against spiritual Israel. [Rcvelatlon 12:9,10; 13:14,16, 17; 18:24) "1~vlathan" lost his hold on God's people i n 1919, and soon he will disappear altogether when Jehovah will "certainly kill the sea monster." Meantime, nothing
26. What I "Leviathan" In IsaIahla day and In our day, and what s happens t this "sea monster"? o

CchmA's Hand B a r a m High

"A Great Horn" Heralds Llberty

In 607 B,C.E, ludah's+painsIncrease when jehovah dlsclpllnes hP waywad natlan wkh the stroke of axlle. (Read Isaiah 2E7-11.)The nation's error b too gmt: t o be atoned for by animal d H c e s . So, as one rnlght scatter sheep or p t r with scam u' or might Y M s f ' y leaves away with a mang wind, Jehovahexpels Israel from thelr homeland. Thereafter, wen weak popler, symbolized by the feminine sex, en able to exploit what r rsmnlns In the land,
However, the tlme c o r n s for Jehovahto delivet hls people from captivity. He h s them as a farmer might free o l l w held prisoner, w t speak, on trees. "It must o occur In that day that Iehwrrh wlll baat off the h , t k fmm h e M n g sham of he R i m [EupbW] to the Wmnt wfley of Eg~lpflrnd so p u purseks will be plcksd up one after the o t h q 0 sons of kruel, And It must occur In that dcy that hem wlll be a bkwhg on a great hom, and thaw who am perishing In the hnd of Aosyrlrr and those who are dhperred In the /and of Egypt wlll ettdnly mme and bow down to lehowh In the hdy mountcrin in) m l e m . " (Isabh 2E 12,13) Following his victory in 539 6-CE, Cyrus Issues er decree freeing all the jews in his empjre, h i c h includes those In Assyrla and Egypt. (Ezra 1 :I-4) Is as If "a great horn" saundIt ed, echoing the anthem of M o m for Cod's people.

"LeviathanN may by t do qplrtst Jehovah's popk will o h m r@dU C I : ~ S S . - ~ & 5B 17, S ~

now beautifully illustmtes the hidulness of Jehovah's freed people: "In W day
27 With another smq Idah

27, 28. (a) With what ha5 Jehwahrsvheylvd fiHed the whale esrth? (b) How d m Jehovah p-ct hb vineyard7

shg to her, yw popk: 'A v + l of lbcrmlng wm I I I, Mowh, am safeguarding her. E w y m o m t I shall W hsr. in & titat no one m y turn hls attention agatrtst hw, I shall s g f i r b her m night and dtry.'" (Isaiah 27:& 3) The mn.nant o spiritual Israel and their f

2AS

IsuinI~'sFroph~cy-l,l,~ht All Mankind for

- -

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

hardworking associates have indecd filled the entire earth with spiritual produce. What a cause for celebration-for song! All m d i t goes toJehovah, the one tovtngIy attending to hls vineyard.-Compare John 15: 1-8. 28 Truly, Jehovah's earlier anger has been replaced by joy! "mere is no rage that I have. Who will give me thornbushes and weeds in the battle? I will step on such. 1 will set such on fFre u the same t h e . Otherwise let him f take hold of my stronghold, let him make pwce with me; peace let him make with me." (lsuiuh 2Z4, 5 ) To ensure that his vines continue to pmduce an abundance of "foaming wlne," Jehovah crushes and consumes as with fire any weedlie influence that could corrupt his vineyard. Hence, let no one endanger the we1fare of the Christian congregation! Rather, let all 'take hold of Jehovah's stronghold,' seeking his favor and pmtectlon. In s doo ing, t h y make peace with God-something so Important that lsaiah mentions it Lwlce. The result? ''in the coming days lacob will take mot, Israel wlll put forth bEossoms and actually sprout; and they will simply fill the surface of the productive land with produce." (Isaiah 27:6$ What won* derful evidence of Jehovaha< power the fuifillment o this f vcnc is! Since 1919, anointed Christianr have filled the earth with "produce," nourishing spirlh~aIfood. As a Esult, they have come to be joined by millions of loyal other sheep, who together with them "arcrendering [God] sacreci service day and night" (Ilevelation 7: IS) In the midst of a corrupt world, these joyfully maintain his elevated standards. And Jehovah continues to blcss them with increase. May we never lose sight of the grancl privilege o f partaking of "produce"and s t~arlng wlt h others through it our own shout o praise! f * Isaiah 27:7-131s discussed in thc box on pngc 285.

Isaiah Foretells Jehovah's 'Strange Deed'

1
I
I
I

FOR a brief moment, Tsrael and Judah feel secure. Theit leaders havc forged political alllances wlth larger, m r oe powcrl'ul nations, in an effort to find safety In a dangerous world. Samarla, the capjtal of Israel, has turned to neighhnrlng Syria, while Jerusalem, the capital o Judah, has f rested her hope on ruthless Assyria. 2 In addition to putting their trust in new political allies, some in the northern kingdom may expect Jeh* vah to protect them-despite their continuing to use golden calvcs in worship, Judah is llkewlsc convi nccd that she can cou nl on Jehovah's protection. Aftcr all, Is not Jehavah'~ temple located in Jerusalem, their capltal city? Hut there are unexpected events alread for tmth natlons. jehovah inspircs Isaiah to foretell devcloprnenh that will seem trirly stranh~tu wayward peoplc. Ancl his words contain his vital lersnnt for everyone today.

"The Drunkards of Ephralrn" :3 Isaiah begins his prophecy with startling words: "Woe to the emlnent crown of the drunkards of Ephraim, ond
the fading blossom d itr decomtion of beouly Chat is upon the head of the M l e vulley of those overpowered by wine! Look!jehowh hos someone strong crnd vigorous. Like a thundernus storm of hail, . . he will certainly do
.

1, 2 , Why do Israel and Jltdah fccl sccuwl 3, 4. Clf what Is the northern k i ~ l g d o ~ n lsrncl prfll~dl of

hilrrk's Piopkcy-tight for All Mankjlnd I

a casting down to the earth with M e , Nth the k t the eminent crowns ofthe pksrnko& o Ephralrn wlll be h m f Ned h.ly-4sc1iah28:1-3. 4 Ephralm, the mast prominent of the ten northern tribes, has come to stand for ttte entirr lungdom of Israel, Its capital, enjoys a beautiful and commanding lacation at "the bead of the M e valley." Qhraim's leaders are prwd of their "eminent m of indepenu dence tam the Dmidic w h i p i Jerusalem. But they n are 'drunkard," spiritually iaebdated because of their alliance with Syria agaht Judak EErergthing they cherish is

about toh trampIedunderthefmtofinvaders.-pare

lsaiah 299.
3 Qhrah d m not its p m a m u s pitlon. Isaiah continua: %e Wing ffoww of its dmmtfon of bwutyfhatisqwn the W o f the W!evufkymupt k c o m ilk the wrty fig before summer, that when the seer sees 14 while It b yet ifi 4b palm, he swallows it down," (haIdh 28AJ Ephrairn will &I1 into the hand of dssprla, a

sweet morgei to h consumed i a single Wte. 1s t h w no n hope?then7 W & a& sa often khe me, Wah's judgment e prophecies are tempered with hope. Even though the naffon f l s faithful individuals will mrcrive, wlth Jehovah's al, help. *jehwoh of m i e s will Become ar a m w n ddemtwtion d m a w a n d of b q t o ones miningo m ofhkpmplq undm asjdrftofjusih to lkonesittlng In thejudgment, and w mightinas b those tumlng away fhe bat& Itwn bhe @&."--Is~frh 28:5,6.
"IThey Have Gone Astraf 6 The day ofe n i n g for Samaria comes In 740 B.CE,
5. What is Ismi's prmmicus pos&n, but what hope d m lsdnh hold out? 6 When does lmel meet her demise, but why should Judah nut .

gbt?

Christendom has relied on aillances wtth human rulers mmcr *an on God when the Assyrians devastate the land and the northern kingdom ceases tio exist as an independent natloh What about JudahlHer land will be in by Assyria, and late Babylon will &shy her capital dty. But dr h MI'SIlktime, Judah's temple and prksthml will rernain I opera~on her prophets wlll continue m prophesy. n and ShouldJudahgloat wer the comlng d e m k ofher & ern neighhr? CeMblp not! Jehovah will atSO settle am wlth Judah and her leadm for their dlso?mlbmce and lack o faith, f 7 D h c @ hjs -age to Judah, Isaiah cmtbues: "And
7. In~twrryateJudsh'sleadmdrunlr,andwirhwhtresdts?

~e~ofwinetheyhuwgdnerrstrayan beurweofhtordcatkrgilquorthqhaw~Irbout. Ptiest and pphet--they h m gone artray becaw of ini w h i k y Iiqw, they haw bsnmls cmhed as a muk of thewhe, t k y h ~ ~ a b w t c r s r r ~ u A ~ f tmkdng liqmc t h ~ gpns mfrayln Wseeitg, h thy have reeled as to k h l o n . For the W s themsek haw a/! k a m e full of fl/thy vomit--thm Is no pkrce without k" (lsalah28:Z 8 ) Haw disgusting1 Literal in W s h o w wlould h bad enough,liut these priests and prophets am spiritually intoxicated-thelr minds becloudoud ed by overconfidence i human alllanaes. They have d e n c e i w l themselves Into t h h h g that thdr cwrse is the only p d d one, pimps believing that they now haw a b d q plan i case Jehovah'5 protecdofi prows inade n qua&. I th& splrltually inebriated state, these re.I@ous n leadm spew wt molting, undean expressions that betray their g i m w kck of genuine faith In W ' s pmmks. 8 How do Judah's leaders react to Jehovah's warning? They mock Isaiah, accuslng him o speaking to them as f if they wax Wants: "Whom will one insmct En krPowG etige, and whom wlll orme me u-nd k what h a ~kad?fhorewho~been~liwntfwm ~m&dc~wayfromthabrevrstz?hrlt&'m m a d upon c n n command upon comnmnd meammd wdng line upon -ring /Ins, mmuring Une upon n?etmdng h m a little, them a fit&,'" (Isaiah 28:9, 10)Hnv npetrtious and strange Isaiah s u d to them! He ons keeps w : hImsdf, sayfw This is what Jehmh has commanded1 This i what Jehovah has comrnandedl T t s hs

~~~

8. Wbat b the mpnse to W h ' s

rn~~~age?

j&dcrh carries out his 'strange deed' when he aIlom EabyIon i destroy jeru~olem n

w
292

Isaiah's Pmphecy-Light for All Mankind I

Isaiah Forete11s Itlhovah 3 'Strange Deed'

is Jehovah's standard! This is Jehovah's standard!'" But Jehovah will soon "speak" to the inhabitants of Judah by means of action. He wiIl send against them the armies of Babylon-foreigners who really do speak a different language. Those armies wl certainly c q out Jehovah's il "command upon command," and Judah wiIl fall.-Read Isaiah 28: 71-73.

mock them. Like the Jews of Jesus' day, they do not want God's Kingdom nor do they want their flocks to hear about it. (Matthew 23:13) Hence, they are put on notice that Jehovah will not always speak by means of his harmless messengers. The time will come when those who do not subject themselves to God's Kingdom will he "broken and ensnared and caught," yes, utterly destroyed.

Spiritual Drunkards Today 9 Were Isaiah's prophecies fulfilled only on ancient Israel and Judah? By no means! Both Jesus and Paul quoted his words and applied them to the nation of their day. (Isaiah 29:10, 13;Matthew 15:8, 9; Romans 11:s) Today, too, a situation has arisen like that of Isaiah's day 10 This time, it is the religious leaders of Christendom who put their faith in politics. They stagger about unsteadily, like the drunkards of Israel and Judah, interfering in political matters, rejoicing at being consulted by the f so-called great ones of this world. Instead o speaking pure Bible truth, they speak uncleanness. Their spiritual vision is blurred, and they are not safe guides for mankind.-Matthew 15:14. 11 How do the leaders of Christendom react when Jehovah's Witnesses draw their attention to the only true hope, God's Kingdom? They do not understand. To them, the Witnesses seem t be babbling repetitiously, like babes. o The reliflous leaders look down on these messengers and

1
I

"A Covenant With Death" 12 Isaiah continues h s pronouncement: "You men have said: 'We have concluded a covenant with Death; and with Sheol we have effecikd a vision; the overflowing flash flood, in case it should pass through, will not come to us, for we have made a lie our refuge and in falsehood we have concealed ourselves.' " (Isaiah 28:14, 75) Judah's leaders brag
that their political alliances insulate them from defeat. They feel that they have made "a covenant with Death" to leave them alone. But their hollow refuge will not shield them. Their alliances are a lie, a falsehood. Similarly today, Christendom's close relationship with the leaders of the world will not protect her when Jehovah's time for her accounting comes. Indeed, it will prove to be her undoing. Revelation 17.16,17 13 Where, then, should these religious leaders be looking? Isaiah now records Jehovah's promise: "Here / am laying as a foundation in Zion a sfone, a tried stone, the precious comer of a sure foundation. No one exercising faith will get panicky. And I will make justice the measuring line ond righteousness the leveling inrtmmeni and the hail must sweep away the refuge of a lie, and the wuten themselves will flood out the very place of concealment" (Isuiah 28: 16, 1 7 ) Not long after Isaiah speaks these
12. What is Judah's supposed "covenant with Death"? 13. Who is the "tried stone," and how has Christendnrn reje~teed him?

' In the original Hebrew, Isaiah 28:lO is a repetitious rhyme, rather

like a child's nursery rhyme. Thus, rsaiah's message sounded repetitious and childish to the religious leaders.
9, 10. When and how have Isaiah's words had meaning for later generations? 11. How do the leaders of Christendom react to the good news of God's Kingdom?

294

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for All Mankind I

I

Isnia h Foretells Jehova h's

'Stmtge Deed'

295

words, faithful King Hezelciah is enthroned in Zion, and his kingdom is saved, not by neighboring allies, but by Jehovah's intervention. Huwever, these inspired words are not fulfilled in Hezekiah. The apostle Peter, quoting Isaiah's words, showed that JesusChrist, a distant descendant of Hezekiah, is the "tried stone" and that no one exercising faith in Him need have any fear. (1 Peter 2:6) How sad that the leaders of Christendom, while calling themselves Christian, have done what Jesus refused to do! They have sought prominence and power in t h s world rather than wait on Jehovah to bring about his Kjngdom under Jesus Christ the King.-Matthew 4:s-10. 14 When ?he overflowing flash flood of Babylon's armies passes through the land, Jehovah will expose Judah's political refuge as the lie that it is. "Your covenant with Death will certainly be dissolved," says Jehovah. '7he overflowing flash flood, when it passes through-you must also become for it a trampling place. As often a it passes s through, . . . it must become nothing but sr reason for quoking to make others understand what has been heard." (Isaiah 28:18, 19) Yes, there is a powerful lesson to be learned from what happens to those who claim to serve Jehovah but who instead put their confidence in alIiances with the nations. 15 Consider the position in which these leaders of Judah now f n themselves. "The couch has proved too short for id stretching oneself on, and the woven sheet itselfis too narrow when wrapping oneself up." (Isaiah 28:20)It is as if they were to lie down to take their ease, but in vain. Either their feet stick out in the cold or they pull up their legs and the cwer is too narrow to wrap up in to keep warm. This was the uncomfortable situation in Isaiah's day. And it is
14. When will Judah's "covenant with DeathNbe dissolved? 15. How does Isaiah illustrate the inadequacy of Judah'sprotection?

'

the situation today for any who put their trust in Christendom's refuge of a lie, How disgusting that as a result of involving thernseIves in politics, some of Christendom's religious leaders have found themselves implicated in such terrible atrocities as ethnic cleansing and genocide!

Jehovah's 'Strange Deed' 16 The final outcome of affairs w l be completely conil hary to what Judah's religious leaders are hoping for. Jehovah will do something strange to the spiritual drunkards of Judah. ")ehovoh will rise up just as uf Mount Pemzim, he will be agitated just a in the low plain near Gibeon, that s he may do his deed-his deed is strange-and thar he may work his work--his work is unusual.'' (Isaiah 28:21) In the days of King David, Jehovah gave his people notable victories over the Philistines at Mount Perazirn and on the low plain of Gibeon. (1 Chronicles 14:lO-16) In the days of Joshua, he wen caused the sun to stand still over Gibeon so that the victory of Israel over the Arnorites could be campIete. (Joshua 10:8-14) That was most unusual! Now Jehovah will fight again but this time against those who profess to be his people. Could anything be more strange or unusual? Not in view of the fact Mat Jerusalem is the center of Jehovah's worship and the city oilehovah's anointed king. Up to now, the royal house of David in Jerusalem has never been overthrown. Nevertheless, Jehovah will surely carry out his 'strange deed.'-Compare Habakkuk 15-7. 17 Therefore, Isaiah cautions: "Da not show yourseiws scoffers, i order that yaur bonds may not grow strong, for n there is an extermination, even something decided upon, that I haw heard o f from the Sovereign Lord, jehovah of armies, for 011 the land." (Isaiah 28:22) Although the
16. What Is Jehovah's 'strange deed,' and why i s this work unusual? 17. What effect will scoffing have on the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy?

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Isaiah's Pmphe~y-Liglit ror Anll Mf8r!klr1tlI

leaders scoff, Isaiah's message is M e . He has heard it from Jehovah, with whom those leaders are in a covenant relationship. Similarly today, the religious leaders o 'Chrbtenf dom scoff when they hear of JehovaPtJs"trangcr deed.' They even r a t and rave. But the rnmsag Jehovah's Wihresrcs proclaim is true. E is found in the Rible, a book that thore t leaders claim to represent. 18 As for sincere individuals who do ncrt follow those !cadas,Jehovahwill readjust them and restore them t his fau vor. (Read Isaiah 2893-29.)Just as a farmer uses gentles methods to thresh a more delicate grain, such as cumin, s Jehovah adjusts his discipline according to the individo ual and the circumstances. He b never arbitrary or heavyhanded but actI with a view to the potential rehabilitation of erring ones. Yes, if indiduals respond to jehwah's appeal, there is hope. Similarly today, while the fate of Christendom as a whole is sealed, any Individual who subjects himself to Jehovah's Kingdom can avoid the comim adverse judgment.

Woe to Jerusalem! 1 What, though, is Jehovah now speaking about7 "Woe 9 to Ariel, to Ariel, the town where D ~ v i d encamped! Add yeor upon year, you people; let the festivals run the round. And 1 hwe to make things tight for Arie!. and there must come to be mourning and lamentation, and she must become to me a the altar hewrth of Cod." (lsaiuh 29: 1, 2 ) s "ArieF" possibly means "The Altar Hearth of Gocf," and here it widentlyrefers toJerusalem.That is where the temple with i t s altar o mxifim i located. The Jews Follow the f s routine o holding festivals and offering sacrifices there, f
18. How does Isaiah illushate Jehovah's balance when adrninlskring discipline? 19. In what way i Jerusalemto hecome an "altar hearth: and when s and how does this take place?

but Jehovah takes no pleasure in their worship. [Hosea 6:6) Rather, hc decrees that the city itself is to become an "altar hearth" in a different sense. Likc an altar, it will run with bloorl and be suh]ectedto hre. Jchovah even describes how t t ~ sf wi l I happen: "I must encamp on 011 ssides against yorr, and I must lay s i q t you with a polisode and mise up ~ o agafnstp u slegeworks. And you musr become low so thcrt you will s p w k from the very earth, crnd us h r n the dust your suying will sound low." (Ssaiah 29:3, 4) This is fulfrllcd forJudnh and Jerusalemin 607 R.C.1:. when Lhe Babylonlan army besieges and destroys the city and burns the tcmplc. Jerusalem i~ brought down as low as the ground on which she war built. 20 Rcfore that fateful time, Judah does from time to time have a king who obeys Jehovah's Law. What then? J e h ~ vah fights for his people. Even though the enemy may COVer rhc land, they become llke "fhepowder" and "chaff." In his w n due time, Jehovah disperses them "with thunder m d with quaklng and with a great sound, storm wind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire."-lsaiah 295, 6,
I

21 Hostlle armies may eagerly anticipate sacking Jerusalcm and gorging themselves an the spoils of war. But they are in for a rude awakening! Like a starvlng man who dreams that he is feasting and then wakes up as hungry as ever, the enemies of Judah wlll not enjoy the feast that they so eagerly ant lcipate. ( R e d Isaiah 29:z 8.3 Consider what happens to the Assyrian atmy under SennacherIb when It threatens Jerusalem E faithful King Hez&ah's n day. (lsalah, chapters 36 and 37) In one night, without a human hand being raised, the fear-inspiring Assyrian war machine is turned back-l8S,Q00 of its valiant warriors

20. Whnt will be the ultkmate fate of God's enemies? 21. Fsplaln the illu~tratlon Isalah 29:?,8 . at

2M

Isa &h's h p k ~ y - L f g h t f i r All hfu~&lttd I

Isalfllr ForntcHl$ jehovah's 'Strange Deed'

299

dead1 Drkams ofmaquest wili again be frwated when the war m a t h h e 09 Gag o M a p g gears up @nst jeha f vah's p p l e i the near future.-We1 38:101& 39:6,7. n 22 At the W e that lhbh utters this pottion of Ms praphecy, the leaders ofJudahdo not have faith like that o Hez. f &ah T e haw dnmak t h e m e l m into a spiritual stupor hy by meaas of t e r alIianca with ungodly nations. "Unpr, hi yar men, ahd be unwed; Mind p u s e i w q and bs M i d

d. h ~ ~ ~ i n ~ b u t n o t w t t l rthqr k r e ; ~ w haw mawti umtadiifi But not because of InBwlcahg /Iquor." (Tswah29:9)Spiritdy drunk, these leaders are unable b discem the h p r t of the given bJehovahJs true pmphet. I& s states: "Ujm p men j e h o h I#rs w ~ r r s p i r i t o f & p ~ ; u n d h e d o s m y w r the ~, pmphb, mu! he has covered evm pur he&, the VfsIonA. d Ibr yw h the Won of wetything bmmer

2% HOW Judah'rs spiritual drunkenness a&& does

her?

These who u d t be o s p i r ~ r ~ deaf~ *%ear"the Ward of God e / / c9n

like the wards o the bDok that has h e n sea/& up, whkh f hey give t $omeone knowin the writfq, ,saying: VetId o chis out loud p h e , ' and he as to say: 7 om unable, lbr it Ir seaid up'; and the must be gircen to someone that dOBS not h w wrldna somebody s w g : 'Rwd thrs outloud, pktase,'rmdhe hlrv bsay:'/& &know w d h g at all.' n-4saI& 29:tG72. 23 Judah's religious leaders profess t k spiritually diso creet, but they haw left Jehovah. They teach instead their om twhkd Ideas o rlght and m n g , jwtifpng their f falthles and immoral acdvltles and their leading the POple into God's dlshwr. By means of usorn&hg wonderhlN-hls 'strange deed1-Jehovahwill d them t account l a for their hyprIsy, H says: "%r the msm &at this p e ~ e ple haw come near with Wlrmouth, und they haw glotifled me mete& wlth tMr I@, rrnd they h m r e m w d their heart IEreIf Ibr awrry from me, and W r ikur toward me b m m a men's cmmundment that & being taught themh e hen 1am, the One that will& m d e r h l l y again 4 r t h this people, In a wonderful marmet and with something wonderful;and the wlsdom of their wise men must perish, and the very understundng of rhelr dlsmet men will QO~P cwl /twilF." (Isahh 29:13, t4) Judah's s l- e wisdom efw d and understanding will perish whm Jehovahmanmmrs things fr her en- apostate religious sptem t be wiped o o out by the 3abylonttln World Rwer. T h same thmg hap pened I the 6rst century after the self-styld wise leaden n of the Jews led the natlon asbay. Smsimilar wilI happen i our orm day to Qlristendom.-Matthew W:8,9; n

Romans 11:8, U For now, hmwwI the bragging leaders of Judah beU r n that they are clever enough t get away w t their o ih perwrsion of true mrship. Are they? Isaiah t a n 0%their

23. Whywlll ehovahcaUJwlahtoamunt,dhowmlUhe&so3 24. H w do t e Judam &tray thelr lack of godly fear? o

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Isaiah Foretells Jehovah's 'Strotig Deed'

mask, e x p i n g them as having no genuine fear of Cad wisdom: "Woe t those who an? going o very deep iit concealing munrelfromjebovab hlmsdf, nnd whose deeds have occurred in a dark place, while they ray: 'Who is seeing us, and who is knowing of us?' The ptversity of you men! Should [he pofrer himself be accounted Just like the clay? For should the thing made say respecting its maker: 'He did not make me'? And does the very thing formed uctually soy respecting its former: 'He showed no understanding'?" (Isaiah 29:73, 16; compare I%lm I I I : 10.) No matter how well mncealerl, they think they are, they stand "naked and openly expoqed" to the eyes of God.
and, thus no true

which help us to have a spirthiat vlewpofnt o all things. f White Christians are properly subject to governmental authorities and look to them to provide certain services, salvation comes, not from the secular world, but from Jeh* vaZl W.Also, we must never forget that like the judgment on apostate Jerusalem, God's judgment on this generation is inescapable. With Jchwah':, help we can continue to proclaim his warning desplte opposition, as did Isaiah.
27

Elders and parents wn learn from the way Jehwah ad-

-Hebrews 4:13.

"Deaf Ones Will Certainly Hear" 25 Havever, there is salvation for Individuals who rrxcrcise faith. (Read tsaiah 29:77-24; compare Luk 722.) "Deuf ones" will "hear the words of the book," thc message horn God"s Word. Yes, this is not a Ilealing of ~llysical dcnfness. It is a spiritual healln~, lsalah oncc a ~ a i n points forward to the establishment of thc Messlanlc Klngdom and the restoration of true worship on earth by the Messiah's rule. This has taken place in our time, and millions of sincere ones are allowing themselves to bc corrected by Jehovah and are learning to praise him. What a thrilling fulfillment! Wltimately, the day will come when everyone, every breathing thing, will praise Jehwah ant1 sanctify his holy name.-kalm 150:6. 26 What do such "deaf ones"who hear Cad's Word today learn? That all Christians, especially those tn whom the congregation looks a examples, must scrupulously avoid s 'going astray because of intoxicating Ilquor,' (Isaiah 28:7) Further, we must nwer tire o hearing God's reminders, E
In what sense wilE "deaf ones" hear? 2 . What spiritual reminders do 'drat oncs" hear today? 6
25.

ministers discipline, a w y sccklng to restore wrongdoers las to God's favor, not merely to punish them. (Isaiah 28:2629; compare Jeremiah 3&1l.) And all of us, including young people, are remlnrld of how vital It is to be serving Jehovah from the heart, not Justgoing thmugh the mosions o being a Christian in order to please men. (Isaiah f 29:13) We must show that unlike the faithless Inhabitants of Judah, we have a wholesome {car of Jellovah and a prcfound respect for him, (Isaiah 29:lh) Moreover, we need to

show that we are wllllng tu bc corrected by and to learn from Jehovah,-Isaiah 29:24, 28 How Important It I to have faith and confidence I s n Jehovah and in his way of doing things! (Campare Psalm 146:3.) To most, the warning rnerwge we preach will sound childish. The pxorpectivc cleszrt~czlon an organiof zation, Christendom, that claims to serw G d is a strang, an unusual, concept. Rut Jehovah will accomplish his 'strange deed.' Of that, there can be no doubt. Hence, through the last days of this system of things, God's servants put full trust I his Kingdom and in his appointn ed King, Jesus Christ, They know that Jehovah's saving ads-performed along with his 'unusual work'-will bring eternal blessings to a l l obedient mankind.

27. What lessons can

Chrlsttaas learn ltom Isaiah's pmphecy? 28. How do Jehovah's scrvants view his saving acts?

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

with my spirit, in order to add sin to sin; those who are setting out ta go down t Egyptn'"-/miah 30:1,2a, o
4 What a shock for those scheming leaders to hear their plan revealed! Trawling to F@pt i order to make an aIlin ance wlth her I s more than hostile action against Asyna; it Is rebellion againstJehovahGod. I the time ofKing D+ n vid, the nation looked to Jehovah a a stronghold and took refuge "n the shadow of his wings.'((Psalm 221; 3 6 3 Now r hey "takeshelter in the smnghold of Pharaoh" and "toke refuge in the shadow of Egypt." (Isaiah 30:2b) They have put II~,ypt,tnthe place o God! What treason!-Read f I~tl!~h 30:3-5. 5 As If to answer any suggestion that the mission to Egypt Is merely a msual visit, Isaiah glws mare details. '7he pronouncement against the bwstt of the south: Through the land of dlstmss and hard condltlons, of the lion and the leopard growling, o f the viper and the flying fiery snoke, on the shoulders o f full-grown asses they carry their resources, and on the humps of camels their supplies," (lsa/ah 30:drr) Clearly, the jnurney is well planned. Envoys organize a caravan of camels and asses, which they load with costly goads and lead down to Egypt through a barren wllclerness infested with growling lions and venomous snakcs. Finally, the envoys reach their destination and hand thelr treasures to the Egyptians. They have bought protection-or so they think. However, Jehovah says: "In behalf of the people they wjtl prove of no benefit. And the Egyptians are mere wnity, and they w E help simply i F for nothing. nerefore I how catled this one: %hob-ifiey a# for sitthg stilt."' ((Isaiah 30:&b, 7) "Rahab," a "sea

Keep in Expectation of Jehovah

-lsaiah 30:l-33
I

TN ISAIAH chapter 30, we read further divine pronouncements against the wicked. Yeverrheless, this part
of Isaiah's prophecy highlights some of Jehovah's heartwarming qualities. In fact, Jehovah's characteristicsare described in such vivid t r sthat we can, as It were, see his em comforting presence, hear h gulding voice, and fcel his s healing touch.-Isaiah 3020,21, 26.
2 Even so, Isaiah's counbymen, the apostate inha111tan ts of Judah, refuse to return to Jehovah. Instead, they put their trust in man. How does Jehov~ah about this? h d feel how does t E part of Isaiah's prophecy help Christians tohs day t~ keep in expectation of Jehovah? {Isaiah 3 : Let 0 18) us find out.

Folly and Fatality 3 For some time the leaders of Judah have been ~ h e r n ing in s e a & t h c l a wsjto avoid corning under the yoke o ofAssyria. how eve^ Jehovah has been watchlq. Now he exposes their scheme: "Woeto the stubborn sons,' is the
utterance of jehowh, 'those disposed to carry out counsel, but not that from me; and to pour out a libation, but nor
1, 2. (a) What does Fsaiah chapter 30 rontajn? (bf What qucstlons will we now consider? 3. What scheme is exposed by Jehovah?

How have Cod's rcbelllour vmple put Egypt in the place o God? f 5, 6. (a) Why Is the alliance with Egypt a fatal mistake? (b) What carller journey madc by God's people highlights the foolishness of tlils trlp to Egypt?
4.

p m W e w y h h g btrt d m nothing. Judah's allfahce withherha fatal misbk.

6 A g ~ ~ ~ * j s u m f f 3 F O f t h e ~ , ~ 1 i 5 tenexs may mmemk a shdar journey made i the n

m o ~ l came t $ p b o l w Egypk (Isaiah S1:9,10) She " o

daysofMblos.Tbeir-M-thatvery same "fear-Insplring wflderness." (Deutmnomy 8:1416) In Mosesr day, however, dw h & a d hwere traveling away fnmnEgypt and out of bondqp This time the envoys travel ta F,gyp and, diahdy, fnto subl&on. What M y 1 May we never mak suEh a bad dedsion and exdung~ our spiritual k d o m fr s~~~ a Watians 5 l :.

"""N'""r@
p

Oppasitlon to the Prophet's Message 7-j tells Isaiah to write dawn the mesage that he has pst ddtvered sa that "it m y s e iw~a f u b dayI ~ 1&lr a wIbms to t h e hid&trddedeu (hulah 30:8)Jehmah4s disapproval af p ~ n aWnm Wth m m a b m reliance g on Htm must be m e fnr the Wn&t of httm genemdd tlons-fnciuchg QUF gmerathyltoday (2 Pew 3:1-4) But thereisamoreimmediate~lf!edfaawrit&n record. "fils a

e,m~btrlsmq~omwhohm~un~ M n g b ear the &w objdmmh," (IsaM 30:9) The p m ph have God3 dmd.Hence, It must be written down 50 that hat they cannot deny that they meived a

w *. 28:9; IsW&1,2 8 Isaiah n w offen an example af the peopIe's rebelbus o

att#ude.They%awdgnt&onerse&n&'YbumuFtlwt
7. whydoe~JebEmahhaveIsaiahwrite&mHtJ~mJudsh? 8, 9. (a) I what way do the h r k of J u W hy to rvwru J h n ~ ee a ' s pmp-7 (b) H a r doa Bahh dunonsnare tbrt he d n o t b .

intlmldated?

In Moses' day, the Isdim 01caped from Egypt h Isaiah's dapt Iudah goes f Egypt for help u

see,' and to the ones having visions, 'You must not envision for w any straightforward things. Speak to us smooth things; envision deceptive things.' " (Isaiah 3 : By or0 10) dering faithful prophets to stop speaking what is "straightforward," or true, and to speak instead what Is "smooth"

ralsed woil, the breakdown of which may come nrddeniy, in an instant." (Isaioh 30:13) Just as a grow in^ ht12gein a high wall will eventuaLly cause the
out in a hltghly

wall to callap~c, the Increasing rebelliousness of Isaiah's ro

cnnternpcirarlc.r wl1l causc the collapse o the nation. f
11 With another Illustration Isaiah s h m the completeness ofthe corn in# deshuction: "One will certaidy bmk It a$ in the brwking of a Iuqe jor of the potters, crushed to pieces wjthout one's sporing it, so that there connot be found among its crushed pieces a fragment of earthenware with which to mke the fire from fhe fireplace or t o skim woter from o marshy pbce." (Isaiah 30:14) Judah's clcstructinn will be so cmnlplcte that nothing of value will remain-not even a potsher~l enough to scoop hot ashhlg es from a firuplace or to skim water from a marsh. What a sharncful cndl 'I'he corning destruction of those who rebcl against true worship today will be equally sudden and camplctc,-I-lebrews 6:4-8; Peter 21. 2

and "deceptive," or false, the leaders of Judah show that they want W h e their ears tickled. They want to be praised, not condemned. In their opinion, any prophet not willing to prophesy according to their taste should "turn aside from the wafi deviate from the path." (lsuiah 30:Jlo) He should either speak ear-pleasing thing or stvp preaching altogether! 9 Isaiah's opponents insist: "Cause the Holy One of Ismel to cease just on account of us." (Isaiah 30:716) Let Isaiah stop speaking i the name of Jehovah, "the Holy n One o Israel"! This very title irritates them becausc Jchaf vah's exalted standards show up their contemptible condition, Haw does Isaiah react? Hc declares: "This is what the Holy One of Israel has said. " (Isaiah 30: 12a) Without hesitation, Isaiah speaks the very words his opposers haw tn hear, H e will not be intimidated. What a fine example for us! When it comes m procIaimfng God's message, Chrlstians must never compmrnise. (Acts 5:27-29)Llke Isaial~, they keep on proclaiming: 'This is what Jehovah has said'!

Jehovah's Offer Rejected

12 Fur Isalah's llstencrs, though, destruction is not inwItable. There is a way out. 7Xe prophet explains: "Thir i s what the Sowwiqn Lord jettomb, the Holy One of Jsmel, has said: 'By corning back and resting you people will be s a ~ d Your rnlgl~tinesswill prow to be simply in keeping . trndlsturbed and in trustfulness.'" (Isaiah30: 750)JehovaIz is re&dyto saw Ills peoplc-if they show faith by "resting," o refraining from trying to secure dvation through hur man alliances, and by "keeping undisturbed,"or demonstrating trust in God's protective power by not giving way to fear. "But" haiah tells the people, "pu were not will-

The Consequences of Rebellion lo Judah has rejected God's word, trusted f n a lie, and relied upon "what is dwiour." (lsaiah 30:1%) What will be the consequences? Jehovah, instead of leaving the scene as the nation wishes, will cause the nation to cease to exist! This will happen suddedy and mmpfetely, as Isaiah stresses with an ilI-on. The rebelliousness of the nation is like "a broken sdon about to fdl down, a swelling
10, 11. What wllt be the comquencxs of Judah's mwlt?

ing"--/mkh 30:fSb.
12. How can the people of Judahavoid destruction?

308

Isaiah's kaphecy-Lixht for All Mlit~klnd I

13 Isaiah then eIaboratm: "Andp u proceeded to say: 'No, but on horses we shali flee!' That is why you will flee. 'And on swift horses we shall ride!' That is why those pursuing you will show themselves swift." (Isaiah 30: 16) The Judeans think that swift hmes, rather than Jehovah, will mean their salvation. (Deuteronomy 17:16; Proverbs 21: 31) However, counters the prophet, their trust will be an illusion beause their enemies wiIl overtake them. Even large numbers will not help them. "A thousand will tremble on account of the rebuke of one; on account of the rebuke of five you will flee." (Isaiah 30: 17a) The armies of Judahwi1I panic and flee at the shout of just a handful of the enemy."In h e end, only a remnant will remain, left alone, "'likea mast on the top of a mounruln and like a signo1 on a hill." (Isaiah 30:77b) True to the prophecy, whcn Jerusalem is desboyed in 607 B.C.E., only a remnant survive.-Jeremiah 25:s-11.

help his chlldren. He delights I showlng mercy.-PsaIm n 103:13;baiah 557.

15 Thcse reassuring words apply to the Jewish remnant who are mercifully allowed to survive the destruction o jerusalern In 607 B.C.E. and t the few who return f o to the I'rornbcd Land in 537 B.C.E. However, the prophet's wads also comfort Christians today. We are remindrrl that Jehovah will "rise up" in our khalf, bringing an end to this wickecl world. Faithful worshipers can be confident t ' t ~ iJehovah-"a Gad of /udgmentM-willnot allow ~t Satan's world to exist far one day longer than justice requires. Tl~crcfore,"those keeping in expectation of him" hav~ much reason to he happy.

Comfort Amid Condemnation 14 While these sobering words are still echoing In the ears of Isaiah's listeners, t h e tone of his message changes. Threat of disaster gives way to a promise of blessings. merefore Jehovahwill keep in expectation of showing you favor, and thereforehe will rise up to show p u mercy. For jehomh i a Cod ofjudgment Happy are a//those keeping s in expectdon of h m " (fsaicrh 30:18) What heartening i. words! Jehovahis a compassionate Father who yearns to Note that if Judah had been faithful, the very opposite could hme happened.-Leviticus 26:7,8.

Jehovah Comforts His People l~y Answering Prayers 16 Same, though, may kc1 discouraged because deliverance ha? nnt conle as soon as they had hoped, (Prwerbs 23:12; 2 Pctcr 3:9) May they draw comfort from Isaiah's

1
I
I

13. In what do the leaders otJudah put 'thdrmnfidence,and is such confidence justified? 34, 15. What comfort do the words of Isaiah 3W18 offer to the Inhabitants of Judah in ancient times and t true Christians today? o

next worils, which highlight a spedal aspect of Jehovah's personality. "Wiwn the very people In Zion will dweN in lerusaiem, you wii/ by no means weep. He will without fail show you favor at the sound of your outcry: as raon os he Irears ir he will actually answer you." (Isaiah 30: 19) Isaiah conveys tcnrlernesr in these wordr by switching frum the plural "ynu" in verse t 8 to the singular "you"in verse 19. When Jehovah comforts distressed ones, he Was each person IndtvIduaEEy. As a Father, he does not ask a disco~rraged son, 'Why can't you be strong like your brother?' (Galatians 6:4) Instead, he listens attentively to each one. In [;la, soon as he hears It he will actually answer." "as What reassuring words! Discouraged ones can be greatly strengthened if they pray to Jehovah.--Psalm 652. 16. Haw doe?Jehwah comfort discouraged ones?

Isainh's ProghecpLight for All Mankind I

Hear God's Guiding Voice by bading His Word 17 AS Isaiah continues h address, he reminds his listens ers that distress Wl come. The people will receive " b e d in the bm of distress and water in the form of appssion," (lsaiah 30:2Qa)The distres and oppression that they will experience when under siege will become as familiar as bread and water, Even so, Jehavah is ready to come to t h e rescue of rightheartedones. "Ymr Grand Instructor will no longer hide kimselt a d your eyes must become eyes seeing your Grand instructor. And p r own ears will hear u word behind you saying: n t i s is the way. Walk in i t you peaple,'in case you people shouldgo ta the right ar in case you should go to the /eft."-iraiah 30:20b) 27.' 18 Jehovahis the "Grand Irntr~ctor.~ has no equal as He a teacher. How, though, can people 'SEE' and "hear"him? Jehovah reveals himself through his prophets, whose words are recoded in the Bible. (Amos 3 6 , 7) Today, when faithful worshipers read the Bible, it is as if God's fatherly voice is telling them the way to go and urging them to reildjust thetr course o conduct so as to walk i f n it. Each Chrktian should Listen carefully as Jehovah speaks through the pages of the Bible and though BibEe-based publications provided by "the faithful and discreet slave." (Matthew 2445-47) Let each one apply himself to Bible reading, for "it means h Me.'-Deuteronomy 32:46, 47; s Isaiah 4 : 7 81. Contemplate Future Blessings 19Those responding to the voice of the Grand In-

"Upon every ekvated kill there must come to be streams"

"This is the only place i the Bible where Jehovah is called "Grand n

Instruaor!'
17, 18. Even in diF~cuIt times, haw does Jehwah provide guidatice? 19, 20. What blessings are h store for those who respdnd 'to the voice of the Grand hstrurtor?

sbuctor will scatter their graven images, viewing them as something disgusting. (Read Isaiuh 30:22.) Than, those respowive ones will enjoy wonderful blessings, These are described by Is&, as recorded in Isaiah 3023-26 a deUgbtful restoration prophecy that has its initld fulMlment when a Jewish e m k t rerjrhs b m captivity in 537 B.C.E. Todax this prophecy help wta see the marvelcnrs blethat the Messiah brings abmt f the qiritun d paradise now and the libral Paradise to come. 2 "He wjjl certoinlygive the rain for p u r seed with which 0 you sow the ground, and us the produce of the ground bread, which must become fof artd oily. Yow livestock will graze i that day J a spadwspasture. And the cattle and n n the fuII-growtt asses cultiwfing the gmund wi# eat Fodder 4easmed w i h sorrel, which was winnowed with the shavel and with the fork." (lsaiah 30523, 24) *Fat and c 1 i. 1Y bread-had rich in nourishment-will be man" s l y staple. The L n will prOdu# s abundwy that wen the anad o imals will benefit. Westock will he fed "fodder seasoned with sorrel"-tasty fddet mewed far rare oclcasiam. Ti hs f ~ o d wen been "winnowedn-a Watment aarnrally has

' I-

resend h~ grain intended for human consumption. What delightful diet& hiah p e m t s here to illustrate the f l c b w o f J e h M sb h h g s an faithful mankind! u~ewyh~mwrrtahunduponemyelevated MI1 mmf cwm to be stmrw* (I& 30:2Su)' haiah pram& an apt word picbe emphasMng the mpletam ofJehmahlsblasiqp. No shoaage of water-a pcedous rommodity that will flow not only i the lawn lands but an wery mwntaln, men *upon every high mountah d u p n every elwabed hilLR Yes, hunger wlll be a of the pa$t (Psalm 72: 16) Further, the prophet's
XkZSlr w d % *in theday ofthe bkg slaughter when the taw6 1"In t l ~ e 1. fnltiaJ fdllheut thb may refer ta the fall of Bab-

sttentlon shifts to things even higher than the m

%elightdWfulYmoonmwtMeartJleIj#tb%fPe gIbwIng sun; md the uwy light o the glowing sun will bef come sewn times m much, lik the fight of in the day thatjehmwhbindsup the brwkdown ofhis people

dheals~ths~rwrund~ltingftwntk by him." (lsaloll 3096) What a thdhg climax t tbh o btllllant prophecy1 The glory of God will sbine b t i all rh n its splendor, The blessings In st= for God's faithfulm r shtpeft wlll exceed vastly-seven59ld-anyth1ng that thq

-*
~

have experienfed beSam.

em don, which operued the way Ear I s m l t enjay the b o l be o rP t d at blah 30:1%26. @ee pagraph 1%)It may also refer t the delltrue. o tim at r4rm@ldon, whi will make p s ~ t b l e g m & t hIMI. m the
merit of t w biessi rigs In the new wM, h

2 . D s f P the cam~&m&ss the bledngs to come. 1 eab of

jehovoh wlll come "with his anger and w M heavy cloudsW

Judgment and Joy 22 The tone o Isaiah's rnasag~ f changes again."LookI" be says, as if t get hls listmew' attention.V r e n~meofW* o wh b m l n g h m far a w w ~ burnhg with hls u n v rrnd with heavy clouds. k iiw hh I& they hdw k c o m fadl of denunciation, and hJs tongue Is ilk a demurlng k " . {Isaiah 30:27) Thus far, Jehavah has stayed m y YU Q W ing the enemies of his people to follow their mmure Now he draws closer-like a steadfly apptoacMng t h d m storm-to execute judgment. %h spirit is ii&ea 8 d i n g
t o a n d h d adeveof Whmess;andabrMladHrt t h crrusesoneap w d rr o t d b e h trPejamdtMpeon erb u pk." ClmM 30:28) &nernies of God's people will be endrdad by "a flooding torrent,u violently % and f with m sieve," and reined in with bridkRThey will m be

twPrmtfhot1~1chescleartoths~bsw~ng&

23P;gainIsaiah'stmechangesashed~thebapW

condition o faithful worshipers who will o m day rebun f

22, la contrastwlth the bLesslagstacohe dot the faithfcrL what does Jehovahh m in smn far the wlckd? 23, What Fauser "mloiclng of heart" for Christians Way'!

314

Isnitllfs Pt'opltrcy-l.i,ylr t thr A l l httu~llt~/ ~ ; d k I

K C T ~ l < , v p c 8 r t r ~ ~ l/ o]~i ~l ! t ~ u t ~ l ~ 111 o ' )

315

to their land. "You people will come f hove cr song like o that in the nisht that one sanctifies oneself for Q fesliwrl, and rejoicing Gf heart like that of one walking with a fluti t enter into the mountain of jehowrh, to the Rock of Ismo e. (Isaiah 30:29)True CIzris%anstoday ex jreriencc a si tnl" ilar "rejoicing of l-~eatt" they conternplate the judgment as o Satan's world; the pmtechon extended to them hyjehcr f vah, the "Rock of salvation;" and the Kingdom hlcssir~gs to crime,--Psalm 95:1.

this expression of gladness, Isaiah returns 10 t l ~ r theme of judgment and idcntilies the objea o G d ' s C wrath. 'Yehovah will certainly make the dignity o his voice f to be heard and will make the descending of his arm to be seen, in the raging of anger and the flame of a devouring fire and clorrdburxt and rainsrom and hailstones. For because of the voice af)ehovak Assyria will be struck with terror; he will strike it even with a staff." ((Isaiah30:30, 3 7 ) With this gaphic description, Isaiah ernphaitrs [he renlity of God's judgment of hssyria, In eflccl, Arsyrin stands before God ancl trembles at the s i ~ hol his 'descendinji t arm' of judgment. as Thc prophet continues: "Ewryswing of his rod of chartiFernent that lehovah will cause t settle down upon Aso syrio will certainly prove to be with tambourines and with harps; ond with baffles of brundishing he wN acl.ually i fight against them. For his Topheth is set in order from recent times; it is also p r e p a d for the king himself. tie has mode its gife deep. Fire ond wood are in abunrlance. 771ebreeth of jehomh, like .a torsent of sulphur, is burning agoinst iL" (lsaioh 3032, 33) Tophet !I, in thc ValIcy of Hinnom, is used here as a figurative place L~urnin~ with fire. By showing that Assyria wiI1 end up there, Iw2.1 After
24, 2s. 1-101' does Isaiah's prophecy empha~izr rcallly nl' Awyrthe La's comlng judgment?

Ish str~sres suddcn and c o ~ n ~ ~ l e t c the destruction that is to cumc uvon that nntlon.-Campare 2 K l n ~ 23: 10, - s 26 Althartgh this judpyment mcssagc :cis directed against A s r a the slgnlficar~uco f IsaIah'r prophe~ygoes furqyl, thcr. (llomiin~ 15:4)lchorah wil I again, as t L wrtre, come lrom afar tu floorl, h a k e , ancl bridle all thore who o p press hir people. (rzckicl 38:18-23;2 Rter 37; Revelalion 1O:ll-21) M y that day come quickly! Meanwhile, Christians ca~crlv , await the dav ofdeliverance. Thw derivc stretlgth trom rcllc.ctin#ulkn thc vivid W O T ~ S recordcrl In Isniilli chapter 30.Thcse word$encourage Gad's servant~ trcasurc the privilege of prayer, apply themselves lo tu Ritlle study, and mcdit;ite upot~ Kingclom Messings the to comc. (I'r;alm 42:1, 2; I'roverhs 21-6; Romans 1212) 'Ihuq I~alah's o ~ l hell? all o us to keep In expectation of w s f
3 .

Jehovah,
26. (a) Jchovalt'a ~ ~ r c ~ c l n m a t against Arsyrla have what modernl(~i~s day upill [cat l o l l ? (11) I low ilo (:llrlal Lana torlay kc[) In exl~ebalion of

llil

. -

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

N o Kelp

From Thls World

317

No Help From This World

Isaiah 31 :7 -9

JERUSALEM'S inhabitants are terrified-and with p o d reason! Assyria, the mightiest emplrc of the day, has attacked "all the fortified clties of Judnh and proceeded to seize them." Now,Assyria's milltary machine i q thrcatening the capital c t of Judah. (2 K nas 18: 1 3,17) What rvll1 iy l King Hezekiah and the rest oIJerusalern1s fnhahitants do?
2 Since the other cities of his land haw already fallen, I-lezekiah knows that Jerusalem is no match for Assyrja's powerful military force. Moreover, tllc Assyrian5 have an unparalleled reputation for auelry and violence. That nntlon's army is so fear-inspiringthat opponents somdlmcs flee without even a fight! In view ol' Jcrusalcm's dlre circumstances, where can her inhabitants turn for hclp? 1s there any escape from the Aqsyrlan army? And how did God's people get Into such a sitriation? To answer these questions, we haveta look back and see how Jehovahdealt with his covenant nation in earlier years.

I
I

12 tribes o Israel were u n i t 4 as one natlon. Ntw the f death ofSolomon, Jeroboam led the ten northern tribes in rebellion against the house of David, and from then on the nation w 3 5 divided into two kingdoms. 'Tltis was in the year 997 B.C.E. 4 Jemboam was the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, and he 11x1his suhlects on the path of apostasy by replacing the Aamnic priesthood and the lawful worship of Jehovah with an illegitimate priesthood and a system of calf worship, (1 Kings 1225-33) This was abhorrent to Jehovah. (Jeremiah 32:3R, 35) Par this and other reasons, he allowed A5syrla tcr subjugate Israel. (2 Kings 15: 29) King Hoshea tried t break the hrsyrlan yoke by conu spiring with Egypt, but the rchemc failed.-2 Kings 124.

Israel Turns to a False Refuge 5 Jehwah wants to bring the Israeljtes back to their senses." So he sends the prophet lsalah with the follawing warning; "Woe to those going down to Egypt for assistance, those who rely on mere horses, and who put their trust in war chariots, because they are numerous, and in steeds, because they are very mighty, but who have not lmkd to the Holy One of lsmel and have not scorched for Jehovah himseff," (Isaiah 3 I : t 3 I low tragic! Ismel places
greater t r u s t i horrcs and in war cliariats than In the livn ing God, Jehwah. To Isracl's fleshly way o thinking, f Egypt" horses are numerous and mighty. Surely Egypt will be a valuablc ally against thc Assyrian army! I-Iowwer, the Israelites will soon find that thelr fleshly alliance with Egypt is futile.

Apostasy In Israel 3 From the time that Israel left Epypt until the death of Davld's son Solomon-a period of just over 500 pars-the
1 2. (a) Why are Jerusalem's inhabitants terrified? (b) In vbw of , Jeru3alemdspredicament, what questions are fitting? 3, 4, (a) When and how was the nation of I~ract dlvlded Into two kingdoms? (b3 What bad start did Jeroboarn ~ l v c northern tcnthe
tribc kingdom?

GY, three verses of lrninll chapter 31 are dl&ed the hrst

Iy to 1srael.The final slx verses seem to apply to Judah.

main-

5. To whom does Israel turn for help?

318

h i a h ' s Propimy-tight fur Al!

MdnMnd I

6 Thmgh the Law cwmmit, the bhab1tmts of both 1% rad arid J u d ate h~ dedicated relatiomhip wiih Jehc a vzlh. @ x d m 24:= 1 M d a I6:15-17)By tuning to Egypt for help, Israel m d s a lack offaith I Jehovah and n n disregard fw the laws that are part o that holy cove f nant. Why? &cause induded in the k m s o the covenant f is Jehovah's pramhe to protect his people if they render dusi~e to bim ~ ~ I Q I STrUg fO that 26.3-8)

pro*, Jehavahhas~tedly~tabeaHfo~in the time of dlstms.' [Psalm 3739;2 Chmnides 1&2,9-12; 17;3-5,lO)Moreovq through Moses, the m d t o r of the Law cwlenaat, Jehwahtold future kings o Israel not t inf o sxease horses for thernse1~. (Deuteronomy 17:16) Obedia c e t this qplation would show that these kIngsl look o t "theHoly Qne.ofTsraeI" ibr-on. o Sadly, the rulers ofI m do ndt have that kind of Mtk. s 1 7There i a k m i in W f ChWam ?mday. bras s m el baked t &IMe s u p m from o t rather than to the h more povmh1 mppxrt that Jc m h provides, tlker wise tO&x ChrMa135:may be tempted to place!theit con& den@ i fleshlys o m s nfsecurfty-bk accwnts, social n posittan, c ~ ~ ino WOIM-rather than in Jehothe m vah. Grant& C * M family heads take s m m their & S y resp0rl~bWyto provide materially for their w e , t e do not put t e r faith In mamihy hi (1 Timothy S:@ al tbfngs. And they gu& against "aery sort of cwetousm." (Lulpg 12:13-21) The orply "WCUE height h ~ Co S f d i s ~ ' isJehQvah ' Gad-Psalm 9 9 ; 54:7. 8 w h i e m , m& the a,n leaders who uaft-

ed the treaty with Egypt, saying "He Is also wise ctnd will brlng k what is mIamItous, and he hnr not caIM Back his own wv&i and he d l certain4 rise up against the house of & d m and au the dstwnce d tho^ Io gI g m n g what b hurtfu1." (isahh 372) k d ' s leadm may think that they are wise. But is not the (;reator of the unlwm supremely wise7 By all appearances Ismel's scheme t seek a help from Egypt Is StrateIglcallysound. Nw~rtheles5, forming such a political alllance consUtuta spiritual
Tkose who put thelr Crust in mottdal thhgs wlll be dlsappolnted

T?

7'

6. why d m Israel's wrn@ to Fgypt ktmy a blatant lack of falth

7. Wbat rn Cbbtbns W a y 1 h m Israel's lack o faith? f 8, 9. (a) AIttmughIsmeYs pkns may seem shateglcallysouad, what will be the outcame, and w4yl M What Is the diEmnce htrman pmmtres miJ e h M ' s pmmlm1

InJehwah?

320

tsainh'.~Prophecy-Light fir All Mrrnklnll I

adultery i Jehovah's sight. (Ezekiel 239 -10) As a result, n Isaiah says that Jehwah will "brlng in what is calarnltnus!' 9 Arrrnan promises are notoriously unreliable, and human protection is uncertain. Jehovah, on the other hand, does not need to 'call back his ownwords! He will without fail do what he promises. His word does not return to him without d b . - I s a i a h 55:10,11; 14:24. 10 WilI the Egyptians prove t~ be a reliable protection for Israei? No. Isaiah tells issaeI: T h e Egypfiuns, though, ure earthling men, and not Cod; and their hones are flesh, and not spirit, And Jehowh himself wi!l stretch out his hand, and he ilSot is offering help will have to stumble, and he that is being helped will hove to Foil, and at the some time they will all of them come lo on end," (Isaiah 33:3) Both the helper (Egypt) and the helped (Israel) will stumble, fall, and come to their end when Jehovah stretches out his hand to execute his judgment by mtlans of Anyrla.

/1
'
I

1 7) [n 742 R,C.E., , Assyrian forces attack Samaria, the capltal clty of Israel. After a threeyear siege, Samaria falls, and In 740 B.C.E., the tcn-trlhe kingdom ceases to exist. 12 F our clay Jehovah has commfsstoned a worImYide n preaching work I.o warn "mankind that they should all cv~rywhcrcrcpcnt." (Acts 17:30; Matthew 2414) Those who rcjcr? Gotl's means of salvation will become lie "a snapped-off twig,"destroyed Iike the apostate nation of lsracl. On thc other hand, those hoping in Jehwah "will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it." (Psalm 37:25)) How wlse, then, to avoid the mistakes of the ancient:kingdom of Isracl! k us put our whole mnfit drncr in Jehovah for ralvabun.

Sarnaria's Pall 11 In his mercy Jehovah repeatedly sends prophas to cncourage lsrael to repent and return to purc worship. (2 Kings 1Z13)Despite this, Israel adds to its sin s calf f worship by engaging in divination, IrnrnoraI Raal worship, and the use of sacred poles and high places. The Israelites even malw "their sons and thelr daughters pass through the h," sacrificing the h i t of their own flesh to demon gods. (2 Kings 17:14-17; Psalm 106:36-39; Amos 2:s) To bring an end t Israel? wickedness, Jehwnh deo crees: "Sarnaria and her h g will certainly be silenced, ll ke a snapped43 twig on the surface o waters." (Hosea IO: f
10. What will happen to both Egypt and Israel? 11. What record ofsin has Jsrael amassed, and what I5 t hc end m It? u

Jehovah" Saving Power 13 Siiuated a few milcs frum Israel's southern border is Jerusalem, the capital city of judah. The inhabitants of Jerusalem are only too aware! of what has happened to Samarla. Now they find themselves threatened by the same terrifying enemy that brought about the end of their narthcrn neighbor. Will they learn horn what befell Sarnarla? 14 Isaiah's next words are comforting to Jerusaiem's residents. He assures them that Jehovahs lwes his coveW nant people, saying: '7hb is whot Jehomhhas said f me: o ')mt a the IIon gm wts, m n the maned young lion, o w its s prey, when there Is caited out against it fuEE number of shepherds, and in spite of their voice he wit! not be terrified and in spite of their commotion he wilj not stoop; in

12. What work has Jehovahcornmlssionedtoday, and what happens to thme whn tllsrqatd the warnlngl 13, 14. What comfnrtlng words does Jehovah have for Zion?

Isaiah's Propphecy-Light for All hfrnkir~d

7
I

No Help From Thilis World

she same way jehovah of armies will come down to wage war over Mount Zion and over her hill.'" (Isaiah 37:4) Like a young lioll standing over its prey, Jehovah will jealousIy protect his holy city, Zion. No boa~ting, threatening no words, nor any other commotion by Assyrian troops wiIl turn Jehovah from his purpose.
Like a lion guardfng its prey, lekovah will protect his haly city

15 Notice, now, the tender and cornpassior~ate way that Jehovah will deal with the inhabitants of Jerusdem: 'Like birds flying, jehovah of armies will in the same way defend jerusalem. Defending.her, he will also certuinly deliver her. Sparing her, he must also cause her t escape." (Isaiah o 375) A mother bird i s ever vigilant to delend her young. With outstretched wings she hovers above her brood, and with watchful eyes she searches for any sign of danger. If a predator comes near, she quickly swoops down tn defend her chicks. In a similar way, Jehovah will tenderly rare for the inhabitants o Jerusalem because of the invading f Assyrians.

"Return, You People" 16 Jehovah now reminds his people that they have sinned and encourages them to abandon their erring ways: "Return, you people, to the One against whom the sons of Israel have gone deep in their revolt."(Isaiah 375) The ten-tribe kingdom of Israel has not bcen alone in her rebellion. The people of Judah, also "sons of Israel," have gone "deep in their revolt." This will be especialiy evident when, shortly after Isaiah concludes his prophetic message, Hezekiah's son Manasseh becomes king. According to the Bible record, "Manasseh kept seducing Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do worse than the nations that Jehovah had annihilated." (2 Chronicles 3319)lmagine that! Jehovah annihilates pagan nations because they are disgusting in their filth, yet the inhabitants of Judah, in a covenant relationship with Jehovah, are even worse than the people of those nations.
15. How does Jehovah deal tenderly and compassionately with the Inhabitants of Jerusalem? 16. {a) What lavlng appeal does Jehovah make to his people? (b) When does the revolt of the people of Judah become especially evident? Explain.

No Help From 7'hls MFarld

17 At the dawn of the 2 1 g t cent-, conditions are similar in many reSpert~ tho* In Jmhh in the d a p of Mato mob The world is' lnCreasihglypd-ed by reI@bns, radal, m d ethrtic hatreds. Horrific acts o Murder, torture, f 1%In, Whnt way ace mhdlblobs W a y corflganble to t h w in JUeh under Mamseh?

325

rape, and so-called e t h c cleansing have victimized millions. Without a doubt, p~ople and nations-especially the natbns of Christendom-have gone "deepIn their rev&" We can he cerbin, ~ o w e ~ e r , Jehovah will not althat low wickedness to continueindefinitely.Why? Because of what took place in Isaiah's day.

The world h poldrleed by dIgi0613, racial,,and ethnic hatreds

Jerusalem Delivered 18 Assyrian kings gave uedit ta their gads for victory an the battlefield. The book Andent Near Emtern T x r conet tains writings of Ashurbanipal, m Assyrian monarch who claimedthat he was guided "by Ashur, Bel, Nebo, thegreat gods ws] lords, who (always) march a [his] side, [when t he] defeated the battle (qxperienced)soldiers .. . in a @eat open battle." I Isaiah's day, Rabshakh, who repxesenb n King Sennacherib of Assyria, shows a sisnliar belief in t h e invaIvement of gods in human warfare when he addresses King Hezehdah. He warns t h e Jewish king against ~ l y ing on Jehovahfar salvation and points out that the gods of other nations have been ineffdve in piatecling their people agmst the mighty Assyrian war machhe.-2 Kings
18:33-35.
19 How does King Hezeldah react? The Bible account says: "As soan as King Hezekiah heard, he immediately ripped his garments apart and covered himself with sackcloth and came into the house of Jehovah."(2 Fmgs 19:1) He&ah recognizes that there is only One wRo can help him in this frightening situation. He humble$himself and looks to Jehovah for direction. Jehovah gives the sought-for direction. Through the prophet Isaiah, he says: "In that day they will reject each

18. What warning does Rabshakeh give t Hezekiah? o 19. How does HmeEriah react t Rabshakeh's bunts?: o 20. How will Jehovah act in behalf of the inhabitants of Judah, and what should they learn from this?

4aid..,

--

Ma H d p

From T?t!s World

onebis ~ k g d o f d l w r a n d h l s Wuekssgudsd goid, h t your hart& haw mOde Ibr youa a sin." s (wah 3f:n When Jehavah fights for his people, Sennacherfb's gods wlll be for what they are-~wrthless. This Is a -.1 that the inhabitants of JudaR shwld take to hem. Desplk the fai#hfulnessof King Hez&ah, the h d of Judah,like [srwl, has bwn hlled with id&. (hiah 2:s-8) For the Inhabitants dJudah, ~ h l l d ing their rdattonshlp with Jehovahwill require repenting; of th& skis and rejecting "each one his worthless gods."

Exodus 34:14. now prophetically d d k s Jehovah's execudonal acts agdnst Judah'sf e m m e enemy: T w Assyrian
-See
2 Isaiah 1

~~bythe~notdtcrtofamcm;andas~~~~ thut of earthling man, will devrrur him. And he must &

b;emuseofthesmrd,mdhlsownpungmmwillmmeb be fw b e d labor W,# (Isaiah 31:8) When the showdown comes, Jerusdem's inlwbitanb do not even k tc~ draw their swords from their sheaths, The cream o Assyrf iaJs Mops are dmured, not by the swords of men, but hy tlw sword of Jehavah.As for ~ i a Wng Smnachern ib, "he must flee becaw of the mrd!'After the death of 285,000 o hh warriors at the hand o Jehwah'sangel, he f f return home. Later, while bowing to his god NIsmch, he is assassinated by his own sons.-2 KSngs 19:35-37. ZZNP one, including Hezeldah, could foresee how Jeh P a wwld deliver Jenwalem from the h s ~ l a n y . c Ph m MmrEheless, Hetekiah's way of d d n g wlth the crisis
21, How dae~raalah prophetically describe Jehovah's exeatkana1 aas against the BissyrfanT 22. What mW t i a n a today leam from the m invoMng Het s ekiirh and the hssyrlan army?

Hezekiah went to the house of lehovoh b help r

-1 328

Isalnh'J I'roplrecy-lf,ylrt f i r All Mlrrrklrtrl I

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

provides an excellent exampIe for those who face trlals today. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) In view of the terrifying reputation of the Assyrians threatening Jerusalem,I-[ezekiah understandably was afraid. ( 2 K n s 193) S i l hc had ig tl, faith i Jehovah, and he sought His guidance, not man's. n What a blessing for Jerusalem that he did! God-fearing Christians today may also experience intense ernotior~ when under s t m s . In many situations, fear is undcrstandable. Yet, if we 'throw all our anxiety upon Jehovah,' he will care for us. [I Peter 5:7) He wjH help us overcome our fear and will strengthen us t cope with the situation that o is causing stress. 2-3 In the end, it i Sennacherib, not Hezekiah, who Is left s with fearful emotjons. To whom can he turn? Isaiah f o w tells: "'His own crag will pass uwuy out of sheer fight, and because of the signal his princes must be terrified,' is the utterance of fehovah, whose light is in Zion and whose furnace i4 in Jerusalem."(Isaiah 3 1 9 ) Sennachcril~~s gods -his "crag," the refuge in which he lras trusted-fail him, They "pass away out nf sheer fright," as it w r e . Moreavcr, even Sennacherib's princes are of Httle help. 'They too arc struck with terror. 24 This part of Isaiah's prophecy pmvides a clear message for any would-be opposer of God. There is no weapon, no porn, no device that can Frustrate Jehovah's purposes. (Tsaiah 41:11,12) At the same time, those who clat rn ta serve Gad yet turn away from hlm to seek security in fleshly things will meet with disappointment.Any who "have not looked to the Holy One of Tsmel" will see Jehuvat1 "bring in what is calamitous." flsaiah 31:1, 2) Truly, the only real and lasting refuge is Jehovah Cod,-Psal m 37:s.
23. Inwhat way is Sennacherib, not He~xkiah, with fearful ern* left tions? 24. What clear message can he learned from what happened tn the
Assyrian?

The King and His Princes

--

lsaiah 32:l-20

TOWARD the end o the lWQ's, a remarkable collection f of scrolls was found In caves located near the Dead Sea, In Palcstinc. Thcy became known as the Dead Sea Scrolls and art! heliwcd to have been written sometime between 2(X) Ii.C.L and 70 CE, Best known among them is a smIl

nf Isaiah written In Hebrew on durable leather. This scroll I s almost complete, and its text differs very little from that of manuscripts of the Masoretic text dated about 1,000 years later. 'Thus, t h e scroll demonstrates the accurate transmlsslon of thc Bible text, 2 A noteworthy detall about the Dead Sea Scroll o Isaiah f I$that the portion making up what is today known as Isalah chaptcr 32 I marked with an "X" scrawled i the mars n gin by a scrlhe, W do not know why the scribe made such e a mark, hut w do know that there is something special e nbottt thls portion of the Holy Bible. Rtlllng for Righteousness and Justice Isaiah chaptcr 32 opens with a thrllIing prophecy that is finding rcrnarkabte fulfillment in our day: "Look! A king ME reign for righteousness Itrdt and as wspecB t' princes, they will rule os princes for justice itself." (fsoiah 32:l) Yes, "Look! " "This exclamatloo calls to mind a similar
3
1, 2. What can he salt1 about the text of the Dead Sea Scroll of Isaiah? It, What adminlstntlon Ir prophafed in the books of Isaiah and Rev-

clatlon?

Isatah's Pmkhccy-Light far All Mankind I

exhatian fwnd in the lerst prophetic book of the Bibie: "The One seatedan the throne said: W k ! I rn making all things nw" (FhvdAion 215) The Bible books o Isaiah e! f and Malion, written snm@ 9W years apwtl both present a glowing -#on of a n@w adminishatimQnYa e nw he-* composedof the ChristJaus, enthroned ln the hemem in 1914, and 144,000 wrulers "bought from among mankhdua@er with "a new earth; a global, wild human society." (Rmhdm 141-4; 2 : - ; 1 l 4 halah 65:17-25) This entire a m e m is made e b l e by m gm t ~sransomsacrlfrce ~Adterseelng~~nthefmal~oftheselMlOOO calm,the apakJohar p r k " saw, and, lwkl a great I ctwvwd, W n o m u w a s able t number, out ofall nao tions anxt t r l h and peoples and toques, stankfure the throne and k f m e the Lamb." Here Is the nudws of thenewe*th-agreat~nownumberlngtntothe~born, who h m bem @herd t the dde of the few, mosta 1 elderly m i n i n g ones of the M4,If0;0. This great crnvd y will survive the fastMapba&ngp a t tfibulatlan and in the m s e earth will be joked by resurrected faithful ones and bflllom of athers who vsfli be @tpen the appor~tyto~~AUwhodosowillkblessd~th ewxasting life.-rnbtiorn z4,1' $. 7 5 H m e v a , as I g as the present hate-med world exm #,m~afthr!gmtnawdneedpr~m.Inlarg@
*The"klngLIn~32:1~~hadap~Wry~ncem

King Hemkiah. Nmwmr, the m m a l r l e r ~o Isaiah chapter 32 b h t f fnretatbIllDtheKing, QuMJesus.

6 Whatnueleusof thene~eaahisnawpresent? 5-7. What role do the I d 'princes' play I God% s? n

In the Deud Seu Scrdls, /miah chapter 32

is m k e d with an "X"

~thisisp~ddbythe"prlnces*who"mle~ ,,for justfce itself:' W t a grand amqementl These "princes* are desaied further in the glowing words o Idah's f
pmphq:"EuchmemustpmwtobekoMdngpkrr;e h r n thewindadaphce efcomwiMentliom t h e d n storm, I shams of vvrtlter in o wtaks country, like k the shardow of u heavy crag in an ahmhd kmd."--Is~Icrh

322.
6 Right now i this time of worldwide distreis, there is a n need fr "pdmq" yes, elders who will "pay attentton t o o all the f a l caring for Jehmah'ssheep and adrnhlsw tdng justice i harmowwithJehwah'srighteous prlndn ples. (Am 2U28)Such "princes"must m e t the q u a l l b tiom set out in1Tmothy 327 and TlW 1:6-9. 9 In his great prophecy desrr&fog the dlstresshl "condusiaa of tbe $yskmo things: Jesus said: 'See that you are f not terriftatN (Ma&ew a:=) are JesustblIowers Why not W W hy today's d q p o u s W d condtlms?One reason 4 that the "prima"-whether they be anointed or "other sheep"-are loyally prokkiq the flock. (John 1 : 0 16)They W4ssXp cape fw their brothers and shters, even i the face 6f such humors as e t h i c wan and genadde, h n a spiritually exhausted w d d , they see to # that depressed souls are rekbed by the upbuilding t u h of W ' s rts Word, the Bible 8 Duhgthe past sDyem, the "princeu hawmmckrlylntnvim. Vdnmn who are oftheather sheep are being Wried as a d e d q b g "chieftainH d~ so that after the great tribulation, qualified onesamong them wlll

...

8. How Is lehavah Wgand using the "prhmuwho are of the n i athw sllwp?

Each 'pdn~e' like a hidng piwe fmm the wind, shdbr is kom the rain, water in the daert, and shade from the sun

334

Isaiah's Prophecy-Lilphf for/lll Mankind I

Ute King and His Princes

335

be ready for appointment to serve in an administrative capacity in the "new earth." (Ezekiel 44:2,3;2 Peter 3:13) By providing spiritual guidance and refreshment as they take the lead in Kingdom service, they are proving themselves to be "like the shadow of a heavy crag," bringing relief to the flock in its realm of worship." 9 In these perilous last days of Satan's wicked world, dedicated Christians sorely need such protection. (2 Timothy 3:1-5, 13) Smng winds of false doctrine and twisted propaganda are blowing. Storms are raging in the farm of wars between and within nations as well as direct assaults against faithful worshipers o Jehovah God. In a world f parched by spiritual drought, Christians badly need the streams of water o pure, unadulterated buth in order to f quench their spiritual thirst. Happily, Jehovah has promised that his reigning King, through his anointed brothers and supportive "princes" of the other sheep, will provide encouragement and guidance to despondent and discouraged ones in this time of need. Jehovah will thus see to it that what is righteous and just wiII prevaiI.

Paying Attention With Eyes, Ears, and Hearts 10 How have the great crowd responded to Jehovah's theocratic arrangement? The prophecy continues: "The eyes o f those seeing will not be pasted together, and the very ears of those hearing will pcry attention." (Isaiah 3233) Over the years, Jehovah has provided for the instruction and bringing to maturity of his precious servants. The Theocratic Ministry School and other meetings oper* See The Watchtowq March 1, 1999, pages 13-18, published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Sew York, Inc,

atjlng in the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide; the district, national, and international conventions; as well as the specialized training of the "princes" to treat the flock with loving care have al I contributed to the building up of a united, global brotherhood o millions. Wherf ever these shepherds are on earth, their ears are wide open to acljustments in understanding of the advancing word of truth. With Bible-trained consciences, they are ever ready to hear and to obv,-Psalm 25:10. 1 1 The prophecy then cautions: 'The heart itself of those who are overhasty will consider knowledge, and even the tongue o f the stammerers will be quick in speaking clear things." (Isaiah 32:4) Let no one be overhasty in drawing conclusions about what is right and what is wrong. The Rible says: "Haw you beheld a man hasty with his words? There is more hope for someone stupid than for him." (Proverbs 29:20; Ecclesiastes 5:2) Before 1919, even Jehor vah's people were tainted with Babylonish ideas. But starting in that year, Jehavah has given them a clearer understanding of his purposes. They haw found the truths he has revealed to be, not overhasty, but well thought out, and they are now speaking with the certainty o belief, not f stammering with uncertainty.

"The Senseless One" 12 Isaiahts prophecy next draws a contrast: 'The senseless one will no longer be called generous; and a for the uns principled man, he will not be said to be noble; because the
senseless one himself will speak mere senselessness." (Isaiah 3.25, 6a) Who is "the senseless one"? Ar if for emphasis, King David mice supplies the answer: "The senseless
11. Why are God's people now speaking with confidence, not stammering with uncerta~nty? 12. Who are 'the senseless ones' today, and in what way do they lack generosity?

9. What conditionr show the need for "princes" today? 10. What provisions has Jehovah made so that his people can 'see' and 'hear' spiritual things?

336

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for A11 Manklrrd I

The King and His Princes

337

one has said in his heart: 'There is no Jehovah.' They have acted ruinously, they have acted detestably in their dealing. There is no one doing good." (Psalm 14:1; 53:l) Of course, confirmed atheists say that there is no Jehovah. In effect, so do "intellectuals" and others who act as if there were no God, believing that they are accountable to no one. The truth is not in such ones. There is no generosity in their hearts. They have no gospel of love. In contrast with genuine Christians, they are slow to provide for needy ones in distress or fail to do so entirely.
13 Many such senseless ones come to hate thosc who champion God's truth. "His very heart will work at what is hurtful, to work at apostasy and to speak against Jehovah what is wayward." (Isaiah 32:6b) How true this is of modern-day apostates! In a number of countries in Europe and Asia, apostates have joined forces with other opponents of truth, speaking outright lies to the authorities, with a view to having Jehovah's Witnesses banned or restricted. They manifest the spirit of the "evil slave," of whom Jesus prophesied: "If ever that evll slave should say in his heart, 'My master is delaying,' and should start to beat his fellow slaves and should eat and drink with the confirmed drunkards, the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and in an hour that he does not know, and will punish h m with the greatest severity and will assign him h s part with the hypocrites. There i s where his weeping and the gnashing of his teeth will be."-Matthew 24:48-51.

t y to deprive truth-hungry people of spiritual food, and r they try to keep thirsty ones from dridung the refreshing
waters of the Kingdom message. But the final outcome d l be what Jehovah declares to.his people through another of his prophets: "They will be certain to fight against you, but they will not prevail against you, for 'I am with you,' is the utterance o Jehovah, 'to deliver you.' "-Jeremiah 1:19; f
Isaiah 54:17.

1s From the middle years o the 20th century, imrnoralif ty has openly run riot in the lands of Christendom. Why?
The prophecy foretold one reason: "ds for the unprincipled man, his instruments are bad; he himself has given counset for arts of loose conduct to wreck the afflicted ones with false sayings, even when someone poor speaks what is right." (Isaiah 32:7} In fulfillment of these words, many of the clergy in particular have adopted a permissive attitude toward prernasi.tal sex, cohabitation of the unmarried, hornos-&uality-indeed, "fornication and uncleanness of every sort." (Ephesians 5 3 ) Thus, they "wreck" their flocks with their false saylngs. 16 h cantrast, how refreshing is the fulfillment of the prophet's next words! ' regards the generous one, it is ' A for generous things that he has given counsel; and in favor of generous things he himself will rise up*"(Isaiah 3 : ) 28 Jesus himself encouraged generosity when he said: "Practice giving' and people will give to you. They will pour into your laps a fine measure, pressed d m , shaken together and overflowing. For with the measure that you are measuring out, they will measure out to you in return." (Luke 6:38)The apostle Paul too pointed to the blessings that come to generous ones when he said: "Bear in mind the
15. Today, who particularly are "unprincipled," what "false sayings" have they promoted, and with what result? 16. What makes genuine Christians happy?

the meantime, the apostate causes "the soul of the hungry one to go empty, and he causes even the thirsty one to go without drink itself. (Isaiah 32:6c) Enemies o truth f
14 In

13, 14. (a) Bow do modern-day apostates work what is hurtful? (b) Of what do apostates try to depnve the hungry and the thirsty, but what will be the final outcome?

lf

The King ond 1% Prlt~crs 1

339

in. Tremble, you women who aw at ease! Be agitated, you careless ones!" (haioh 329- l F a) 'I'hc attitude of these
women rnay rcrninrl us o those totlny who claim to s e m f God but who an. not 7~alnw his scrvicc. Such ones are in found in the rell~ions "Hsl)ylan the G m t , the mother of of the harlo~.'' (Itcvclalion 1 7:s)1:o~ cxample, members of Christendom's rpligions a r c w r y much as lsaiah describes thece "women."'rhcy arc "at c.;iscIw complacent as to the judgment ancl agitiit-ion tllal wl ll soon c n ~ l lrlthem. 18 The call aoes fortlil then, ta hlac religion: "Undress and make yourselves nuked, and gird sackcloth upon the loins. Beo t yourselves upon the breasts in lumen takion over the desirable fields, over the fruit-hearing vine. Upon the ground of nty people merely thorns, spiny bushes come up, for they are upon all the houses of exulhtion, yes, the highly doted town." [isuioh 32:17 b-73) 'Shc expression "Undress and makc y n u r s e l ~ ~ s nakccl" cloes not appear to mean total disrohin~. 'l'hc nncicnl citslom was to wear an outer garment over nn ~ t l t l ~ r ~ n r m e n t . nuier garment 'I'hc wa? often a means or idrnlll~catlon.(2 Kings 10:22, 23; Revelation 7: 1.7, 14) ?'hc prnphccy b thus commanding members of hlsc religions to renwve their outer garments -their pretended ldcrrtity as scrvants of Gad-and to put on instead garments of cnckcloth, symbols o l n~ourning over their imminent jurlgment. (ltewlation 1 Zlh) No godly fruitfulness is to l#r found amon# the religious organizations of Christendclrn, whlcl~ claim? to be God" ''highly elated m n , " or among tllc rest of the mernhert of the world empire of false religion. 'l'hdr domain 01 operiiti~n brings forth "mcrcly t h o r ~ l sspiny busher" of neglect and , abandonment. 19 This picture of gloom extends to all parts of apostate "JeerusaIem": "The dwelling tower itrelf has been forsaken,
18. Wha i x instruct4 ti) "glrd s;tcktloth upon thc loins." and why? 19. What ctlntlition nf apcrqlntu "Frrural~~n"cxpnqed by Isaiah? 1%

A Christian finds great

happiness in sharing the good newr with atlrers

words of the Lord Jesus, when hc hirnscll sald, "l'here i s more happiness ingiving than thew is in rccclvlng! " (Actr 2035)Gcnuine Christians are made happy, not by ga:nlnlng material weaIth or social promincnc~, hy being generbut uus-in the same way that their I;(uI, JehovaIr, is grncrous. (Matthew 544,451 Their greatest happiness is fot~nd doin ing God'swill, i genemusly giving o thcmselvcs in order n f to make known to others "the gloriuus good IIPWS of the happy God."- 1 Timothy 1:11. 17 Isaiah's prophecy continues: "YOU women who are at ease, rise up, listen to my voke! You careless daughters, give ear to my saying! Within a year and some days you careless ones will be agitated, because the grope picking will have come to an end but no fruit gathering will come
--

17. Who Nday are like the "carelew dau~htcrr" rcf~rred by I5~11111' tn

the very hubbub of the city has been abandoned; Ophel and the watchlower themselves have become bare fields, far time indefinite the exultation of zebras, the pasture of droves." (Isaiah 32:74}Yes, even Bphel is included. Ovhel is an devated part of Jerusalem that provides a strong ticfensive position. To say that Ophel become? a l~areheld bespeaks complete desolation for the city. Isaiah's words show that apostate "Jerusalem"-Christendom-1s not watchful of doing God's will. It is brren spiritually, far removed from truth and justice-+eastlike in the extreme.

A Glorious Contrast! 20 Isaiah next presents a heartwarming hope for those who do Jehuvah's w l -Any desolation of God's own peoil ple will last only "'untilupon us the spirit Is poured out fmm on high, and the wilderness will have become an orchard, and the orchard i h l f is occounkd as a real forest,'' (Isaioh 32:75) Happily, since 1919, Jehovah's spirit has becn poured out in abundance upon his people, restoring, a,s: it: were, a fruit-bearing orchard of anointed Witnesses, to be followed by an expanding forest of other sheep, l'rosperity and growth are the keynotes o his organization on earth f today. I the restored spiritual paradise, "the glory o Jehon f vah, the splendor of our God," is reflected by hls people as they proclaim his incoming Kingdom wor1dwlde.-lraiah 35:1,2. 21 W sen, now, t J e h d s glorious promise: "in the wito demessjustice will certainly wide, and in the omhard rjghteousness itrelf wit! dwell. And the work of the true righteousness must become peace; and the sewice of the true righteousness, quietness on$ security to time Indefinite." (EsaTah 32:T6, 77) How we1 l this describes I he q ~ i ri20. What is the effect of God's spirit bring poured out upon his pmwle? 21. Where is righteousness, quietness, and security found today?

tual condltjon of Jehovah's people today! In contrast with the rnajorlty of manklnd, who are divided by hatred, vialencc, aurl abject spiritual poverty, true Christians are gIobally united, even though thcy are "out of all natiom and t r l tws anti pcoptcs and tongues." '['hey live, work, and serve t n harmony with God's righteousness, ddng so in confidence o enioying, at last, true p i c e and security to lime f indcfinitc.-Rcvclation 79, 17. 22 In the spiritual paradise, lsalah 32:7& is already being fulfilled. It says: "My people must dwell in o peaceful abiding place and In residences of full confidence and in undisturbed resting-places." lirui far the imitation Christians, "it will certainly hail when the forest goes dawn and the dty becomes low in an abased state." (Isaiah 32:79) Yes, like a W r n ~ ~ ~ s t ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ h a Jehovah'snjudgment is p~ised ilslorr , lo drikc tile counterfeit city o t false religion, debasing its "forest" of wpporters, obliterating these for all time! 23 This portion of the prophecy concludes: "Happy are you people who ore so wing seed alongside all waters, sendinq forth the feet of the bull and o f the ass." (Isaiah 32:20) '1'l;e hull and the ass were beasts of burden used by God's andent people in plowing fields and sowing seed. Today, Jehovah'spcoplc use prlntiq equipment, elertronic tools, modern hullclings aancl transport and, above all, a united, theoctatlc organization to print and distribute biIlions of Blblc pub1tc;ltions. Willing workers use these inshuments to sow S C ~ of Kingdom truth throughout the earth, IitS erally "alangside all waters," Millions o God-fearing men f and worncn have already k e n harvested, and other multitudes are joining them. (Revelation 14:15, 16) All of them arc indeed to bc counted "happy"!

22. What 1% the dl Reference between the condition of God's people and that od those i falrc religion? n 2.X. Wliat gloll:!lwork IF nenring complctlon, and hmv are those sharIng In ~t to Ilc counted?

CHATTER TWENTY-SIX

"NUNcsirirnl Wlll Soy: ' l a Sick'* l

"No Resident Will Say: 'I Am Sick' "

- . -

God's people, is now pursulng Its own greedy ambition for world conquest. (Isaiah 1k7-11) Will Jehovah allow Its brutal mbtr~atrnent hls people to go unpunished? of Wilt there he a Ilealing of. the nation's spiritual illness? Cn Isaiah chapter 33, we read Jehovah's answers to these
queskions.

Isaiah 3 3 1 -24

"ALL creation keeps on groaning t o ~ t h e and helng in r pain together until now." So said the apostle Paul. (Romans 8:22) Despite advances in medical science, slckness and death con-tinueto plague the human race. How wonderful, then, the promise that climaxes this part ofIsaiah's prophecy is! Imagine the time when "no resident will say: 'I am sick' " gsaiah 3324) When and how will this promise be fulfilled?
2 Isaiah is writing at a time when God's cownatlt people are sick spiritually. (Isaiah 15, 6) They have plunged s deeply into apostasy and immorality that they need sco vere discipline from Jehovah Gad. Assyria serves as Jchovah's "rod" to administer that discipline. (Isaiah 7:17; 10:5, 15) Erst, the northern ten-tribe kingdom of Israel falls to the A~syrians the year 740 &.CEO Kings 17:l-18:18:9in 12 I 7 1 A few years later, King Sennacherib o fl Assyria lat~nches an d a t attack on the southern kingdom of Judah. ( 2 Kings 18:13; Isaiah 36:l) Bs the hsyrian juggernaut sweeps though the land, Judah's complde annihilation seems inevitable. 3 But Assyria, going beyond its mandate to discipline
1 Why are the words of lsaiah 33:24 comforting7 . 2, 3 (a) In what rray is the nation of lsnel sick? (b) How docs As. syria serve as God's "rod"of djscipljne?

Despoiltng the Despoiler 4 Thc prophecy begins: "Woe to you who are despoiling, without you pusself being despoil&, and tu you who are

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dealing trwcherously, without others hovifig d d t trwckemusly with you l & soon a you hove finished as a despoils ec you will be despotled. As soon as you hove done with dealing trwchemusly, they will deal treucherorrsly with you," (Isaiah 33: 1 ) Isaiah directly addresses the despoiler, Assyrin. At the peak of its power, that aggressive nation sccms unbeatable. It lzas 'despoiled without being despoiled,' ravaging the cities o jurlah, even stripping the f housc of Jchovah o its wealth-and dnlng so with seemf IIIR impunity1 (2 K111gs18:14-16;2 Chmnicles 28:21) Now, though, the tables will be turned. "You wllI he despoiled,'' Isaiah boldly rlcclarer. How comforting this prophecyir to

faithful ones!
5

During that frightening period of time, Ioyal worship

ers af Jet~ovahwill need to turn to him fat heip. Isaiah thus prays: "0 jehowh, show us favor. tn you we h w e hoped. Become our nrm [of strength and supporfl every morning, yes, our soSvrrclon h the time of distress. At the sound o tumoilr peoples how fled. A t your arising nations f have been dispessed." (Isaiah 332, 33) Appropriately, I=iah prays that Jchovah dclivcr His people as I-le has done
4, 5. (a) Wlint rewrral tvlll Alsyrla experience? (b) What prayer does Isaiah o R ~on I~chalf l Jehovah's p p l e ? t o

"No Rcsir-lcrll lYill Sny: 'I t l ~ r .?Irk*" l

345

many times in thc past. (l'~;ilm443; hX: 1 ) And no sooner does Isaiah oncr this pravrr t tmn Corrcltr;Jehovah's ans w to it! r r
6 "Thespoil of you peopl@ [the Assyrfnns] will actuol!y be b gafhered like the cockmnrches when gathering in, Iike the o n m h of locust swarms that is nahitlg ogainst one." (lsniah 33:4) Judah is Iii~nilii~r t i tlr>v;trti!llnxinsect invawll sions. This time, tticlt~gh, l ir J~~tl;lh's i rnrrnic.~ that will be tlwastatecl. Assyria wl l l run'c~r' htlrnilinti ng rlefcnt, and its e soldiers will he forceti tn flcc, lcnvinl: I~chlrid great spoil a for the inhabitantt; of Judnh to cc>llcci! It is only fitting that A~svria,known for i l c crt~elty, will c x p r l c n m being despoiled,-lsa iah 37:36.

The Modern-Day Assyrian 7 How does rsaiah's prophcr-y iipply In clttr day?She spiritually sick nalion of 1sr;ic.l can hc cr~mparcdto unfaithful Christendom. Jurt ;IS.lchrwah used Assyrln as a "rod" to punish Isriicl, s o hr will usr ;I "rnrl" ((1 punish Christendom-as well as tlio ri*sl o Ihc world crnllire of false C religion, "Bnbylon lllc (;r~;ll." ( I ~ o i a h 10:s; licvelntion 18: 2-8) That "rorl" will hc mcrnhcr n;itic~nj ol'thc Ui~itcd Nations-an organin~tinnp i c t ~ ~ in Ilcvclntion ns a sevcnr~d
headed, ten-horned, scnrlrl-i.r~lc~rt~d 11cnrl.-Rcvclawilt!

tion 123, 15-17. 8 When the modern-day Assysl;in rarnpnxcs ti~roughout

h. What will happcr~ A ~ ~ ~ r ,inrl, rvlly Is this fttlr~$ tn lil 7. (a) Who mtl;~y Ilc cclrnlii~~r~tlllc qllrlturilly vlck natlon o [ lo I Isracl? (b)Who wlll wruc af [cllnvill I,*: ''rtltl" Ir) rlclt rny ( :hrI~tcnclum? 8. (a) !A710 today can hc rotnl~ilrrtl Sctin;~clicrll~? U'ho will the It) (11) moderndny Sennarticrlh 111, r~iil~r~ltlr~~r~cl ,Inti with what t<, nll:~t.Fi, outcome?

Isoioh pray3 confidently to Iehovoh

346

Isnlnh's Prtlplterqy-I,l,plr t /itr All Mrrrrklrtd I

#No Resident lYili Say: ' i Aal S l r k S u

the realm of false religion, It will appear to be unstoppable. With an attitude like that of Sennacherll~, Satan the Llevil will 'be embsIdencrI to strike out-nol only against apostate organizations deserving of punishment but also against true Christians. AIongide the remaining ones of Jehovah's anointed spiritual sons, millions who haw come out of Satan's warld, which Includes Rallylon the Great, take their stand for Jehovah'sKin~dom, An~crcd t a the refusal of true Christians to pay him homage, 'the god of this system of things," Satan, will launch :in all-out attack against them. (2 Corinthians 4:4; Fzektel38:lO-16) As terrifying as this attack will no doubt hr, Jchwah's people will not need to cower in fear. (Isaiah t0:24,25) They have assurance from God that he will I their ".mlvaSion x in the time of distress." He will intervene, I~ringing devastation upon Satan and his crowd. IEzfkicl38:18-23)Just as in ancient times, those trying to despoil God's people will themselves be despoiled! (Comparc Proverbs 13:22b.) Jehovah's name will be sanctified, ancl survivors will be rewarded for having sought "wisdom ond knowledge [and] the fear of ]ehovah."-Read Isaiah 335, 6 .
A Warning to Faithless Ones 9 What, though, will be the fate of faithless ones in Judah? Isaiah paints a grim picture of their impending doom at the hands of bssyria. (Read Isaiah 3393 Judah's military "heroes" cry out-in fear at thc hs.;yrlan advance. " ~ e s s & ~ e ofspeace,'' diplomats sent to negotiate peace r wit11 the warlike dssyrians, facc mockery and humlllatlon. They will weep bitterly over their failure (Comparc Jeremiah 8:lS.)The brutal Assyrian wH1 not pity them. (Read . Isaiah 33:8, 9 ) He will ruthlessly i p o r c covenants he har

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made with the tnhabitant~af Judah. (2 Kings 18:14-16). The Assyrian will 'contemn the dtEa' o Judah, viewing f them with contempt and scorn, having no regard for human life. The situation wlll be so devastating that the land itself will, as it were, mourn. Lebanon, Sharon, Bashan, and Carrnel will likewise mourn over I he dcsulation. 10 Similar rircumgtances will 110 doubt develop in the near fuh~re thc nalions hegin thelr assault on religion. as As in Hezekiah's day, pl~yslcalresl~tance these destructn tive forces will be futile. Chrlstendorn's "heroes"-is politicians, financiers, and other pople of In fluence-will be unable to come tu her aid, I'otitlcal: and ftnancial 'cavenants,' w ageementq desijincd rn protect Christendom's interests will be violated. (Isaiah 2R:lS-18)Frantic attempts t stave off destruction by rliplomacy wlll fail. Commero cial activities will come t a halt, as Christendom's propo erties and investments are cnnfiscated or dcst-royed, Any who still have friendly fcclings toward Christendom will do little more than stand at a safc dbtnncc and mourn her parsing. (Revelation IR:9-19) Will true Christianity be swept away with the false? No, fnr Jehovah himself gives this assurance: *'Now I will rise up,'rays jehowh, 'now I wifl exuk myselt now I will lift mysdf up.'" (lscrioh 33: 10) Finally, Jehovah wit l intervene in hehiith o bit11 ones, f ful like Hezekiah, and halt the Assyrinn'r advance.-Psalm 125. 11 The unfaithful cannot count on such protection.Jehovah says: "You people conceive dried gross; you will give birth to stubble. Your own spirit, as a fire, will eat you
10. (a) How wlll Chrlslentlom's "hcrocs" prove to be Ineffective? prntert genulnc Chrt6tlarrs dur lng Chrlstentlnm's day o distress? f IT. 1 . (a) When and how dn the word? of t~nlah 2 33:ll-14 And h E filirnentf ib) Jehovah's words ~ l v what warnlng for toclay? c

(I?) Who will

9. (a] What wiII Jndah's "heroesi' and "messengem of peace" do? (h) How will the Assyrian re~pondto peace lnltlat~vcs from Jurlab~?

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' N o Resident Will Srry: ' I A t n (Slrk'"

up. And peopler must k o m e a the burnirngs of lime. s As thorns cut they wit/ be set obime even with fire. Hear, you men who ore h r m ,what I must do! And y know, you who are nearby, my migl~tiness.tn Zion the
sinners have come to be in dread; sI~iwring grubbed has hold of the opostoPs: 'Who of us can reside for any time with a devouring fire? Who of us can reside fur any time with long-lasting conflugrotionsf'" (lsclioh 33: 1 1 14) 'I'hese words evidently apply to the tlme whcn Judah facer a ncw enemy, Babylon. After thc death o Hezckiah, Juf dah reverts to her wicked ways, 9wr the next few decades, conditions in Judahdeteriorate to the pnlnt where the cntire nation has to suffer the fire o Cod's anger.-Ileuteronf omy 32:22.

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plans and schemes hntchccl by disobedient ones to avert God's judgment provc to bc of no more s u b stance than stubble. In fact, thc proud, rehelllflus ~pirit of the nation will actually trigger the events leading to its destruction. (Jeremiah 525-1 1) Wicked oncs wlll "bcmme as t h e burnings of lime"-utterly dcsl~oycd As they con1 template this impending duom, the rcbelllc~us Inhabitants of Judah experience a sickening dread. Jehovah's worrls to unfaithful Judah illustrate the sihtatlon OF C:hristcnrlurn's members today. If they do not heed < ; d f s warning,a grim future awaits them.
12 Wicked

"Walking in Continual Rightcousness" 13 By way o contrast, Jehovah next says: "mew is one f who is walking i conbrnual righteousness and speakn ing whot is upright, who is rejecting the unjust gain h m fmuds, who is shaking his hands clear from taking hold on a bribe, who is stopping up his ear from listening lo biood-

shed, and who ir closing his eyes so as not to see what is bad. He is the one that wi reside on the heightr themN sdves; his smuw height will be cmggy ploces dificult t o appmoch. His own bread will certninly be given him; his water supply will be unfailing." (Isaiah 33: 15, 16) As the apostle Peter latcr cxprcshes it, "Jehov;)hknows how to deliver people of godly devotion nut of trial, hut t reserve o unrighteuus people for the day of judgment to be cut off." (2 Peter 2:9)Jcremiah expcrlcnccd such deliverance. During the Rahylonlan sl~fic,pcople had to "eat bread by weight and in anxious care." (C7xkicl 416)Some women even ate the flesh of thcit own children. (Iarnentations 2: 20)Yet,Jeehovah saw to It that Jcrcmlah was kept safe. 14 Christians today must likewise 'walk In continual righteousness,'daily observingJehovah's standards. (Psalm 15: 1-5)They must 'speak what Is upright' and reject lying and unmth. (Prowrbs 332) I:rat~dand hrlbcry may be common i many lands, but they are repugnant to one "walkn ing in continual righteousness." Chrlslians must also keep "an honest conscience" In hudness dealings, studiously avoihng shady or fraudulent schemes. (Hebrews 1318; 1 Timothy 69, 10) Ant1 one who has 'stoppcd up his ear from listening to bloodshed and closed his eyer so a not s to see what is bad' wlll he selcctlvc in his choice of music and entertainment. (I'salm 11937) During his day of judgment, Jehovah will protect and sustain his worship en, who live by such standards.-Zephaniah 2 3 :.

Beholding Thelr King

15 Isaiah next glves this #lowing glimpse of the future: '54 king in his handsomeness Is what your eyes will behold;

13. What prnrnire is made to one nwnlktng L continual righteousn ness,"and how was it fulhlled in Jercmlah'r msc?

14. How can Christians today keep J'walklngIn continual rfghteouqness"? 15. What promise will sr~slalnbtthful Jmlsh cxrles?

"hru Resident Wll/ Sny: ' I A rfr S k k '

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they will see rr /and fur away. Your own heart wlll comment in tow tones on o fn'ghtfd thing: 'Where is the secmtary? Where is the one that doer t h payEng out? Where is ~ the one counting the towers?' No insolcnt people wil! you see, a people too deep in Iunguage to /Wen to, of a stommering tongue without your tmderstanding." (lsoiah 33337-79) The promise ol' the i'ilturc Mesclit~licKIlifi and his Kingdom wdl sustain faithful Jcws duriug tlie l o i ~ j clci cades of exile in Babylon, even though thcy can scc that Kingdom only from afar. (Hehrews 13 :I 3) When Mesq1ah's rule finally becorner a rcality, the nalylonl;~n tynnny wlI1 he a distant memory. Stirvitnrs of t hc attack of the Assyrian will happily ask: "Where arc the tyrant's officcrf, who taxed us, charged us, took our tribute?"-Isaiah 3.7: 18, Mofi tit 16 Although Isaiah's words guarantw a restoration from Plabylonian captivity, individual Jewish exller will have to await the resur~ection enjay the mrnplctc fultill mcnt n to C this part of the prophecy. What al~out God's servants today? Slnce 1914,Jehovah's people have hcen nblc to ?,chold," es discern, the Messianic Klng, Jcsi~s Chrlst, I n all hi5 spiritual beauty. (Psalm 452; 1lX:22-26) A? ;I wsult, they have experienced deliverance from Ihc opprcsslon and control of Satan's wicked system. Under Zion, the scat of God's Kingdom, they enjoy true spirihlal security. 17 Isaiah continues: "Behold Zion. the town of our festo1 occmions! Your own eyes will s k ]erusalem an undizturbed abiding place, o k r ~ t no one will pack up. Nevthat er wi/i its tent pins be pulled out, and none of its mpes will 16. Stncc when have God's peoplc been ablc tcr "hehald' the Mcsslnnlc King, and with what result? 17, (a) What promises are made regrcllnpl Zlon? (I,)Haw are Jehovah's promises regarding Zton futfillcd nn t hc Merslnnlc Klngdorn and on Its supporters on earth?

be torn in two. But there the Mu/estlc One, jehowh, will be for u ~crplace of rivenI of wide canals. On it no gals ley fleet will go, and no rnajmric ship wilt pass over it." (isaiah 33:20, 27) I~aiaRassurvs u?;that Goti's Messianic Kingdom cannot bc upmoted or dertroyed. M o r m r , such protection clcarly ext~ntls faithful Kingdom s u p tn porters on earth today, l:vei~ if marly Indivldusls are put to severe tests, sub1ca.s of C;odls K ngdorn are assured that l no effort to destroy them as a conjircgatlon can possibly succeed (Isaiah 54:17)Jehrrvah wlll protect his people in the way that a moat or canal pmtccrs a city, Any enemy coming up against them-cven one as powerful as a "galley fleet"or a "majesticship"-will face destruction!
18 Why, though, can Twcrs of God's Kingdom feel so confident of divine protection? Explains Isaiah: "jehwoh is our judge, lehovcrh is our Stotvtegives, jehowh is our King; he himself will saw us." (baitrh 33:22) Jehovah accepts the responsil~ilityof prcltrctlrrg and directing his people, who recognize 111s posll ion as Suprc~nc Sovereign. These willingly stil~rnltto his rule through his Messianic King, recognlzlng that Jehovah has thc authority not only to make lam but also to enforce thcrn. Flowever, because Jehovah Is a I m r o righteousness and justice, his mle, f through his Son, is not a, burden to his wonhiprs. Rather, they 'benefit themselves' Iv submitting to his authority. (Isaiah 48;17) I le wiIl newr ahnndon his loyal ones. --Psalm 3728.

Isaiah tells enemies of lchovah'q Faithful people: "Your ropes must hang loose; their mast they will not hold firmly erecl; they have not spread a sail. At that time even spoil
18. Whar responstblllty docs Jrhovah accept7 19. flow does I3al;th dchcrlbc tlic It~effrrlivencrs enerntcs nf Jehof

vah's faithful people?

in nbundame will have & k divided up; the lame ones tfiemseltes wrfl &aI& mke a blg @underIM (Isaiah3 : 3 32) Any appmadhq enemy will prow t be as ineffectve and o Mpless @mt Jehovahas a warship wlth loose rlgghg, a wobbhg mast, and no d l . The destrudon of God's en& mles will result i so much spoil that even disabled ones n will share i taking plunder. We can therefore be con& n dent that through the King Jents Qlrist, Jehrwah WIN tr1umph over hfs enemiesi the coming "great tribulation." n

-Rewhtion 724.
2 T l section of Edah's prophecy candudes with a 0 hs hmbvardng prom%- "No mident will '1 am M,' Thepeopkthafrwe~ngh helrrndwillbethosepardo#d h r t & m ~ " 33:24) The sickness that hah (Isdiafi MI p o ls primarily s@rItud,for It 1s m n n d with s& f sin, or "error," In the fmtappllcation of these words, jehovah promises that after t W ~Iem Babylonian capfrom tivfty, t @nation wlll be hded sp~tual1y. h (Isaiah 35:5,6; Jeremiah 5316; compare Psalm 1031-5,) Having been forgWn f t b i r f o m s i m , the mrniragJepvs will =staba r k hpwe worship inJexwdem. 21 Howevm, I s i a W s prophecy has a modem fulfillment. Jebwahspeople today have also enjoyed a spiritual healing. Tbey have been M e d frorrm such false teachings m the immmtaliitp of the soul, the Trinity, and hellfire. They receive moral gukkm, freeing them from immoral 20. W's psopie w 1 qmimce what klnd of Ileal& and when? U 21. h what do Jehovah'swonhfIwrs taday experience rplrltual Wlng?

Thanks to the mnsom sacdffce, Jehovah'speopie A m o ckun stunding bdbm him

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I

praetas and helping them t mak god dedrlons. And o

thankstutheransomsacrlficeofJesusCMst,theyhma clean standing -e r God and enlay a clan conscience {Crr1@~iam 1:13,14; 1PeSer 824; 1John 4:lO) ' ? I spiritu& al heabg has physical knefits. For example,miding i m moral and the use of bbacco p r o m pChistm @nst sexually transmitted d k w s and cextaln t Iorms of cancer-1 Corinthians 6:18; 2 Corinthians 71 :. 22 Morewa, there wlll be a grander ~ ~ 1 r n m ~ of the wads of Wah 3324 after Armageddon, In W's new wodd. Under the m1mWp o the M e d d c Kingdom, f humans will expdenm a peat phplcal healing along with &efr Wttd h. * (R~&tt~n 214 4) Shortly the &stman of Satan's system of mhades &those thatJesus Wrmed whUe on earth will no dauW take place on a global scale. The blind will s e the e, deaf will hearJthe lame wlll w&! ( s 35:5,6) This will Im ql ;l survtvors of the gmt trlbulaUon to share I the lm il n grand work of bringhg the earth to a pmadsalc condtan. a Later, when the resumdon begins, tho% coming bscktoUfemlllnodoubt be&withgoodhealthBut as the value of the m m s a d c e is applied ta an i n creasing extent, more p w W wlll m e , until t s ~is~tu~on.Tben,rlghbeousonesw "comem ItfewIn the fullest sense, (Revelation %5,6) At fiat Ume, i lwth a spMrual and a physical way, "Nomin dent will say ' am sc! , What an aCltIng promise! May I ik , all lme w s i e s Way resalve t be mong thme who rhp r o w i l l ertperknm fulfilment!

22, 23. W What g r ~ MIiIlment w l l huab 3324 hrwe i t e fud n h ture? (b) What Is the molw of true worshipers tdv?

- CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN - -.
-I

Jehovah Pours Out Indignation Upon the Nations

1
I

Jehovah through Isaiah extends n solemn invltatlon to f1 nations: "Come up close, you nations, fo heor; and p u national groups, p y attention. Let the eurth and that which fills it listen, the pmdactive land and all itr produce." (Isaiah 34: 1 ) Thc prophet hnr w~~catectlp spokcn against ungodly nattons. Now l ~ is ahnut ta sttrnmi~rizc divine e the denunciations against them. Ilo these warnings have any meaning for our clay?
4 Yes. The Sovcre1gn of thc unlwrse has a controversy with all segments of thir urlgodly systcm of things, 'l'hat i s why the "national groups" i~nd" t h ~ carth" are callled upon to hear the 1Ublc-1~1sed menage that Jehwah has caused to he proclaimed wr~rlrlwitle. language reminisIn cent of Psalm 241, Isaiah 5ayr thnl all thc carth will be covered with this message-a pmphu~y that has come true i our time, when Jehovah's Wltnes~cspreach "to the n most distant part at t hc c?art.h."(Ads 1:8) 'l'he nations, however, h a w not listened, They havc not tnkcn sexiously the warnlng aboul Ihclr forrhcoming clemlre. This, of course, will not prcvcnt Jehovah from f~ilfilllnl: ward. his 5 The praphe~y now descrtl~csthc dark outlook for ungoclly nations-a cnmplctc mnrraqt to the hrlght hope of God's people that IF descrlhrrl later, (Isaiah 35:l-10) The prophet states: "jehovuh has indignotion against o/l the nations, and rage against all their army. He must devote them to destruction; he m s give them t the stuughter. ut o And their slain ones will be thrown out; and a for their s carcasses, their stink will ascend; and the mountafns must melt because of their blood."-lsaiah 342, 3,

JEHOVAH GOD is patlent not only with his faithful scrvailtr but alsq when his purpwc warrants It, wlth hls enemies. (1Peter 319, 20; 2 Peter 3:15) Jc2hovnh's i~dvc*rsarirs may not appreciate his patience and may vlmv Il as an inahllity ar an unwillingness to act, Stlll, ns thc 34th chap kr of Isaiah shows,in the end Jehovah always demands ;in accounting from his enemies. (Zephaniah 3 8 ) For a while, God permitted Edom and other nations tu opposc his pet> ple without hindrmm. But Jchwvah had his own due ti me for retribution. (Deuteronomy 3235) Slmllarly, in hls appointed time, Jehovah will express hls vclngeailcc iiptsn all clements nf the present wicked world thar dcly his sovcrcign ty. 2 'me primary purpose of Cod's cxecu(lngvengeance Is to demonstrate his sovereignty and glclri* his nilme. (I'salrn 83:13-18] His retribution also vindicates his servnnk a5 heing truly h i s representatives and dulivcrs them from undcsirahle circumstances. Morctwcr, Jchovah'c; rrengeanceis always I f ~ l harmony with his justice.-I1ssatm 58:10, 1l. n l
.3

1 ion<?

Pay Attention, You Natiuns Before focusing attention on retribution agalnrt Edom,

1, 2. (a) Rrgarding Jehovah's v~ngeance, what can wc4ht* crrt:~lri? of (hl What doer God acco~nplislily rxccr~tlng Z~CII~~L',ITIC'L'~ 3. What invitatiun does Jchwah through I<aloll cutctlt! to thr txr-

4. (a) What are thc natiims callctl upon In do, as wcosclcd at Isaiah 34:1? (b) Does jclinvnll'r rx[?re\(lnn of ]ucl#~nrnt tllc nation5 on prove that he 15 a crud (roti?(See I ~ t o n ~ l i l ~ c a 363.) 5, 6. (a) For what arr lhp r~atirtn\ r,~llrtl . ~ ~ t n u r i t God? (h) t lorv tdi hv i5 it m e that "thc mouritaliis milst tnrll lr~cnaw thcir tllmd"? of

Iseiahk hphtty-Light. pr AA Mankind I

6 Attation is d r m to the bioudguilt of the nauons. Today the nations of Chriskndorn have the most bloodguilt of dl,In twr, world wan and i m y smaller conn f l i c t ~they have soaked the earth with human blood. ~ Who should rightly d m m d justice h r all this bJoodguilt? None other tkm the Creator, the g t W i v e r . (Psalm a 969)Jehovah's law has set the standard: 'You must give soul f r soul." ( k ~ d u W:23-25; Gr;eni~94-6) TIUE to a s this lm, he will cause the bIood af the nations flow -to their death. The stench of their unburied, dead badips will fill the &-a buly h r n & u l death1 ( J e w 25: 33) The blood asked 4&&i &payment will l enough to n x melt, or dissolve, as it were4the mountains. (Zephaniah 1: 17) With tlw complete damctlan of their military- forces, the w r I 0 nationsd l see the fall of their governments, wMch i 3lleprophq are sometima pictured as mounn tains.-DanfeI 2:35,44,45; i ; n 129. 7 Again employing vlvLd imagery, Isaiah goes on t sy: o #All those of the army of the heawns must rot awv. And the heavens rnwt be rolled upp @t lik a b m k $wIb and their aany will all sh&el away,jusf a5 the 1e shdds off the vine and like a shrided f aff the fig W."(1st~g iah 34:rl) The expression 'blI those of the army of the heawnfl does not mean the lfte~d and planets. Versstars es 5 arid 6 speak of a s w d of emtion king dmched with Mwd in those "heayefls.'' Hence, thh must be a qmlsal of something I the human realm. [l Co&Wans 1 : n 5 50) &cause of their loftfnes I superior authorities, the gmernmnts of mankind are likened to h e a m d i n g wa earthly human sodety, (Romans 13:1-41So the army of the heaven? represents the combined armies of t h e gawmmerrts of rnankhd,
7. What are 4he h w m , "aad what 4 "thearmy of the heavensf'T

Christendam has SWM eorth with blood the

"' I

'

-.

F d k W P a m Out hrd&hation Upon tha Nnti~ns

gymmmmts must come

page o their f

at Arm;rgeddanTh& hpmsbImklng ' d dn3IlhtJl

m, must be brought bo their W h they

thdr end. ReacNng the final

~ m a s w i t h ~ l ~ ~ o f f a g r a ~ m f&'dropsoffafigtree.Th&thlewJLt.be~~ iW&ifion 6:1214.

the W l hawem a u appear c s u Ik an andent mi t m k m l l , t h e w r i ~ o f ~ w on thein~ n ~ y ner side, Weri themel r written on the infiner side of a tr l n scrollhas p db b the ey& of the nak, the finished w -1 i mltd up md put awayI,S-rly, s &the must be rolled up, just Uke a book scroll,"i that human n

m e hemns must be mHed up, just llke a book scroll" a Thjs win *rot away," molder, l k mmething i prishable. @ a h I W 5 ;is&h 51:6) 'R, the naked eye,

A Day of Retrlbutton Naw the prophecy singles out a nation that exis% W Isaiah's day-Mom. The E'domlWare descendants of E m (Ekbm), who sold his bWMght to hifi W n, b Jacob, b r W and lentil stew. (Genesis 25:24-34) Beanw Jamb supplanted hlm h the birthrlght, E u beam@ m Wedwith hatcdforhisbmther. Lslter thenatlonof Edornandthe nation of hael mmlh, ~WI thwgh they descended win m. this mr 9 agaimt God's people, Edam has trxc11tEdthe wrath of who naw s a p : Vn the h m n s my stlrord wlll c ~ & I n & Iw d~enchd. k l Upon Edom It will datent$ a d upon h tttep p I e devoted by ms ib d s d n k jwtke. jehawh ew b haru~ltm~~tb8nnQdwi~M;'ICm~be pmywinhtheApt wfththtrblaodufyoungmmsudh gsats, wi& t f r e h t o f & e M n e y s o f r w r w . F $ r ~ h h a r asadkein Bamrh, and ugmtsh@Wngin flrehd of EdmnA4ahh34:S,b.

~~

9-$,a) What is the gr4gln of B d m , find whnt relationship dewdoped

betwmb#el a d M ' l {b)Whatdoclibhawah b W ~ 3 n - b

I Huw do the w b U c hewm prow t be "jut U a l m k aaoll," . o h md what happens m thdr 'armies'?

ts M by *Ion?

W*n? 10. (a) Whom dDeS Jehwah bd tiown when he *Ids hfp sword % does Edom display when J u M @in havwrsn? (b) What tnre

Iehowh hun Our tndtgmtlan Upom the NalJons

An Angry God?
Expressionssuch as those found at Isaiah 342-7 have moved many to thhk that jahomh, as descrlbed In the Hebrew Sdptures, is a crud, wrathful Gad, Is that so?

No. While God does at ~ r n e expms his anger, such s anger is always justitid. It is always based on prlndple, not on uncontrolled emotion. Momwer, it is aC ways dictated by the Creator's right to receive exclusive devotion and his comtancy in upholding truth, Dlvlns anger Is gwerned bath by God's tow of rlghteousn&a and ty fils love %r those pmctldng dghteausners.lehovah sees all the issues invoid In a matter and has complete, unlimited knowledge of a situation. (Hebrews 4: 13) He reads the hearc he notes the degree o Ignof rance, negligence, or wilhl sin; and he acts with impartlaliv.-Deutemnomymy 1017,18; 1 SamuJ 16:7; Acts 10:34,35.

However, JehovahGad ts "slow ta anger and ahndant in Iwlng-klmlnes." (Exodus 34:6) Those who b r him and striw t work righteousness receive mercy, for o the Almlghty recognizes man's Inherited lmperfectlon and shows mercy t him on th9 account, Today C d o does thh on the basis of Jesus' sacrifice, (Psalm 103: 13,141 At the proper t h e , Jehovah'sanger is r e m d from those who a&nowledga their sln, repent, and truly serve him. (Isaiah 12:l) Fundamentally, jehwah Is not an angry Cod but a happy God, not umpproadable but welcoming, peaeable, and calm bowad those who properly approach him. (1 Tlrndhy 1:11) Thls I R s sharp conhst to the merciless, cruel c h a r a ~ ~ t las rs c r l M to the false p i s of the pagans and portrayed in images of those g&sS

364

Isnlalt's P'ropllecy-l,iylrt

011A l l MutrklfftI i
Iorc tclls through the prophct Obadiah: "Because of the violence tu your hrnthcr Jacob, shame will cover you, and ymr wlll have to bc cl~t to tlme indefinite. . . . In the off way that you have danc, i l wi I l he done tn you. Your sort of treatment wltl rcturn upor1 your own tread,"-Obadiah
10, 15; E:+~cklclZS:F2-14.

running for their lives and hands them over to the Rabylonians. (Obadiah 11-14) The Edornites plan to take ovcr thc abandoned country of the Israelites, and they speak hnastfi11Iyagainst fehavah.-Ei!e!ae135:10-I5. 11 Dws Jehovah overlook t h i s unbrorhcdy conduct on the part of the Edornites? No. Rather, he foretells of Edorn: T h e wild bufls must come down with them, and young bufis with the powrfuI ones; and their land must be drenched with blood, and their very dust wlll be made greasy with the fot" (Isaiah 34:J) Jehovah spcaks OF the greater ones and the lesser ones in (he nation as symboIic wild bulls and young bulls, as young rams and he-goate. The land of this bloodguilty nation must he drenchcd with the people's OMTI blood by means of thc cxccullonal "sword" of Jehovah. 12 God purposes to punish Edom for what has maliciously been done to His earthly organization, called Zion. Says the prophecy: "jehovah has a day of vengeance, a year of retributions for the legal case over Zion." (Isaiah 34:8) Not long after the destruction of Jerusalem in 607 R.C.B,, Jchovah begins to express his righteous vengeieance upon the Erlornites by means of the king o Babylon, Nebt~chadnczf mr. (Jeremiah 2S:lS-17,21) When Dahylon's armics move against F&rn, nohng can save the Edornites! It is "a year o retributions" upon that mountainous land. Jehwah f
11. Plow will Jehovah repay the Edornites for thclr tsfachernu~ cnnduct? 12. ( a ) Whom clmlehmah use to bring p~nishment upon F~lnrn? Cb) What dm$the pophet Obadiah forelell rcganling II
^

Chtistendnrn's Bleak Future 11 In modcrn lirncs, there exists an oqyaniration with a

rccorcl lk that s Irdom. What organiziition? Well, who i f in moclerrl times has taken the lead in miling and pene cut in^ Jchnvnh'sservants? I.lar it no1 bcen Christendom, throuqh its clergy class? Ycs! Christendom has elevated hrrsclf to mountalnll kc l~cjghts the aRairs of this world. in S hc claim3 a lofiy positioll in mankind's sysWrn of things, and l ~ c r~ligio~ls the dominant part of Babylon the r form Grcat. Hut Jehovah has clccrccd "a year of rctribution~'' against tlils rnoclcrn-day I!dom for outrageous misconduct towaiodHis people, I-lls Wllncsscs.
I I

14 'hcrcfore, as we considcr the rest of this part of Isalah's prophecy, we think not only of anclent Edom but
-

13, Who totlay Is Hke Pdnrn, and why? 1-1, 15. (a) Wlrat wlll happen both tu the land o Edam and to Chrtsf tcnrlorn:t (17) What d c ~ rcfc~nccs hurnlng pitch and Indefinitethr tn ty Iwllng ~ m n mean, aitct what tln they not nlcan? k

366

Isaiah's IWphfcy-Ll,rh t fir All Munkind I

also of Christendom: "Her torrents must be changed into pitch, and her dust into sulphur; rrnd her land must become as burning pifcff.By night or by day it will no t be extlnguished; lo time indefinite Its smoke will keep ascendIng," (Isaiah 349, 100) The land of Edom becomes so parched that it is as if the dust were sulfur and the torrent valleys were filled, not with water, but wlth pitch. Then tl~cse highly combustible substances are set afire!-Cornpare Rwelation 17:16.
1.5 Some haw viewed the mention

of fire, pitch, and sul-

fur

as evidence of the existence o a burnlng hell. But f

over her the measuring line of emptiness and the rtanes of wsleness. Her nobles-there are none them whom key d l / call to the kingship itself, and her very princes wil! ail became nothing. On her dwelling towers thorns m s ut come up, nettles and thorny weeds in her fortified places; and she must become on abiding place of jackals, the courtyard for the ostriches. And haunterr of warerless regions must meet up with howling animals, and e m the gont-shaped demon will colt C it4 compmion. Yes, there a the nightjor will cerCainIy take ib ease ond find far IBelf cr resting-place, There the arrow snake has made Its nest and
lays eggs, "-lsoioh 34: lob-75.' 17 Ycs, Edom will become an empty land. It wlll become a waslcland with only wild beasts, birds, and snakes in it. 'This parched state of the land will continue, as verse 1 0 says, "forrzwr and wer." There will be no restoratron. -0badfah 18.

Mom is not hurled into some mythical hellfire to burn forever. Rather, it is destroyed, disappearing from the world scene a if totally consumed wlth fire and sulfur. As the prophecy goes on to show, the final result is, not everlasting torment, but "emptiness . . wasteness . noth1ng.l (Isaiah 3411, 12) The smoke 'nscertdlng ta time indefinite' vividIy flustrates this. When a house burns dowt~, smoke keeps coming from the ashes for some time after the flames have died down, pmviding onlookers with evidence that there has been a conflagration. Since Christians today are learning lessons fmm thc destruction of Mom, the smoke of Edorn's burning is still, in a sense, ascendt ng. 16 Isaiah's prophecy continues, fowklllng that Elom's human population wlll be replaced by wlld animals, implying a corning desolation: "Fmm generution fo generation she will be parched; f o m and ever no one will be passing across her. And the pelican and the porcupine must take p o ~ s i o n her, and long-eared owls and raof vens themselves will reside In her; and he must stretch out -

..

Sure Fulfillment of Jehovah's Word 1fi What a hopeless future this foreshadows far that
madern-day equivalent of Mom, Chr!stcntloml She has provcrl herself to be a bitter enemy of Jehovah God, whose Witner;sesshe viciously pesecutcs. Anri there is no doubt that Jehovah will Fulfill his word. Whenevcr anyone cornpares the prophecy with the fuifillment, the two will be found to colncide-just as surely as Fhc creatures that Inhabit the desolated Edom each 'have tl~cirown mate.'
" By Molachi7stime, this prophecy had been fulfilled. (Malachi 1:3) M411i~chl c p r t s that Edornjtes hoped to rcposcen thclr desolated r larlrl. (Malachl 1:4) However, this was not Jel~ovilli's wlll, and later anathcr pcoplc, the Nahataeans, took passcrsinn nl what l ~ a rheen the l lattct ol Erlnrn.
18, 19. What Is 'Ithe book of Jehovah," and wliat Is rrscrved for I:hrirtcntlom Irr this "book"?

16, 17, What will Morn become, and how long will It continue i n such a state?

w
368
I,rfliuh's Prophecy-Lixlrt for All Mcifiklrrrl I

-.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Isaiah addresses future students of Bible prophecy, saying: "Search for youpselves in the book of lehowh and read out loud: nut one has been missing o f them; rhey octua//y do not fail t have wch orre her mate, for it is the mouth of jeo hovoh that has given the commond, ond it is his spirit that has coliected them together. And it is H that itrrs cost far e them the lot ond his own hand hos apportioned the place to them by the measuring tine. To time indefinite they will take possession of it; for genemtion after generution they will resjde in it"--Isaiah 34: 76, TZ
19 The impending destruction o Christendom has; Imn f foretold in "the book o Jehovah.'' This "hookufgehwah" f details the accounts that Jehovah will settle with those who are his implacable enemies and who ate unrepentant oppressors of his people. What was written concerning ancient Edom came true, and this strengthens our confidence that the prophecy as applying t Christenrlom, the o modern-day parallel of Mom, will likewise come t-suo. "The measuring line," Jehrrvah'r; rule of action, guarantees that tlus spiritually rnoribunrl organization wlll beconw a desolate wasteland.

Paradise Restored!
"THEnostalgia for paradisc is among the powerful nostalgins that seem to haunt human beings. It may be the most ~mweslul and pcrslstcnt of all. A certain longing for par i~ctise wiclenced at every 1~wlf relipjou~ is o life." So says Tlrr EncyslopcIio of Rclgion, Such nostalgia is only natural, since the Iiihle tells us that l~urnan began i Paralife n dlw-a beat~tlful garden free o dis~ase death. (Genesis f and 28-15) It is not surprising that many of the world's reEgions lrold out the l l o ~ ofefuture life in a paradise o one ~ f klnd or another. 2 In many parts o the Bible, we can read of the true f hope of thc futtire 17aradisc.(Isaiah 51:3) Por example, the part of lsalah's prophccy recorded In chapter 35 describes tl~c Wanslbrmatlon o wilderness regions Inh gardenlike f parks and Iruitriil fields, '['he bllnd gain sight, the mute can speak, and the deal can hear. [nthis promised Paradise, there is no grief or sighing, which implies that wen death is no more. What a wonderful promise! How should thcsc worcts be understood? Do they hold out hope for us tc~day? consEderalion of this chapter of Isaiah will prr, A vicle the answers to these qumtions.
3

20 Christendom does d she can to pacify her polltlI caI friends, but to no avail! According to Revelation chapters 17 and 18, Almighty God, Jehovah, will pitt It Into their hearts to act against all o Babylon the Great, Includf ing Christmdom. This wilI rid the whole earth o Fake f Christianity. Christendom's situation will become I i k t the bleak condition dercribd in M a h chapter 34. Shc will not even be on hand during the all-decisiw "war of the p a t day of God the Almighty" ! (Revelation 16:14) Like ancient Edom, Christendom will be totally cleared from the surface of the earth, "forever and wcrr."

A Desolate Land Rejoices Isaiah's Inspired prophecy of Paradise restored h e n s

1, Why do manyrrllglons hold out thc hopeof life In a paradise? 2 Whcn. can wc find the trite hope of future Paradise? . 3 . Accnrdlnp, to Iralah's prophecy, what h~nrformatbn the land will
~~ndcr~o:p

20. Like andent Edorn, Christendom will experience whal?

Parudlse l?esfurcd/

371

with these wards: '7he w l i h e s r and the w a t e k regh wlll emrlt)and the desertplaln will be)oyfuI and blossom atr fhssdhn. W i t h o u t h i l I t w l l l W m , m d H w i l l d ~ b e m wrth /oyorrwress and.with g M aylw wt 7 gCory I k

ofLebranoniMmusCbegkntoIZ ?heJprendwdtcmrmel

~dShm.Thtrewlllkthosswho~Hs~bhe~oryo the splendor of olrr Cod."-&ahh 35: I, 2. 4 Isaiah w r l b these words about the year 732 B.CH Some 125 p r later, the Babylonians destroy Jerusalem as and the people of Judah are sent Into exile. Their homeland ls left uninhabited,desolated. (2 KIngs 25:811,21-26) In this way Jehovah's warnlng that the pople of hael would go Inb exile if they pmml unfaithful I ful6Iled. s (Deutemnomy 28.15,36,37; 1 Klngs 9:6-8)When the Hebrew natlon becomes captive In a foreign h d , their wellIrrigated fields and orchards are left unattended fur 70 p a r s and become I l k a wUdemess.-Batah 6410;Jee miah 423-27; 9:10-12. s However, Isalah's prophecy foreteUs that the land WI not lie desolate forms. It will be restored to a writable p r adhe. #The glory of LebanonNand #the ~ p h d of Car~ r met and of Shuon" w U be given to it? How?U p fheir return from a e , the Jews are agah able to cultiate and Irrigatetheir fields, and their land returns t the rich fruito fulneis that It had before. For thls, mdit can go only t o
j&&,

'The Wpturer de;ralbe andent Lebanon as a fruiW land with luxuriant foreatr and malestlc cedars, comparable to the Ga&n o f

Edeh (Psalm 29:s; 72: 16; Ezekiel 28:ll-13) Sharon was known for its streams and oak f r & h e 1 was famous for I t s vineyards, o oe; r chards, and flowerslopes.

4. When and h m dow the Jew' homeland take on the appearme of a wlldernal? 5. (a) H w are paradlsellke condltfons restored to the land? (b) In o what sense do people "see the glory o Jehovah"? f

372

Isaiah's I'ropla~cy-Light for All Mankind I

Piiradise Restored!

Jehovah. It is by his will and with his support and blessing that the Jews get to enjoy such paradiselike conditions. People are able to see "the gIory of Jehovah, the splendor of [their] God" when they acknowledgeJehovah's hand in the amazing bansformation of their land. 6 Nwertheless, in the restorcd land of Israel, there is a more important fulfillment of Isaiah's words. In a spiriha1 sense, Israel has been in a dry, desertlike state for many years, W h l e the exiles were in Rabylon, pure worship was severely restricted. There was no temple, n o altar, and no organized priesthood. Daily sacrifices were suspended. Now, Isaiah prophesies a reversal. Under the leadership of such men as Zerubbabel, Era, and Nehemiah, representatives from all 12 tribes of Israel return to Jerusalem, rebuild the temple, and worship Jehovah freely. ( E m 21, 2) This is indeed a spiritual paradise!

rus of Persia, the instrument of Jehovah's vengeance against Babylon, has proclaimed that Jehovah's worship is to be restored in Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 36:22,23)Thousands of Hebrew families need to get organized in order to make the huardous trip from Babylon to Jerusalem. When they arrive there, they will have to erect adequate living facilities and prepare h the rnonurner~tal of ret task building the temple and the city For some Jew in Babylon, all of this may yeem daunting. However, it is no time to be weak or apprehensive. The Jews aTe to shengthen one another and have confidence in Jehovah. He assures them that they will be saved. 9 Those released from captivity in Babylon will have good reason to rejoice, for a grand future awaits them
9 . What grand promise is held out to rmlrning Jews?

Aglow With the Spirit 7 The words of Isaiah chapter 35 have a ring of joy. The prophet is proclaiming a bright iuture or the repentant nation. Indeed, he speaks with conviction and optimism. Two centuries later, at the threshold s their f restoration, exiled Jews need the same conviction and optimism. Through Isaiah, Jehavah prophetically exhorts them: "Strengthen the weak hands, you people, and make the knees that are wobbling firm. Say to those who are anxious at heart. 'Be strong. Do not be afraid. Look! Your own Cod will come with vengeance ifself, Cod even with a repayment. He himself will come and save you people.'" -Isaiah 353,4. 8 The end of the long exile is a time for action. King Q6 What important Iurfillment of Isaiah's words is seen? 7, 8. Why dn the Jewish exiles need a positive attitude, and how do Isaiah's words provide encouragement?

374

Baiak's Prophecy-Light

@I

AII Mankind J

upon their return to Jerusalem. Isaiah forelells: "At that time the eyes af &e bflnd ones will be opened, and the very e m af the deaf mes will he unstopped. At that t h e the / d mone w'il dimb up just as e stug does, and the torlgue of the speeehka an&will cry out In ghdnes~.~-Isaiah
35:5,6a.
I.0Jehovah wldtntly

has in mind the spiritual condition

of his ptmpke. They have been punished with 7 years df 0

for their wliee apostasy. Wll, i administering his n discipline, Jehovah did not strike his people with blindness, deafness, lamenas, m muteness. Hence, restoring d the nation of Israel does not require the healing o f physical dhabilitia.Jehovah restores that which was lost, namely, spitihral health. 11 Repentant Jew$ are healed in that tMy regain their spiritual senses-their Spiritual *an and their nbiify t o hear, obey, and speak Jehovah'sword. They kcme aware of tlleir need to stay close to Jehwah. By their %e canduct, they "cry out* in joyfulpaise o their God. The farf mer@"lame one* k a m e s eager and enermc i his woln ship of Jehovah.Figuraave'I~ wII "clrmb up just as a he
Wlk

have burst out, and torrents i the desertplain. n &r$ And the heat-parched ground will have become a a reedy s pod, and the thirrty ground as qwkigs of water. irt the abiding place ofjackals, a resting-@ace for them, there will be green gross with reeds abd papyrus plants, (Ispiah 35: bb, 7) When the Israelites again care far the land,the desolate a m where )adds once roamed will be covered with verdant, luxuriant vegetadon. D y and dusty ground will be Imnsforrn~d into "a !mampy place"where papyrus and ather aquatic mds can @m.-Job 8:11. 13 More iqoftaot, though, is the spiritual water ~f truth, which the repatriated Jews will enjoy in Amdance. Jehovah will provide knowledge, enmuragement, and comfort through his Word. Moreover, faithful older men and princes will be 'like sr a of water in a wate m terless country." p$aiah321,Z) Those who prom* p u e
13. What &undqnt spiritual water will be milable t the ~ s w d o nation?

stag d m . "

J&oVah Refreshes His People

12 It is difficult to imagine a pmdisc without water. The orignal Paradii in E$en had a abundance of water. n [Gemis 2:10-14) The land gwen to Israelwas alsb "a land o torrent valleys of water, springs and watery deeps isf suing fasth." (Deuteronmy 89)App~opriat)t, then, Isaiah makes this refreshing promise: "In the wilderness MIQ,
10, 11. Eturnhg Jews7why must Isaiah's words have a spirlual meaning, and what do they imply? 12. TQwhat extent wiII Jehovah bles? the land with water?

F
376

isainh's Prophecy-Light for AII Mankind I

Paradise Restored!
16 The Jews are also protected from spiritual dangers. The figurative highway is "the Way of Holiness." Those who disrespect sacred things or are spiritually unclean are not qualified to travel on it. They are not wanted in the restored land.Approved ones are rightly motivated. They are not returning to Judah and Jerusalem in a spirit of national pride or in pursuit of personal interests. Spirituallyminded Jews realize that the principal reason for their return is to reestablish the pure worship of Jehovah in that land.-Ezra 1 :13.

worship, such as Ezra, Haggai, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Zechariah, Zerubbabel, will indeed be living testimony to the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy.--Ezra 5:1,2; 7:6,10; Nehemiah 1247.

"The Way of Holiness" 14 Before the exiled Jews can enjoy such physical and spiritual paradsaic conditions, however, they will have to make the long and hazardous journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. Taking a direct route would mean crossing some 500 miles of arid, inhospitable terrain. A less-challengmg route would involve travding 1,000 miles. Either journey would mean spending months exposed to the elements and in danger of meeting both wild beasts and beastlik~ men. Still, those who believe Isaiah's prophecy are not overly concerned. Why? 15 Through Isaiah, Jehovah promises: "mere will certainly come to be a highway there, wen a way; and the Way of Holiness it will be called. The unclean one will not pass over it. And it will be for the one walkjng on the way, and na foolish ones will wander about on it. No lion will prove to be there, and the rapacious sort o wild beasts f will not come up on it None will be found there; and the repurchased ones must walk there." (Isaiah 35:8,9) Jehovah has reclaimed his people! They are h s "repurchased i onesI1handhe guarantees them safe conduct on their way home. Is there a Literal paved, elevated, and fenced-in road from Babylon to Jerusalem? No, but Jehovah's protection of his people on their journey is so sure that it is as if they were on such a highway.-Compare Psalm 91:1-16.
14. Describe travel between Babylon and Jerusalem. 15, 1 . (a) What protection does Jehovah provide fox faithful Jews 6 on their journey home? (b) In what o t h e ~ sense does Jehovah pm-

Jehovah's People Rejoice 17 Chapter 35 of Isaiah's prophecy ends on a joyful note: "me very ones redeemed by Jehovah will return and certainly come to Zion with a joyful c y and rejoicing to time indefinite will be upon their head. To exultation and rejoicing they will atbin?and grief and sighing must flee away." (Isaiah 35: 10) The captive Jews who have looked to this prophecy for comfort and hope during their exile may
have wondered how its various details would be fulfilled. Likely they have not understood many aspects of the prophecy. Stdl, it has been crystal clear that they would "return and certainly come to Zion." 18 Hence, in the year 537 B.C.E., some 50,000men {including more than 7,000 slaves and temple singers) along with women and children make the four-month journey back to Jerusalem, with full confidence in Jehovah. (Ezra 254, 65) Just a few months later, Jehovah's altar is rebuilt, setting the stage for a full reconstruction of the temple. The 200-year-old prophecy of Isaiah is fulfiltcd. The
17. How has the prophecy of Isaiah comforted faithful Jews during their long exile? 18. In what way is grief and sighing in Babylon replaced by cxultation and rejoicing i the restored land? n

vide a safe hlghway for the Jews?

3
'i

je-s

heard the rick, both spiritually and

I physically

I I
'

naticm's grief and stgtiulg while i &bn ylon t% replaced by exultatIan and rejofdng In the ~ s t ~ r e d lmd,Jehovah has fhiN d his promise. Pare zidi&-hth literal md
5 ~ ~

wm r 1 e

5Md!

1s Of course, 1t'l the sixth m y &C.E,, m t u & ~ H of ~ & x Bit-

*&aper 35 iskip ited The p d i s a i c qmdlthnn enjoyed by the repatriated Jews do flat Iwt. h time1~ s ~ ~ r r t f s and at^ teachings tionaIsm cmtminak pure W Q I S ~ I ~SpirltwIt~ Jews ~. the again expaimce grida d ; s i g h .~ ~ wiwts them as his people, @&itthew k : 3 &came o re14j f m d dk~bedfmce, ~ejafcing not permanent All their & of th4a p~inB a hrthef, greater h d f ~ & ~ & to of ~SMI

chapfa3 . 5 20 In Jehovah's-due time, aa3utha Imd, a spiritual 9 % came into exist-, (Fdatiaus 8:W) J e w set the qgf?
19. Why must it b~ said that h W pwpheq l only a limited & s w blfilLmt ia the a r b century B-GET? 20. WhatIsxaei~came e-lllswnteIn the hnt mitq C.L? into

for the birth of this new Israel during his earthly mini$try,He restored pure worship, and with his teachings, waters of teuth began to flow ante again. He heated the sick, bath physically and spiritually. A joyful q went forth as the good news of God's Kingdom was prodaimed. S w en weeks after his death and resurrection, the glorified Jesus established the Christian congregation, a spiritual Tsrad made up ofJews and okh'er-5 redeemed by Jesus' shed blood, begmen as Gad's spiritual sons and brothers of Jesus, and m i n t e d by holy spirit.-Acts 2: 1-4; Romans 8: 16, 17; 1Peter 1:18,19. 21 When writing to the members o spiritual Israel, the f apostle Paul referred to the wards of Isaiah 3 5 3 by saying "Straighten up the h a & that hang down and the enfeebIed knees." (Hebrews 1262) Evidently, then, in the first century C,E., there was a fuIfillmentof the words o Isaiah f chapter 35.In a literal sense,Jesusand his disciple$rnifaculody gave sight t blind on= and hearing t deaf on&. o o They enabled 'lame ones' to walk and speechIess ones to regain their swch. (Matthew 9:32;11:s; Luke 109)Mare important, righthearted ones escaped from false religion and came tia enj~y spiritual paradise within tire Christian a congregation. (Isaiah 5 2 1 1 2 Corhthahs 6:17) As in the ; case af the Jews ~ returning from Babylon, these escapees ~ d y foundthat a positive, courageous splrit was e~5entml.-Romans 12:ll. 22 What af our day? Does the pr~pheey Isaiah have of another fulfillment, a more compIete one involving the Christian congregation today? Yes. After the death of the
-

22. Regarding the first-century Christian congregation, what event5 fnay be viewed as a fulfillment:of certain features pf Isaiah's prop h-

eq?
22. How did sincere, truth-seeking Christiam in modern times come
inta Babylonjsh raptiviv?

380

Isfiiah's P r n p / ~ c c y - l . i , ~ Pjr tAll M c ~ ~ / k l1t ~ d ~~

apostles, the number of true anointcd Chrlsttans greatly diminished, and false Christians, 'wwds," flourished on the world scene. (Matthew 1336-43;Acts 20:31F: 2 Pctcr 2: 1-3) Even when during the 19th century, sincere Individuals began to separate thernselvm lmln Christendom and seek pure worship, their understanding rcrnnlned tainted with unscriptural teachings. In 1914, Jesus was cnthroned as Messianic King, lsut rnon thcrenft~r, situathc tlan looked bleak for thesc slncere truth seekers. In fulfillment of prophecy, the nations 'made war with them and conquered them,' and the attempts of these sincere Christians to preach t h e good news were stifled. [n effect, they went into Babylonjsh captivity.-Ilwtllatlon 1l:7,8.
23 In 1919, however, things cllanged. Jehwah brought his people out of captivity. They b e ~ a n reject the klsc tn teachings that had earlier corsuptcd I helr worship. As a rcsult, they enjoyed a healing, They came to he in I? spiritual paradise, which even today continues to sprcad tlirnt~ghout the earth. In a spiritual sense, the hlind a r t learning to see and the deaf, to hear-becornlng fiilly alert to the operation of God's hoIy spirit, constantly aware of the need to stay close t Jehovah. (I Thwsalanlans 5:6; 2 Timothy o 4:s) No tonger mute, true Christians arc eager to "cry out," declaring Bible truths lo othen. (Flornans 1 :15) Those who were spirituallymak, o "lame," now display zeal and ioy. r Figuratively, they are able to "climb up lust as a stat: docs." 24 These restored Christians walk on "the Way of Hullness." This "Way," which leads nut of Ralylon the Grcat into a spiritual paradise, i s open to all spirl Lually clean worshipers, (1 Peter 1:13-16) They can cu~int n Jchmah for u protection and be confidertt that Satan will not stlcceed In
23, 24. FR whatway? haw Isatall's word? hrcn hITrllcrI among Ctui's

'

his mimaIIstic attacks to elf mlnatc true worshlp. (L Peter 5:8) Disobcclient ones and any who hehave like rapacious wild heasts are not allowed to corrupt those on Gacl's highway of holines~ Corlnthlans 5:Pl) Within this prm (I tected envlronment, Jehovah's mlwmed ones-anointed and "other sheep"-find joy in scrvlrr~ anly true God. the -John 10:16.
25 What of the filmre? Will lsalah's prophecy w e r be fulfilled in a physical way'? Yes. T11r miraculous healings by Jesus and his apostles In t l ~ c century demonstratArst ed Jehovah's desire and ahlil ty to lxrform such healhgs on a large scale in the future, The InspirccE Psalms speak of everlasting life in peaceful conditions on earth. (Psalm 329, 11, 29) Jesus promisccl tile i I'ilrilrlice. (Luke 2343) n Down t its very last book, the Bible provides hope for a o literal paradise. At that time, the hllnd, the deaf, the lame, and the speechless will hc healed pl~yslmlly and permanently. Grief and sighing wll l f l ~ c away. Rejoicing will indeed be to time Indcfinitc, cvcn forever.-Rcvclation 7 9 , 16,17; 21:3, 4. 26 While true ChrbtLns awalt the rcstaration of the physical earthly Paradlrc, m n now they enjoy the blessings o the splrittral paractbe. 'l'hey face trials and t i f rb ulations with optimism. With unwavering confidence i n JehovahIthey encourage one another, heeding the admonition: "Strengthen the weak hands, you people, and make the kneer that are wobbling firm. Say to those who are anxious at heart: 'Rc strong. i)o not he afraid.'" They have complete trust I11 thc prophetic ~ S S U T ~ I ~ C"Look! C:' Your own God will comc with vnigeance Itsclf, God even with a repayment. H hlmsclf will come and save you peoe ple."-Isaiah 35:.3, 4.

pcoplc since 1919T

25. Will there he a phystcill Ikrlfitlrnrntof Isaiah chapter 35? Fxplain. 26. Hornb Isaiah% worrl%~lrcngtllrtl do Cl~rlqttans today?

A King's Faith Is Rewarded

Isaiah 36:l-398

King litweklrrh trusb In Ithowh when ha face$ the might of Assyrtu

HEZlXWI was 2 years old when he beam@ 5 king o Juf dah. What kind of nrlet would he be? Would he follow i t f m b k p s of his father, King Ahaz, and Induce nk hfs subjects tr~ follow after false gods? Or would he lead the pwple in t e worship of Jehovah, as did hls hrefather h King David?-2 Kings 1 : . 62 2 Soon a k H M came to the throne, It became clear that he fatended "to do what was dght I Jehe n vah's eyes." (2Kmp 1&2, 3) In his &st year, he ordered Jehovah's temple repaired and temple servlces resumed. (2 Chranicles 293,7,111Then he arganlaed a grand Passover debxatton ta which t h e entire nation was invited -hdudtng the ten norttLern tribes of Israel. What an uhrg@ttabk feast that was1 There had been none llke it since the days of King Solomon.-2 Chronicles 38: 1 25, 2 . , 6 3 At the conclusion o the Passover celebralion, those f in attendance ~ I E d t cut down the s a d pales, m o break up the samd pillars, pull down the high plam and the altars of their false gods, after which they rp turned t their citia, deterdud t serve the true God. o o
1, 2. H m did Hezeklah ptove to be a better klng than Aha27 3. (a) What action was by the lnhabimts of Israel and judah who attendedthe Pasarranged by by~~zeHai17 What do CM* {b) tm today leamfrom the decblve action taken by those who attendl

(2 Cbronides 31:l) What a contrast that was to theh former nUglous attltudel True chrlstbm today rn learn from this the Importance of 'not forsaking the gatherhg of themselves together.'

Such gatherings, whether In local congregations ar on a larger scale at assemblies and conventions, play a vital role in their wmMng enc~uragaent and bdng mwed by the brotherhood as -11 as by God's spirit to "hateto low and fine works."-Heb~ews10:23-25.

-L-

Faith Put t the 'rest o 4 Serious trlafs lie ahead for Je&em. HezeMah lzas bm ken an alllance that hki faithless father, h, conchrdd with the Assyrians. H has even subdued the Philistha, e Wtao are allies of h y r h . (2 Kings 1&7, 8) This has anger& the Mng of AssyFia. Hence, we read: ultcameabout In the -th p r of King H m # a h t)pat %mwdm'b the king o f h y d u tame up agulnst dl the dti%r of

1 5. (a) How has Hcmklah demonstrated bts L , a m brom Aayda? (b) What milltary adon has Sennacherib taken against Judah, and what se doa Hcmklah t& ta m i d an Immdak artp uult on Jerusalem?{c} How does HmUah pxepare to defend Jem-

ed that Passover?

mlem from the h!@alls?

A Kina's Faith fk m warded

Iu&h and pceeded b selre them." ( i d a h 36:1) Perhaps haptflg t protect Jerusalem from m W&k o satrlt by the dentless Assyrian armyI Hezeldah agrees tn pay Smrmherlb an enornous tribute of 300 dmtalents and 30gold talents.*-2 Hngs 18:14. 5 Since there is not enwgh gold and silver in the rqral treasury t~ pay the tribute, W emah retrieves what predou5 metals he can from the kmpte. H also cuts d m e the tanpie doors, which have been overlaid . t goid, dh and s n s them to Sennscherib. This wtlsfia the Assyr3ed an,but s d y for a while. (2 Klngs 1&15,16) Evidently, HezeMah malks that the AssJrrlans wlll not leave Jerusdem fom for Iong. T h d ~preparations have to be made. , The people block up water soma that could supply water to h m h g Assyrians. Hezeldah also sfrengthens the b brt fications of JwusaIem and builds an arsenal of weapons, Muding "mtssilesin abundance and shields.*-2 Chranides 32:4,5. 6 However, He~lafahputs his trust, not in d m r war mategla o In br8fim~om, ln Jehovah o a r m i ~ . x but f H ~ e ~ hls military chleb: 'e m u m p u s and e s B strong. Do not be a b i d nor be krrified because o the f ldngofAssyriaandonamuntofalithemmdtharis withhim; brwithusthmare m o than themare wlth ~ him. With b h therehian arm of flesh, but withusthm is Jehovah our God t help w and to 6ght our battles." o B~~,mlveiy, people hgin brace themselves upon the the m d o Hezelcfah the ktng of Judith,"(2ChronEdes Ds f 327$f3] Visu&c the: exciting mnts that ~~ ntr chap krs 36 to 39 o Isalatx's pmphcq are reviewed. f

'Worth more than $9.5 mllllon IU.S.1 at current values.

6. In whom docs H u r W l put hll rmso

386

Isaiah's Prophecy-Liglrt for All Mankind I

Rabshakeh Presents His Case 7 Sennacherib dispatches Rabshakeh (a military title, not a personal name) along with two other dignitaries to Jerusalem to demand the city's surrender. (2 Kings 18:17) These are met outside the city wall by three of Hezekiah's representatives, ELiakim the overseer of Hezekiah's household, Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph the
recorder.-lsaiah 36:2,3. 8 Rabshakeh's aim is simple-convince Jerusalem to surrender without a fight. Speaking in Hebrew, he first cries out: "What is this confidence in which you haw trusted? In whom have you put trust, that you have rebelled against me?" (Isaiah 36:4, 5 Then Rabshakeh taunt5 the 3 frightened Jews, reminding them that they are completely isolated. To whom can they turn for support? To that "crushed reed," Egypt? (Isaiah 36x5) At this time, Egypt does resemble a crushed reed; in fact, that former world power has been temporarily conquered by Ethiopia, and Egyptts present Pharaoh, King Tirhakah, is not an Egyptian but an Ethiopian. And he is about to be defeated by Assyria. (2 h g s 19:8, 9) Since Egypt cannot save itself, it will be of little help to Judak 9 Rabshakeh now argues that Jehovah will not fight for His people because I-Je i s displeared with them. Rabshakeh says: "In case you should say to me, 'It is jehovah our God in whom we have trusted,' is he not the one whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has removed" (Isaiah 36.7) Of course, far from rejectingjehovah by tearing down the high places and the altars in the land, the Jews have actually returned to Jehovah.

A King's Faith Is Rewarded

i
1
1

...

10 Next Rabshakeh reminds the Jews that miIitarily they are hopelessly outclassed. He issues this arrogant challenge: "kt give you two thousand horses to see whethme er you are able, on your part, to put riders upon them." (Isaiah 36:s)In reality, though, does it matter whether Judah's Wained cavalry are many or few? No, for Judah's salvation does not depend upon superior military strength. Proverbs 21:31 explains matters this way: "The horse is something prepared for the day of battle, but salvation belongs to Jehovah." Then Rabshakeh claims that Jehovah's blessing is with the Assyrians, not the Jews. Otherwise, he argues, the Assyrians could never haw penetrated so far into Judah's territory.-Isaiah 36:9, 70.
11 Hezkiah'r representatives are concerned about the effect that Rabshakeh's arguments will have on the men who can hear him from the top of the city wall. These Jewish officialr request: "Speak, please, to your servants in the Syrian language, for we are listening; and do not speak to

us in the Jews' language in the earz of the people thar are on the wall," (lstliuh 36:17) But Rabshakeh has no intention of speaking in the Syrian language. He wants to sow seeds of doubt and fear in the ]em so that they will sur-

render and Jerusalem can be conquered without a fight! (Isaiah 3 : 2 Hence the Assyrian speaks again in "the 67) Jews1language." He warns the inhabitants of JenrsaIem: "Do not let Hezekiah deceive you people, for he is riot able to deliver you." Following this, he tries to tempt those listening by painting a picture of life as it could be for the Jews under Assyrian rule: "Make a capitulation to me and
10. Why does it not matter whether Judah's defenders are many or few? 11, 12. (a) Why does Rabshakeh Insist on speaking in "the Jews' language,"and how does he try to tempt the IisteningJews? (b) What effect might Rabshakeh's worils have on the jews?

7. Who i s Rabshakeh, and why is he sent t o Jerusalem? 8. How does Rabshakeh try to breakJerusalemlsresistance? 9. What evidently leads Rabshakeh to conclude that Jehovah would forsake His people, but what are the facts?

lunirrh'a Prophecy-Light fur All Maaklnd 1

ter of his own cistern, until I came and cKtuaI& tuke you to a Iand llke p u r own land, a h d o f w n und new wine, rr land of bread and vineyar&. "4saluh 3: 13-17: 6 12 There will be no harvest f r the Jewsthis year-the Asu syrian invasion has prevented them from plancraps. The prospect o eating succulent grapes and of drlnklng f -1 water must be very appUng to the men listening on the wall. But Rabshakeh has not yt finbhed trying t e o w e d m the Jm. 13 Prom his arsenal of arguments, Rabshakeh draws an& verbal a a He warns the Jews against believing HezeMah should he say: "]&wuh h i d will ddIw us," h W h ~ & d stheJewsthatthe g d s o Samaria were f unabk to prevent the ten Mm from being overcome by the Assyrians. And what of the gods of the other natlans Assyrla has conquad? "Where are the gods of Humatbs end ArpadT" he demands, ' M e r e ate the gods of Sephard m ?And have they &Ifwed Sumurla out o my hand?" f -Isaiah 38: f &2U. 14 Of course, Rahhakeh, a worshiper of false gods, does not understand that there k? a b 4 dlfimce between apostate Samaria and Jerusalem under Hezeldah. Samari' Calse gods had no p w r t save the ten-& kingdom. as o (2 Kings 1E7, 1 , 1 )On the other hand, Jerusalem un7 8 der Hezekiah has turned its back bn fahe gods and has * turned to SerVlngJdmah. Howwpr, the three Judeanrep resentad= do not try to explain this t Rabshakeh. W~qr o mttnued t keep siht a d did m answer him o word, o e h the commandment of the king wws, saylng: %u must r 13, 1 . Despite Rabshakeb's arguments, why Is what happened t 4 o Samaria IrreImt t ludah's situation? o

come out ta me a d eat each one frrun his own vine and n ecKh one fmrnhis own fig bee and ddnk e a d ~ the wuone

I
The king sends emissar/es to Isalah to hiear~ehovuh'scounsel

not answer him,'" (Isalrth 36:27) Ellakirn, Shebna, and JoEih return t Hezeklah and make an aR&l report of the o words of Rabsshakhh.-Isd& 3 : 2 62.
Hezeklah Makes a Dedslon 15 King Hezebh now has a decision to make. WIIIJerusatem surrender t the Assyrlm? join forces with F,gypt? a or stand her ground and fight? Heklah i under great s pmsure, H goes t Jehovah'stemple, while dispatding e o Eliakim and Shebna, along with the older men of the prlcsts, to Inquire of Jehovah t h u g h the prophet Isai&
(ISOM 327,2) Dressed in sackcloth, the king's a b a r i e s IS. (a) What declslan now fafes Heeeklah? (b) How does jehmh reassure his people?

IbMeanwhile, Rabshakh is called away to bk at S m nacherib's side while the king wages war at Libnah. Smnacherib willdeal. with Jemalem la&r. (&aiah 31&) SaI, RabsW*Isdeparture brings no letup of pmure on Hez~Mah. Sermachdb sends theaiming letters describing

approach Isaierh, saytug: %is day iy u day d d i W s and of rebuke and of xornibj Insofence Perhaps Ietrovah Fur Cod will hear the words of R ~ b s f i & & ~ whom the king a f k y r i a his lord sent t taunt the living Wtand he o wii! ~~ttuully h h to account for the words h t jehucall vlrh your Cod ha5 heardrd" [Miah 37:3-5) Yes, the Assyrians are challqhg the limg God! WillJehovah give attention to their taunts?Though Isaiah, Jehovah reassures the Jam "Donot be ahid bemuse offhewords thdt you

. ..

i $pokeubu&e& o

have heard with whish the rrttendants o the king of ksyrf of me. Here I m putttng a spi& in him, ar?d he must heat n report mid return t his own /and; and o I shall ceEarhly cause him f fall by the sword in his own o land.Y-lwiah B:d, i!

what the inhabitants of j e d e m sari e q a t if they Bfuse to -surrender:'Taup & F haw heurd whot fhe king$ o#&yrh did & all the lands by devoting them t destmco tian, and wiii yau p d f be deli&? Hwe the gods of the ndons fiat my foefathem brought t ruin defIvePed o them?. , Whereis the king crf Hamath m d the king of drpad aod the king o f the t @ o f ~ h ~ i m - Hena and i o f of Iwah 7" (I~gIak 379-73)Basically, the Asspian is a n $g that it is m e l e s s to resist-resistance will onIy bring m o ~ trouble! 17 Deeply concerned a b u t the mmequenm sfthe dedsian he musf make, Hezefiah spreads Smmcheribisletters out before Jehovah in the temple, (isalah 37:I4) In heartfelt prayer he implores Jehovah to give ex to the 14ssyrhVs threcits, mdudirr his p y r with the WQT ae Jr%zdnow, 0je#r~rnJ~ Ca ,save us out of his hand, that our Q,'Ithe kn d m of the eartk M a y know that y t u ~ ,0 jehoigo vah, are Cod &ne." (l$uiah3E 15-20)From M s it h dear that Hezekiah Fs primarily c~mmed, with his o m not ddivemnce, but witb the reproach that will be heaped upon Jehovah's m e tf m i a dekab Jerusalem. IBJdwvaJY3 answer to Hez&iahts pager c a m tlxough Isaiah. Jerusalem must xlat swerider to && y; s h must stand her ground. Speaking as t Sennacherib, Isaa iah boldly states Jehwah'srnessa&e t the Asyrian: 'Ww o virgin daughter OF Ziw has d~xpiced you, she has held

16. Wh+t letters are sent by SpnnacheriM 1 18, (a] What i5 Rezekiah's motive i asking Jehovah for proteed n ttun?@ How W J&ovah through Islah,mmr the ksyriu? j

A King? Fnith Is Rewarded

393

you in derision. Behind you the daughter of Jerusalemhas wagged her head [mockingly]." (Isaiah 37:21, 22) Jehovah then aclds, in effect.: 'Who are you to taunt the Holy One of Israel? I know your deeds. You have great ambitions; you make great boasts. You have trusted in your military power and have conquered much land. But you are not invincible. I will frustrate your plans. I will conquer you. Then I will do to you as you have done to others. I will put a hook in your nose and lead you back to Assyria!' -Isaiah 37:23-29.
"This Will Be the Sign for You" guarantee does Hezekiah have that Isaiah's prophecy will be fulfilled? Jehovah answers: 'This will be the sign for you: There will be an eating this year of the growth from spilled kernels, and in the second year grain that shoots up o f itselc but in the third year saw seed, you people, and reap, and plant vineyards and eat their fruitage." (Isaiah 37:30) Jehovah will provicle food for the trapped Jews. Although unable to plant seed because of the Assyrian occupation, they will he able to eat from the gleanings of the preceding year's harvest. The following year, a sabbath year, they must let their fields lie fallow, despite their desperate situation. (Exodus 23:11) Jehovah promises that if the people obey his voiw, enough grain will sprout in the fields lo sustain them. Then, in the following year, men will sow seed in the usual way and enjoy the fruitage of their labor. 2 Jehovah now compares his people to a plant that can0 not easily be uprooted: "Those who escape of the house of judah . . . wE certainiy take root downward and produce ii
19 What 19. What sign doesJehovah grve Hezekiah, and what does ~tmean? 20. In what way will those who escape the Assyrian attack "take mot downward and produce fruitage upward"?

fruitage upward." (kaiah 3Z3 T, 32) Yes, those who trurt in Jchwah have nothing to fear. They and their offspring
I

will remain firmly established in the land.

21 What of the Assyrian's threats against Jerusalem? Jehovah answers: ' H e will not come into this city, nor will he shoot an arrow there, nor confront it wit11 a shield, nor cast up a siege rampart against i t By the way by which he same he will return, and in to this city he will not
21, 22. (a) What is rophes~edconcerning Sennacherib? (b) I-low and when arc ~ehovaE's words about Sennachcrib fulfilled?

lehovah's angel strikes down 185,000Assyrians

391

IsuiaI~'sPropliecy-Ligrit Tor A ! Mankind I !

A King's Faith

Is Rewardt*d

385

come." (Isaiah 37:33, 34) There will be no battle between drsyria and Jerusalem after all. Surprisingly, it wdl be the Assyrians, not the Jews, who are defeated without a fight. 22 True to his word, Jehovah sends an angel who strkes down the cream of Sennacherib's troops-185,000 men. This apparently happens a t Libnah, and Sennacherib himself wakes up to find the leaders, chiefs, and mighty nlen of his army dead. Shamefaced, he returns to Nineveh, but
despite his resounding defeat, he stubbornly remains devoted to his false god Nisroch. Some ycars latcr, while worshiping in the temple of Nisroch, Sennacherib is assassinated by two of his sons. Once again, lifeless Nisroch proves powerless to save.-Isaiah 37:35-38.

Hezekiah's Faith Is Further Strengthened 23 About the time that Sennacherib first comes up against Judah, Hezekiah falls gravely ill. Isaiah tells him that he i s going to die. (Isaiah 38:T) The 39-year-old king is devastated. His concern i s not only for his own wellbeing but also for the future of the people. Jerusalem and Judah are in danger of being invaded by the Assyrians. If Hczekiah dies, wlto will lead the fight? At that time, Hezekiah has no son to assume the rulership. In fervent prayer Hezekiah begs Jehovah to show him mercy.-Isaiah 38:
2, 3. 24 Isaiah has not yet left the palace courtyards when Jehovah send5 him back to the stricken king's bedside with another message: "I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Here ! adding onto your days fifteenyears; am
23. What crisis does Hezekiah face when Sennacherib first comes up against Jndah, and what are the i~nplications t h cri~is? of ~ 24, 25. (a) HOWdoeb Jehovah graciously answer Hezekiah's prayer? (h) What miracle does Jehovah perform, as described at Isaiah 38:

and out of the palm of the king of Assyria I shall deliver you and this city, and I will defend this city." (lsaiuh 38:4-6; 2 Kings 20:4,S) Jehovah will confirm his promise with an unusual sign: "Here I am making the shadow o f the steps that had gone down on the steps of the stairs of Ahm by the sun retrace backward ten steps."-Isaiah 38:z 8a. 25 According to the Jewish historian Josephus, there was a staircase inside the royal palace, probably with a column near it. When the sun's rays hit the column, they cast a shadow on the stairs. One could measure the time of day by observing ihe progress of the shadow on the steps. Now Jehovah will perform a miracle. After the shadow drifts down the steps in the usual way, it will retrace its path backward ten steps. Who ever heard of such a thing? The Bible states: "Andthe sun gradually went back ten steps on the steps o f the stairs that it had gone down." (Isaiah 38: 86) Shortly thereafter, Hezekiah recovers from his illness. News of this spreads as far as Babylon. When the king of Hahylon hears it, he sends messengers to Jerusalem to obtain the faas.
three years after Hezeluah's miraculous recovson, Manasseh, i s horn. When Manasseh grows up, he does not show appreciation for God"s compassion, without which he would llot have been born! Instead, during most of his lifetime, Manasseh does on a large scale what is bad injehovah's eyes.-2 Chronicles 32: 24; 33:l-6.
26 About

ery, his first

A Lapse in Judgment 27 Like his forefather David, Hezelaah is a man o faith. f He treasures God's Word. According to Proverbs 25:1, he arranged for the compiling of the material now found in Proverbs chapters 25 to 29. Some believe that he also
26. What is om result of the lengthening of Hezekiah's life? 27. In what ways does Herekiah show apprec~at~un forjchovah?

7, 87

31 56

~ S L I ~ U ',Is I P r i ~ ~ ~ ~ fi)r~A l~l M I~ ~ I ~ /fI ;, C~I ~ ~ / ~ t ~ ~ I ~ -

composed the 119th Psalm. The rnovlvtng song of gratitude that f-iezekiah composts after recovcrtrrg from his illness shows him to be a man of deep feeling. 1 le concluder; that the most important thing in life is to IF ahlc to praise Jchovah a t His temple "oli the days of our life."(Isaiah 38:920) May all o u feel the samc way ahnu2 purc worship! f s 28 Altl~ough faithful, Hezeklal~is Imperfect, I-lc makes a serious error i judgment sometltne ;iftcr Jchwah heals n
hlm. Isaiah explains: "At thnt time Merodaci~baladanthe son of Baladan the king of Babylon sent letters artd a gift to Hezekiah, after he heard that he had been sick but was strong again. So Hezekiah began to rejoice over them and proceeded td show them his tremum-house, the silver ond the gold and the Bolsom oil ond the good oil and orlf his armory and all that was 50 be found in his treasures. Them proved tu be nothing that Hezekioh did not stlow them in his own house and in all his dominion,"-Isaiah 39: 1,Z. * 29 Even after the stinging defeat by Jehovah's angel, Assyrla continues to pose a thrcat to many nations, includIng Babylon. Hezehah may have wankd to Impress the king of Babylon as a possible future ally. I-Imewr,Jehovah docs not want the inhabitants of Judah to consort with their enemies; he wants them to trurt In him! 'I'hrough
* After Sennacherib's defeat, surrounding notions brought gifts of gold, sllver, and other precious thing- tn Iil*7cklah. A1 2 ( : h r o ~ j i c I ~ 3 2 2 2 , 23, 27. we read that "Hezeklah a m c tu llrw r i c l i c ~ and ~Iur)r to a very gfiat amount" and that "hc camp to be cxnlrcrl In tllc eye% nf all the natlons.'' These gifts may have nllowrrl hlrn Io rcl)lr~rlh his treasure-house, which he had emptied when p e y l i l ~ trll~utc t h e A$Ir)
syrlans.

(
1

the prophet Isaiah, Jchovrth dlsclo~es future to Hezethe kiah: "Days ore coming, and aft that is in your own house and thmt your foreforhers have stored up down to this doy will octrrc~lly curried to Batylon. Nothing will be left. . . be And some of your own sons that will come forth from you, to whom you will become fnther, will themselves be taken and actually become court officials in the poloce of the king of Babylon." (I5diah 3 9 3 - 7 ) Ycs the very nation that Hezekiah sought to iinprcss will even tilally l~lunder Jerusalem's treasures and rcbducc her cl tixens to slavery. Hezeluah's showing hls treasure to thc Ralsylonians only serves t whet their greedy appcrltc. o 30 Apparently referring to the incident In which Hezekiah showed his treasure to the Rahylonlans, 2 Chronicles 3226 states: "'HWekiah humbled llimself for the baughtiness of his heart, he and the Inhahitants of Jerusalem,and Jehovah's indignation did not comc upon them in the days of Hezekiah."
31 Despite his imperfcctlon, Hczcklnh was n man of faith. He knew that his God, Jrhovat~, a rcal person who has is feelings, When under pressure, Hczcklah pmyed ferventIy to Jehovah, and Jehovah answered hlm. Jehovah God granted him peace for the re3t o his days, and for that, f Hezekiah was grateful. (Isaiah 3 9 8 ) Jehovah should k just as real to us toclay. When prohlems arise, may we, like Hezekiah, look to Jehovah for wisclom and the way out, "for he gives genemusly to all and without reproaching," uames 1:s)If we continue to cndurc and to exercise faith in Jehovah, we can be sure that l ~ will hecome "the r e c warder of those earnestly seeklng him," both now and in the future.-Hebrews 11:6.
30. How did Hezekiah shown g u ~ attlt~tdel l 31. How did things turn out for Hc7ekiah, and what d m this teach us?

28. What errnr in judgment doe5 Hezeklali make somct l mc artcr heIng miraculously healed? 2'1. (it) What may be the rnotlve of tlczeklah when he \t~nwshts wealth to the Babylonian delegatton? Ib) Wlrat wtlt hc tltr conscqucncrs of Hezekiah's error in judgrncnt?

CHAPTER THIRTY

"Comfort My People"

394

"ComfortMy People"
lsaiah 40:l-31

JEHOVAH is 'the God who supplies comfort.' One way that he comforts us is through the promises he has had recorded in his Word. (Romans 15:4, 5) For example, when faced with the death of someone dear to you, what could be more comforting than the prospect of that loved one's being resurrected in God's new world? (John 5:28, 29) And what about Jehovah's promise that he will soon end wickedness and transform this earth into a paradise? Is it not comforting to have the prospect of surviving into that coming Paradise and never dying?-Psalm 37:9-11,29; Revelation 21:3-5. 2 Can we really trust the pxomises of God? Indeed, we can! The Maker of those promises is completely reliable. He has both the capability and the will to carry out his word. (Isaiah 55:1 ,11) This was powerfulIy demonstrat0 ed in connection with Jehovah's statement through the prophet lsaiah that he would restore true worship in Jerusalem. Let us consider that prophecy, as it appears in Isaiah chapter 40, for doing so can strengthen our faith in Jehovah, the Fulfiller of promises.

1
I

A Comforting Promise 3 In the eighth century B.C.E., the prophet Isaiah records
1. What is one way that Jehovah comforts us? 2. Why can we t r w t the promises of God? 3, 4. (a) Isaiah records what worh of comfort that God's people

words of comfort that Jehovah's people will need at a later time. Immediately after telling King Hezekiah of the approaching destruction of Jerusalem and the deportation of the Jewish people to,Rabylon, Isaiah sets forth Jehcvah's words that promise restoration: "'Comfofi comfort mypeople,'says the God of you men, 'Speak t the heart of o lerusalem and call out to her that her military service has been fulfilled,hot her error hm been poid off For from the hand of Jehovahshe has received a full amount for all her sins.'"-Isaiah 40:1, 2. 4 "Comfort," the opening word of Isaiah chapter 40, well describes the message of light and hope contained in .the rest of the book of Isaiah. For turning apostate the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem will be taken into exile to Babylon in 607 B.C.E. But those Jewish captives will not serve the Babylonians forever. No, their servitude will last only until their error is "paid off." How long will that be? According to Jeremiah the prophet, 70 years. (Jeremiah 25: 11, 12) After that, Jehovah will lead a repentant remnant from Babylon back to Jerusalem. In the 70th year of Judah's desolation, what a comfort it will be for the captives to realize that the time for their promised deliverance js at hand!-Daniel 9:1,2. 5 The journey from Babylon to Jerusalem is 500 to 1,000 rmles, depending upon the route taken, Will the long trip impede the fulfillment of God's promise? By no means! Isaiah wdtes: '%sten! Someone is calling out ia the wilderness: 'Clear up the way of jehovah, you people! Make the highway for our Cod through the deserf plain straight, l e t every volley be raised up, and every mountain
5 , 6 , (a) Why will the Iong journey from Babylon to Jerusalem not impede the fulfillment of God's promise? (h) The restoration of the Jews to their homeland will haw w h a t effect on other nations?

will need at a later time? (b) Why will the inhabitants of Judah and JeruqaIem he taken into e x ~ l to Babylnn, and how long will their sere

vitude last?

400

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for AII Mankind I

and hill be made low. And rhe knobby ground must become /eve//on$,and the rugged ground a valley ploin, And the glory of jehovah will certainly be revealed, and ali flesh must see it together, for the very mouth o f Jehovah has spoken it.'"-hiah 40:3-5. 6 Before embarlung on a journey, Eastern rulers would often send out men to prepare the way by removing big stones and even building causeways and leveljng hills. In the case of the returning Jews, it will be as if God himself is in the forefront, clearing away any obstacIes. After all, these are Jehovah's name people, and fulfiIling his promise to restore them to their homeland will cause hrs glory to be manifest before all the nations. Like it or not, those nations urll be forced t see that Jehovah is the Fulfiller of o his promises. 7 The restoration in the sixth century B.C.E. was not the only fulfillment of this prophecy. There was also a fulfillment in the first century C.E. John the Baptizer war the voice of someone "crying out in the wilderness," in fulfillment of Isaiah 40:3. (Luke 3:1-6)Under inspiration, John applied Isaiah's words to himself. (John 1:19-23) Starting in 29 C.E., John began preparing the way for Jesus Christ* John's advance procIamation aroused people to look for the promised Messiah so that they, in turn, might listen to him and follow him. (Luke 1:13-17, 76) Through Jesus,
Isaiah foretells the preparing of the way before Jehovah. (Isaiah 40:3) However, the Gospels apply that prophecy to what John the Baptizer did in preparing the way for lesw Christ The inspired writers of the Christian Greek Scripture5 made such application because Jesus represented his rather and came in his Father's name.-John 5: 43; 8 2 9 .
7, 8. (a) The words of Isaiah 40:3 had what fuIfillment in the first century C.E.? (b) Isaiah's prophecy had what larger fulfillment in 1919?

'Comfort My People"

Jehovah would lead repentant ones into the heedom that only God's Kmgdom can provide-liberation from bondage to sin and death. (John 1:29; 8:32) Isaiah's words had a larger fulfiIlment in the deliverance of the remnant of spiritual Israel from Babylon the Great in 1919and in their restoration to true worship.
8 What, though, about those who are in line to benefit from the initial fulfillment of the promise-the Jewish captives in Babylon? Can they really trust Jehovah's promise to return them to their beloved homeland? Indeed, they can! With vivid words and illustrations taken from everyday life, Isaiah now gives compelling reasons why they can have complete confidence that Jehovah will prove true to his word.

A God Whose Word Lasts Forever 9 First, the word o the One who promises restoration f lasts forever, Isaiah writes: "Listen! Someone is saying: 'Call out!' And one said: 'Whar shall I call out?' 'dl/ flesh is green gmss, and all their loving-kindness is like the biossom of the field. The gneen grass hos dried up, the blossom hos withered, because the very spirit of lehovah has blown upon it. Surely the peopk are green gmss. The green grass has dried up, the blossom has withered; but as for the word ofour God, it will Iast to time indefinite.' "-Isaiah
40:6-8.
10 The Israelites well know that grass does not Iast brwer. During the dry season, the sun's intense heat changes it from green to a parched brown. In some respects, man's life is like grass-so temporary in nature. (Psalm 103:15,L6; James 1:10,11) Isaiah contrasts the transitoriness of man's
-

9, 10. How doer lqaiah contrast the transitoriness of man's life with

the permanence of Gotl's "word"?

faxiah%l4Pyliacp-A#tt

for All kbankiad I

life Nhthe permanem of GQ@S t yrdI~ or 'stated ppose, "he word 6 our Ga$? endues hwr.When God spe& natcan m IMsw~rdsgl'pmt u them f i n being fuKUed.-Joshua &:I4

ten form i the Bible. The Bible has h x d bittercppsitim n over the centuriest and hrlw &amtator$and others have risked their hws W preserve it. YH, their e&rb alone do not -I& why It has mwiyed. Ail credit for Its s u v i v d musk @ < ~ Jehovah, ''the Iiving and endusfng Gad" and the P m m iJf his W d .(1 1:2%25) Think &Gut tm:5 W J e h o a hhas pres&rwdt& miiten Word, dannat trust him to fuIfiII the gmmi5Qsi cantaim? t

11 Today we have Jehovah's skaknent ofpurjgse l writn

A sttong G M wlm Tenderly Cares for Hh Sheep a Mab gives a second xwon why the pmds,ea rest& f WRP be m d . The One who makes the prod= is rn a & m q Goel w h tmderlspmm for his p q k . Isaiah mn~ tinuex sM k u way up ewn wntu a high mountain, : u pr you woman bringingpod new h am. R a f yuur mire f ~ e m wh%paw, p u woman bringing $4 bjrunews swtpm. Raise it Do tmt,be&aid. S to the c i i oPlud&: w 'Here is plrr God,' LcrokI f i e d o d i p LordMowk hims wjit mme wen as B sttong one r&n mm& & WenM," fsmWJI his arm w#Y!& rufhtgfw h*. iadd His reand ward b d f b him, and the w q e he p * ~& kfomhirn. Like a skephprd he wi/l $ e m h$s dm@. WE& his r r r ~
m t Jehomh,tgflil the promise3 m a l n M i s ufl n k written Word? i 1 , 13. (a) Why a n t h e p m m k o restorafinn be trusted8 (b) What 2 f p d news is there for the lmkh exflw, Md whycanthqhaw mnfdmP
11. Why tm W

fohn ~

~ Buptizer was a l b

vdce 'crying out h the wifderned'

hewlinc~~~ekrm~ondinhhbosomipewlll uarry them. b g M g sudc he will d u c t with em.' -450ioh 4O:Pf I* 13 I Bible times it was the custom for women to celen brate victories, aying out or singing the goad news o batf tla won or of coming relief. (1 Samuel I : , 7; Ralm 68: S& 11) Isaiah p p h e t i d y Indicates that there is good news far the Jewlsh mils, news that can be k.wlevly +out&, .

Jehovah, a Lovlng Shepherd

Isaiah compares j e h a h to a Iwlng shepherd who at-

ries his lambs I hls bosom. (IsaBh 40:1Q, 11) Isaiah wln d d y basesthlS warm Ifluswatlonon the real-lk practicer ad sh~phervfs, madem-dw obsemr who w U shep A ad h - on tM slopes of M m t Hemon in the Middle East e rp m eo shephrd watched Ms flock closely t see o hbw & ! fared. When he found a nw~born +y lamb he put It in the fatds&Ofhjs.. gmat CDBC slnceItwld betoo bhie to bIIw the mother, When hi!i bosom was full, hk put la& on his shoulders, hoMlng them by the feet or in a bag or & a s k on the back of a donkey, unbll the flW e ones were able to rollow the motherr," Is It not comfwtlng t o krww that we s m a God who has such tender concern far hls pehpW

406

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"Comfort M y People"

407

even from the mountaintops-Jehovah will lead his people back to their beloved Jerusalem! They can have tonfidence, for Jehovah will come "even with strength." Nothing, therefore, can prevent him from fulfilling his promise. 1 There is, however, a gentle side to this s b n g God. Isa4 iah warmly describes how Jehovah wdl lead his people back to their homeland.Jehovah is like a loving shepherd who collects his lambs togethm and carries them in his "bosom." The word "bosom" here evidently refers to the upper folds of the garment. This is where shepherds somerimes carry newborn lambs that cannot keep pace with the flock. (2 Samuel 12:3) Such a touching scene from pastoral life no doubt reassures Jehovah's exiled peopIe of his loving concern for them. Surely such a smng yet tender God can be trusted to fulfill what he has promised them! 15 Isaiah's words are filled with prophetic meaning for our day. In 1914,Jehovah came "'even with strength" and established his Kingdom in the heavens. The 'arm that is ruling for him' is hls Son, Jesus Christ, whom Jehovah h a installed upon his heavenly throne. I n 1919, Jehovah delivered his anointed servants on earth from bondage to Babylon the Great and set about completely restoring the pure worship of the living and b u e God. T h s is good news that must be fearlessly proclaimed, as if by shouting b m the mountaintops so that the proclamation carries far and wide. Let us, then, lift up our voices and boldly l& others know that Jehovah God has restored his pure worship on this earth!
14. (a) How does Isaiah illustrate the tender way i which Jehovah n will lead his people? (b) What example illustrates how shepherds tenderly care for theit. sheep? (See box on page 405.) 15. (a) When did Jehwah come "even with strength," and who is the 'arm that is ruling for him? (b) What good news must be fearlessly prodaimed7

'
1

words of Isaiah 40:10, 1 have further pram1 us today. It is comforting to note the tender manner in which Jehovah leads his people. Just as a shepherd understands the needs of individual sheep-including the Little lambs that cannot:keep up with the rest-Je hovah understands the limitations of each one o his f faithful servants. In addition, Jehovah, as a tender Shepherd, sets a pattern for Christian shepherds. Elders must treat the flock with tenderness, imitating the loving concern shown by Jehovah himself. T h q must be ever rninclful of the way that Jehovah feels about each member of the flock, "which he purchased with t h e blood of his own Son."-Acts 20:28.
16 The

cal value for

All-Powerful, All-Wise 17 The Jewish exiles can have confidence in the pmmise of restoration because God is all-powerful and all-wise. Says Isaiah. "Who has measured the wafers in the mere hollow of his hand, and taken the pmportions of the heavens themselves with a mere span and included in a measure the dust of the earth, or weighed with an indicutor the mountains, and the hills in the scales? Who has taken the proportions of the spirit of Jehovah, and who 05 his man o f counsel can make him know anything? With whom did he consult together that one might make him understand, or who teaches him in the path of justice, or teaches him knowledge, or makes him know the very way ofreal understanding?c--lsah 40: 12-14. 18 These are awe-inspiring questions for the Jewish exiles to ponder. Can mere humans turn back the tide of the
16. In what manner does Jehovah lead his people today, and what pattern does this set? 17, 18. (a) Why can the Jewirh exiles have confidence in the promise of restoration? (b) What awe-inspiring questions does Isaiah raise?

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Isaiah3 Prophecy-Light for All Mankind I

"Comfort My People"

mighty seas? Of course not! Yet, to Jehovah, the seas that cover the earth are like a drop of water in the palm of his hand." Can puny men measure the vast, starry heavens or weigh earth's mountains and hills? No. Yet, Jehovah measures the heavens as easily as a man might measure an object with a span-the distance between the end o the f thumb and the end of the liffle finger when the hand is spread out. God can, in effect, weigh mountains and hills in a pair of scales. Can even the wisest humans advise God what to do under present circumstances or tell him what to do in t h e future? Certainly not! 19 What about the mighty nations of the earth-can they resist God as he fulfills his word of promise? Isaiah answers by describing the nations as follows: "look! The nations are as a drop from a buckec and a the film o f dust s on the scales they have been accounted. Look! He lifts the islands themselves as mere fine dust Even Lebanon is not sufficient for keeping a fire burning, and its wild anirnorls are not sufficientfor a burnt offering. All the nations are as something nonexistent in front of him; as nothing m d on unreality they have been accounted to him."-isaiak 40: 75-IZ 20 To Jehovah, entire nations are as a dmp o water fallf ing from a bucket. They are no more than the fine dust that accumulates on a scale, without effed.*Suppose that
It has been calculated that "the mass of the oceans is approximately 1.35 quintillion ( 1 -35x 1018) metric tons, or about 1/4400of the total mass nf the Earth."-Eptcartd 97 Encyrlopediu. * TheExposEtor's Bible Cammentarynotes: "Near Eastern marketplace commerce would take no account of the minute water drop in the measuring bucket or a little dust on the scales when meat or fruit was
weighed."

someone were to construct a huge altar and use as firewood for the altar all the trees that covered the mountains of Lebanon. Then suppose that he were to offer as sacrifices a l l the animals that roamed on those mountains. Even such an offering would not be worthy of Jehovah. As if the imagery used thus far were not suflicient, Isaiah resorts to an even stronger statement-all the nations are as "less than nothing" in Jehovah's eyes.-Isaiah 40:17, N w e Revised Standard Version. 21 To emphasize further that Jehovah is beyond compare, Isaiah proceeds to show the folly of those who make idols out of gold, silver, or wood. How foolish to think that any such idol could be a fitting representation of the "One who is dwelling above the circle of the earth" and who holds sway over its inhabitants!-Read Isaiah 40: 78-24. 22 AIl these vivid descriptions lead us to one conclusion -nothing can prevent the all-powerful, all-wise, and incomparableJehovah from fillfilling his promise. How Isaiah's words must have comforted and skengthened the Jewish exiles in Babylon who longed to return to their homeland! Today we too can have confidence that Jchovah's promises for our future will become a reality.
"Who Has Created These Things?"
3 There is yet another reason why the Jewish exiles can take heart The One who promises deliverance js the Creator of all things and the Source of all dynamic energy. To stress his astounding capacity, Jehmh calls attention to
21, 22. (a) How does Isaiah emphasize that Jehovah is incornparable? (b) Isaiah's vivid descriptionslead us to what conclusion? (c) The prophet Isaiah records what scientifically sound statement? (See box on page 412.) 23. For what reason can the Jewish exiles take heart, and what does Jehovah now stress about himself?

19, 20. To emphasize the greatness of Jehovah, Isaiah uses what

graphic word pictures?

his ability manifest in creation: "To whom can yau people liken me so that I should be mode his equal?'says the Holy One. 'Raise your eyes high up and see. Who has creukd ti~ese things? It is the One who is bringing forth the army of them even by numbec all of whom he calls men by name. Due to the abundance of dynamic energy, he also being vigornus in powec not one of them is missing.'"-lsninh 40:25,26.
2-1 The Iloly One of Israel is; speaking for hlmsclf, 7b show that he is without equal, Jehovah directs atteution 20 thc stars of the heavens. Like a military mmmander able to marshal his troops, Jehovalz is in ut,mrnancl of t l ~ r stars. If he were tn muster them, 'not one o f them would be missing.' Though the nurnher of the $tan is grcat, he calls each one by name, either an indivir211a1 name or a namelike designation. Like obedient soldiers, they keep their place and observe proper urdcl; for thclr Leader ha$an abundance of "dynamic encrw" and is "vigorous in power."Therefore, the Jewish exilcs havc reason for confidence. The Creator, who comrnanrls tllc slirrs, hiis the power to support his servants. 25 Who uf us can resist the dlvlne invitatinn mcorcled at Isaiah 40:26: "Raise your eyes high up and see"? 'Shc discoveries of modern-clay astronomers have shown that the starry heavens are even more awe-inspiring than they appeased to be in Isaiah" day. .4stronomerr wire pccr into the heavens with their powerful telesmpcs cstimnlc that the observable universe contains as many as 125 billion galaxies. Why, just one of these--the Milky Way aal-

axy-cnntalns, occordlny:lo sotnc estimates, over 100 hilllon stars! Such knwlctlgc should awaken I our hearts n ruvclmcc for uur Crcntc)r i ~ n d complete trust In his word of

24. Speaking for himself, holv docs Jchovah show that he J5 wtthnt~l

ctluaI?
25. t lrnv may we rpspond to the divine invitation recorded at IwIa h W Z h , and with what effect?

promise. 26 Knowing that the years i captivity will dampen the n splriw of the Jwlhexlles, Jehovah Inspire3 Isaiah to record in advance these wards o reassurance: "For whatrwf son do you soy, O jacob, and do y ~ specrk out; 0 Isme!, u 'My way has been concw/ed from lekovah, and justice t o me eludes m Cod himself'? Hove you not come to know y or have you not heard? Jehovrrh, the Creotor of the extremities of the mrtl~, o God to time indefjnite. H does is e 26, 27. Hnw anbthc fccllnjir nl the exller in Babylon describe& ,md what thlng~ shoulrf they knwu!

What I s the Shape of the Earth?

I ancient times humans In general believed that the n earth was flat As early as the sixth century B.CE, howerer, Creek philosopher Pylhagons h r l z e d that the earth must be a sphere. Even s, two cenkrrles before o Pythagoms formulated hls theory, the prophet Isaiah stated with extraordinary darity and certainty: "There b One who lr dwelling above the slxje o the earth," (Isaf lah 40:22) The Hebrew word &ugh hare translated "drcle" may be rendered "sphere." Inhrestlngly, only a spherlal object appears as a dde from @varyangle." Far ahead of h the, then, the prophet tsaiah recorded i s a statement that is sdentiflcally sound and fFee from andent myths.
"Technically ~ p e a h $ the earth Is an oblate sphemld. It is slightly f l a t l e d at the poles.

not tim out orgmw w e u ~I mk no seurching out of his , h

~n&nimding.~-baIuh 4O:U,28.* h i a h mods Jehovah's words descrIblng the Wings of the miles in Babylon, hadreds of mlles from their homeland. Some think that their "way"-the M come of their life-is unseen or unknown by their God. They think tkat Jehovah b indifferent ro the t nfWcesthey suffer. They are remhded o thlxlp that they should know, f if n t from personal experience, then at least b m W r o W o n W has been handed down.Jehovah B able and willing t W e hls people. H is the eternal God and o vr e the Chator o the m t i carth. Hence, he still possesses the f ~ he &played i mation, and not men mighty B& n g o b beyond hts ma&, Such a God mnot grow ttred Zn and fail his pwple. They ought not t expect bo be able fulo l to %raspJehovah's doings, for hb understandmg-oz iny sight, discernment, and pemptIon-ls beyond their cornprehemion. a Through Isaiah, Jehovah continues with encowagement fbr the despondent:exiles: "He is glvlng b the ~ e d one amd b the one wlthout dynamic energj, he nwkes M rnlght abound, Boys will both the wt and gmw 1
w r y , and pung men themsdwts wlll Wctbout M stumi ble, buf who hoping In jehovoh will -In power.They wlll mount up w M dngs like mgb. Thqr will mn and notgrow w r y ; t g will wk and not rite outm-/$ah l b h 402S37. When speaking of the need t give to the Wed one o

* fit kajah 40:28, the exprLtssisn "time Indcfinlk* means "forevex," for f e h w h I "the Klng of etesntg"-l Timothy 1:17, s
2a, 29. (a1 How does Jchwah wmind hn people that he will come L m the aid of w r ones? (b) What lllustnrtlon I used to show havv ay s Jehovah empowers trfs m t s ?

Tmnfart My People"

used to illustrate haw Jehovah empowers ht$ $manta* With prci$pettsof such didfie supgort, the Jewish & l ~ s have no muse for despdr. WThsre dasinp, verses o Isaiah chapter 40 contain f words o romfort for true Chri$lims living i the last f n days of khls wicked y m With so many pressurn and 9 . problems that tend to dishearten, it is reassuing to know that the hardships we endure and the injustices we suffer do not go unnoticed by our Gad. We can be sure that the Crater of ail things, the One whose "understmding i wn ~munting," me t all injustlkes in h& s ad will r c o v h time and way. (Psalm E4'J:5,6)Meanwhile) we need ggt endure in our msWngth, Jehovah,wbase remmzs are irmhausijble, can impart power-even "pmer b q n d what 4 nn~ml"--tohis servants in t h e $ a~ a l , - 2 Carinthiam 8 3 . 31 Think of those Jewish captives i Babylon in the sixth n mu B,C.E. u n d r e of miles away, their beloved Jerut q H salem lay desoIate, its temple in ruins. For them, Isaiah's pxophecy mtained a comforting promise 01 light and hope-Jehwah would retor& them to their homeIand ! I n 537 B.E.E., Jehavabled his people home, proving that h@ is the Fulfiller of promises. We t can have a b e k conw ticlence in Jehovah. His ~rzgdomn promises, whirh xe $0 beautifully expressed in Isaiah's prophecy, MI become a reali* That is indeed good news-a message o light for all f mankind1

that the exiles WII Rave w make Worder b &n b m e . Jehovah rm-drds his people that it i isrBLaractex#ic o him s f

p m r , Jehwah

have i mind the arduous journey n

to tome to the a16 of weary ones who b s k t him fm o support. Even the most vibrant of humans-"bqs" aad "young menn-may be warn d m by fatigue and s t u n ble from eihwstioa. Yet, J e b d promises +a@ye power -unwearied power t run and to walk-to thme who are o trus&ing in him. The seemingly cikrtless flight of the eagle, a powerful biid that rn soaT fr hmrs at a time, is a

* The eagle stays aloft with a minimum expenditureof enIt dues ss by rnaWng skUfuI use af thermaIs, Or mIumns df ridng warm air.
SO. h w can true C k i s t i a a M a y draw camfort fmm the closing verses of Isaiah chapter 401 31, What pmmhe of light did baiah's praphecy'cbntatnfat the Jew-

ish captive in Babylon, and In what can we have absa1dte cottfi-

d& m?

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