カテゴリー: Isaiah

Today let’s look at the last half of Isaiah 22. Chapter 22 is “an oracle concerning the Valley of Vision.” (1) In other words, it is talking about a prophecy of judgment upon Jerusalem. In last week’s passage Israel did not look to God, but to weapons of war and to securing a water source and to repairing the wall. In other words, they look at humanistic things. They are advised to repent of that sin.
In today’s passage two servants, Shebna and Eliakim appear. By these two servants we are taught how “the Valley of Vision,”(1) Jerusalem, and the people of God, Israel, should be. In other words, as God’s servants they must walk humbly and faithfully.

I. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled (vs.15-19)
First look at verses 15 to 19.
Here the person, Shebna appears. Here it says, “Shebna, who is charge of the palace.” (15) In 36:22 it is written, “Shebna the secretary.” In any case, he was “in charge of the palace” of the King of Judah, Hezekiah. What the Lord says to him is recorded in verse 16.
Shebna wanted a tomb worthy of a king. He was wanted to leave a reminder of his glory. Man makes memorials, and makes　luxurious graves to show how splendid and how great they were. Now too if you go to Jerusalem there are tombs of the past leaders like Absalom. Shebna too wanted to build a luxurious tomb for himself. Since they were surrounded by Assyria and they were in the dangerous condition of being invaded, he was completely off base.
Concerning Shebna what the Lord said is recorded in verses 17 to 19.
“Mighty man“ (17) means a strong person or a brave soldier. It was a word that wasn’t used in normal conversation. The reason that Shebna is called a “mighty man“(17) is because Shebna is not a “mighty man“(17). Like the Lord hurled the mighty man away, the Lord grabbed hold of him and hurled him away. It’s like Judo. Judo athletes grab hold of their opponent’s collar, and using Judo throws hurl their opponent far away. Like this the Lord took a firm hold of Shebna and hurled him away.

Also if you look at verse 18 it says, “He will roll you up tightly like a ball and throw you into a large country.“ This is easy to understand. He will be rolled up tightly like a ball and then thrown “into a large country.” (18) Then he will die there. His end was not the grave, but wide open land. That was because he exalted himself. The Lord said, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matt. 23:12)

II. The faithful servants of the God (vs. 20-24)
Next let’s look at verses 20 to 23. First look at verses 20 and 21.
Here another person appears. “Eliakim, son of Hilkiah“. (20) If you look at 36:3 you will see that he was “the palace administrator“. He too served the King of Judah, Hezekiah. The “your“ of verse 21 is Shebna. God will put the robe that Shebna wore on Eliakim, and fasten the sash that Shebna wore on Eliakim, and hand over Shebna’s authority to Eliakin. The authority and status that had been given to Shebna will be given to Eliakim.
The reason is given in verse 20. Here it says, “my servant“. It was because he faithfully persisted in the position that was given him as a servant of God. Shebena exalted himself and he was humbled, but Eliakim persisted in his position as a servant of God and reversely he was exalted. While Eliakim was in a high governmental post, and of high rank, but he was humble before God.
Mark 10:42-45
This is the answer Jesus gave when James and John, the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus and asked to sit on the left and right of Jesus in God’s kingdom. In this world those who are regarded as rulers exercise authority over people. It is not to be with you. It is not like that in the kingdom of God. “Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” (Matt. 10:43,44) This is the principle of the kingdom of God. Jesus “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matt. 10:45)
Before in a church there was a woman who retired from a job of many years in an office only. After retirement she served as a paid church secretary. In a church in the city usually there is a young staff, but this church was in the countryside so there weren’t very many young people. Therefore, this person who had been secretary in an everyday business sustained the church. When I had some business with the church, this person often answered the phone. I can’t begin to express what a gentle and kind feeling her response gave and it caused my heart to be soothed.

One day this person after finishing a day of service in the church went home after 5:00 on the train, but about 6:00 she got back on the train and returned to the church. She was afraid that she had forgotten to lock the church.
It feels good to see a young person quickly doing his job, but to see someone like this person earnestly and faithfully serving doing each job like an offering to the Lord has flavor. Even though she is paid, such service cannot be done without a devoted heart.
Shebna used his ranking and position to give himself glory and didn’t serve God, but Eliakim wasn’t like that. As the servant of God, he faithfully performed the duties that were given to him. Each one of his jobs he did from his heart and if he was doing it for the Lord. Therefore, he was used of God. The important thing is to be conscious of yourself as a servant of God and to do the jobs you are given faithfully.
In Matt. 25 there is the story of the servants who received 5 talents, 2 talents, and 1 talent from their Master and how they managed the money. The servants who received 5 talents and 2 talents both made money. However, the servant that received 1 talent hid it in the ground. To the servants that received 5 and 2 talents the Master said, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matt. 25:21,23)
What is interesting is that both the servant that received 5 talents and the servant that received 2 talents were praised the same by their Master. The Master was not happy about the amount of money they said they made, but by how faithful they had been. Such faithfulness is born out of a consciousness that you are a servant of God.
If you look at verse 22 you will see how great an honor was given to Eliakim. Here it says, “I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David, what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.” Eliakim will receive “the key to the house of David.” (22) “The key to the house of David” (22) is the authority as king. He will be given the final authority on decisions. “What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.” (22) He will be given that much authority.
This passage is quoted in Rev. 3:7. The Lord Jesus writes in a letter that is sent to the church in Philadelphia about himself, “These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut and what he shuts no one can open.” Jesus holds the keys to heaven. What the Lord “opens no one can shut and what he shuts no one can open.” (Rev. 3:7) The Lord has the authority to

open and close the doors to heaven. It is such a great an authority that he has the authority to determine man’s eternity. Eliakim is a type of Jesus and paints his image. He is given that much authority.
The Lord Jesus says to the church in Philadelphia in verse 8 of Rev. chapter 3, “I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”
“An open door that no one can shut” (Rev. 3:8) is the gate to the kingdom of heaven. The door to heaven is open to them. This is because they have little strength, yet they have kept God’s word and have not denied the name of the Lord. In other words, they were faithful to the Lord.
The real value of the church is not its appearance or numbers. Even if there are few people, and it is seen as being in poverty, it doesn’t make any difference. Its real value depends on whether there is true faith or not, whether the Christians are following the Word of God or not. That is the foundation of our life of faith. If we make the Word of God the foundation of our life then this will be seen in us testifying to Christ. There are Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Shintoism and other many various new religions, but what is important is not that among these religions that you believe in Christianity. It is not that you are acting like a Christian. What is important is that you have a faithful faith in the Word of God. The Church of Philadelphia had such a faithful faith in the word of God.
Last week I spoke at a symposium entitled, “Thinking about evangelism in local areas”. A pastor and his wife who evangelize in Sado in Niigata prefecture attended. From the time they started evangelizing in Sado with a population between 50,000 to 60,000 people, 16 years ago until now only a few people have gathered. He said it feels like he is preaching to the tatami mats every week. I thought how hard it must be to evangelize in such a situation. Under such conditions he attended the symposium and received encouragement from the Lord and is faithfully serving the Lord where he was sent to. I think it is the Philadelphia Church of Japan.
When we go to heaven there will be Billy Graham (But he is still living) who has led hundreds of thousands, millions of people to Christ and there may be a son and his mother who brought up the son wonderfully in Christ. They will both receive the same reward and praise from the Lord. The important thing is whether we are a faithful servant of God or not.

Please look at verse 23. Here it says, “I will drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will be a seat of honor for the house of his father.” “Him”, and “he” (23) is Eliakim, but at the same time it is also a prophecy about Jesus Christ. That is because the words of verse 22 also refer to Christ. “I will drive him like a peg into a firm place” refers to the cross. This “peg” was normally the Hebrew word used for the peg the holds the tabernacle securely in place. In order to hold the tabernacle securely in place, a peg had to be driven into firm ground. By doing so lasting prosperity and success will come to David’s house. This peg is Eliakim and it is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ’s cross is the foundation of God’s house. It is the firm ground. It will become the glory of the kingdom of God. It is the firm ground of our life.
What is the foundation of your life? The cross is the firm foundation of your life. If you nail your life on this firm ground, that will be your glory and it will bring you lots of prosperity and security.

III. Believe in Christ (vs. 25)
Therefore, the third point is to believe in Christ. Please look at verse 25.
This is a difficult passage to interpret. Many commentaries say that “the peg driven into the firm place will give way; it will be sheared off and will fall, and the load hanging on it will be cut down” (25) means that Eliakim like Sｈebｎa　will eventually fall from power due to his depravity. However, it is more than that.
Here the words, “in that day” (25) are written. “In that day” is one of the key words of Isaiah. I have already said many times that means that Isaiah is talking more about something that will occur at a much later time than about the age of Isaiah.
Here “the peg”, Jesus Christ who was driven “into a firm place” and provided security for Israel “will give way; it will be sheared off and will fall, and the load hanging on it will be cut down.” (25)
John 1:11,12
Christ “came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” (John 1:11) Israel rejected the peg which was driven “into a firm foundation”. (23) Therefore, that salvation will be taken away and will be given to the Gentiles. However, “to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12) The Jews did not receive Jesus as their Savior so they will be cut down. Christ was the Messiah and who we should accept and believe in. If we don’t, we are the same as the Jews and will be cut down.

Have you accepted Christ? Do you believe in Him and are you saved? So that you are not cut off, open your eyes up big, and receive his salvation. Jesus who died on the cross and 3 days later rose again is our savior. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2) Satan attacks us in many ways trying to get us to take our eyes off Christ. He says things like “You really don’t have to believe in Christ” or “I can live freely even if I don’t go to church every week” or “More important than believing in God that I can’t see is to understand the reality of the world from the internet.” Like this Satan tries to get us to reject Christ. However, there is no salvation in that. “The peg driven “into a firm foundation will give way.” (25) To all who receive Jesus Christ who died on the cross and rose again three days late, “to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12) This is the starting point for being a servant of God. As a servant of Christ let’s accept Christ, and desire to live in his grace. Upon each one of you who live believing in Him, may God’s grace and blessings be upon you.

Applying it to our lives
 Do you have thoughts that you want to leave a name for yourself? Or do have thoughts of desiring to put yourself above God.

 Are you doing the duties that have been given to you with a servant’s heart humbly and sincerely? When the Lord sees you serving, what will he say?

Today I would like to talk about the first half of Isaiah 22. In verse 1 it says, “An oracle concerning the Valley of Vision.” “The valley of vision” (1) is Jerusalem . Jerusalem is called “the Valley of Vision” (1) because the prophet Isaiah talked about many visions in Jerusalem. Jerusalem was surrounded by mountains like a valley and visions were revealed there so it was called “the Valley of Vision”. (1)
The prophecies up to now were concerning the surrounding countries around Israel and Judah. However, here suddenly the prophecy is talking about Jerusalem because Jerusalem has up until now as Isaiah says, has not believed in the real God, and depended on the power of man. In this respect they were no different than the pagan countries. You must not feel secure just because you are the people of God . To show this God is speaking words of warning to Jerusalem. Today let’s learn three things from the words of the oracle concerning Jerusalem .

I. Jerusalem, a city of tumult (vs. 1-4)
Please look at verses 1 to 4. Verse 1 and the first part of verse 2 say, “What troubles you now, that you have all gone up on the roofs, 0 town full of commotion, 0 city of tumult and revelry.”
The roofs of the houses in Jerusalem were flat and you could go up onto the roofs. The people enjoyed the cool evening breeze on the rooftop. Like a beer garden, they drank beer, watched festivals, and entertained people there . They had “all gone up on the roofs.”
(1) The reason they had gone to the roof tops is given as “O town full of commotion, 0 city of tumult and revelry.” (2) “Commotion” (2) means to be noisy, loud, uproarious , hyper, lively, or buzzing. “Tumult” (2) means a confused , noisy, and excited situation . They were enjoying the pleasures of this world and they were having a blowout. However, for the prophet Isaiah, for the people of Jerusalem to go up on the roof tops and have a blowout was a very unthinkable thing. That was because the situation was certainly not one in which they should be partying. God’s judgment was coming upon them because of their sin. They were in the danger of being destroyed by the country of Assyria. They needed to be saddened by their sin, and repent to the Lord, but they did exactly the opposite .
Look at verses 2 and 3.
This was not a special onetime event. It is thought that this is referring to the time they were threatened by Assyria and later when Jerusalem was besieged by Babylonia. ”Your slain were not killed by the sword, nor did they die in battle .” (2) refers to when Judah was destroyed by Babylon, and when the people were exiled they didn’t die by

the enemy killing them by stabbing them with swords, but because of having to share a small amount of food, they killed each other. “All your leaders have fled together; they have been captured” refers to King Zedekiah and his army which looked for a chance and fled, but on the way were captured and taken to Babylon.
The reason this happened was because they didn’t think about God and thought only about themselves. Jerusalem was called “The Valley of vision” (I) so they were supposed to receive the visions of the Lord . However, they didn’t accept the visions, didn’t bow before the Lord, and were pulled by the pleasures of the world. Even if you are the people of God, if you live like the people of the world, God’s judgment will come. That’s because Romans 2:11 says, “For God does not show favoritism.” No matter if you are Jewish or Greek, “there will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil…but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good.” (Romans 2:9, 10) Just because you are the people of God does not mean you are exempt from God’s judgment. Even if you are the people of God, if you live like the world, God’s judgment will come upon you.
Are you accepting the Lord’s visions, accepting the Lord’s will and coming humbly before God or are you making contentment in your life your priority? Israel’s problem was this. They felt secure in the fact that they were the people of God and their faith didn’t actually penetrate into their lives. On the roof tops they led an idle life. They thought only about themselves and didn’t think about God . We who are by the grace of God have been given salvation through our Lord Jesus, so let’s determine what is good, pleasing and God’s will, and walk in the will of God.
Please look at verse 4. There are the words of Isaiah, Isaiah looked at the judgment of God coming upon Jerusalem and he wept bitterly. He was so moved that he refused consolation requesting, “Do not try to console me.” (4) God’s judgment as coming upon those he loved. Just thinking about that, Isaiah was saddened and depressed. Are you like Isaiah weeping bitterly and lamenting over your daughter’s destruction? How saddened are you by the fact that those you love will be judged and go to hell? How do you feel about those in God’s family who because of living by the world, will be judged? Are you like Isaiah saddened, depressed and lamenting? We must pray that they will return to the Lord.

IL What we need is God (vs. 5-11)
Next let’s look at verses 5 to 11. First let’s read verses 5 to 7.
Suddenly danger came upon the people of Jerusalem when they thought everything was o.k. and were living in .a happy-go•lucky fashion as they had always done

up until then. Assyria came and besieged Jerusalem. The valley of Jerusalem was filled with chariots, soldiers, and horsemen. They stood in line in front of the entrance to the city of Jerusalem and they planned to knock down the walls. “Elam” and “Kir” were towns or areas that fought in the Assyrian army in the attack upon Jerusalem.
The way that Israel (Jerusalem) responded to this situation is in verse 8. “The defenses of Judah are stripped away. And you looked in that day to the weapons in the Palace of the Forest.” (8) When they fell into such a situation, they first of all they looked to “weapons”. (8) At such times if they would have returned to the Lord God, it would have been great, but they didn’t look to God, but to weapons. It was a strategy of how was the best way to fight.
That wasn’t all, please look at verse 9. Here it says, “You saw that the City of David had many breaches in its defenses; you stored up water in the Lower Pool.” This was to secure a water source. The king of Judah, Hezekiah thought that when Assyria came to attack, if they cut off the water source, it would be the end for them so Hezekiah built a tunnel from the Gihon spring to a cistern inside the city’s wall. This greatly reduced Jerusalem’s vulnerability to siege by guaranteeing a continuing water supply. This tunnel became famous and was called “Hezekiah’s tunnel”. Hezekiah brought water from Gihon and “built a reservoir between the two walls .” (11) This pool was called the pool of Siloam which later appears in John 9:7 in the New Testament. When Jesus healed a blind man who had been blind since birth, he made mud from spit and put the mud on the blind man’s eyes and told the man, “Go…wash in the Pool of Siloam.” (John 9:7) The man went and washed and he was able to see. That was this pool. It was the pool that was made by Hezekiah to prepare for the attack by Assyria.
That’s not all. Please look at verse 10. It says, “You counted the buildings in Jerusalem and tore down houses to strengthen the wall.” They strengthened the wall .
We are impressed by Hezekiah’s actions at that time. He thought of all kinds of defending strategies. He was prepared for an attack of Assyria. “But…” (11) Starting in the middle of verse 11 it says, “But you did not look to the One who made it, or have regard for the One who planned it long ago.”
The Lord God didn’t appreciate Hezekiah’s actions. That was because he did not do the most important thing of looking to God. He “did not look to the One who made it, or have regard for the One who planned it long ago.” (11) He didn’t look to the Creator, the Lord God: “the One who made” Jerusalem, “the One who made” water, “the One who made” the wall, and who is the source of all things that are made. He did not “have regard for the One who planned it long ago.” (11) He looked to things that he could see like weapons, securing water, and strengthening the wall.

If you look at II Chronicles 32, the background for this passage , you will see that Hezekiah prepared for the attack of the Assyrian king Sennacherib by securing a water source, rebuilding the wall, and making a huge amount of spears, but at the same time he depended upon the Lord. Let’s open our Bible and look at this in II Chronicles 32:7, 8.
II Chronicles 32:7, 8.
Aren’t these great words! These are the words Hezekiah spoke to the “military officers over the people” (II Chronicles 32:7) when the Assyrian King Sennacherib attacked. Here Hezekiah says that even if Assyria attacks, they will not be shaken. He declares “there is a greater power with us than” (II Chronicles 32:7) the army that is with the Assyrian King Sennacherib.
If you look at these words, it certainly looks like Hezekiah was trusting in God. However, he didn’t know what depending on God meant . He certainly realized that God was great and that God was a greater power than the army that was with the enemy. He believed that God would fight for him. However, he didn’t humble himself and pray. He didn’t pour out his heart and pray, “What I really need is you .” With his mouth he was confessing that our Lord is great, but he was caught up in things he could see: weapons , securing a water source, repairing the wall , etc. When Hezekiah really started to look to the Lord was after this when Sennacherib said to the people of Jerusalem , “On what are you basing your confidence …How then can your god deliver you from my hand? Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you and mislead you like this. Do not believe him.” (II Chron. 32:10, 14) At that time “King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this.” (II Chronicles 32:20)
In the midst of a serious crisis, King Hezekiah, poured out his heart in prayer to heaven before the Lord. Therefore , “the LORD sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the leaders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king.” (II Chronicles 32:21) In other words, Judah was saved because Hezekiah poured out his heart and desperately prayed. He didn’t just believe in his head that the Lord was great, but left everything in the hands of God . It is not a bad thing to prepare for an attack of the enemy by preparing weapons, securing a water source, and repairing the wall. It is important to do what you can do. However, that is not everything. On top of doing those things, also we need to leave it in the hands of the Lord. We need to confess that we need God , that God is our help, our rock , our fortress, our refuge and our deliver and humbly pray.
When you have problems in your life, how do you solve the problem? Do you put into action to the best of your ability a strategical solution? Even so, why do you have anxiety in your heart? Why are you fearful? That is because you are not bowing before

God and praying. It is because you aren’t desperately praying, “God, help me! You are salvation.” You are thinking that I will do• this or I will do that. However, what is really necessary is to pray, “In you only there is salvation.” To search for a solution and tackle a problem is not in or itself bad. However, ultimately we must bow before the Lord, humble ourselves and in prayer seek the Lord.

III. The calling of the Lord (Vs. 12-14)
The third point is what we should do. We should repent and seek God. Please look at verses 12 to 14.
“To weep and to wail, to tear out your hair and put on sackcloth” (12) is a call to repent . Even though the Lord is saying to Israel to fast and repent , they took completely the opposite attitude. They thought if they are going to die tomorrow, they might as well stuff themselves with the food they like and do whatever they wanted to. Until the end they sought after pleasures.
This is what people who don’t believe in God are like. For people that don’t believe in God this world is everything. They think that while living in this world they must enjoy everything that they can enjoy.
I. Cor. 15:32
False teachings that there is no resurrection of the dead had entered the Corinthian church. Towards these people Paul is warning that if there is no resurrection of the dead then our life upon this earth will be a life of only searching after pleasure. The hope of the resurrection, eternal life, is not just doctrine. It is an important teaching that markedly determines our daily life.
Paul is confessing that every day is a continuous death. His life as an evangelist was continuous persecutions and hardships. Every day after day he went through the experience of death. He was able to be content with taking that road because those who die for Christ will be raised in the life of Christ. Those who die for Christ have the hope that when they go to heaven they will receive a huge reward. Because he had such a hope he was able to endure the struggles. If he didn’t have that hope, if he didn’t believe in that hope, the things on this earth would be everything. If death is the end, if everything becomes nothing, only ashes, then your life will be spent enjoying the things you like.
Therefore, the Lord says in verse 14, “The LORD Almighty has revealed this in my hearing: ‘Till your dying day this sin will not be atoned for’, says the Lord, the LORD Almighty.”
Saying God “has revealed this in my hearing” is an unique phrase. This shows
that God spoke especially strongly to the prophet. The contents of what he spoke is, “Till

. your dying day this sin will not be atoned for.” (14) This sin is ignoring God’s warning, desiring the pleasures of this world and running around. Man who was made to reflect God’s glory, but didn’t worship God, and lived by his own desires. This sin will “Till your dying day this sin will not be atoned for.” (14) Once they die there is no chance to repent and be forgiven. It also means that until they die too there is no chance that their sin will be atoned for. Their sin was that huge .
The result was until they die they will be in the same condition. That was the Babylon deportation. If we think that because we are the people of God we are o.k., because we are Christians its o.k. and become separated from the will of God, and put our life into our own hands, then we will be the same.
Therefore, repent and return to God. Then God will forgive you. Weep, wail, “tear out your hair and put on sackcloth”. (12) “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart . 0 God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17) We need to humble ourselves before God praying , “all I need is you. Only you are my salvation .” This is what God desires of us.
Applying it to our lives
• Are you listening to God’s Word and accepting it as God’s will, and humbly following it? Or are you giving your own thinking priority?

• When difficulties arise in your life, how are you solving them? Do you plan solutions by your own strength? Let’s humble ourselves before God and pray for God to help us.

• Do you have thoughts of “Let’s drink. Let’s eat for tomorrow we’ll die”? How are you confessing the hope of eternal life in your life?

From Isaiah 13 on Isaiah is warning of God’s judgment on the nations surrounding Israel. Until now he has spoken about Babylon, Assyria, Philistine, Moab, Damascus, Cush and Egypt. In today’s passage he is talking about Babylon again, then Edom and also Arabia. From these prophecies to these countries today I would like to talk about the hope and power of living in that age.

I. God doesn’t show favoritism (vs. 1-10)
Please look at verses 1 and 10. Let’s read verses 1 and 2.
“Desert by the Sea” (1) is Babylon. While Babylon is desert, the Tigris and Euphrates, huge rivers that look like an ocean, flow through it so it is called a “Desert by the Sea”. (1) This is a prophecy concerning Babylon. Chapter 13 and 14 is about Babylon. Here again Babylon is talked about.
This is a “dire vision”. (2) In verse 2 it says, “The traitor betrays, the looter takes loot.” “Elam” is Persia. Persia along with Media will attack Babylon. This was fulfilled 200 years after Isaiah prophesized this. In chapters 44 and 45 this is prophesized giving the name of the Persian king, Cyrus, who will destroy Babylon. It happened just as it was prophesized. At the time that Isaiah prophesized this Media and Persia were still small countries. It was Assyria that was in full flourish at that time. After that Babylon rose up, but this Babylon would later be destroyed by the allied forces of Persia and Media. It happened just as it is said here. This is the greatness of Biblical prophecy. What the Lord says always is fulfilled.
Please look at verses 3 to 5. Here describes what the destruction of Babylon will be like. In verse 5 it says, “They set the tables, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers, oil the shields!” “They” (5) is Babylon’s king Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson, Belshazzar. They gave a great banquet at the palace. Suddenly the allied forces of Persia and Media attacked. The detailed account is recorded in Daniel 5 so later please look at that. Belshazzar used “the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem” (Daniel 5:2) to drink wine with and worshipped gods made from stone and wood. Suddenly a hand appeared there and wrote some letters on the wall. Belshazzar who “was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way,” (Daniel 5:6) so he called David and asked him what it meant. It was a message that Belshazzar had been measured in the light of God’s standards and was “found wanting”. (Daniel 5:27) His reign is over and his kingdom will be divided in two. That night Media and Persian came and destroyed Babylon.
Babylon which was said to be impregnable was destroyed in a flash. Babylon was enclosed by a stone wall 90 meters high, 24 meters wide and its length extended over tens of kilometers. They were off guard thinking that no one could break through this stone wall. Media and Persia didn’t break through the wall, but how they did it was they used the water system and they were able to gain entry inside the walled city. Babylon who never dreamed they would be attacked was in one night destroyed. Exactly like the prophecy of Daniel, Belshazzar’s rule ended.
Even so when Isaiah talks about the condition of Babylon, he says in verse 3, “At this my body is racked with pain, pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor; I am staggered by what I hear.”
It was so brutal so Isaiah’s “body is racked with pain” (3) and he was “staggered”. (3) It was more than he could stand to hear or see. Isaiah’s heart ached. His heart ached watching Babylon not listen to God’s warning and being destroyed.
How about us? When we see those who if they don’t believe in the Savior and Lord Jesus Christ will go to eternal destruction, are our bodies “racked with pain”? (3) We have believed in Jesus and are saved so we are o.k., but what about our families and friends? They will perish. They will fall into hell. There is no other name except Jesus Christ in which they can be saved. It is sad if they don’t believe in Jesus and go to hell. Our hearts will be in pain. It will be more than we can stand to see or hear. So that that doesn’t happen, we must preach the words of salvation, and pray that many people will believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior. If we see such people and don’t think anything about it, then we are a people without compassion. Let’s have the same heart as God that feels for others.
Verses 6 to 9 report what it was like when Media and Persia entered Babylon. “This is what the Lord says to me: Go post a lookout and have him report what he sees. When he sees chariots with teams of horses, riders on donkeys or riders on camels, let him be alert, fully alert.’ And the lookout shouted, ‘Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post, Look, here comes a man in a chariot with a team of horses. And he gives back the answer: ‘Babylon has fallen, has fallen! All the images of its gods lie shattered on the ground!’” (6-9)
The allied forces of Media and Persia used not only chariots and horses, but donkeys and camels too. The lookout at the lookout is called. When the allied forces of Media and Persia came and destroyed Babylon, the lookout excitedly called out, “Babylon has fallen, has fallen! “ (9) He calls out twice that Babylon has fallen. “Babylon has fallen, has fallen!” (9) That is how stirred up he is. It shows how surprising it was that Babylon which was thought of as never falling had been destroyed. Babylon that was said would never be destroyed was in this way destroyed. This happened 200 years after the age of Isaiah. At the same time this is a prophecy of events at the end of the world. In other words, it is the destruction of “Babylon the Great” of Rev. 18:2. This “Babylon the Great” (Rev. 18:2) is powers that are against God, the system of evil. At the end of the world, evil will inevitably be judged.
Please look carefully at verse 10. Here it says, “O my people, crushed on the threshing floor, I tell you what I have heard from the LORD Almighty, from the God of Israel.” “My people, crushed on the threshing floor” (10) refers to Israel. Isaiah is prophesizing beforehand what is going to happen to the countries surrounding Israel. Not only the surrounding countries, but Israel too must hear what is being said. They must feel as if it were one’s own affair. It should not be put off as no concern of theirs. They must not think that they were a holy people chosen by God and so they had no relationship to what was being said. Rather you are no different from the neighboring countries so listen carefully to the message and you must accept it seriously. .
This is what the New Testament says too. Please open your Bibles to Romans 2:5-11.
Romans 2:5-11
“God does not show favoritism.” (Romans 2:11) Because you are the people of God, because you are Israel, because you are a holy people doesn’t mean that its o.k. to do anything. Even if you are the people of God, if you “reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.” (Romans 2:8) “For God does not show favoritism.” (Romans 2:11) “There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” (Romans 2:9,10) Even if you a Jew, even if you are a Christian, if you sin and are forever hardened and don’t repent, then like Babylon you will be judged. Therefore, Isaiah says here, “I tell you.” (10) You must feel as if it is your own affair. If you are the same as them, you will experience the same things they will.
Isaiah said, “O my people, crushed on the threshing floor, I tell you what I have heard from the LORD Almighty, from the God of Israel.”(10) I ask you, “Are you saved? Are you certain that you have received eternal life? Are you 100% sure that you are going to heaven? If not, without fail, don’t be embarrassed, now make a decision. If you believe in Jesus as Lord and if you confess it with your mouth, “you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) Your eternal destiny is decided by this. By how you look at Jesus Christ your life is determined. Those who confess Jesus at Lord are citizens of heaven. Those who don’t will be judged. They will go to hell. There are some people who don’t want to go to heaven or hell, but they want to go to China. However, that is not an option. You must choose heaven or hell.

II. Morning isn’t coming, there is no night (Vs. 11,12)
The second point is that morning isn’t coming and there is no night. Please look at verses 11 and 12.
This is a prophecy concerning Dumah. “Dumah” (11) is Edom. Edom was the descendants of the older son of the twins, Esau and Jacob. “Dumah”(11) is another name for Edom. If you look at a map, you will see that it is south of Moab. This is a prophecy “concerning Dumah”. (11)
“Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?” (11) The “watchman” (11) is like the night guards in Japan. Here Isaiah is being called a “Watchman”.(11)
“Watchman, what is left of the night?” (11) Isaiah is being asked how much of the night is still left. Assyria being attacked is being spoken in similitude to night. They are asked by Seir, the Edomites about what the future holds, how long the night will be.
Isaiah’s answer is in verse 12. “Morning is coming, but also the night. If you would ask, then ask; and come back yet again.” “Morning is coming” (12) means that morning will certainly come. This is hope. There isn’t a night where morning does not come. It certainly comes. They may be destroyed by Assyria, but even so for sure morning will come. The captured people will certainly be freed. That is morning. However, again night will come. For morning to come means that night will also come. This is what occurs on the earth. Certainly Assyria attacked Edom and swallowed it up, but that is not the end. When the long night of Assyria oppression is over, a short “morning” will precede a Babylonian rule. After the morning comes night will come again. This is the watchman’s proclamation. “If you would ask, then ask” (12) means come and ask how the world affairs will be. God’s word will tell you so “come back yet again.” (12) This is the prophecy concerning Edom.
This is what will certainly occur at the end of the world. At the end of the world night will come. God’s judgment will come on a larger scale than ever before. Unheard-of disasters, and a convulsion of nature will come. It may have already started to come. However, it will come on a bigger scale. It will occur at the end of the world in the great tribulation. Such an age will come. The night will come.
Our age is surely moving towards night. A completely dark day is near. The world is gradually getting darker and darker. If you look at the daily news, it has only dark news. There is hardly any bright news. It seems like every day tragic incidents occur. The other day there was a shooting in a movie theater in Denver, Colorado. Several people died and several were injured. Such things are everyday occurrences. A long time ago what were considered unthinkable atrocious incidents became and will become more continuous. Already when we see such news or hear such things, we no longer think much about it. We’re used to it. It has become that ordinary. The world has become that sick. It is become darker and darker. However, if you asked Jesus Christ, he would say those are the signs of the end of the world. Matt. 24:12 says, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” People “will grow cold.” (Matt. 24:12) Certainly now is such an age. Parents unashamedly kill children. Children too unashamedly kill their parents. It is such an age!
Please open your Bibles to II Timothy 3;1-5. Here is recorded what the conditions of the end of the world will be.
II Timothy 3:1-5
This is the end of the world. This will increase during the tribulation period. At that time “people will be lovers of themselves.” (II Timothy 3:2) They will only be concerned about themselves. They will be self-lovers. They will be selfish. They will want to show off themselves and what they can do. They will want to be the center of attention. Therefore things like murdering a person that walks past occurs. The person wants attention so it doesn’t matter to them who they murder. They wanted to kill. They wanted to stand out. They wanted to be featured in the mass media. For that reason people are being killed. “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful…lovers of pressure rather than lovers of God.” (II Timothy 3:2,4) Such people will prevail. We find many reasons like “They’re adolescents” or “recently young people leave a lot to be desired”, but the real reason is different. They have no love. Their love is cold. The end of the world is near.
The Bible clearly says that the world will not get better. Civilization has developed and life has become convenient, and the world should be brighter. But it isn’t. The world is getting darker. A greater age of tribulation will come. The end of the world is coming. A good old fashioned age will not come. No matter how hard mankind tries, society will become only worst. I am a probation officer. Every year at this time we go out on the street and do a “Making society bright campaign”. We pass out Kleenex and try to educate and enlighten the people we talk to. Through conversations with junior highers, we encourage the junior highers to have hope. However, society doesn’t become bright. It is becoming darker and darker.
No matter how dark society becomes we must definitely not give up. We shouldn’t become negative. Rather we Christians should expect morning to come. We can’t avoid night coming, but we need to look forward to morning coming.
That morning is the Lord Jesus’ second coming. The Lord Jesus will come to meet us. He will return again to meet his bride, the church. At that time we will be resurrected in a resurrection body like our Lord Jesus, a body that is imperishable, a risen glorious body. In a moment we will be taken up into the clouds, and in the sky will meet the Lord. Then we will be forever with the Lord. That is the time when our salvation will be completed, and the time of greatest joy. This is morning for Christians. It is the morning of hope. This is something that seems like a dream that non-Christians can’t believe in. It sounds absurd. You may think this may never happen, but it is written right in the Bible.
I Thess. 5:9
Christ is called the morning star. It is the first star to break through the darkness. It is morning. Therefore, for those who believe in Christ the end of the world does not mean that the future is all black. Rather it is a time for us to shine in hope with our hearts bulging in the expectation that morning will come soon. No matter how dark this world is for sure morning will come. There is no night when morning does not come.
Therefore, how do we see this age? Are you anxious about what will happen to this country that has a national debt of over \1,000,000,000,000,000? Even if you say that you have no personal debt, each person has a several million yen debt that all citizens including babies must bear. Someday this country may go bankrupt. We can’t be certain about our social security. The young people have no future. Yen is currently high. There is no hope for the future and the world is only getting darker. However Christians have hope. It is not necessary to become hopeless. We have a living hope. In addition eternal living hope has been given to us. If we believe in Jesus Christ, we have hope. Then the morning that Christians bring will not become night. If you read Revelations, there is no night in heaven. That is because the lamb, Jesus Christ becomes the light and shines.
This hope is given to us. Someday it will be like this. Not only that but it will be in the near future. Our Lord Jesus may come back tonight. Are you prepared? So that we are o.k. whenever our Lord Jesus returns we should be awake and prepared. “Since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet” (I Thess. 5:8) and we should wait expectantly for the morning.
Someone called to the watchman from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?” (11) Already the night had considerably advanced, and morning was approaching. Christians must become watchmen and proclaim this to other people. Tonight go to the city and see. It is not just young people that are loitering around. There are people who have turned adrift. Many people don’t know why they are living. They are many who are just meeting death. Recently there have been big reports about the problem of bullying in schools. They need the message of the watchman. It is necessary that you preach the message of hope as a watchman to those who think that they only will not die. Someday they will die. It is necessary to preach that our life is short.

III. Take refuge in the Lord (Vs. 13-17)
Lastly let’s look at the prophecy concerning Arabia. Please look at verses 13 to 17.
Arabia is present day South Arabia. The name means “desert”. Assyria will attack this desert. It says that the Dedanites, an Arabian tribe of merchants were camped “in the thickets of Arabia.” (13) However, another Arabian town Tema, is told to meet the merchants of Dedanites and give them water and food.
The reason that they should watch over the Dedanite merchants was because “they flee from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the heat of battle.. Before in the message concerning the Moabites, it was said, “be their shelter from the destroyer.” (16:4) God’s will was that Judah become a shelter for the refugees and help them.
Even so Dedan was 130 km away the way the bird flies from Tema. 130 km. SE from Dedan is Tema. These two towns were only separated by 130 km., but one had refuges and the other was to be a shelter for the refuges. If you research both towns, they are both towns in the desert. Even though they are both in the desert, Tema was an oasis with abundant underground water running through it. It was famous for its fountain from the underground water. The reason given of why Tema helps has to do with this water. Even though they were both cities in the same desert Tema had enough water to quench the thirst of the thirsty,
Christ said, “I am living water”. Anyone who drinks the water that Christ gives will never thirst. It will become a spring within him, and “streams of living water will flow from within him.” (John 7:38) Christ is our real refuge. If we take our refuge in him, He will give us the water and bread that we need. If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believe in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living waster will flow from within him.” (John 7:38)
Who are you finding refuge in? Come to Jesus Christ. If so you will never be thirsty. No matter how dark it is in the world, morning will certainly come. That is the hope and power for living in this age.

Applying it to our lives
 Do you have the preconceived idea that because you are a Christian that all is o.k.? Do you have something that you should be repenting of?

 For you what is darkness? How are you walking in the darkness? Let’s wait expectantly for the second coming of Christ, the light that shines in the darkness,

Today I would like to talk from Isaiah chapter 20. In chapter 20 a stripped. prophet appears. Isaiah is commanded by God, “Take off the sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet.” (2) so for 3 years he went “around stripped and barefoot.” (2) Today let’s together look at this “stripped and barefoot” (2) Isaiah.

I. Take off the sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet (vs. 1-4)
First of all please look at verses 1 to 4.
Isaiah prophesized about Cush in chapter 18. In chapter 19 he prophesized about Egypt. Towards Cush and also towards Egypt he said that if they repented and turned back to God, then God will forgive them, and will save them. Especially in the end of chapter 19 God calls Egypt, “Egypt my people”. (19:25) Egypt, a pagan people, also are not omitted from God’s salvation. However, this Cush and Egypt didn’t repent. Therefore, God in chapter 20 is pronouncing judgment on these two countries. However, the way he declares it is very strange.
“Ashdod” of verse 1 is a Philistine town. The Assyrian King Saragon captured it in 711 B.C. “At that time the LORD said” (2) a very strange thing to Isaiah. “Take off the sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet.” (2)
“Sackcloth” (2) was the clothes that Isaiah usually wore. Sackcloth was normally the garment of mourners and sometime the garb of prophets. God tells Isaiah to take off that sackcloth and the sandals from his feet. God told Isaiah to do this because by doing so God’s message would make an impact on the people. This was called a prophet’s “symbolic behavior”. The prophets often, so that the words that they spoke would make an impression on the people, expressed their message in a form like this that could be seen with eyes.
The prophet Ezekiel lied on his left side of 390 days. When that was finished then he lied on his right side for 40 days. He did this to show Israel’s sin. 1 year was represented as 1 day so 390 days represented 390 years of Israel’s sin. Also the 40 days represented the 40 years of Judah’s sin.
Also Jeremiah bought a linen belt. Then he took the belt down to Pereth and hid “it there in a crevice in the rocks”. (Jer. 14:4) Then after a while he took out the belt that he had hidden but “it was ruined and completely useless.” (Jer. 14:7) He did this to show that Judah “will be like this belt-completely useless!” (Jer. 14:10) Like this the prophets often in order that the message would more strongly move the people’s hearts, expressed it in a form that could be seen with their eyes.
Recently, I heard that the traveling evangelist Asa Holland is carrying a heavy cross and walking throughout Japan. Before he did the same thing and it became news. This is the same thing. People see this and wonder what is happening and ask about it. That is just like when Jesus walked towards Golgotha. It is a reenactment. He testified that while he walks he prays that the people of Japan will believe in Jesus Christ. That has an impact that is greater than words. It conveys the message that the cross is a symbol of God’s love and the source of your salvation. However, I don’t know how many people understand that.
Here it doesn’t say to lie down on your side or to make your linen useless or to walk carrying a cross. It says to “Take off the sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet.” (2) It is to go “around stripped and barefoot.” (2) This does not mean that he was completely nude. He was probably wearing some kind of underwear. Even so it was odd behavior. To understand this, please look at verses 3 and 4.
This is a prophecy about Cush and Egypt. In other words, Cush and Egypt will be defeated in a war with Assyria and will be led “away stripped and barefoot.” (4) Like Isaiah walked around “stripped and barefoot,” (2) in the same way “the king of Assyria will lead away stripped and barefoot the Egyptian captives and Cushite exiles.” (4)
Even so, to go “around stripped and barefoot” (2) for 3 years is not usual. Generally it is unthinkable. However, at times God so that his Word is preached, uses such means. If we can we want to use a good method to share the Gospel that will make Christianity look good. However, at times we are shown to do something that transcends common sense. At such times, even if at a glance it seems embarrassing, let’s remember that we are asked to have courage to obey and an obedient faith.

ＩＩ．The stripped prophet (vs. 2)
Next let’s look at how Isaiah responded. Please look at verse 2. “And he did so going around stripped and barefoot.” (2)
Even if it is the command of God and no matter how much the prophet serves the Lord, it is unthinkable that for 3 years he could go “around stripped” (2) in public. People will only think that he is insane. Especially since Isaiah was respected and trusted by the nobility, to walk “around stripped” he must have had quite a bit of opposition. Even so he followed God’s command. He went “around stripped and barefoot” (2) for 3 years. The reason he could do this was because he understood that to follow God meant to accept and do what God says at face value. Even if that is something that is embarrassing, even if it is something that might make others think that he’d gone crazy, if it is something that God has said, then he had the faith to obey.

Within us, we think we want to be like Isaiah. Like Isaiah we think we want to directly explain the Word of God, we want to be a vessel that the Lord can use. However, on the other end when we look at Isaiah, we don’t to be like him. We don’t want to do embarrassing things. We think we will be thought of as insane. We will be made fun of. We don’t want to do that! However, if you want to be like Isaiah, if you want to be a vessel that is used by God, then you have to obey what God says. You must not follow just only one part of what God says, but must follow all that God says. No matter what other people think, no matter how much people hate you, or reject you if God says to do something, we do it. This is the attitude that we should have.
This is how Jesus was. Jesus came into this world exactly as these words say, “stripped”. (2) The glorious Lord who made the whole world was “stripped” and was born as a human, the same as us. Then when he became 30 years old, he appeared in public. He taught about the kingdom of God, healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the dead, and worked hard serving people.
However, when the crowds realized that Jesus didn’t come to save them from the rule of Rome, it was like they turned their hands over and didn’t think Jesus was necessary and put him on the cross and killed him. Jesus was stripped of his clothing and whipped. This was a real stripping. Then carrying a heavy cross he walked the road of sadness. Then being stripped of his clothes he was nailed on the cross. He became the laughing stock of people. This happened just at the Passover. It was the time when many people had gathered in Jerusalem from all over the world. It was at that time that Jesus was “stripped” and hung on cross and became the laughing stock of people. It was for you and I and for everyone here that He did this. For all people he paid the redemption price for our sins. Isaiah walked around stripped for 3 years, Jesus walked a life publically for 3 years and at the end was “stripped” and then died.
We joyfully help people who heal the sick, cast out demons, and perform miracles. However, we do not want to become a laughing stock of people, made fun of, to be whipped, to be spit upon, nor to be put on a cross. We are concerned about how others look at us. We’re concerned about our reputation. However, Jesus was different. Jesus didn’t care what other people thought of him. Jesus didn’t care how others looked at him. With singleness of mind he bore the cross wanting only for you and I to be saved. Even though people said that he was insane or Satan, and received various slanderous abuses, for your salvation he became “stripped”. If so then we who follow in his steps even if we have something happen that we think is embarrassing, even if we are made fun of, if that person is saved from eternal damnation, we must be prepared to do anything.
Please open your Bibles to Philippians 1:12-15.
Philippians 1:12-15
That was Paul’s experience. “What has happened to me” (Phil. 1:12) refers to his imprisonment. He was imprisoned on a false accusation. However, he is saying that he is thankful for that. That is because his imprisonment “has really served to advance the gospel.” (Phil. 1:12) That was because “most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.” (Philippians 1: 14) Therefore, he is confessing that no matter what the reason, if the Gospel is advanced that is wonderful. The key to why he was able to react this way is written in Philippians 1:20 and 21.
Philippians 1:20,21
This was the way Paul lived. He desired only for Christ to be worshiped. He was of no significance. No matter what he experienced, what was done to him, even if he was stripped, even if he was made fun of, even if he is degraded, even if he is insulted, or even if it is said that he was strange, it didn’t bother him. If he could through himself show the greatness of Christ, then it was o.k. Christ, who for me and for you became “stripped” and was put on the cross and died, being worshiped is real hope. For Paul, “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21)
What a wonderful confession! If we like Paul only desire for Christ to be worshiped, if we live desiring only for the Gospel of Christ to be carried forward, you won’t have to think about yourself. Shameful things or looking bad, or being thought of as a strange person won’t make any difference to you. We have been made a citizen of God’s kingdom. Therefore, all we have to do is to desire to live a life appropriate to the Gospel of Christ.
We want to become like Christ. That is the Christian’s ultimate goal. However, we hate to be “stripped” like Christ, cursed, spit upon, beaten, whipped, and in the end put on the cross. Instead we want to be like Christ and perform miracles in front of the crowds, heal the sick, become a miracle worker and receive admiration from people. We want to be in the spot light. We want to be thought of as a wonderful person, as a good person. We want to help others. We want to be thanked. But we can’t stand things like being out cast from people, rejected, “stripped”, and to be made guilty when not guilty. We want to be like Isaiah. We want to be used like Isaiah, but we don’t want to walk around “stripped” for three years like Isaiah. We don’t like others to look at us negatively. “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him.” (Phil. 1:29) Of course, faith isn’t always agony. However at times if we think we want to live devoutly in Jesus Christ, just as all are persecuted, there are times we must be “stripped”. There are times when we have to receive insults. There are times when we are looked at coldly and with contempt. We give someone a Bible as a present, but it is returned to us or we want a person to be saved so we with all our might counsel them, visit them, help them, but never the less, there are times when the person says that he does want to associate with you any more or see you anymore or he says he doesn’t want you to call anymore, or not to invite him to church any more. However, we must remember that Jesus has taken the same road.
Therefore, don’t forget to be “stripped”. Jesus was “stripped” for you. Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel”. We must not be ashamed of the gospel. Jesus bore shame so that you might be saved. Just as the words say, he was “stripped”. Have you ever been spit upon? Have you been beaten or made fun of? Have you been whipped on the back with a whip? Have you been whipped to the point that your bones break and your internal organs fly out? Have you been “stripped” and from a high place become an object of everyone’s ridicule? Have you been hung by nails through your arms and feet? Christ has received all of these insults. This was all for you.
Even so we are ashamed of the Gospel and think that if we say something other people will think we are strange or are fearful that we won’t get along well with others at work and home. We don’t want to be hated. We don’t want to be made fun of. We want to be a good person. We want to be competent people. We want people to think we are nice. We are worried about our reputation. We are interested the most in what others think about us. Jesus said, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26) When Isaiah was commanded, “Take off the sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet”, (2) no matter how embarrassing it was, how degrading it was, even it was thought to be absurd, he obeyed. We too if the Lord is commands something, even if it something that is difficult for us to accept, we must seek to obey it.

III. Who we can really rely on (vs. 5,6)
Lastly, let’s look at verses 5 and 6. Here we can see that Isaiah “going around stripped and barefoot” (2) for 3 years wasn’t just a sign against Egypt and Cush. It was also a sign against Israel. It was so that Israel will depend upon the real God.
“Those” of verse 5 is Israel and the Southern kingdom of Judah. Israel (Southern Judah) that had asked help from Cush and Egypt in preparation for an attack from Assyria will be “put to shame”. (5) That is because Egypt and Cush will be destroyed by Assyria. They will be led “away stripped”. (3) Israel who sees this will say like verse 6, “See what has happened to those we relied on, those we fled to for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria!” This is “the people who live on this coast.” (6) Specifically this is the people of Philistine cities including “Ashdod”. (1) However, whether it is Israel or whether it is “the people who live on this coast” (6) isn’t important. People who rely on things other than God have the same lament.
The same thing occurs in our lives. Until now it has been safe, the things that we didn’t doubt and considered to be safe lost all credibility and we wonder what we have believed up until now and lament. Therefore, so that doesn’t happen let’s listen to Isaiah’s prophecy, to the Word of God and obey it.
From a little while after World War II the value judgment of the Japanese life was what was wrong and what was right. After that until the present it has been measured by what I gain and what I lose. However, recently it is different. It has become an age where judgment is made by whether it is real or not. There are some things that make us think that they are real, but they are not necessarily so. Real things don’t move no matter what happens. Real things are never ruined. They are eternal forever. That is God who made the heaven and the earth. God is who we can really rely on. If we rely on him we definitely won’t be disappointed.
This is the road that you must choose. If you depend on God, you definitely won’t be disappointed.
Psalm 32:7,8
God “will instruct you…counsel you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8) This is the real thing. May you flee to Him. Isaiah went to the point of being “stripped” because he wanted to proclaim this message of God.

Applying it to our lives

* If God asked you to do something that you couldn’t understand by common sense, what would you do? What does it mean to you to be stripped?

* To get out of a crisis who do you seek help from? Now how does God desire for you to obey him?

Today let’s look at Isaiah 19. Verse 25 says, “The LORD Almighty will bless them, says, ‘Blessed by Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.’”　These are really strange words. Here God calls Egypt, “my people”. (1) “My people” (1) is usually used for the Israelites, but here it is used for Egypt and Assyria. Today let’s look at 3 aspects of the prophecy about Egypt.

I. The judgment upon Egypt (Vs. 1-15)
First of all let’s look at the prophecy of judgment upon Egypt. Please look at verses 1 to 15. First let’s read verse 1.
Verse 1
Here “the LORD rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt.” (1) This means that God will come swiftly to judge Egypt. The problem is Egypt had idols, false gods. Therefore, it says here, “The idols of Egypt tremble before him, and the hearts of the Egyptians melt within them.” (1) Also verse 3 says, “The Egyptians will lose heart, and I will bring their plans to nothing; they will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead, the mediums and the spiritists.” This is what Egypt was like Egypt was full of different kinds of idols. There was The Son god, The god of the Nile, The Frog god, The Black fly god, and The Horsefly god. The Egyptian Pharaoh was also god. In Egypt everything and anything became god, everything and anything was worshipped.
The reason Egypt worshipped idols was the idols were a projection of themselves. Idolatry was born as a projection of your own desires. When you do something, you make an idol so that it will go well. People that desire prosperous business, or so that they can pass the entrance exams to the college go to shrines. They are seen writing their prayer requests on little pieces of wood at the shrine. That is the same. It is necessary that there is a god that will hear their prayers so man makes gods. Therefore, idols are made to be a projection of man’s desires. Also in Japan where we live there are many idols. Japan is a land of 8,000,000 gods. Everything is god. Anything that will meet your desires is fine. It is made into a god. This is what the world of sin is like. That is what the world of sin looks like. “The LORD rides on a swift cloud” (1) to judge such idols.
How God will judge is written in verse 2. Please look at verse 2.
“I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian.” (2) This is civil strife. Egyptian comrades will fight. Their own national power will be weakened. At present too Egypt internal troubles never cease. The court and army tried to make the recent presidential election invalid. The president and the congress violently conflicted. If you trace the history of Egypt it has always be like that. For example, the famous ancient Egyptian Pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, Tutankhamun (about1342 B.C.-about1324 B.C.) was proud of his tremendous treasure, but one civil strife after another their national power was expended. After Tutankhamen finally it deteriorated, and hardly had any power in the world. That was God’s judgment because they didn’t take God into account and walked by their own wisdom. .
Another reason for the judgment was the invasion of foreign countries. Please look at verse 4. Not only internally, but from the outside too they were trampled down. In reality in the age of Isaiah Assyria gained power, and attacked Egypt and took the capital Thebes (664 B.C.) The after that they were really threatened by Babylon and Persia. Eventually they were unified by the Grecian king Alexander. It happened just as this prophecy said.
Not only that but if you look at verse 5 to verse 10 you will see that the Nile “river will dry up”. (5)
As you know, the ancient world developed and the longest Egyptian civilization developed thanks to the Nile River. Every year by the flooding of the Nile River, from the upper stream soil full of nutrition flows so by fertilized dirt and water it produces abundant crops. The Grecian historian of the 5th century before Christ、Herodotus said, “Egypt is a gift of the Nile.” Egypt’s economy was completely dependant upon the Nile. The Nile “will dry up.” (4) This didn’t occur in Isaiah’s age, but recently this was fulfilled. Because the Aswan High Dam was made in 190, the Nile River’s ecological balance was broken, and the entire environment was changed. The abundant soil that was brought by the river’s overflow did not flow in and instead the salt water from the Mediterranean Sea came in. It spoiled the agricultural industry. It was not just the agricultural industry, but the fishing industry too. Then industries involved with making clothes from thread from reeds also hard hit. There was a rippling effect with losses in the entire economy.
That was because Egypt worshipped false gods, idols. They didn’t fear the real God. They didn’t honor God. They didn’t worship God. It was because they worshipped the gods that they had made themselves. Here we must once more ask ourselves and answer ourselves, “what is the center of our lives?” We must ask ourselves and answer ourselves what it is in our life that makes our live abundant right now. If it is like Egypt an idol, then God will in the same way judge us.
Please look at verses 11 to 15. Egypt’s problem wasn’t just her idols. They depended upon man’s wisdom.
Egypt was not only famous for its idols and magic, but also for its wisdom. Many different areas of knowledge were developed in Egypt. Moses too who lived in the Egyptian palace until he was 40 years old was taught all Egyptian academics. “Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.” (Acts 7:22) Also Israel’s King Solomon was famous for being wise. It is said about how much wisdom that “Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.” (I Kings 4:30)
However, no matter how great a wisdom, they weren’t able to give a solution to God’s judgment that came down. The said that they were wise, but they didn’t “make known what the LORD Almighty has planned against Egypt.” (12) It was like the Joseph’s age when none of the wise men in Egypt to explain the Pharaoh’s dream. It was from God, so it was only by the spirit of God that it could be discerned. Please open your Bibles to I Cor. 1:18 to 25. It is a little long, but let’s read it.
I Cor. 1:18-25
You can’t by your own wisdom know God. However, by God’s wisdom, by Christ, the power of God, you can know God. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (I Cor. 1:18)
We have a desire to know what is happening in the world, and what is happening around us. However, first of all what we must know is that what is happening now is that the Lord is coming, and recognize that. Even if you don’t know what is happening now, we need to recognize that the Lord is leading according to his plan, and that by the grace of God you are living. To accept in your heart and believe in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who was put on and died on the cross and then 3 days later rose again, and to live by Him is the beginning of wisdom.
If not, we will be shaken up by elementary knowledge of this world. In verse 14 it says, “The LORD has poured into them a spirit of dizziness; they make Egypt stagger in all that she does, as a drunkard staggers around in vomit.” Like when you are drunk, they have lost discernment and their ability to separate the good from the evil. Then as it says in verse 15, “There is nothing Egypt can do-head or tail, palm branch or reed.” The entire country in now in the condition of not knowing what they should do. The “head” (15) are the wise men and leaders that appear here. The “tail” are the fortune tellers and sorcerers that the ordinary people depended upon. In other words, such wise men, and political leaders too don’t know what they should do and the entire country is staggering around.
It seems like it is talking about Japan. However, this is not just Japan, but shows us what the entire world looks like. This world separated itself from God and ran to idols, and boasted about its own wisdom. It is in the condition of not knowing what it should do.
When you are flooded by dangerous conditions in your life, how do you try to solve it? Do you try to find a solution by the wisdom of this world? However, know that the wisdom of the world has limits. And let’s be someone that depends upon the wisdom of God. “For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” (I Cor. 1:25)

II. The salvation of Egypt (vs. 16-22)
The second point is Egypt’s salvation. Isaiah’s prophecy about Egypt makes a turn from judgment to talking about the restoration of Egypt. Please look at verses 16 to 22. First of all, I will read verses 16 and 17.
Verses 16 & 17
From here until the end of verse 19, there is a succession of the words “in that day” five times. This is one of the key words in Isaiah. He is prophesizing about the tribulation period at the end of the world. At the end of the world the following things will happen.
“In that day the Egyptians will be like women. They will shudder with fear at the uplifted hand that the LORD Almighty raises against them.” (16) To “be like women” (16) is to become weak. Recently there are quite a few cases where it is different, but basically women are weak. “In that day the Egyptians will be like women.” (16) Egypt who was pride of its wisdom and power will have their pride broken down and become weak like a woman. “They will shudder with fear at the uplifted hand that the LORD Almighty raises against them.” (16) That’s not all. Verses 18 to 22 have a surprising thing written there.
Here it says that “in that day” (19) in the center of Egypt “there will be an altar to the LORD.” (19) All the Egyptians will make sacrifices to the Lord. “When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them…In that day they will acknowledge the LORD. They will worship with sacrifices” (20, 21) and they will serve the Lord.
These are words spoken about Egypt. Egypt before had worshipped idols, and boasted about their wisdom and power, but the Lord promises that they will become like Israel. The private relationship that God had with Israel here is being applied to Egypt. It’s amazing. This is not just Egyptians, but is possible for all people. If they return to the Lord, the Lord “will respond to their pleas and heal them.” (22) This means that the purpose of the judgment upon Israel is not to destroy them, but so that they will be saved. It is so that they will be saved, so that they will be healed. The Lord will strike the Egyptians. God will strike, and then heal them. This is the way God saves us.
The reason that we have sufferings and problem is so that we will be saved. It is so that we will be healed. The Lord strikes us and afterwards heals us. This is the way of the Lord’s salvation. Please don’t make a mistake. God isn’t trying to judge you. The Lord wants to save you. God wants to save you so at times so at times he gives punishment. Let’s read Hebrews 12:7-11.
Hebrews 12:7-11
In a small booklet, “Daily Bread” Joe Stowell, the president of the Cornerstone College in Michigan who loves Jesus more than anyone and more than anything treasures speaking about the word of God wrote about an event from his childhood.
He had an even in his childhood that he remembers very well. He doesn’t remember what the teacher said to him, but he said to the teacher, “Shut up.” He says that he can’t forget what happened at that time. The teacher said, “Go home”. Therefore he left the classroom and started walking towards his house which was within a hundred meters. As he continued along the sidewalk saw his mother weeding in the yard. What should he do? He was compelled to make a strategic choice. Either he continue walking and talk to his mother as to why he was sent home early or else return to the kindergarten and face up to the teacher.
When he returned to the classroom the teacher him to the restroom, and washed out his mouth with soap. Today this kind of discipline has almost disappeared, but this method was really effective. Even today he is very cautious about what he says. He is very careful when he open his mouth. What Joe Stowell is today is due to this event. By having his mouth washed out he learned that he has to use his mouth correctly.
God as treats us as his children. He strongly wants us to grow up properly. For that purpose at times he punishes us. By that steadily “it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.” (Hebrews 12:11) God’s discipline is our hope for having a better life. Therefore, if we are disciplined by God, let’s not reject God’s hand. As much as God is concerned about what kind of person you will become, God loves us. Therefore, if God scolds you, let’s accept it with thankfulness, and in the midst of it return to the Lord. Let’s call out to the Lord. Then as the Lord struck Egypt and then healed them, He will heal you too.

III. Egypt my people (vs. 23-25)
The Lord is calling Egypt “my people”. (23) Please look at verses 23 to 25
If you look at this passage you will see that God’s salvation does not stop only at Egypt. A huge highway from Egypt to Assyria will be built. ”The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together.”(23,24) Assyria was the worst of all the neighboring countries. The other neighboring countries too did bad things, but Assyria swallowed up the other countries, plundered them as they wanted, and destroyed them. That Assyria too will return to the Lord and will take part in the salvation of God. Before there were people who were in the Yakuza that returned to the Lord. hey formed a ministry called Mission Barnaba and is giving a good testimony. When I heard their testimony, what I thought was no matter how low you fallen in your life you are still o.k. No matter how terrible Assyria was, when they repent, they will be saved. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone the new has come!” (II Cor.5)17) No matter how terrible a life you lived in your past, you can start your life over again. If you repent, and return to the Lord, the Lord will forgive your sin, and purify you from all evil. Also Assyria and Egypt had a relationship of being enemies. However, by faith their relationship of enemies will be settled and they will have peace with each other. The road that was used for plundering and occupation will be changed into road for going to worship together. What a wonderful promise!
The best is the words of verse 25. “The LORD Almighty will bless them saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.” Is there any greater passage than this! “My people” are words usually used for Israel. Here it is being used for Israel and also for Assyria. Those who were antagonistic towards God, who were separated far from God, by the grace of God became the people of God.
There is no one that is omitted from God’s grace. Even the　Gentiles　who　before　were　fleshly　separated　from　God,　by　being in　Jesus Christ, by　believing　in Christ, become the people of God. God’s salvation reaches to the entire world. Japan is not an exception to this. Looking from Israel, Japan is at the world’s end. Not only that, but Japan has 8,000,000 gods. It has idols. It is full of sin. It is a country that seems like it can’t be saved. However, by the blood of Jesus Christ, by believing in Jesus Christ, you can become the people of God. Upon Japan too God’s love is being poured out. God’s salvation reaches out to the ends of the earth. Therefore, Isaiah is calling out “Turn to me and be saved. all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.” (45:22)
Are you looking to God?　　Are you looking to Him and are you saved? God’s grace reaches out to you too. Please believe in Jesus Christ and even if you are separated far from God please become the people of God.
Also if this salvation is being offered to the ends of the earth, then we need to think about how we can concretely spread it. We must not think only about ourselves. We have to open our eyes up to the whole world. Jesus said, “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) We may not be able to go ourselves to the end of the world. However, we have opportunities to invite people from other countries. Many of such people are from Buddhist, and Islamic backgrounds. They do not know the real God. We need to believe that such people are to be considered as “My people” and we must deal with them with Christ’s love. The salvation of God reaches to the entire world. We need to accept this as the will of God and for this purpose seriously desire to be used of the Lord.
Applying it to our lives
* Do you have idols that are fulfilling your desires? Col.3:5 says, “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” What earthly nature do you have within yourself?

* What are you proud of? Worldly wisdom? or Christ on the cross?

* God called Egypt, “my people”. (25) Even if before you were separated from God, if you repent and return to God, God will forgive that sin. Please look to God and be saved. What keeps you from looking to God?

Today let’s look at Isaiah 18. Verse 1 says, “Woe to the land of shirring wings along the rivers of Cush.“ This is Ethiopia. Cush at that time covered a wider area than present day Ethiopia and included the present day areas of Sudan and Somalia. “The rivers of Cush” (1) are the tributaries of the Nile River. It was called a “land of whirring wings”. (1) We don’t know for sure what the “whirring wings” (1) are, but this country had a lot of tsetse flies. Ethiopia is very hot and humid it is famous for “whirring wings” (1) Today from God’s prophecy of judgment on Cush let’s look at 3 aspects of God’s overwhelming power.

I. Just depend upon God (vs. 1,2)
The first point is to just depend upon God. Please look at verses 1 and 2.
As I said before, Cush is Ethiopia. Cush “sends envoys by sea in papyrus boats over the water.” (2) They are sending the envoys to Israel, to the Southern kingdom of Judah. They are sending envoys to make an alliance. At the time that Isaiah prophesized this Cush was very powerful and trampled other countries underfoot. As verse 2 says at that time they were “feared far and wide.” At that time Cush was at its height and was “feared far and wide.” (2) King Piankhi (or Piye) ruled Cush, but his power was not just over Cush but extended as far as Egypt and became the ruler there. Then in 715 B.C. he became the 25th dynasty of Pharaoh
About that time Assyria prospered in the East. Assyria destroyed Syria in 732 B.C., then Northern Israel in 722 B.C. and then Philistine in 701B.C. Not only that, but Assyria controlled Moab and also Southern Arabia, east of the Jordan. Assyria’s tremendous power was unchecked and next continued down south. It pressed on to Egypt. Therefore Cush sent envoys to Southern Judea to make an alliance in opposition to Assyria. This is what is meant by “Cush, which sends envoys by sea in papyrus boats over the water.” (1, 2) In other words, this was Cush’s diplomatic action against Assyria’s threats. Cush subjected Egypt, and the surrounding countries feared Cush. Even so, in order to confront the large country of Assyria, Cush tried to make an alliance with Judah and pull Judah into supporting them.
How the king of Judah responded is written in verses 2 and 3. “Go, swift messengers, to a people tall and smooth-skinned, to a people feared far and wide, an aggressive nation of strange speech, whose land is divided by rivers. All you people of the world, you who live on the earth, when a banner is raised on the mountains, you will see it, and when a trumpet sounds, you will hear it.”
Isaiah is speaking to the messengers, “Go, swift messengers, to a people tall and smooth-skinned.” (2) The people that are “tall and smooth-skinned” (2) are the people of Cush. He says to clearly say to the people of Cush, “All you people of the world, you who live on the earth, when a banner is raised on the mountains, you will see it, and when a trumpet sounds, you will hear it.” (3)
Here it is calling out to “All you people of the world.” (3) It is not just Cush. God is declaring that the Lord is going to fight and that the whole world is to watch the works that the Lord will perform.
This must have been a huge temptation for Judah. This is the background for the words of Isaiah 36:6. The Assyrian King Sennacherib through his field commander, said to Hezekiah, the king of Judah, “Look, I know you are depending on Egypt that splintered reed of a staff, which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh King of Egypt to all who depend on him.” (Isaiah 36:6) These words were spoken with this chapter 18 as the background. Judah was being invaded by Assyria and were being driven into a corner that there was no way to get out of. When the Judah King, Hezekiah, heard that Cush had an anti Assyria policy he must have thought that they could expect support from Cush/Egypt. He probably wondered if by joining hands with them they could overcome this difficult situation. However, Isaiah the same as up until now said only to depend upon the Lord. He said not to depend upon the power of foreign countries, but to look forward to the Lord working and to wait upon the Lord.
We too when are under such situations, rather than God we want to trust in the people that are around us or in things. Man always thinks that way. We put our expectations in people and don’t ask of the Lord. However, who we really need to ask of is the Lord our God, not someone or a powerful country.
Please open your Bibles to Isaiah 2:22.
Isaiah 2:22
Man who breathes through his nose soon dies. Such things boast of their beauty today, but tomorrow like a flower is dried up so it is easily broken. Such a thing is of no value. No matter how great a leader, he can’t be depended upon. We are all destined to die. Our breathing will stop. The moment the fire of life vanishes that persons plan of life completely disappears. Who we can depend upon is the Lord God who made heaven and earth. He is God who has loved us through history.
Right now we are studying Exodus at the prayer meeting. God called Moses to save Israel from Egypt. Even so Moses made many excuses and didn’t attempt to go. He didn’t want to go. He didn’t want to go so he made many excuses for refusing his commission. His first reason was “Who am I that I should go?” (Exodus 3:11) I don’t have that strength. Towards that the Lord promised, “I will be with you.” (Exodus 3:12) It doesn’t matter who you are “I will be with you…it is I who have sent you.” (Exodus 3:12)

Towards that Moses said, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you’ and they as me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said, “I AM WHO I AM.” (Exodus 3:14) This means God exists entirely by himself. He depends upon nothing. Man is not like this. Man has food, drink, and breathes. He depends on other people, on other things in order to exist. The real God doesn’t. He can exist without anything. He is the source of His existence. He exists from eternity to eternity. He exists in the past, present and future, for eternity. He is God who made all things. Tell the Israelites that “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14) sent you.
This is God’s name. It is the name that God has been called throughout eternity. “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14) God is not dependent upon anything but exists by himself. He exists from eternity to eternity and he created everything in heaven and earth. God is who we can really depend upon. He loves you and sent his son Jesus Christ for you. If that’s the case, God with his son will have mercy upon all. God will give you all that you need. He is who you need to depend upon.
David said, “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” (Psalm 62:1, 2) David was able to testify to this because knew through experience that the Lord God, the creator who loved him was worthy of his faith.
There is someone who loves you. No matter what happens, he will not leave you or forsake you. That is the Lord, the Lord God who created heaven and earth. If you come running into his arms, when you are confident that all is o.k., then in you too praises like David will be born. You will be set free from the curse of various kinds of fears and uncertainties and will able to be content in His arms.

II. God has his own timing (Vs. 4-6)
The second thing is that God has his own timing. Please look at verses 4 to 6. In verse 4 it says, “This is what the LORD says to me: ‘I will remain quiet and will look on from my dwelling place, like shimmering heat in the sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”
Imagine this situation. For Cush and also for the southern kingdom of Judah, the threat of Assyria was putting them in a bind that they couldn’t match, and their hearts were troubled. They were panicky. To the people of Cush, the Lord says, “I will remain quiet and will look on from my dwelling place.” (4)
Here God is not shook up at all. He is not panicky. He is not in a bind. He is just watching quietly. ”I will remain quiet and will look on from my dwelling place.” (4) He’s really an onlooker. Fully-knowing the situation, He just remains quiet and looks on. God has no need to panic or be shaken up. No matter how much they joined forces and attacked they were like a small ant forming an army and invading man. It would be useless. God can in a breath blow them away, and by His foot trample them down. No matter how much man kicks up a racket, God it is completely unmoved. That is because God has overpowering strength.
Please open your Bibles is Psalms 2:1-6.
Psalms 2:1-6
This is called the famous messianic psalm. “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.” (Psalm 2:1, 2) This is the prophecy of the Last War at the end of the world, The War of Armageddon. From all over the world armies will gather at Armageddon against the LORD and against his Anointed One.” (Psalm 2:2) “His Anointed One” (Psalm 2:2) is Christ, the Messiah. They are against Him. However, the Lord breaks their chains and throws off their fetters. They aren’t a match for Him at all. No matter how unified attack they make, the Lord in a breath destroys them. Just by a snort they are blown away. God is that powerful. Therefore, “why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?” (Psalm 1:1) The real solution is to leave all in the hands of the Lord who has overpowering strength.
What moves your heart? What is disturbing your heart? Around us are many things that disturb our hearts. However, no matter what it is, our Lord is not moved at all by it. and is able to easily solve the situation. If that is so, then we should put everything in His hands and no matter what situation not be disturbed by it. God will solve it so let’s quietly wait for the Lord’s solution.
To do that we need to remember one thing. That is the Lord has his own timing. We have to wait for His timing. That is written here. In verses 5 and 6 it says, “For, before the harvest, when the blossom is gone and the flower becomes a ripening grape, he will cut off the shoots with pruning knives, and cut down and take away the spreading branches. They will all be left to the mountain birds of prey and to the wild animals; the bird will feed on them all summer, the wild animals all winter.”
This is an example taken from the pruning of grapes. In Palestine grapes are harvested around May. The flower has already bloomed and the grape tree has already started to bear a lot of grapes. Then the farmer so that it will be able to bear good grapes, he prunes off all the branches that are not bearing any fruit. He cuts them off. Then the branches that are not bearing fruit are left as food for the birds in summer and food for “the wild animals all winter.” (6) In other words, the Lord who is looking quietly from his “dwelling place” (4) has a time for pruning.
God is waiting for the ripe time. When Israel was in Egypt too, God waited. During the 400 years after Jacob came to Egypt, of course God worked, but God did not directly intervene. Under the heavy slavery of Egypt, when they thought that they had been abandoned, God heard their lamenting and remember the covenant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and took action. It took a long time for the time to be ripe. However the time had come to God called Moses and he saved them from Egypt.
Also when they left Egypt too, they weren’t able to leave right away. They couldn’t leave until God made the Pharaoh’s heart hard over and over again. That was so that God’s glory would be seen. Like this in the end God divided the Red Sea into 2. By walking on the dry road they were saved. Then the Egyptian army was destroyed by the water. This is what God does. Like this God shows his great works to Israel and also to the whole world by being so bold as to establish the time.
Among the people that Jesus really loved were the sisters Mary and Martha. It was the same when their brother Lazarus died. Mary and Martha sent a messenger to Jesus and told him that their brother was sick, but Jesus even though he heard that Lazarus was sick, stayed where he was at for 2 days. Therefore, Lazarus died. Later Jesus went to their house. Martha said to Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21) The reason why Jesus didn’t come sooner, why he didn’t come before their brother died was so that they would see God’s glory. It had been four days since he had died, but Jesus said to them, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40) We think that if man dies it is the end. However, Jesus said to Martha, “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.” (John 11:25) Then Jesus stood in front of tomb where Lazarus was and Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43) and Lazarus who had been dead was resurrected. He came out with his hands and feet still wrapped in strips of linen.
Jesus didn’t go right away so that the glory of God would be seen. This is how God does things. We must put all things in God’s hands and in His timing. We have to believe. If you believe, you will see the glory of God.
At a glimpse it seems like God is not saving us. It feels like God is not doing anything. However, that is not so. On the contrary God is going to save us and is waiting for the ripe time. Also He is working so that His glory will be seen. We must remember this. Then even when the situation is not changing at all, wait expectantly with patience for God’s timing.

III. Gifts will be brought to Mt. Zion (Vs. 7)
Lastly let’s look at even though Cush is like that, God’s grace is poured out upon Cush. Please look at verse 7.
As a countermeasure against Assyria’s attack, Cush who was in turmoil sent messengers to the King of the Southern Kingdom, Judah to make an alliance with them. The Lord through Isaiah said to Cush that they didn’t have to do such a thing. God was looking on them and in his time would knock down Assyria. Therefore, they need to be still. Just believe in God and wait quietly upon God.
However, Cush didn’t accept God’s Words. If you look at chapter 20 you will see that Egypt along with Assyria was destroyed. Just as with Moab, they asked why they had to believe in the Israelite God; why they who were as strong as they were should have to expect help for the God of Israel. They refused God’s Word.
However, when we look here, this Cush, Ethiopia, will bring gifts to Mount Zion. These gifts are conversions. Such Ethiopians too will return to the Lord. This is what Ethiopia will be like in the last days. In the last days, “gifts will be brought to the LORD Almighty from a people tall and smooth-skinned, from a people feared far and wide, an aggressive nation of strange speech, whose land is divided by rivers- the gifts will be brought to Mount Zion, the place of the Name of the LORD Almighty.” (7) Cush will bring gifts “to Mount Zion, the place of the Name of the LORD Almighty.” (7)
This will happen just as it says. Please look at Acts 8:26 to 38. It’s a little long, but let’s read it. This is the story of the Ethiopian official being saved. He went to Jerusalem to worship God. On the way back, he was reading Isaiah while riding in his chariot. The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” (Acts 8:29) It’s almost time for the London Olympic to start. Philip could run really fast. He was able to catch up to the chariot. If he was in the Olympics, he would be able to get a gold medal. “Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.” (Acts 8:35) The Ethiopian official believed in the Lord Jesus and was baptized. As a result Christians increased in Ethiopia so there are also old churches, the Coptic Church there. The arrogant Cush, Ethiopia, had a hard time accepting Isaiah’s prophecy. Even so, the Lord will raise up people that believe and “gifts will be brought to the LORD Almighty from” (7) them.
This is the model of salvation of the Gentiles. The Lord gives salvation not only to Israel, but this Ethiopia and the surrounding countries too. Let’s remember this, and not be arrogant and not reject God’s Word. Let’s be thankful for God’s grace and that He had mercy on us when we didn’t deserve it and take part in the salvation of the Lord.
Here this says that “gifts will be brought to the LORD Almighty.” (7) The gift that the Lord is the happiest about is not silver and gold, but ourselves, our souls. God is the happiest when our souls return to God and when we live with God.
The other day my daughter who is in Tokyo when she returned home went to the prayer meeting and gave a testimony. My daughter is now going to the church, Jesus Live House in Tokyo. That church every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday night evangelizes by doing “Street Live”, street evangelism. My daughter goes on Tuesday nights. It takes place in Rokupongi. There are a lot of bars. A bartender was outside passing out advertisements about his bar. He came to where the church members were gathered and as he started to pass out the advertisement he said, “The mood is good, and the bar is a lot of fun.” Then one of the young members of the church said, “We know someplace that is even a lot more fun and the mood is great!” He wanted to know where so they answered “Church” and gave him a church flyer and invited him to church. The next Sunday that person came. The church has four services at 11:00, 12:45, 3:30, and 5:30. He came to the 12:45 service and then attended two more services. In other words, he attended 3 services that day. At that church at the end of every service they ask people to put their hands up if they want to receive Christ as their Savior and Lord. The first service he didn’t put up his hand. The second service he didn’t either. However, the third service he responded to the invitation and put up his hand.
My daughter very happily welcomed him. The person said, “Everyone is so bright so I came to see what was here. Here is really bright!” More than anything God is so happy. What God likes the most is “a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart.” (Psalm 51:17) God desires that our soul return to the Lord and that we live with him.
“Gifts will be brought to Mount Zion, the place of the Name of the LORD Almighty.” (7) This country too will surely be like this. A time will come when our souls will be brought as a gift to the Lord. Let’s believe this and obediently follow the Word of God. Also let’s quietly wait expectantly for the Lord to perform His works in His time.
Let’s apply it to our lives
* When you are in a pinch, who or what do you depend upon? What is necessary for you to depend upon the Lord?

* When your prayers are not answered readily, are you disappointed in God? How are you expectantly waiting for God’s timing?

* God’s will is that all people will be saved. What can you do for that?

Today let’s look at Isaiah 17. Isaiah has until here talked about God’s judgment on the surrounding countries. First he talked about Babylon, then Assyria, then Persian and Moab. In today’s passage he is speaking about Damascus.

I. Do not be conformed to this world (vs. 1-3) First please look at verses 1to 3.
This is a prophecy against Damascus. Damascus was the capital of Syria.
Presently too Syria has been a constant topic of the news every day. Inthe Biblical age it was called Aram. Aram is today’s Syria. The capital of Syria is Damascus. It is a big
／ヘ town. Presently 21,900,000 people live there. Damascus is registered in UNESCO’s world legacy. The reason that it is recorded there is because the town where Damascus
is located is the oldest in the world. It is the world ’s oldest town.
Damascus has had connections with Israel. It is the town that Paul was going to to persecute the Christians. At that time he was so zealous about the Jewish faith that he persecuted the church. That was the town that he left for to arrest the Christians, bind them and put them in jail. In the end on the way to Damascus he met the risen Lord and was led to conversion. He had an eye opening experience. His name was changed 企om Saul to Paul. This is the same Damascus.
About Damascus Isaiah says，“See Damascus will no longer be a city but will
become a heap of ruins. The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks which will be like the gloη of the Israelites.” （ 1・3) As I said earlier Damascus is the world’s oldest town. Even though it was conquered by Assyria and had been under its control, in its
f\ history it has not even once been “become a heap of ruins” （ 1) or failed to be a city. From
way back when until now people have continued to live there. However, here it clearly says that it will “become a heap of ruins’. (1) This means that this prophecy is about
things that are going to occur after this. Therefore, this was not to occur in Isaiah’s age, but is a prophecy that will occur in the far future. Even so, Isaiah prophesized this in the year that King Ahaz died, in other words, in 715 B.C. Already 2700 years have passed . This will probably occur in the not so distant future. Everyday when we look at
the news Syria’s situation is very tense. In 2007 Syria held a nuclear bomb so Israel
made an air raid. By the minute we are progressing towards the fulfillment of these
Words. If you hear that Damascus was destroyed then consider it as meaning that these Words have been fulfilled. In Isaiah’s age this was in the far future, but for us living in this present age it is something that will occur in the near future. “Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins.” （ 1） 勺\roer” (2) is also a Syrian town. “Aroer will be deserted” (2) and flocks of animals will take over the land.

Please look at verse 3. Suddenly Ephraim appears here. Ephraim is Northern Israel. Even though Isaiah is talking about Syria, suddenly Ephraim appears. “The forti五ed city will disappear 仕om Ephraim and the royal power from Damascus; the remnant of Aram will be like the glory of the Israelites.” （ 3)
The reason that Ephraim, Northern Israel, is mentioned here is because at that time Ephraim and Aram had joined hands together. They had joined in alliance to deal with the attack of the neighboring country, Assyria. Of course, the Southern kingdom of Judah was also shaken up. However, in the midst of such a dangerous situation King
Hezekiah depended upon the Lord and prayed for the help of God so God miraculously help them. However, Ephraim was not like this. They didn’t depend upon God and joined hand with Aram. For that reason they will be destroyed with Aram. Damascus
／ヘ fell to Assyria in 732 B.C. and Ephraim in 722 B.C. Ephraim lost “the forti五ed city”. (3)
Damascus lost its “royal power”. (3)
This means that even 正 the Israelites are the people of God, if they join hands with the gentile nations, they will be destroyed. When you look at the history oflsrael
up until now, when the Lord sends evil, He always distinguished between Israel and other peoples. He doesn’t send the evil upon Israel. However here is different. Here they are judged with Damascus. If Christians who believe in God are conformed to this
world, or bury themselves in this world, they are inviting the same results as Ephraim.
Romans i2:1, 2
“Do not be conformed to this world” does not mean to be separated 企・om this world or to stay far away from the world. Jesus said, ”You are the salt of the world, the light of the world’＇. In this world we are to be like salt and to live as a light. That is because Christians have been saved out of this world and have been put in the kingdom
/’\ of God. If the country is di旺erent, the laws are different. Depending upon the world you
are living in, your lifestyle is different, the philosophy and principles are different. Christians belong to the kingdom of God so they live obeying the principles of God’s kingdom. They don’t follow the principles of this world. They must not separate
themselves from God and be conformed to the ideology and fashions of the world, but
know what the will of God is, and what is holy and acceptable to God. To do that what you must do is “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2) By God’s Holy Spirit your heart must be transformed. Daily we need to sacrifice ourselves to God. Present your bodies to God as a living Sacri五ce. That is spiritual worship. By this spiritual worship the Holy Spirit will live within you, and transform you into a new
person, and you will know the will of God.
Lot’s wife was conformed to this world so she became a pillar of salt. When the Lord because of Abraham was going to save Lot ad his family the angel said to run with all you life and not to look back, but she didn’t obey. She looked back. She had

attachment to this world. She favored the deeply sinful life of the people of Sodom and therefore, she couldn’t leave them behind. She ignored God’s warning so she became a pillar of salt.
Do you have any thoughts like Lot’s wife? Is this world is so fascinating so you
aren’t able to get out of it? Present yourself to God. Don’t be conformed to this world. Focus on God. Let’s walk in the will of God knowing what is holy and acceptable to God. If not, like Ephraim was destroyed with Damascus, we will be destroyed with the world.

IL The remnant of Aram (Vs. 3・6)
The second thing is in the midst of this God is leaving a remnant. Please look at verse 3. Here after Isaiah says, that royal power will disappear 企om Damascus, he says “the remnant of Aram will be like the glory of the Israelites.” （ 3)
Ephraim and A.ram did not depend upon God, but upon people so God judged them. However, even in the midst of the judgment, God left a small remnant. Please look at verses 4 to 6.
Here the words “In that day” (4) appea工 This is one of the key words in Isaiah.
As I have mentioned before this is in the age oflsaiah and at the same time a prophecy about the end of the world. “In that day the glory of Jacob will fade; the fat of his body will waste away. It will be as when reapers harvest the standing grain, gathering the grain in their arms-as when someone gleans heads of grain in the Valley of Rephaim. Yet some gleanings will remain.” (4・6) This means that there will be some grain left.
When Ruth picked up the grain that had fallen in Boaz’s 直eld, she was picking up such gleanings that remained there after the “reapers harvested the standing grain”. (5) Also it is like when olives are harvested. When olives are harvested not all the olives fall off
the tree. A few olives are left on the tree. In the same waぁ in Aram there will be a veη small remnant. God just because Aram was pagan He didn’t destroy them all. He left a remnant that believed in the God of Israel, obeyed God and worshipped God.
The famous Aramean general, Naaman, was so. He was struggling with a veη
bad skin disease, but he believed in the God of Israel and was saved. He believed the words of God’s prophet, Elisha, and dipped himself into the Jordan River seven times and he was healed.
We are discouraged when not many people come to church; when not many people come to the prayer meeting; when no one is saved, etc. However, we must not be discouraged. God even in this situation has kept a remnant.
During the age of Elijah Israel was in the worst and darkest age. Those people that obeyed God were heavily persecuted.
All of the country was separated 企om God and worshipped Baal and Asherah. Elijah who was exhausted from continuing to preach the Gospel lamented before God，“I have

been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I
am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” (I Kings 19:14) He is
lamenting，“I am the only one left.” （ I Kings 19:14) Then God says，“Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel-all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.” (I Kings 19:1s) This means that God has not discarded the covenant he made with Israel. God has kept a remnant of people that have faith and pray.
This present age is the same. It looks like there is no one that believes, but God has kept a remnant and through these people the work of God is being performed.
This is God’s way.
Recently I read an article that an Alliance Baptist church, Mihama
(\
Grace Christian church in Wakayama prefecture had a dedication service for a new church building. That church was founded right after the war by an American missionary, Francis B. Sari and the old church building was built. However after the missionary returned to his home country for 20 years the church continued in the condition of not having a pastor. At one time it declined until there were only two people attending the Sunday worship. Also they had an ordeal because 企om a typhoon the old church building flooded with water coming in higher than the floor. They came face to face with the danger of disbandment or consolidation. However, the 2 people who were the remnant decided to take care of the church to the end. They continued to
pray and 3 years ago a neighboring Alliance Baptist church’s pastor began a dual
pastorship . In the course of time, people were baptized and others moved their membership so presently the number of church members has been restored to 8 people.
r’\ These 8 people and the nonmembers with the strength of their families were able to build a new church building. This church has had no connection with the philosophy of church formation or strategy. This was possible because of the unwavering faith in the power of God and the pure and upright faith of the believers. Also they never gave up praying. Also they had a pure devotion to God. The church is cared for, supported by and moves forward by this remnant.
There is for sure a remnant. Until the end of the world there will be a people that until the Lord returns strongly follow the faith and promise to obey God. No matter how big a persecution there is or how painful a situation, by the grace of God a remnant is preserved.
Damascus in Syria is now a metropolis with a population of 21,900,000 people. Almost all the people are Moslem, but among them are Christians. Christians are 10%. Therefore, of course Christmas is a public holiday. The fact that this country that does not have freedom of religion is 10% Christian shows how true this promise is. Even

though Japan has freedom of religion less than 1% is Christian. Protestants are less than .2%. However there are .2%. It is a small group , but God has kept this remnant.
Therefore, even if the church is small, even if few people come , we must not be discouraged. God keeps a remnant everywhere. We must believe that God is advancing forward in His work and obey the Word of God.

／｛ ＼

III. Don’t forget the salvation of God (Vs. 7-11)
Lastly let’s look at who is the remnant. The remnant is those people who remember the grace of God’s salvation , and remain in it. Please look at verses 7 and 8. “In that day”（ 7) the people of Aram will throw away their idols and return to
Israel’s great Lord. Repentance will occur not only in Israel, but among the Arameans who were Gentiles . This is a message of hope that even among Gentiles a remnant will appear.

／｛ ＼

The words in verse 9 are spoken to Israel about this. “In that day their strong
cities, which they left because of the Israelites, will be like places abandoned to thickets and undergrowth. And all will be desolation.” （ 9)
“Their strong cities” (9) are the towns of Canaan that Israel captured. Jericho
was a strong city with its gate closed firmly without even one person going in or out. However, no matter how strong a town it was because they worshipped idols, it was
destroyed by Israel. Then next the same thing happened to Israel. Israel was God’s
people, but they turned their backs on God and became separated 企om God so they will be deprived of their rights and the people of God “and all will be desolation.”
Verses 10 and 11 give the causes for the problem. “You have forgotten God your Savior; you have not remembered the Rock, your fortress. Therefore , though you set out the finest plants and plant imported vines, though on the day you set them out, you make them grow, and on the morning when you plant them , you bring them to bud , yet the harvest will be as nothing in the day of disease and incurable pain.” (10, 11)
They became this way because they “have forgotten God” （ 10) their Savior.
They “have not remembered the Rock.” （ 10) This is a very important warning . This is a wrong that we certainly must not commit. We must not forget our Lord’s salvation . The most dangerous thing that we can do is to forget God’s salvation. By this our
spiritual destiny is decided.
In the Gospel of Luke is the story of the 10 lepers who were healed . This
happened when Jesus went through a village on the border of Samaria and Galilee . 10 lepers raised their voices and called out，“Jesus, Master, have pity on us！” （ Luke 17:13) Jesus who heard them calling desperately had pity on them and said，“Go, show yourselves to the priests .” （ John 11:14) The lepers who heard these words on their way
to the priests were completely healed. However, of the 10 who were healed only one

／ ＼

r—

person returned to Jesus to praise God. Not only that, but the person who returned was a Samaritan.When Jesus saw this, he said，“Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner？” （ 17) Then Jesus said to the Samaritan，“Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” （ Luke 17:19) In the end this Samaritan not only was healed, but he was able to receive salvation.
Even if we receive a huge grace today, soon we forget very quickly. There are a lot of people like these 9 lepers. We must not forget the grace of God.
The Lord Jesus said， “Do this in remembrance of me .＇’ （ I Cor. 11:14)
Communion is to remember the grace of Jesus. We must always remember what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. We were rotten sinners like the lepers. Because of our sin we had to live a life in real vanity and tragedy. However, God sent Jesus Christ 加 this world and by putting him on the cross took on the punishment of our sins for us. By the sacrificial love and grace of our Lord Jesus we who were separated 企om God and heading towards death were saved 企om our sin and given entrance to heaven. By our sin and death we were hitting a completely hopeless wall, and we had to be smashed, but we received eternal life. God through Jesus Christ brought real joy to our soul. We must not forget the salvation of God. We must always remember the God of salvation and be thankful.
There was a poor mother and child living in the state of Virginia in America.
The father, a pastor, died when the child was still an infant. The mother by herself did other people ’s laundry and house cleaning and 企om the family 直nances paid out
money for schooling. The child, her son, was always thankful to the mother for her hardships and earnestly studied. He endeavored and graduated from Princeton University. At the graduation he received an honor 企om the University ’s president. He
was a valedictorian. At the end of the speech he said，“Thank you Mom! It was because of you that I was able to graduate. Therefore, I should not receive this, but you should receive it. ” Then he took the honorary golden medal and hung it on his mother who was
wearing shabby clothing. In the course of time the son became a lawyer, then a University professor and at last became an American president. He was Wilson, the 20th President of the United States. Later he also received the Nobel peace prize.
“Do this in remembrance of me.” (I Cor. 11:14) What are you doing so that you
won’t forget the God of salvation? By attending Sunday worship eveηr Sunday, by taking communion are important ways to remember the grace of our Lord Jesus’ salvation. Today later we will have an engagement ceremony. July 15th will become a
day that the couple will de直nitely not forget. They must not forget. They don’t have to
remember July 15th, but they mustn’t forget the grace of God who led them.

So that you don’t forget the salvation of God, always remember the grace of the salvation of God, and be thankful to the Lord. That is the sign of the remnant and of those who are richly ble ssed.

Aoolvin!! it 旬 our lives

• Is this world is so fascinating that you find it di伍cult to be separated 企om it? What in this world is pulling you?

／『 ＼

• Are you discouraged that there are so few Christians? Do you believe that God is keeping a remnant and that God is doing His work through that remnant?

• Are you remembering the God of salvation？羽市at are you doing so that you don’t forget the grace of God?

Today let’s look at Isaiah 16. Today’s title is from verse 9 which says, “I drench you with tears!” From last week we were looking at the prophecy against Moab. This week is the continuation. As I talked about last week, Moab’s ancestors can be traced back to Lot, Abraham’s nephew. Moab was the child born to Lot and his daughter. It is to the Moabites that this prophecy is spoken. Today let’s look at three things about these prophetical words.

I. Depend upon the Lord (vs. 1-5)
The first point is to be humble and trust in the Lord. Please look at verses 1 to 5. First let’s read verse 1.
“The ruler of the land” (1) is Israel. More concretely put, this is the Southern Kingdom of Judah. At that present time Moab had been invaded by Assyria. Many people had fled to outside of the country. Therefore, the Lord is calling the Moabites to seek help in “the mount of Daughter Zion” (1), Jerusalem. “Lambs” (1) were sent as a tribute for that purpose. Having been attacked by Assyria, what they needed to do was pay tribute to Jerusalem, humble themselves and seek help, but they weren’t able to make such a decision easily. Even though they knew that was the only way for them to not perish, they didn’t want to recognize this. They still thought they could do it by their own strength.
However, verse 2 says, “Like fluttering birds pushed from the nest, so are the women of Moab at the fords of the Arnon.” They thought they could solve the problem themselves, but their condition became worst and worst. They became “like fluttering birds pushed from their nests.” (2)
Therefore, finally the Moabites sought help from Judah.　“Make up your mind…Render a decision” of verse 3 is the messengers of Moab asking the King of Judah to make up his mind to help. They are asking him to “render a decision” as to what they should do. They are explaining their tense conditions by the following metaphor: “Make your shadow like night-at high noon.” In other words they are in the condition of being under the strong sunlight of the shining sun. They need to hide in a shadow. Therefore, “Hide the fugitives, do not betray the refugees.” (3) In other words, they are asking Judah to hide the refugees in Judah and not to turn them over to the enemy. “Stay with you” in verse 4 is Israel and Judah. They are asking, “Let the Moabite fugitives stay with you; be their shelter from the destroyer.” (4)

Around us too, there are people who are refugees from such situations, and are scattered every place. The other day at the annual meeting of the Conservative Baptists I heard a talk by Sato Sensei, the pastor of the First Baptist church of Fukushima talk about the year following the accident at the nuclear plant. It was a talk about how they had continued to wander about from place to place in Japan. After spending many days in Yonezawa they spent over a year in a Christian camp in Okutama, Tokyo. The German missionary who was responsible for the camp canceled all their reservations and received the church members. The German government had sent out a command to evacuate. Even though he might be fired for going against the command, he was prepared to be fired and received 60 people from the First Baptist church of Fukushima. During that time, the Lord called a family to heaven. There were some for whom leaving was unavoidable and they moved to other places. However, by the grace and mercy of God in March in Iwaki City in Fukushima they were able to build an apartment and in the Fall a new church sanctuary was also finished and they were able to start a new walk.
Even so, it was quite a decision to make to receive people in such a condition, but this German missionary responded to this passage, “Let the Moabite fugitives say with you; be their shelter.” (4) and the way he hid them, and supported them was great. We also have been given such a calling. Let’s desire to be a shelter for refugees, and to respond to the will of God.
How Isaiah answered the requests of the Moabite messengers is recorded in the end of verse 4 and 5. “The oppressor will come to an end, and destruction will cease; the aggressor will vanish from the land. In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it-one from the house of David-one who will in judging seeks justice and speed the cause of righteousness.”
“The oppressor” (4) is Assyria. “The oppressor will come to an end, and destruction will cease; the aggressor will vanish from the land.” (4) Isaiah is first of all prophesying that danger will pass. Next he says, “In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it-one from the house of David-one who will in judging seeks justice and speed the cause of righteousness.” (5) This is saying that the Davidic throne will be established. This is a Messianic prophecy. It is about Jesus Christ. In other words, if in the future the Moabites want to live a life in security and safety, they need to place themselves under the Lord’s promises of security toward David. The only way to flee from the present difficulties and uncertainties is to seek shelter in a faith in Jesus Christ and in hope’s quiet assurance. That is because “in love a throne will be established.” (5) No matters what happens, it will never be moved. It was not made by man. What man makes is not absolute. Therefore, such things always move, and are uncertain. However, it is a kingdom that will be established “in love”. (5) It will never be moved. Secondly, God who is sitting on the throne is an unequaled king. He is “one from the house of David.” (5) He uses his rights as a ruler and more than anything he inherits the promises that were given to David. He doesn’t just rule by caprice, but he rules by truth.
I Peter 2:6
What are you depending on? Are you just seeking help?
Psalm 91:1
Those who find shelter in the Lord are blessed. Such people no matter what difficulties they are in the can have the peace of the Lord and real rest.

II. I drench you with tears! (Vs. 6 to 16)
Let’s look at how the Moabites responded to Isaiah’s words. Please look at verses 6 to 12. First look at verse 6.
The Moabites refused the way of escape that God had established. Since for many years they had been compliant to Israel and had finally been set free from that yoke, why should they have to humble themselves before Israel? Here in verse 6 the words “pride”. “arrogance”, “conceit”, “insolence”, and “boasts” are repeated over and over again. What they were prideful about is written in verses 7 and 8.
Moab is abundant in grapes and other produce. There were many wineries there. They were proud of them. There were also temples where idols were worshipped there. They were proud of them and boasted about them. All of these things will be destroyed.
We must not think about this being about others. We have pride about something. We boast about something. The Moabites are exactly like us Japanese. The Moabites were proud that by the rich produce of grapes they had built up a stable society. Japan also is proud that after the war it accomplished high economical growth and became a leading economical country.
Before Japan also had an unstable era. That was during the age of wars. After the Muromachi period was over and the age of wars began in the midst of an unstable society no one knew what tomorrow would be like. The people as a whole looked to heaven. Then Christianity came. In 1549 Francisco Xavier first came to Japan and preached the Gospel. Like a sponge soaking up water many people sought after the Savior. The missionary at that time and historian, Luis Frois, said that at the rate people were turning to Christ, in a few years Japan will be a Christian nation. People were that hungry. Believers quickly increased. It was just like Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:3) In the history of Japanese Christianity, there was no other time when there was such a spiritual awakening. In our lives we have bitter experiences and struggle when inconveniences arise, intense changes occur, and we are smashed. However, in reality that is a blessing. Through them we seek the Lord and are able to follow the Lord. By them new life is born.
After World War II was the same. When the country was destroyed by the war and the whole nation was lowered, people sought help from the Lord. However, later when Japan grew economically and once again returned to a stable society, the nation once again became prideful. Such pride will be broken down. Pride will for sure be shattered. If you boast of what you own or you financial ability, if you depend upon something other than God, then God will certainly shatter these things.
In verse 12 it says, “When Moab appears at her high place, she only wears herself out; when she goes to her shrine to pray, it is to no avail.” “Appears at her high place” (12) means to do idol worship. Usually the temples of idols were in high places. There is no meaning to pray to such idols. They don’t answer at all. We think that all we need is money, but it has no meaning too. We think that health is only what is important. Health is the most important. No matter if you brag about your health, some day it will be taken from you.
Here a strange thing is written. “So I weep, as Jazer weeps, for the vines of Sibmah. Heshbon and Eleah, I drench you with tears! The shouts of joy over your ripened fruit and over your harvests have been stilled.” (9)
Here the Lord is crying for the Moabites. “I drench you with tears!” (9) Is there some one that has given you feelings of hatred? Because of that person you have had a hard time. Because of that person you have really had troubles and pain. If that person had something unfortunate happen to him or he is facing hard times, how will you respond to him? Are you happy thinking that he got what he deserved? However, God is not like this. God is very sad over unfortunate things. He cries tears. “I drench you with tears!” (9)
In verse 11 God’s bitter wailing is described. It says, “My heart laments for Moab like a harp, my in most being for Kir Hareseth.” “My heart” or “inmost being” (11) refers to the center of emotions. It is the deepest part of a person’s heart. “Laments” (11) has the meaning of hurting.　From this passage the word “the theology of God’s pain” was born. Dr. Kazou Kitamori is a renowned Japanese theologian. He called this “the theology of God’s pain”. He said that God’s heart lamented for the Moabites who were often enemies with the Israelites. God was in pain. The reason God was in such pain was as we saw last week God doesn’t want even one person to perish, but wants all people to be saved and know the truth. Also the people of Moab were a people that had a special and deep relationship with Israel. If you look at Genesis 19:37 you will see that the Moabites ancestor was Moab and that he was the child of Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and Lot’s daughter. This means that they are distant relatives of the Israelites. Ruth was a Moabite. Therefore, David had some Moabite blood in him. Also his descendant, Jesus Christ also had some Moabite blood in him. Therefore, God was very sad that Moab would perish. In God’s heart, in His inmost being He lamented.
Have you realized how God feels about you? Can you see the tears in His eyes? Don’t make God painful. Don’t make him lament. Don’t make God shed tears. Don’t make God sad, but be humble and listen to God’s Word.

III. Listen and Obey God (Vs. 13,14)
Therefore, the third point is to listen and obey God. Please look at verses 13 and 14.
Here it says “already”. The words of judgment upon Moab had “already” (13) been spoken. Please open your Bibles to Numbers 24:17
Numbers 24:17
This is prophecy that Balaam made about Moab. Balaam was a seer summoned by Balak king of Moab to curse Israel. After the Exodus before Israel had entered into Canaan, Balak saw how Israel had conquered the Amorites and he became fearful so he summoned Moab to curse Israel. Balaam was not an Israelite prophet, but a pagan seer. However, God spoke to him and he was subject to God’s command. Balaam was summoned by the king to pronounce a destructive curse upon Israel, but an angel of the Lord met Balaam on his way to the king. Balaam is told by the angel of the Lord to speak only what the angel says so instead of uttering a destructive curse upon Israel, he uttered a series of blessings affirming present and future pre-eminence of Israel over Moab and other nations. This passage, Numbers 24:17 is part of the fourth oracle that Balaam made. “A star will come out of Jacob” (Numbers 24:17) is Jesus. Also “a scepter will rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17) is Jesus. At the same time Balaam is also prophesying about Moab. “He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth.” (Numbers 24:17) “This is the word the LORD has already spoken concerning Moab.” (13) Suddenly Isaiah didn’t give this prophecy. Already, a long time back, this prophecy had been given. Even so they had not listened to it. That was the problem. The Lord had already spoken, but they hadn’t opened their ears to it. Therefore, the Lord says, “Within three years, as a servant bound by contract would count them, Moab’s splendor and all her many people will be despised, and her survivors will be very few and feeble.” (14) “A servant bound by contract” (14) is bound by the contract for a very clear length of time. In the same way the length of time before the Lord will destroy Moab is clearly set. The length of time is “within three years.” (14) “Within three years…Moab’s splendor and all her many people will be despised, and survivors will be very few and feeble.” (14)
In the same way, the time of the end of the world also has been clearly set by God the father. We don’t know when that will be but, it has been clearly set by God. Are you prepared for that time? “The LORD has already spoken” (14) to you. That word will be fulfilled without fail. “Not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” (Matt. 5:18) The problem is whether you believe it or not; whether you will believe and accept it or not. The Moabites didn’t accept it so they were destroyed. So that that doesn’t happen, let’s believe and accept God’s word, and choose to live a life of obeying the Word.

Applying it to our lives
 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalms 91:1) Are you dwelling in the shelter of the Most High? Where is your shelter?

 Is there something that you are boasting about? Is the Lord shedding tears for you? Or is God happy with you? Why do you think so.

 Have you realized that the Lord has already been speaking to you? Are you obeying that voice?

Today let’s look at chapter 15. From chapter 13 Isaiah starts on a new theme. From there on is a prophecy against the neighboring countries. The first to appear was Babylon. Babylon is more than one country, but symbolizes all powers that are enemies to God. Next Isaiah spoke against Assyria and next against Persia. Today is a continuation. It is a prophecy against Moab. From today’s prophecy against Moab let’s learn three things.

I. Judgment in a night (vs. 1-4)
The first point is that God’s judgment occurs suddenly. Please look at verse 1.
“Ar” (1) and “Kir” (1) are towns in Moab. The country of Moab is on the East side of the Dead Sea. If you look at a map you will see them located there. They will be “ruined, destroyed.” (1) The prophecies are not ambiguous or abstract. Specific names of towns are given, and it is clearly said what will become of these towns. Ar and Kir will be “ruined, destroyed in a night!” (1) These words will become a reality just as this passage says. Moab was “ruined, destroyed” (1) by Assyria.
This will happen “in a night”. (1) This is repeated two times. “In a night” (1) Ar will be “ruined, destroyed” (1) and “in a night” (1) Kir will be “ruined, destroyed.” (1) In the middle of the night they will be surprised by the enemy. “In a night” (1) they will be “ruined, destroyed.” (1) This is unthinkable. It is outside of what we would think of possibly happening. However, in our lives things occur that we never thought of happening. In our lives things that we never dreamed of happen.
Please open your Bibles in Luke 12:20
Luke 12:20
This is a tragedy that happened to a rich man. He had “plenty of good things laid up for many years.” (Luke 12:19) Therefore, he thought he would “take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry.” (Luke 12:19) All at once God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (Luke 12:20)
That day will suddenly come. Even though yesterday you were so healthy; even though you thought you would live a long life, even though you are still young, you are told that you only have 3 months left to live or suddenly your life is taken away by a car accident. Or like last year’s disaster in a moment life is lost. There are times when “in a night” (1) death occurs. You don’t know when it will happen to you. This isn’t a special event that happens just to the Moabites, but could happen to anyone. It could happen to you tonight. Or it could happen to your loved one. You can’t forecast what could happen to your healthy father or mother, grandfather or grandmother. In our lives things happen that we never thought about nor ever dreamed of happening.
Let’s look at one more Bible passage. Please open your Bibles to I Thess. 5:2.3.
I Thess. 5:2, 3
“The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” (I Thess. 5:2,3) When Jesus appears again, when He comes to get us, suddenly he “will come like a thief in the night.” (I Thess. 5:2, 3) “While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly.” (I Thess 5:3) This is just like how labor pains come upon a pregnant woman. Once they come, there is no way that the woman can escape from them. Let’s always be prepared so that no matter when Jesus comes we are prepared. The next time that Jesus comes he will come not to save the world, but to judge the world. Of course, those who believe in Jesus and who are saved are not in darkness, so they will not be judged. I Thess. 5:4 says, “But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.” Those who believe in Jesus and walk in the light “will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24) However, those who do not believe will be judged. I don’t really like to talk about this, but this the truth. Salvation is in Jesus. If we don’t believe in Jesus, the Son of God, judgment will come upon us. It will come unexpectedly. Therefore, before that, so that the judgment will not come upon us, let’s be prepared. Are you prepared for Christ to come suddenly? It will occur “in a night.” (1) Please be prepared.
Verses 2 to 4 describe the condition the people were in when God’s judgment came upon them suddenly.
Verses 2-4
“Temple” is the temple where the Moab god, Chemosh, was worshipped. It was on a hill in Dibron. Shrines were usually built in “high places” (2), on the hilltops. Chemosh was also on a hilltop. Suddenly when the Assyrians came upon them, the Moabites climbed up the hill and asked their own god, Chemosh, for help, but the idol didn’t save them. The god didn’t help them at all. Up until then the thing that they depended upon didn’t help them at all. The people who realized that the god was of no help were astonished and “wailed”. (2)
Dibon and Nebo are names of towns in Moab. Before Moses looked down from this mountain in Dibon to see the Promised Land and then ended his life. 6 kilometers southeast of this Dibon mountain is the town of Nebo. The Moabites, who heard that Nebo and Dibon had been attacked, climbed up to the “high places to weep.” (2) “Every head is shaved and every beard cut off.” (2)This was done to show lament and sadness. At that time men were proud of growing a beard. It was the proper thing to do. To shave off your hair and beard was very humiliating and painful. It was that sad and bitter of an event. “In the streets they wear sackcloth; on the roofs and in the public squares they all wail.” (3)This is done to show mourning. When by Assyria the town was attacked and fell by brutal means the people put on mourning clothes and wailed and were sad.
Heshbon and Elealeh and Jahaz in verse 4 are towns that before in the age of Joshua Israel had captured, but in Isaiah’s age the Moabites controlled these towns. In other words, they were captured by the Moabites. The Moabites were really a threat to Israel. Those towns were next attacked by Assyria. The news that Assyria came and attacked Heshbon and Elealeh was “heard all the way to Jahaz” which is separated by more than 30 kilometers. “Therefore the armed men of Moab cry out, and their hearts are faint.” (4)
God’s judgment comes suddenly. When we are not expecting it, it comes suddenly. It comes like a thief in the night. Therefore, we need to be prepared for it so no matter when it comes we are ready. If not, we will be like the Moabites wailing, lamenting and in pain.

II. My heart cries out (vs. 5,6)
The second point is that God doesn’t want even a single person to perish, but desires all men to be saved. Please look at verse 5.
Here a strange thing is written. “My heart cries out over Moab.” (5) “I” (5) is of course God. This means that God is crying out over Moab. After that it says, “her fugitives flee as far as Zoar, as far as Eglath Shelishiyah. They go up the way to Luhith, weeping as they go; on the road to Horonaim, they lament their destruction.” God sees the Moabites fleeing from the attack of Assyria and is crying. Even though it is only natural that the Moabites that worshipped the idol Chemosh be destroyed, God looks at the Moabites and cries. He is crying out.
That means even though they are not the promised people, God made them. They are people that God loves very much. Please don’t misunderstand. Certainly God is a righteous God that punishes sin. However, God isn’t a cold god that looks at those who are destroyed and doesn’t think anything about it. God because of his nature of righteousness has to judge sin, but it is really hard and painful. While crying he judges. That is because He wants all people to be saved and to know the truth. Please open your Bibles to II Peter 3:9
II Peter 3:9
God does “not want anyone to perish.” (II Peter 3:9) God wants all people to be saved. This is the same with the Moabites. God does “not want anyone to perish.” (II Peter 3:9) Therefore, He is crying for the people that have to be destroyed for not repenting.
In the Bible there is a book called Jonah. The prophet Jonah is sent out to the Assyrian town of Nineveh. There Jonah preaches a message of repentance. Then the people of Nineveh altogether repent. However, Jonah did not really want to do that. That was because Jonah knew that Assyria and done a terrible thing towards Israel. Therefore, Jonah really wanted the opposite, revenge. He wanted God to destroy them. Therefore, he complained that he didn’t want to go and ran away to Tarsus, the country the furthest away. The rest of the story I think you already know. A storm came upon the ship. The cause was Jonah. Jonah hadn’t obeyed God. So God was angry. Therefore, he was thrown into the sea. A big fish swallowed him. He was in his belly for three days and three nights. There he repented. Then he went to Nineveh and preached the Word of God. He preached, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.” (Jonah 3:4) The people of Nineveh believed in God and repented “from the greatest to the least.” (Jonah 3:5)
“But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry.” (Jonah 4:1) He complained to God, “O LORD, is this not what I said …I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, A God who relents from sending calamity.” (Jonah 4:2) He thought it was natural that Israel’s enemy Nineveh, Assyria be destroyed. Even so they were saved.
“Then the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine. But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint.” (Jonah 4:6-8) He said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.” (Jonah 4:8)
Then God said to Jonah, “You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. Bit Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?” (Jonah 4:10, 11)
Even if people are antagonistic towards God, God still loves them. Also God doesn’t want them to be destroyed, but desires that all people be saved. That is the heart of God.
That is not all. “My heart cries out over Moab.” (5) The Moabites were not just people that God made, but they had a deep relationship with God’s people, the Jews. If you research into the Moabites you will see that their ancestor was Abraham’s nephew, Lot. In Genesis 19;37,38 it says, “The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today. The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today.” Moab was the child born to Lot and Lot’s daughter. Also King David of Israel was one eighth Moabite. David’s great grandmother was Ruth, a Moabite. Therefore, the Moabites were enemies of Israel, but in reality they had a deep relationship with the Jews. They were a people that were very close to the Jews. The Lord had a merciful heart towards such Moabites.
This means that around us there are such many “Moabites” like this. They still don’t believe in Jesus yet, but they are extremely near Christians who already believe in Jesus. For example, they are family members that still don’t believe. For such people just because in their family there is a Christian, they are in a special place where at any time they can seek God. It can be said that they are especially loved by God. If they seek it they can be saved. Not everyone is in such an environment. Some people are far away from God. They are in a place completely unrelated to salvation. Of course, even such people by the grace of God are sometimes chosen, but compared to people who are extremely close to Christians, it is not as easy. Therefore, to have a Christian nearby, to know Christians is a huge grace. Such people are the same as the Moabites. God is crying out over such people that they will believe in the Lord Jesus and be saved.

III. A lion upon the fugitives and upon those who remain (Vs. 7-9)
The third point is if they don’t repent what will happen. That is if they don’t repent, God’s relentless judgment will come upon them. Please look at verses 7 to 9.
“Dimon’s waters are full of blood” shows how many people were killed. However, the judgment of God on Moab is still not finished. God will send “a lion upon the fugitives of Moab and upon those who remain in the land.” (9) The “lion” (9) is Assyria, but it is God who sends them. God uses Assyria as his tool for judgment. The point here is that God towards those who are forever antagonistic towards God and those who do not repent, God will send a lion and thoroughly judge them.
This is not a contradiction to the mercy of God that we looked at earlier. This is not God’s holy wrath. God does not want a single person to perish, but wants all people to be saved. For this God is “gracious and compassionate…slow to anger and abounding in love.” (Jonah 4:2) He is waiting for us to repent. However, we must remember that there is a limit. A time will come. If they have not repented before that time, like God judged Moab, they will be judged. Because of God’s nature of being merciful, the judgment is very saddening to God. However, because of God’s nature of holiness he has to destroy those who are judged. However, God is not rejoicing over the judgment, but rather is saddened. That is God’s heart. We must know the heart of God. Knowing that heart, we must return to God.
Remember the ark of Noah. “The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.” (Genesis 6:5) Therefore, God told Noah to make and ark and for him and his family to enter it. In the midst of the laughing of the people around them Noah and his family entered the ark just as God commanded them. “Then the LORD shut him in.” (Genesis 7:16) The door where there wasn’t a second chance to enter was closed. This is the most serious time of our life. At that time, we will for the first time realize the importance of repentance. However, at that time it is too late. We must enter before the door is shut. Please enter the ark, you and your family. Enter and be saved. That is God’s heart. God is crying out over you.

Applying it to our lives
 Are you prepared so that you are ready if the Lord comes suddenly?

 Do you have family, friends, or people you know around you that still don’t believe in Jesus? The Lord has compassion on them. Are you praying for their salvation?

 Have you received God’s salvation? If you haven’t received Jesus as your Savior, please pray to accept Christ as your Savior.

Today I would like to talk about the last half of Isaiah. Today’s title is “Find Refuge in the Lord”. From chapter 13 Isaiah starts on a new theme. From there on is a prophecy against the neighboring countries. The first to appear was Babylon. Babylon is more than one country, but symbolizes all powers that are enemies to God.
In today’s passage the prophecy is against the next people that God’s judgment will come upon. Today’s passage is talking about Assyria and Persia. Today I would like to talk about three things about the blessings of taking refuge in the Lord.

I. As the Lord has purposed, so it will happen (vs. 24-27)
First of all let’s look at the prophecy against Assyria. Please look at verses 24 to 27.
God’s prophecy against Assyria is also written in chapter 10. There Assyria is described as an instrument of God to punish Israel. Assyria was nothing more than an instrument of God, but they didn’t realize that. Assyria assumed they have done everything by their own strength. They tried to ruin prideful Israel so God is going to punish their pride. Then here once again it talks about the judgment against Assyria.
In verse 25 it says, “I will crush the Assyrian in my land; on my mountains I will trample him down.” “My land” is Israel and the kingdom of Southern Judah. “My mountains” is Zion, Jerusalem.
This refers to the events that occur in the end of chapter 36 and chapter 37. In other words, in 722 B.C. Assyria that was destroyed by Northern Israel next in great force threatened the Southern kingdom of Judah, but by the fervent prayers of Hezekiah, there was the event of 285,000 soldiers being killed in one night. That was in 701 B.C. After that the Assyrian King Sennacherib returned to his country and there was assassinated by his son. Also the strength of Assyria followed a declining line and in 605 B.C. Assyria was destroyed and wiped out of existence by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. By this Assyria’s “yoke will be taken from my people, and his burden removed from their shoulders.” (25) As the Lord has said, “so it will happen.” (24) “This is the plan determined for the whole world; this the hand stretched out over all nations.” (26) This is not just for Assyria or Babylon, but will be the same for the whole world. As the Lord has “planned, so it will be…so it will happen.” (24)
Proverbs 19:21
Let’s not let our hearts get caught up in the things that are happening now, but keep our hearts on the plans of God. Let’s follow the will of God which is higher than our thoughts and expectations.
Quite a while ago at a meeting that I attended, a teacher said, “The Bible is the history of man and the omnipotent and almighty God who created all things including the universe. Each one of our individual stories is included in this history.” All of our history is in the hand of God.
Who would have ever dreamed that Joseph who was envied by his brothers and sold to Egypt would in the course of time become the second highest ranking person in Egypt. However, God in order to save Israel’s life sent Joseph first before his family to Egypt. This was to leave a remnant in Israel. Also this great salvation was to keep Israel alive for a long time. That was the plan of God. Our lives, our history are led by this great plan of God.
Jeremiah 29:11
God has a perfect plan for us. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Therefore, we can give our lives to God. The reason we have doubts about God’s word is that we don’t recognize the power of God, and have assurance. These are the two causes for us to fall into unbelief. However, when we know like this that the Word of God “will happen” (24) we have assurance that God is true and powerful and are able to leave everything in his hands.
Do you believe that everything that God does is good? What God planned “will happen.” (24) Let’s believe and know what God has purposed, and live leaving everything in His hands.

II. Do not rejoice, all you Philistines (vs. 28-31)
.Next let’s look at the prophecy against the Philistines. Please look at verses 28 and 29.
King Ahaz died in 715 B.C. It was in that year that Isaiah prophesized this.”Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is broken.” (29) “The rod that struck you” (29) is Israel. From olden days the Philistines were always Israel’s enemies. All they could think of was hitting Israel. However, the Philistine territory was basically a small weak country so they always lost to Israel in power struggles. However, this Israel has been “struck”. (29) This is referring to Israel being destroyed by Assyria in 722 B.C. Their continuous old enemy Israel is “broken” (29) so they are all clapping hands and rejoicing. It is just like seeing a strong fighting opponent being beaten by even a stronger opponent and being glad about it. With shouts of joy filled with hatred you yell, “Great! It serves him right!” However, it is too early to rejoice. That is because “from the root of that snake will spring up a viper, its fruit will be a darting, venomous serpent.” (29) This means that Israel was “struck” (29), but instead a crueler country will appear and will torture them. This is Assyria. Assyria will be like a “venomous serpent” (29) darting from tree to tree and will dart into the Philistine territory.
The result of this is verses 30 and 31.
Vs. 30, 31
This is referring to Israel who became poor and weak as a result of being destroyed by Assyria and Babylon. They were weak and poor, but even so in a place that cannot be seen they were able to keep life power that led them to victory. That was the Lord himself. They had certainly sinned and turned their back on God, so they received God punishment, but by the mercy of God they found “pasture” (30) and lied “down in safety.” (30)
However, against the Philistines God says, “But your root I will destroy by famine; it will slay your survivors.” (30) This is clearly different. Of course Israel was judged and received punishment, but there was a remnant left and they “will lie down in safety.” (30) They are able to enter into the salvation of God. However, the Philistines aren’t like this. First the Philistines and then the other neighboring countries were completely destroyed. They were swept away. As this prophecy says the Philistines were destroyed by Assyria in 701 B.C. In the 6th century B.C. they became under the control of Egypt, and in B.C. 332 Alexander the Great captured them. Then the Philistines disappeared from history. It happened just as the Bible’s Words say.
What is very interesting is the race is different, but today too there are people who use their name. The word Palestinians comes from the Philistines. They live on the Gaza strip where the Philistines used to live. Originally the Philistines were whites who came from Crete and Cyprus, islands in the Aegean Sea. They were feared as men of the sea. Goliath was also a Philistine, a white giant. The Palestinians are of Arab descent so their race is different. However, this race, the Palestinians (Philistines) has taken their place and now is a threatening power to Israel. This is interesting. This means that this prophecy of the Bible is moving in history. Here the fate of the Philistines takes its course to the Palestinians.

III. Find refuge in the Lord” (Vs. 32)
Therefore, the third point is to find refuge in the Lord. Let’s read verse 32 together.
In order to resist Assyria among the neighboring countries, a movement occurred to form counter alliances. At that time the Philistines were enemies with Israel, but in order to resist the great country of Assyria in the north they had to think of some kind of countermeasure. Therefore, they made an alliance with the southern country of Judah. This is how humans think. When a person is pushed into a corner, he tries to depend on other people. He doesn’t depend on God whom he can’t see, but like this tries to depend on others. People of faith are the same too. Even though they believe in God whom they can’t see, in the hour of need, they depend upon things they can see. At times like that why don’t we pray? Why don’t we call on God? Why don’t we seek a solution from the Lord?
The blessed Israel of the North was destroyed and King Ahaz that ruled Southern Judah up until now has died. Therefore, here the Philistines are making a friendly alliance with the child of Ahaz, Hezekiah, to try to cope with Assyria. Southern Judah too had been invaded by Assyria and came almost to the point of ruin so they thought that King Hezekiah would be lured into the talk. Therefore, they sent a messenger to him saying, “Let’s fight together.” However, Hezekiah flatly turned them down. He said, “The LORD has established Zion, and in her his afflicted people will find refuge.” (32)
He is saying that they can overcome such dangers not by alliances between people and people or alliances between country and country, but only by finding refuge in the Lord himself. He answered that the Lord has indeed “established Zion” (32 and it is a place of refuge so we must find refuge in the Lord. This is a wonderful confession. That is because at that time the land that Assyria dominated extended over quite a large area. It included the territory of the Philistines west of Judah, to the East, Moab, to the South, Arabia, and besides that it extended as far as Egypt and Ethiopia. If you look at the map of Assyria what is very interesting is the area that Assyria controlled at that time was exactly like someone had sprinkled bread crumbs right up to the countries that neighbored Judah, but only Judah, and only Jerusalem weren’t under its control and they are like a lonely islands in the Great Sea that have been left alone by themselves.
This is because the Lord watches over Judah and Jerusalem. The Lord answered Hezekiah’s faith. “The LORD has established Zion, and in her his afflicted people find refuge.” (32)
It is blessed to find refuge in the Lord. That is because the Lord watches over such people. Where is your place of refuge. The Lord is your place of refuge. That is where the Lord is living so he will protect you from all kinds of misfortunes. When we are in such situations we are prone to not find refuge in the Lord , but to depend on people, on things, on money, and depend on the things of this world, but we need to remember that who we need to depend upon is the Lord
Of the 66 books in the Bible the passage that is in the center is Psalm 118:8. This verse which is in the center of the Bible should also be the center of our lives.
Psalm 118:8
“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” (Psalms 118:8) The next verse, verse 9 says, “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. We need to make this the center of our lives.
Matt. 6:26-30
“If that is how God clothes the grass of the field that is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you,” (Matt. 6:30) Will he not much more do good to you. The Lord Jesus is saying, “Why do you worry?” (Matt. 6:28) Would God end your life in tragedy?
We are more important than a flower, or a bird. We are the child of God. The angels too are given so much that they are envied so if that is the case why would the Lord not feed you? We worry because we don’t believe God. It is a problem of unbelief. We think that maybe God may not fulfill our life, and we try to fill our lives ourselves.
Romans 8:32 tells us the interest that God has toward us.
Romans 8:32
This is the interest that God has in us. God even gave his Son “up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)
When we look at our own lives, our problems never seem to be solved. We feel like things become worse and worse and that our troubles only are becoming heavier. We wonder why when God promised this why these things happen. We ask WHY? WHY? WHY? However, through the Bible find the full answer. In other words, this is not because God is not interested in us, but because we aren’t trusting in God. Man doesn’t think that he isn’t depending upon God, but thinks unsatisfiedly that God is not helping him. However, that is not the case.
Now at this moment, please depend upon God. We all believe in things that have value. However, believe in things that seem impossible is faith. When the Israelites walked around the wall of Jericho 6 times there was no change. This is the reality of faith. However, when they went around the seventh time, the wall fell down. Naaman who washed in the Jordan River 7 times saw no change up until the sixth time. At times like this people feel uncertain, worry, and are fearful. However, on the seventh time it happened just as God had promised. That is faith. Also that faith performed a miracle
What are you depending upon? Before when Hezekiah was in the midst of a tense situation, he found refuge in the Lord and experienced a wonderful miracle of the Lord. In the same way, you too by finding refuge in the Lord may you too experience the wonderful miracles of the Lord. “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” (Psalms 118:8) Let’s believe that the Lord has a wonderful plan for your life, and depend on him.
Applying it to our lives
 Do you have faith that as God “has planned, so it will be.” (24) Do you believe this and are you leaving everything in the hands of God or have you fallen into unbelief?

 Have you found refuge? What are you depending upon? How are you accepting the Word of God that “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” (Psalms 118:8)