"Go and take the sackcloth from your waist, and remove the sandals from your feet." (20:2) And there it ends. There's no direction to put on nicer garments now because the mourning is over, oh no. Isaiah apparently spends three years of his life barefoot and naked. This gives me some sympathy for the nation of Israel who was constantly underestimating or misunderstanding the prophets. I confess I'd be startled by any man who spoke to me while naked and would be likely to misunderstand him too. Such a desperate act can only mean a very desperate message, which, as usual, is to turn back to God. Isaiah shows (in a very dramatic way) exactly what will happen to the nations Israel relies on instead of God. They will be defeated, disgraced, and led away in captivity. Israel won't be able to boast of its allies, and will be ashamed to admit they ever counted on them.
The next chapter focuses on the watchtower and the watchman waiting to see what news comes. The news that Babylon has fallen arrives (was anyone else required to read Alas, Babylon! by the way?) (21:9). The second watchman seems to be waiting for news that the suffering will end and gives the depressing news that morning has come, and again night. (21:12) He also seems to say to come back later if they want to ask again, which reminds me of the magic 8 balls. "Try again later. Outlook not good." I don't think anyone can help asking, though, when they're suffering, how much longer they are going to suffer.
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4 comments:
A desperate message indeed. Reminds me of John the Baptist. He is always portrayed in his icon in his famous garb, looking very wild.
[My very first instinct, though, being a Floridian, is sun burn]
Upon reading this again this morning, I am moved by the metaphor of Isaiah as watchman: he sees the dawn before all others. I think it is important to note that although God is judging the nations, He is merciful even in His judgment. Through Isaiah, the nations know what is going to happen, to whom, and are promised that eventually night will end and dawn will come.
[Out of curiosity, does anyone know where Elie Wiesel got the titles for his books? I would think that these passages in Isaiah about Night and Dawn would be somewhat fitting.]
The whole world is waiting. This passage reminds me of Romans 8:18-25; surely Paul meant to reference this.
I was never required to read Alas, Babylon!. Should I have been?:)
I hadn't at first noticed that Isaiah is speaking as the watchman; that's very interesting. Another thing that I find interesting is that Isaiah seems to just be prophesying. He doesn't say that unless the nations turn to him, this will happen - he just says it will happen. I wonder though if it couldn't have been prevented had the entire nation given up their idols and sin. Isn't that what Jonah is about? The people actually repent for once, and the events are turned back? As to Alas, Babylon! no you needn't have read it. It was an imagine-we-have-nuclear-holocaust book. The one connection is that the title comes form this passage with the US as a sort of Babylon.
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