Hezekiah has now become King of Judah in 716 BC. See 2 Kings 18:1ff. The Northern Kingdom is about to fall and Judah has a problem with Assyria. Hezekiah wants to turn to Egypt for help instead of trusting God. Isaiah prophecies against this alliance in chapters 28-33 which is known as “The Book of Woes”. Hezekiah was the son of Ahaz and he was 25 at the start of his reign and reigned for 29 years. It appears that he assumed co-regency with Ahaz around about 729 BC before becoming King in 716 BC.

1. The prophecy of the fall of Samaria (vs. 1-6)

The time is about 725 BC and the fall of Samaria is 722 BC. The proud Samaria is going to be plucked like an olive fig. In verse 2 there is mention of Assyria who will be God’s agent of judgment upon the Samarians. The promise is given verses 5-6.

Like any other sin, drunkenness is connected to pride, so much so that Isaiah likens the drunkards of Ephraim to a crown of pride. Much of the self-hatred and self-despising drunkards feel is rooted in too much focus upon one’s self, which is the essence of pride. Drunkenness makes everything beautiful and good in our lives fade away. Many men and women have gone from the top to skid row because of drunkenness. The drunkard needs to know that God is stronger than the drunkard, stronger than the power of alcohol, stronger than anything. If the drunkard is powerless to stop his drinking, God has the power to help him stop – or the power to judge him.

Sometimes when we see the faded glory that comes with sins like drunkenness, we can grow discouraged or depressed. But even if all the glory of man fades because of disobedience and sin, God’s glory remains. When we are completely “unglorified” because of the wreckage of sin, we can set our focus on the glory of the Lord.

2. The prophecy of the fall of Judah (vs. 7-29)

This is God’s message to those who are ripe for judgment.

• Isaiah condemns the priests and prophets because of their drunkenness (vs. 7-8)
• The people laughed at Isaiah’s message (vs. 9-10). They saw Isaiah’s message as just the same thing over and over again and spiritually weak. It was too simple to be accepted.
• God will speak to the people through a foreign language (vs. 11). The people had been calling Isaiah a babbler – speaking as if in an unknown tongue. God is going to speak to this people in an unknown tongue. This is a terrible judgment. The people of Judah had hardened their hearts against the Word of God. God will use the Assyrians to bring judgment. Compare 1 Corinthians 14:21-22 about the gift of tongues.
• The Word of God was a burden to the people (vs. 12-13)
• The men of Judah trusted in a covenant which they had made with some other nation. (vs. 14-15). The “covenant of death” was with Egypt. See also Daniel 9:24-27 about Antichrist.
• Christ alone can be trusted (vs. 16-22). The only hope for Judah is to have faith in the Messiah. God has appointed from eternity past this firm foundation. People try to make plans without praying to God, but this is like a bed which is too short for a tired man to rest upon. When danger comes, man’s wisdom will not really help.
• God is not always punishing His people (vs. 23-29). God is like a farmer and uses different methods at different times. See David – 2 Samuel 12:14.

Categories: Isaiah