Isaiah 43:14-44:23
Dear RTB’ers,
Three major items in today’s reading – the fall of Babylon, Israel’s sinfulness, and the folly of idol worship. It is worth noting, again, that Isaiah is predicting Babylon’s downfall some two centuries before it happens. In Isaiah’s time Babylon had not even become dominant. Hezekiah had shown Babylonian envoys all the treasure of the house of the Lord (II Kings 20:12-19 and Isaiah 39:1-8), but Judah was still its own nation, fully some century and a half before the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC.
As for Israel’s sinfulness, it’s interesting when you put it all together – Israel is no longer sacrificing as it had in the past and God does not expect it of them, and with (or because of) all that, they are pretty much forgetting Him! God speaking: You have not brought Me your sheep for burnt offerings, or honored Me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, or wearied you with frankincense. … But you have burdened Me with your sins; you have wearied Me with your iniquities. (vv. 43:23-24) They will pay a price for their misdeeds: Therefore I will … deliver Jacob to utter destruction and Israel to reviling. (v. 43:28)
Finally, one of the best sarcastic renditions of the folly of idol worship in all of Scripture, Isaiah 44:9-20. So much humor in those verses – a craftsman fashions idols of metal and wood, but with the wood, from the same tree he makes an idol and also cooks his meals. To me the best line, Shall I fall down before a block of wood? (v. 44:19b) Utterly ridiculous! Some good, light humor for your day!!
Blessings!
See also: August 20 (2023) / Isaiah 44-45 (the first part).