Isaiah 21
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1The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it comes from the wilderness, from an awesome land. 2A grievous vision is declared to me. The treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, Elam; attack! I have stopped all of Media’s sighing. 3Therefore my thighs are filled with anguish. Pains have taken hold on me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am in so much pain that I can’t hear. I so am dismayed that I can’t see. 4My heart flutters. Horror has frightened me. The twilight that I desired has been turned into trembling for me. 5They prepare the table. They set the watch. They eat. They drink. Rise up, you princes, oil the shield! 6For the Lord said to me, “Go, set a watchman. Let him declare what he sees. 7When he sees a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of donkeys, a troop of camels, he shall listen diligently with great attentiveness.” 8He cried like a lion: “Lord, I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime, and every night I stay at my post. 9Behold, here comes a troop of men, horsemen in pairs.” He answered, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the engraved images of her gods are broken to the ground. 10You are my threshing, and the grain of my floor!” That which I have heard from Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, I have declared to you. 11The burden of Dumah. One calls to me out of Seir, “Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?” 12The watchman said, “The morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire. Come back again.” 13The burden on Arabia. In the forest in Arabia you will lodge, you caravans of Dedanites. 14They brought water to him who was thirsty. The inhabitants of the land of Tema met the fugitives with their bread. 15For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the heat of battle. 16For the Lord said to me, “Within a year, as a worker bound by contract would count it, all the glory of Kedar will fail, 17and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, will be few; for Yahweh, the God of Israel, has spoken it.”
World English Bible (public domain)
“For thus the Lord said to me, 'Go, set a watchman; let him announce what he sees.'”
Isaiah 21:6
Summary
In Isaiah chapter 21, the prophet delivers oracles concerning several nations, focusing mainly on the downfall of Babylon. The chapter opens with a vision of a 'wilderness by the sea,' symbolically describing the impending invasion by a relentless enemy. This prophecy is portrayed as a burden, suggesting the weight and seriousness of the message. The imagery used is vivid, depicting a world in turmoil as the once mighty Babylon faces inevitable collapse. Isaiah expresses deep emotional distress over the vision, likening it to the pains of childbirth, emphasizing the severe judgment awaiting Babylon. The chapter then shifts to a series of shorter oracles directed towards other regions. An oracle against Dumah follows, delivering an enigmatic message that suggests vigilance and a wary anticipation of what is to come. The final part of the chapter concerns Arabia, predicting a coming hardship and displacement for the Kedarites. These prophecies are set in a context of divine judgment, highlighting God's sovereignty over the nations and His orchestration of historical events. Key themes include the transient nature of earthly power and empires, the fulfillment of divine prophecy, and the universal reign of God who sees and governs all events. The chapter underscores the reality of God's justice and His ultimate control over the destinies of nations, inviting readers to trust in His sovereign plan.
Key Themes
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