Isaiah 21

 

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I listened to many commentaries concerning this chapter, and I needed it to speak to me in the mirror.  The prophecy according to many who study the Word of God, spoke of this taking place in the middle east.  I am sure they are right, but I wanted more of how to relate and retain all that is happening and will happen.

I concluded in my own walk with God to view these judgments as three major types of business handling people like me in the wrong way.

1.  The first ones to be corrected are verses 1-10.  The Word of God is speaking to Babylon.  Babylon has the behavior in business as to know they have been in business a long time and their name was made known for taking down the Assyrians who had a bigger name than theirs.  Many times when a smaller company can take down a bigger establishment, the smaller of the two can feel that he now is number one.  This is how I viewed these first 10 verses.  Babylon is a desert surrounded by water.  The name in itself explains to me that it is not producing even though the resources are all around it.  Many people live by the name they were given and they have little to nothing to produce a quality product.  Your name is what people will ultimately learn about you.  When the world names you, and God names you differently, God will have the last review and judge you accordingly. We cannot have a name that is good and the way we serve people is subpar. God is good and His name carries a reputation.  Anyone who deals with people must deal with people fairly at all times.  Babylon refused to live up to her name and God destroyed it and will destroy it again.

Now we go into the next company's name who is of the family of Esau.  Esau has been given the name loose lips or uncontrolled tongue.  

Esau sold his birthright and thought about what he did later.  Jacob took advantage of the deal he offered and Esau eyed Jacob and later Jacob stole Esau's blessing.  The book of Genesis tells more of the details of this story.  Today, I want to talk about the attitude of business concerning Esau's descendants who are now in business and how they carry Esau's attitude in how they handle people in business today.  In verses 11-12, God gave Isaiah the judgment concerning any of us who handles business as careless as Esau's family.   Esau cared nothing about how people were dissatisfied with his product.  He was like a company that did business without emotions

(computerized).  People who buy products from people who are in it for the money only could have legitimate problems that Esau's company did not have the heart to hear or listen to.  When a client has a problem, we must listen to why they are not satisfied.  When we are concerned about the people more than about the money they spent, we represent the care God has for all people.  God wants us to make banners of what we do and what we will charge for the work done.  If you charge 10 dollars for work completed, do not change if you think I can pay more.  Many businesses operate like the spirit of Esau because they sometimes look at what they think you can pay and adjust the price.   For example, you drive an expensive car and I think I can get away with charging you more.  This is the wrong attitude.  Essau made a deal and did not like the deal he made to sell his birthright, but it could not be altered. Your word is your bond.  When we set a price on an item, we must think first then take action or make an agreement.  God speaks through Isaiah and says, night and day my price is the same; if you return or come in for the first time I will not alter my cost.  God will destroy any business that operated less than the quality He has spoken in His Word.

Arabia is the last business spoken in chapter 21.  Arabia is a company that knows it has what you cannot easily live without.  This type of company makes it hard for people when they know the people need what you serve or own.  When a company takes advantage of charging unnecessary prices for the things we need, God judges that company accordingly.  A company like Arabia owns natural resources and sells them for a price.  The people who came to Arabia's business left out feeling wounded and distressed because Arabia had what they needed but they could not afford it without losing their livelihood to make a purchase.

God is the owner of natural and all other resources.  When he gives you the land in which these resources can be obtained, you must not take advantage of the people who need what you can supply.  

The bottom line I carry for chapter 21 is as Jesus said, handle business the way you will want people to do you in business.  In other words, treat people right.  Your business is God's gift to you, be careful not to forget God.

Isaiah 21:1-17 (KJV)   

God's Judgment on

                  Babylon, Edom and Arabia

The notes I have below are notes I took from different commentators.  Please review commentators' notes on Youtube for more of how they view chapter 21.

 1 The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; [so] it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land. 

The desert of the sea, the name given for Babylon.  A desert of the sea?  The name itself sounds like a nonexistent place.  Whoever heard of there being a desert near a sea?  When God names a place as a name as this one, we should take heed.  A whirlwind coming from the desert, this desert is known to be a terrible place. Nothing will grow even though it ought to be fruitful.

2 A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease. 

A prophecy against Babylon

Isaiah says to describe this place is very hard for him: a disloyal person who manages deals from his evil heart, and the enemy owns his heart.  Isaiah is saying Elam who is the same as Persia

Babylon is really a nobody at this time.  100 plus years 

Assyria is the most powerful of this day.

Elam is Persia or Iran and Media. (Medes). (little tribes who lived in the desert) will conquer (crush) Babylon.

Medes and Persians will conquer Babylon.

Babylon conquered Assyria.  But God gave small countries to come against the one who thought he was in charge.

3 Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing [of it]; I was dismayed at the seeing [of it]. 

4 My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.

The king describe what he saw. 

5 Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, [and] anoint the shield. 

It was at the party that he king saw his fate.  He thought he was smart enough to win above God's army

Babylon was strong and secure.  But as strong as it thought it was it is as Humpty Dumpty who fell off his wall.

The king of Babylon thought he could not be defeated.  God sent a hand on the wall to wake him up in the midst of the king's party.

The grandson of Neburchenezzar is the king of Babylon.

Daniel records this scene during this time.

6 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth. 

7 And he saw a chariot [with] a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, [and] a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed: 

8 And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights: 

9 And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, [with] a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground. 

Isaiah describes what he saw happen to Babylon 200 years later.

Revelation 14 speaks of the same fall.  Babylon will fall for the last time.  Revelation 18 tells us how the economy of the world will fall.

10 O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you. 

Isaiah is saying the Lord has spoken.

11 The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? 

Next, the Lord speaks to Dumah known as Edom, the children of Esau.  Present-day Jordon. The rock city....

Mount Seir... present-day Jordan

12 The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come. 

What's happening?  Morning and night...  things are getting better, but the night is coming also.

Mornings mean hope but night means judgment.

We are calling good evil and evil good.

We have happy faces while committing sins.

13 The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim. 

Now let's talk to Arabia.

Dedanim ancient name of Saudi Arabia.  Sheba or Dedanim speaks of Saudi Arabia

in the desert of Arabia

Before the rapture takes place

  Russia

Iran

Lybia

These countries will join together and come against God's people and be defeated.

These are notes taken as I listened to different commentators.

14 The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled. 

15 For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war. 

16 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail: 

17 And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken [it].

They will be hungry and thirsty.  Those that God will destroy will be seen as Isaiah saw many years before it happened.  Very soon God will begin this judgment.