Isaiah on Tuesday - Ancient Texts for the 21st Century

As Isaiah issues judgments and prophecies on other nations, he always relates them back to Israel. The political and military machinations of the region are all bound up in God's sovereign plan for His people leading to the eventual arrival of the Messiah. Isaiah, however, moves from a medium and long-term view into the immediate starting in chapter 13. Chapter 14 is a continuation of the "oracle concerning Babylon" which relates Israel's role in the prophecy.

As 21st century readers looking at ancient texts, it is our challenge to understand and interpret its meaning for our lives today. For ancient Israel and the surrounding nations, the text is immediate and literal - thus and so will happen this way and in this time. Yet, it is my belief that Biblical events are more often than not parables revealing eternal truth. Further, they often reveal themes which are both immediate and contemporary for the time, yet also foreshadow events to come. The return from exile prophesied by Isaiah also becomes a prophecy of the Messiah. Temporal kingdoms take the symbolic place of eternal ones and so Isaiah's words have meaning far beyond the meaning that Isaiah, himself, may have given them.

As we read through chapters of very specific prophecies, detailing nations, people and events long past, we must peel back the layers and listen intently to see if we can hear what Isaiah's words are saying to us today. Isaiah 14 is a good lesson in interpreting the ancient for the modern.

The first verse of the chapter reads:

The LORD will have compassion on Jacob;
once again he will choose Israel
and will settle them in their own land.
Aliens will join them
and unite with the house of Jacob.

At the time of the exile, these words would be comforting - the land would be returned to them and they would find allies outside themselves. For us, we see God's covenant with Israel fulfilled. The promises made to Abraham show that God is faithful, He doesn't change His mind but remains a steady rock through the currents of time. The mention of "aliens" is also a reminder that though the Israel is God's chosen people, it is not an exclusive club. He continues to invite and include others in His invitation and plan for redemption.

Verses 3 through 23 outline the destruction of Babylon by the Jews and their allies, utterly destroying them and removing them from power. This is a curious section, however. It details a king proud and haughty seeking to overtake God, himself in power and authority. That, in itself, should be a sobering reminder of who is really the sovereign ruler of the universe. But, as I read this, a bigger theme emerged. It seemed to me that this also was to represent the final conquest of evil. The king of Babylon is simply a corporeal representation of the spiritual. Satan, the tempter, would ultimately be overthrown. The violence, corruption and destruction wrought by him would be removed and replaced, ultimately with the "peaceable kingdom" Isaiah writes about in chapter 11.

For the Jews, a return to their land and a victory over Babylon was a great thing and fulfillment of a promise. For us, this victory is even greater. For if we interpret this passage as I have, it means that the struggle we wage now against, "the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" will eventually be won and the violence and darkness of this world will be overcome by the light. We can return to the promises of God, which are fulfilled again and again in scripture and live in the hope that they continue to be fulfilled.

Isaiah shifts his focus to Assyria in verses 24-27 and Phillistia in verses 28-32. I will leave it up to the reader to interpret those verses, but I hope that if ancient prophecies seemed dry and dead, this fresh perspective will breath life into them for you. I know that my reexamination of them has brought new and exciting truths to light and Isaiah remains a living document for me thousands of years after its writing.