Isaiah 29:1-4
Ariel is a special name for Jerusalem. It's unclear as to why; it means 'altar hearth' or, it taken as a compound word, it may mean 'lion of God'. The hearth could mean the altar of God where the fires never cease. This is both a blessing and a curse; a danger to sinners but also the means of salvation. See Ezekiel 43:15,16; Lev 6:12-13; Psalm 84:3-4 and Is. 33:14; See also Zechariah 14.
Jerusalem has many times been referred to as the city of David. In this case it is the city where David dwelt. The feasts came around year after year. These feasts were given by God to the people to remember Him and honor Him. But they had turned away from Him and the feast became meaningless to God. Now the city in which David camped is the city that God is encamped against.
The people of Jerusalem will be brought down. Anyone that exalts themselves above God will be humbled in due time. They will be pressed into the dust so it is like their voice is coming out of the ground. The voice from the ground is the voice of the medium; in view is a 'ritual pit' used by magicians to conjure up the dead.
The judgment seems harsh and the response might seem out of character for a loving God. But, through the prophets he had warned them over and over to turn from their ways and seek Him. God loved His people and just wanted to have relationship with them, no different than it is now. However, man wants God to change to have a relationship with him instead of man changing so he can have relationship with God. It is our sinful nature to defy God; to be like God, determining right and wrong for ourselves. We do this even to the point where we question God's decisions. He is our loving, heavenly Father, yes. However, He is holy and just and His ways are right because He is God. We aren't.
Isaiah 29:5-8
There will come a time after this judgment when God passes judgment on them. God used Assyria as a tool of His judgment, then they were abruptly dispelled from Jerusalem. In an instant, suddenly the punishment will come from God to those who rise against Ariel. God will come to the enemies of Ariel with thunder, earthquake, great noise, windstorm, tempest, flames and devouring fire! These things sound a lot like God releasing His judgments on the world in Revelation.
For Jerusalem, the memory of being oppressed and beaten down will fade like a bad dream. For those who stand against Ariel, they will think they are in control but it will seem as a dream when they find they are not. Like the man dreaming of eating and waking hungry, those that fight against her will never find success or satisfaction. They will become frustrated.
Isaiah 29:9-12
The religious leaders did not have the capacity to understand the spiritual things; they were blind in their unbelief. They stagger about their religious business like drunks making their way along. They were pause and wonder; which to 'shock your self and be shocked'. They were to blind themselves and be blind. This condition would depict their spiritual state.
These religious leaders had hardened their hearts and continued to do the same for the people. They refused to trust in God as their enemy came down on them. Instead they trusted in their ways, their plan of partnerships with Egypt.
It's sounds as though they prophecied a false prophecy of deliverance. The truth of God was sealed to them. This whole vision, given by God through Isaiah, was nothing but words sealed in a scroll to them. They chose to pay no head to it at all. See Amos.
Paul quotes this in Romans 11:8 to describe the hardening of the hearts of Israel.
Isaiah 29:13-16
We are all capable of hypocrisy and Isaiah speaks out against it here. These religious leaders should have known better. They spoke the words with their mouth but their lives and their hearts were far from Him. The worship was meaningless; they simply went through the motions as defined by men. Jesus used this verse in Matthew 15:7-9 and Mark 7:6,7 to speak out against the Judaism of His time; particularly the wisdom of the scribes and Pharisees.
God says He will once again do a marvelous work among His people, in spite of these men. They were relying on their wisdom instead of Him. They ignored the counsel of God and sought the counsel of men. They tried to hide their humanistic plan from God. How ridiculous! These men said, "Who sees us?" and "Who will know us?" However, as ridiculous as it seems, don't we all do this in some form?
Isaiah said they had things turned around. These men who thought they were so wise thought God should esteem them. Verse 16 is quoted in Romans 9. In their denial of God's sovereign plan they deny that He is their creator.
We don't have to look far today to see the same. There are many who enjoy the blessions of this life yet deny their creator and believe we happened through chance and time.
See 1Cororinthians 1:25 to see the foolishness of God is wiser than men.
Isaiah 29:17-24
In time, there will be a recovery of wisdom. In just a short time, things will be made right. The change will be major and drastic. There will be a major reversal. It will be like the forested Lebanon becoming a field and a fruitful field becoming a forest. The deaf will hear, the blind will see, the humble will experience a new joy in the Lord and the poor man will rejoice. Suddenly Israel will be redeemed. The deafness and blindness they previously experienced will be healed.
They will see their messiah and recognize Him. 'In that day' is a world under Christ's rule. Those who oppressed and were wise among men will be cut off. When Israel comes to a knowledge of Jesus then God will be glorified. They will hallow His holy name and they will praise Jesus Christ. There will be understanding and doctrine.
©2018 Doug Ford
Facebook