We have all read Isaiah 7:14 many times, and many of us have taught from it. Isaiah was addressing the king of Judah, Ahaz, and the virgin birth spoken of was to be a sign to him personally, but in the wider picture, this passage is where God prophesies the virgin birth of our Savior, Jesus of Nazareth.
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.” (Isaiah 7:14-15)
Even though the words were spoken to Ahaz by Isaiah, the prophecy is for a point in time that would be many hundreds of years later. That is an important feature of many prophetic utterances, but it is also a feature of the connections between Isaiah’s words and the books of the Bible that the Holy Spirit wrote into the book of Isaiah.
In this same passage we find such a connection, not in verse fourteen, but in verse fifteen. Notice the second word of verse fifteen and the four words that follow it. “and honey shall he eat”.
When we think of a Bible character eating honey, who do we think of? Well, some might remember that John the baptizer ate honey and locust in the wilderness, but others will remember that Samson ate the honey from the honeycomb that the bees had built into the carcass of a dead animal. In Samson’s case, touching the dead carcass was the first violation of his Nazarite oath.
Today, Samson may be the most remembered of the Judges. Gideon was one of the Judges too, but he’s not nearly as famous as is Samson. Realizing our location within the book of Isaiah, let’s see if there is something else we might recognize in this chapter as being connected to Samson.
What part of Samson’s story comes to our mind? For me it is that he let Delilah shave off his hair and lost his strength as a result. This was another violation of his Nazarite oath. It’s in Isaiah 7:20 and it is so very specific.
“In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard.” (Isaiah 7:20)
Isaiah’s words speak of the hair of the head being ‘shaved’, and the shaving is done with a “razor”. The hair isn’t said to be cut or cropped. It is ‘shaved’; not with scissors nor with a knife, but with a razor. Now look at the verse where Delilah cuts Samson’s hair.
“And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.” (Judges 16:19)
Well, there it is. She would “shave” off the seven locks of his “head”, but it doesn’t say anything about a razor. Hm. For that word we have to go back a couple of verses.
“That he told her all his heart, and said unto her. There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.” (Judges 16:17)
The Nazarite vow included a prohibition on cutting the hair of the head, in other words that a razor should never touch his head. The angel had said to Samson’s mother:
“For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” (Judges 13:5)
Samson lost his strength. We must assume therefore that a razor was used.
This is the seventh chapter of Isaiah, and Judges is the seventh book of the Bible. They are connected.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Isaiah chapter 8 - Ruth
The story we read in the book of Ruth is true. The things told therein really did happen, but the message contained in the story of Boaz, Naomi and Ruth concerns our ‘kinsman redeemer’, Jesus. The whole process that Boaz went through as he moved to make Ruth his wife was Jewish protocol in his day, and it was still Jewish protocol in the days that Jesus walked the roads of Judea.
In is neatly tucked into the beautiful love story we have all read many times over. The one who would redeem that which had been lost had to be someone who was near of kin to the one who would be the benefactor of the redemption.
When Naomi and Ruth left the land of Moab, they went home to Bethlehem. Bethlehem was, of course, the birthplace of our Savior, the Prince of Peace, Emanuel. Moab was a land East of the Jordan River in the country we call Jordan today. As the women traveled homeward, they traveled in a westerly heading, crossing the Jordan River, then traveling through the territory of Judah to finally arrive in Bethlehem within the territory of Benjamin.
It was in Bethlehem that the love story between Boaz and Ruth played out, and it would have been in Bethlehem that they became husband and wife, and it would have been in Bethlehem that Ruth conceived and bore a son who they named Obed, who would live to become the grandfather of King David, and be one of the men listed in the genealogy of Jesus of Nazareth. Now, with this much information in place we turn to the eighth chapter of the book of Isaiah.
In this chapter of Isaiah we find the following words and phrases:
“and she conceived, and bare a son.” (v3b)
Isaiah was talking about the conception and birth of his own son, but the passage applies to Ruth as well, and the same words are there in the book of Ruth.
“shall pass through Judah” (v8a)
Isaiah was talking about the king of Assyria, but it was Naomi and Ruth who passed through the territory of Judah on their way to Bethlehem.
“O Immanuel.” (v8c)
It is not clear to me why Isaiah used either this phrase or the next one in his prophecy, but both of them speak of Jesus the Christ who was born in the little hamlet of Bethlehem.
“God is with us.” (v10b)
This is the eighth chapter of Isaiah, and Ruth is the eighth book in the Bible. They are connected.
In is neatly tucked into the beautiful love story we have all read many times over. The one who would redeem that which had been lost had to be someone who was near of kin to the one who would be the benefactor of the redemption.
When Naomi and Ruth left the land of Moab, they went home to Bethlehem. Bethlehem was, of course, the birthplace of our Savior, the Prince of Peace, Emanuel. Moab was a land East of the Jordan River in the country we call Jordan today. As the women traveled homeward, they traveled in a westerly heading, crossing the Jordan River, then traveling through the territory of Judah to finally arrive in Bethlehem within the territory of Benjamin.
It was in Bethlehem that the love story between Boaz and Ruth played out, and it would have been in Bethlehem that they became husband and wife, and it would have been in Bethlehem that Ruth conceived and bore a son who they named Obed, who would live to become the grandfather of King David, and be one of the men listed in the genealogy of Jesus of Nazareth. Now, with this much information in place we turn to the eighth chapter of the book of Isaiah.
In this chapter of Isaiah we find the following words and phrases:
“and she conceived, and bare a son.” (v3b)
Isaiah was talking about the conception and birth of his own son, but the passage applies to Ruth as well, and the same words are there in the book of Ruth.
“shall pass through Judah” (v8a)
Isaiah was talking about the king of Assyria, but it was Naomi and Ruth who passed through the territory of Judah on their way to Bethlehem.
“O Immanuel.” (v8c)
It is not clear to me why Isaiah used either this phrase or the next one in his prophecy, but both of them speak of Jesus the Christ who was born in the little hamlet of Bethlehem.
“God is with us.” (v10b)
This is the eighth chapter of Isaiah, and Ruth is the eighth book in the Bible. They are connected.
Isaiah chapter 9 - 1st Samuel
What was the scenario in Israel that day when Goliath stood up on the side of the hill and taunted God’s chosen nation? What were their prospects that day? What did their future look to hold? Were they looking forward to the next day and the next week? Hardly.
I think that they were expecting to die. We might say that they stood in the shadow of death, and that is what Isaiah says about Israel at a time yet future to him. But God was about to bring a bright light into their day. They were walking in darkness, but a light was about to shine.
“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” (Isaiah 9:2)
God was about to break the yoke of the Philistines from the neck of Israel.
“For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.” (Isaiah 9:4)
Perhaps no greater connection can be seen between any one book of the Bible and any one chapter of Isaiah than can be seen between 1st Samuel and Isaiah chapter nine. The first book of Samuel is the ninth book of the Bible. In 1st Samuel we see the youngest son of Jesse arrive on the stage of history, slay the great menace to Israel and be anointed as King. It is in Isaiah chapter nine that we read these memorable words:
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
Indeed, there is no stronger connection between our savior and any mortal man than that drawn between Jesus and David. Truly and within proportion, the following verse is true for both David and Christ Jesus.
“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:7)
This is the ninth chapter of Isaiah and the ninth book of the Bible. They are connected.
I think that they were expecting to die. We might say that they stood in the shadow of death, and that is what Isaiah says about Israel at a time yet future to him. But God was about to bring a bright light into their day. They were walking in darkness, but a light was about to shine.
“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” (Isaiah 9:2)
God was about to break the yoke of the Philistines from the neck of Israel.
“For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.” (Isaiah 9:4)
Perhaps no greater connection can be seen between any one book of the Bible and any one chapter of Isaiah than can be seen between 1st Samuel and Isaiah chapter nine. The first book of Samuel is the ninth book of the Bible. In 1st Samuel we see the youngest son of Jesse arrive on the stage of history, slay the great menace to Israel and be anointed as King. It is in Isaiah chapter nine that we read these memorable words:
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
Indeed, there is no stronger connection between our savior and any mortal man than that drawn between Jesus and David. Truly and within proportion, the following verse is true for both David and Christ Jesus.
“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:7)
This is the ninth chapter of Isaiah and the ninth book of the Bible. They are connected.
Isaiah chapter 10 - 2nd Samuel
“For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.” (Isaiah 10:22)
“Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.” (2nd Samuel 17:11)
The first thing that stood out to me as being common to Isaiah chapter ten and the book of 2nd Samuel was the statement found in both of the above passages; that Israel would be in number as the sand of the sea. I reasoned that this was a connection, and it is, but upon further investigation I found that this statement was also found in a few other books of the Bible.
I was fairly familiar with the seventh chapter of 2nd Samuel, and I recalled that God had told David that He would chasten Solomon with a rod if he (Solomon) were to commit iniquity.
“I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:”
(2nd Samuel 7:14)
So, when I read Isaiah 10:24, I immediately made another connection there.
“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.” (Isaiah 10:24)
We can remember that David did not always please God with his actions, and God did discipline David accordingly, but God’s hand was always extended to David, drawing him back to close association. I could see that in Isaiah 10:4b.
“For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.”
And, yet, all of these types of connections could be found elsewhere as well, even if they were not all found in the same book, other than here in 2nd Samuel. Then I noticed something really peculiar in the latter part of the tenth chapter of Isaiah. There were more than ten names of places. It was all part of Isaiah’s prophecy, but I wondered if all those places had anything to do with David’s career. The first ones I came to were in verse nine.
“Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?” (Isaiah 10:9)
‘Damascus’ and ‘Hamath’ are two cities we find in 2nd Samuel 8:5 and 8:9 respectively, and they represent two of David’s military victories in uniting the nation of Israel and expanding its borders. The names of other cities are not mentioned in the context of 2nd Samuel chapter eight, but these two are, and they are only mentioned together in two other books, 2nd Kings and Ezekiel.
Ezekiel’s passage is a description of the boundary of Israel (established during David’s reign). The passage in 2nd Kings speaks of Jereboam recovering the lands which had been lost) up to that same boundary, originally drawn by David’s military conquests. Both of these are then, references to the original events.
Continuing with the inquest into the several cities mentioned in Isaiah chapter ten we find that the following were all cities within the territory of Benjamin: Migron (v28), Geba (v29), Ramah (v29), Gallim (v30), Gebim (v31), Anathoth (v30) and Madmenah (v31). The territory of Benjamin was one of the smallest of all the tribal territories. This list of seven city names must have included most of the cities in that territory. Additionally, Michmash is said to be a city near Jerusalem, and Jerusalem was inside the territory of Benjamin. Maybe Michmash was too?
Why would this list include so many cities in the territory of Benjamin? Isaiah’s purpose is unclear to me as far as the details of Isaiah chapter ten are concerned, but the territory of Benjamin is significant to David. The city of David was in the territory of Benjamin. Do you remember the actual name of that little town? Here’s a clue. Luke 2:4 and 1st Samuel 16:1-4. Look them up. Now, we didn’t exhaust the list of city names.
There are two cities named in Isaiah chapter ten that are not in the territory of Benjamin. Laish (v30) was a city in the territory of Dan, but when we look for “Laish” in 2nd Samuel, we don’t find it given as a city, but rather as a man’s name, and that man was the father-in-law of Saul’s daughter Michal, who was taken from her husband by Saul’s son and was given as wife to David.
“And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines. And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.” (2nd Samuel 3:14-15)
The final name we need to look at in Isaiah chapter ten is Gibeah of Saul (v29). We do find it in 2nd Samuel, and in 1st Samuel. There was a major event in David’s live that took place there. I include it here because it is so significant. It is 2nd Samuel 21:1-9.
“Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites. And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.) Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD? And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you. And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel, Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them. But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite: And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.”
The ten cities found in Isaiah chapter 10 are all connected to David's life.
We have been looking into Isaiah chapter ten, and 2nd Samuel is the tenth book of the Bible. They are connected.
“Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.” (2nd Samuel 17:11)
The first thing that stood out to me as being common to Isaiah chapter ten and the book of 2nd Samuel was the statement found in both of the above passages; that Israel would be in number as the sand of the sea. I reasoned that this was a connection, and it is, but upon further investigation I found that this statement was also found in a few other books of the Bible.
I was fairly familiar with the seventh chapter of 2nd Samuel, and I recalled that God had told David that He would chasten Solomon with a rod if he (Solomon) were to commit iniquity.
“I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:”
(2nd Samuel 7:14)
So, when I read Isaiah 10:24, I immediately made another connection there.
“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.” (Isaiah 10:24)
We can remember that David did not always please God with his actions, and God did discipline David accordingly, but God’s hand was always extended to David, drawing him back to close association. I could see that in Isaiah 10:4b.
“For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.”
And, yet, all of these types of connections could be found elsewhere as well, even if they were not all found in the same book, other than here in 2nd Samuel. Then I noticed something really peculiar in the latter part of the tenth chapter of Isaiah. There were more than ten names of places. It was all part of Isaiah’s prophecy, but I wondered if all those places had anything to do with David’s career. The first ones I came to were in verse nine.
“Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?” (Isaiah 10:9)
‘Damascus’ and ‘Hamath’ are two cities we find in 2nd Samuel 8:5 and 8:9 respectively, and they represent two of David’s military victories in uniting the nation of Israel and expanding its borders. The names of other cities are not mentioned in the context of 2nd Samuel chapter eight, but these two are, and they are only mentioned together in two other books, 2nd Kings and Ezekiel.
Ezekiel’s passage is a description of the boundary of Israel (established during David’s reign). The passage in 2nd Kings speaks of Jereboam recovering the lands which had been lost) up to that same boundary, originally drawn by David’s military conquests. Both of these are then, references to the original events.
Continuing with the inquest into the several cities mentioned in Isaiah chapter ten we find that the following were all cities within the territory of Benjamin: Migron (v28), Geba (v29), Ramah (v29), Gallim (v30), Gebim (v31), Anathoth (v30) and Madmenah (v31). The territory of Benjamin was one of the smallest of all the tribal territories. This list of seven city names must have included most of the cities in that territory. Additionally, Michmash is said to be a city near Jerusalem, and Jerusalem was inside the territory of Benjamin. Maybe Michmash was too?
Why would this list include so many cities in the territory of Benjamin? Isaiah’s purpose is unclear to me as far as the details of Isaiah chapter ten are concerned, but the territory of Benjamin is significant to David. The city of David was in the territory of Benjamin. Do you remember the actual name of that little town? Here’s a clue. Luke 2:4 and 1st Samuel 16:1-4. Look them up. Now, we didn’t exhaust the list of city names.
There are two cities named in Isaiah chapter ten that are not in the territory of Benjamin. Laish (v30) was a city in the territory of Dan, but when we look for “Laish” in 2nd Samuel, we don’t find it given as a city, but rather as a man’s name, and that man was the father-in-law of Saul’s daughter Michal, who was taken from her husband by Saul’s son and was given as wife to David.
“And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines. And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.” (2nd Samuel 3:14-15)
The final name we need to look at in Isaiah chapter ten is Gibeah of Saul (v29). We do find it in 2nd Samuel, and in 1st Samuel. There was a major event in David’s live that took place there. I include it here because it is so significant. It is 2nd Samuel 21:1-9.
“Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites. And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.) Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD? And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you. And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel, Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them. But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite: And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.”
The ten cities found in Isaiah chapter 10 are all connected to David's life.
We have been looking into Isaiah chapter ten, and 2nd Samuel is the tenth book of the Bible. They are connected.
Isaiah chapter 11 - 1st Kings
As the first book of the Kings opens, David is dying, and he has anoints his son Solomon to take the throne of Israel. After Solomon consolidates his position as king by killing his brother Adonijah, we come to chapter three and find the account of Solomon’s dream, the dream in which he asks God for wisdom to rule Israel, and the dream in which God gives to him according to that request.
And, the rest, as they say, is history. Solomon did, in fact, rule over Israel with great wisdom. So much so that, according to the Bible account, he was known as one of, if not the most wise men in all the earth.
“And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.” (1st Kings 4:29-34)
Certainly, the primary theme of this passage is the attribute of wisdom that God gave to Solomon. We might say that the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and the spirit of counsel and knowledge were given him by God. Sound judgment was the trademark by which we all have come to think of Solomon. The proverbs he wrote down and the songs he composed attest to the depth of his understanding. The following passage is obviously a prophecy of our Lord and Savior, but in a limited way, it is also a picture of Solomon.
“And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.” (Isaiah 11:1-4)
This is the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, and 1st Kings is the eleventh book in the Bible. They are connected.
And, the rest, as they say, is history. Solomon did, in fact, rule over Israel with great wisdom. So much so that, according to the Bible account, he was known as one of, if not the most wise men in all the earth.
“And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.” (1st Kings 4:29-34)
Certainly, the primary theme of this passage is the attribute of wisdom that God gave to Solomon. We might say that the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and the spirit of counsel and knowledge were given him by God. Sound judgment was the trademark by which we all have come to think of Solomon. The proverbs he wrote down and the songs he composed attest to the depth of his understanding. The following passage is obviously a prophecy of our Lord and Savior, but in a limited way, it is also a picture of Solomon.
“And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.” (Isaiah 11:1-4)
This is the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, and 1st Kings is the eleventh book in the Bible. They are connected.
Isaiah chapter 12 - 2nd Kings
I'm looking for more meat on this book and chapter. If you see something, please let me know.
“And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.
2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
5 Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.
6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”
The entire chapter of Isaiah twelve is comprised of six verses. The above words which are not emphasized (either as italics or bold print) would probably occur in every chapter of the Bible. Those that are emphasized may be slightly less common, although even some of them are heavily used. Those that are in bold type above do not occur in the chapters of 2nd Kings. Those that are in italics above are found in the pages of 2nd Kings.
This chapter of Isaiah is an expression of joy. Isaiah speaks of singing songs of praise, and of trusting the LORD. He knows that God has turned away His anger. God is comforting Isaiah. There are really no words here with any negative connotation. God is nurturing and comforting His people. Isaiah invites them to join him in praising the exalted Holy One of Israel. You can read this chapter and sense Isaiah’s emotions and feelings.
There are many verses in the Bible that contain the words that are highlighted in yellow above, not just 2nd Kings. Biblically speaking, these words are quite common. However, though all of the words in yellow can be found in 2nd Kings, several of them occur together in the verses of 2nd Kings. Some of these pairs of words can be found in verses throughout the Bible in many of the other books. Those that are found in 2nd Kings are presented here. Note the sense of despair that the following verses bring to your mind as you read these. The words in yellow are the same words that are in yellow above, but the sense of the following verses is nothing akin to that of Isaiah chapter twelve. Not one of the following verses is uplifting. They are all very negative. There are twenty of them.
“And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.” (2nd Kings 2:3)
“And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.” (2nd Kings 2:5)
“And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.” (2nd Kings 2:24)
“And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.” (2nd Kings 3:19)
“And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.” (2nd Kings 4:8)
“And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there.” (2nd Kings 4:11)
“But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.” (2nd Kings 5:11)
“Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.” (2nd Kings 5:12)
“He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.” (2nd Kings 14:7)
“And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger:” (2nd Kings 17:11)
“Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.” (2nd Kings 17:23)
“Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?” (2nd Kings 18:20)
“But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?” (2nd Kings 18:22)
“How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?”(2 Kings 18:24)
“And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.” (2nd Kings 19:3)
“Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.” (2nd Kings 19:22)
‘Because they have done that which was evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day.”
(2nd Kings 21:15)
“And all the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the LORD to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel.” (2nd Kings 23:19)
“Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal.” (2nd Kings 23:26)
“And Pharaoh-nechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there.” (2nd Kings 23:34)
The above verses that have just one pair of words are like many other verses in the Bible that have the same two words in them. The uniqueness of these is that where the words of Isaiah chapter twelve are positive, theses are ALL negative.
There are some of the above verses where there are THREE words highlighted. For some of these verses, it is because one of the words is the word ‘LORD’. If we eliminate the verses above that include the word ‘LORD’ in order to have three words, and then select the remaining verses that have three words taken from the list for Isaiah chapter twelve other than the word ‘LORD’, we are left with only two verses. 2nd Kings 5:11 has three words in addition to the word ‘LORD’ so it still falls within the selection criteria.
“But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.” (2nd Kings 5:11)
“Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.” (2nd Kings 19:22)
The three words in 2nd Kings 5:11 are ‘call’, ‘name’ and ‘away’. Those three words are found in this verse and nowhere else in the Bible, except Hosea 1:6, so that verse is eliminated as being anything special, but our second verse is the one we are looking for.
There is only one place in the entire Bible where ‘exalted’ and ‘Holy One of Israel’ occur in the same verse, and that verse is the one seen above, 2nd Kings 19:22. The phrase ‘Holy One of Israel’ is found throughout the Bible, but not in combination with the word exalted. The computer tells me that this combination can be found in fourteen different CHAPTERS in the Bible, among them Isaiah chapter twelve, but there is only one place where this combination occurs in one, singular VERSE, and that is 2nd Kings 19:22.
Is it just a coincidence? Is this all just playing games with words, or is there a special reason that the Holy Spirit inspired Isaiah to put those words in his chapter twelve, and Ezra to put those same words in verse twenty-two of 2nd Kings? No. It’s not a coincidence. They were connected on purpose long ago, and they are still connected today for God’s own reasons.
“And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.
2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
5 Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.
6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”
The entire chapter of Isaiah twelve is comprised of six verses. The above words which are not emphasized (either as italics or bold print) would probably occur in every chapter of the Bible. Those that are emphasized may be slightly less common, although even some of them are heavily used. Those that are in bold type above do not occur in the chapters of 2nd Kings. Those that are in italics above are found in the pages of 2nd Kings.
This chapter of Isaiah is an expression of joy. Isaiah speaks of singing songs of praise, and of trusting the LORD. He knows that God has turned away His anger. God is comforting Isaiah. There are really no words here with any negative connotation. God is nurturing and comforting His people. Isaiah invites them to join him in praising the exalted Holy One of Israel. You can read this chapter and sense Isaiah’s emotions and feelings.
There are many verses in the Bible that contain the words that are highlighted in yellow above, not just 2nd Kings. Biblically speaking, these words are quite common. However, though all of the words in yellow can be found in 2nd Kings, several of them occur together in the verses of 2nd Kings. Some of these pairs of words can be found in verses throughout the Bible in many of the other books. Those that are found in 2nd Kings are presented here. Note the sense of despair that the following verses bring to your mind as you read these. The words in yellow are the same words that are in yellow above, but the sense of the following verses is nothing akin to that of Isaiah chapter twelve. Not one of the following verses is uplifting. They are all very negative. There are twenty of them.
“And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.” (2nd Kings 2:3)
“And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.” (2nd Kings 2:5)
“And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.” (2nd Kings 2:24)
“And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.” (2nd Kings 3:19)
“And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.” (2nd Kings 4:8)
“And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there.” (2nd Kings 4:11)
“But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.” (2nd Kings 5:11)
“Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.” (2nd Kings 5:12)
“He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.” (2nd Kings 14:7)
“And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger:” (2nd Kings 17:11)
“Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.” (2nd Kings 17:23)
“Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?” (2nd Kings 18:20)
“But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?” (2nd Kings 18:22)
“How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?”(2 Kings 18:24)
“And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.” (2nd Kings 19:3)
“Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.” (2nd Kings 19:22)
‘Because they have done that which was evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day.”
(2nd Kings 21:15)
“And all the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the LORD to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel.” (2nd Kings 23:19)
“Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal.” (2nd Kings 23:26)
“And Pharaoh-nechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there.” (2nd Kings 23:34)
The above verses that have just one pair of words are like many other verses in the Bible that have the same two words in them. The uniqueness of these is that where the words of Isaiah chapter twelve are positive, theses are ALL negative.
There are some of the above verses where there are THREE words highlighted. For some of these verses, it is because one of the words is the word ‘LORD’. If we eliminate the verses above that include the word ‘LORD’ in order to have three words, and then select the remaining verses that have three words taken from the list for Isaiah chapter twelve other than the word ‘LORD’, we are left with only two verses. 2nd Kings 5:11 has three words in addition to the word ‘LORD’ so it still falls within the selection criteria.
“But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.” (2nd Kings 5:11)
“Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.” (2nd Kings 19:22)
The three words in 2nd Kings 5:11 are ‘call’, ‘name’ and ‘away’. Those three words are found in this verse and nowhere else in the Bible, except Hosea 1:6, so that verse is eliminated as being anything special, but our second verse is the one we are looking for.
There is only one place in the entire Bible where ‘exalted’ and ‘Holy One of Israel’ occur in the same verse, and that verse is the one seen above, 2nd Kings 19:22. The phrase ‘Holy One of Israel’ is found throughout the Bible, but not in combination with the word exalted. The computer tells me that this combination can be found in fourteen different CHAPTERS in the Bible, among them Isaiah chapter twelve, but there is only one place where this combination occurs in one, singular VERSE, and that is 2nd Kings 19:22.
Is it just a coincidence? Is this all just playing games with words, or is there a special reason that the Holy Spirit inspired Isaiah to put those words in his chapter twelve, and Ezra to put those same words in verse twenty-two of 2nd Kings? No. It’s not a coincidence. They were connected on purpose long ago, and they are still connected today for God’s own reasons.
Isaiah chapter 13 - 1st Chronicles
Isaiah chapter thirteen is a prophecy against Babylon. Isaiah says so in the first part of the first verse. That said, we need to realize that this chapter has a prophecy against the physical city/land of Babylon and a prophecy against spiritual Babylon as well.
The first part of the chapter is the prophecy against spiritual Babylon, and by verse fifteen Isaiah is speaking about physical Babylon, the Babylon that we know as Iraq today. Take note of the language used in the first thirteen verses of the chapter.
“The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.” (Isaiah 13:4-6)
“Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.” (Isaiah 13:9-13)
This speaks of the time of Jacob’s trouble, the tribulation period. The images in the above verses can be nothing else. But, the verses which follow can only pertain to the earthly, physical city/land of Babylon.
“Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword. Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished. Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it. Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.
And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there. And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.” (Isa. 13:15-22)
When God destroys spiritual Babylon at the end of the tribulation period, wives will not be ravished, and the Medes will not be doing the job for Him. The Medes are known today as Iran. Wild beasts will not lie down in spiritual Babylon after it is destroyed, and owls will not dwell there either. So, we see that the prophecy must necessarily be about two distinct Babylons.
Now what does any of this that we have read from the thirteenth chapter of Isaiah have to do with the thirteenth book of the Bible, 1st Chronicles? It may help us if we realize that originally, the two books, 1st and 2nd Chronicles were all the same scroll/book. The two were divided later, and are divided in the Jewish Bible as well. The second follows the first, not just in order of placement in the Bible, but also in story line.
Knowing this, we should also take note that chapter thirteen and chapter fourteen of Isaiah are also closely related. While chapter thirteen is about the Day of The LORD, chapter fourteen is about God’s judgment of Satan/Lucifer and his demonic host. The second follows the first, not just in order of placement in our Bible, but also in the chronology of what is going to happen in a time period which is yet future as of this writing.
In addition to this relationship between these two chapters of Isaiah and the parallel relationship between the books of 1st and 2nd Chronicles, there is another strand of connective tissue running between Isaiah’s chapter thirteen and 1st Chronicles, and as we will see later, a similar strand connects Isaiah’s chapter fourteen and 2nd Chronicles.
That which is like spiritual Babylon, is treated by God as He treats spiritual Babylon. He is no respecter of persons. That may sound confusing at first, but it is like this. Israel, came to political and military greatness during the reign of David, and the time period of that reign is the time period covered in 1st Chronicles.
But, Israel was not spiritually strong during the time period of 1st Chronicles. David’s personal life was a mess, and as the leaders of a nation go, so goes the nation. The spiritual life of Israel was as much a roller-coaster ride as was the personal life of David.
Low points like David’s affair with Bathsheba, and the murder (effectively) of Uriah, were followed by the revolt of David’s son. Then in 1st Chronicles chapter twenty-one, David numbers Israel and brings the wrath of God down upon himself and his nation.
There are high points, but they are just like the high points on our roller-coaster analogy; they are short lived. Murder, adultery and self-aggrandizement by claiming as your own that which is God’s; this is all part of spiritual Babylon type behavior.
We might think of Israel under King David as the highest point in Israel’s history, but from the high point, there is only one direction to go. The high point is really the beginning of the end, and that is what the tribulation period is; the beginning of the end. The Day of The LORD spoken of in Isaiah chapter thirteen is the beginning of the end for spiritual Babylon, and the period of time covered in 1st Chronicles was the beginning of the end for Israel.
The beginning of the end for spiritual Babylon is described in the thirteenth chapter of Isaiah. The beginning of the end for Israel is described in the thirteenth book of the Bible. They are connected as the beginning of the end in each case.
The first part of the chapter is the prophecy against spiritual Babylon, and by verse fifteen Isaiah is speaking about physical Babylon, the Babylon that we know as Iraq today. Take note of the language used in the first thirteen verses of the chapter.
“The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.” (Isaiah 13:4-6)
“Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.” (Isaiah 13:9-13)
This speaks of the time of Jacob’s trouble, the tribulation period. The images in the above verses can be nothing else. But, the verses which follow can only pertain to the earthly, physical city/land of Babylon.
“Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword. Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished. Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it. Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.
And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there. And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.” (Isa. 13:15-22)
When God destroys spiritual Babylon at the end of the tribulation period, wives will not be ravished, and the Medes will not be doing the job for Him. The Medes are known today as Iran. Wild beasts will not lie down in spiritual Babylon after it is destroyed, and owls will not dwell there either. So, we see that the prophecy must necessarily be about two distinct Babylons.
Now what does any of this that we have read from the thirteenth chapter of Isaiah have to do with the thirteenth book of the Bible, 1st Chronicles? It may help us if we realize that originally, the two books, 1st and 2nd Chronicles were all the same scroll/book. The two were divided later, and are divided in the Jewish Bible as well. The second follows the first, not just in order of placement in the Bible, but also in story line.
Knowing this, we should also take note that chapter thirteen and chapter fourteen of Isaiah are also closely related. While chapter thirteen is about the Day of The LORD, chapter fourteen is about God’s judgment of Satan/Lucifer and his demonic host. The second follows the first, not just in order of placement in our Bible, but also in the chronology of what is going to happen in a time period which is yet future as of this writing.
In addition to this relationship between these two chapters of Isaiah and the parallel relationship between the books of 1st and 2nd Chronicles, there is another strand of connective tissue running between Isaiah’s chapter thirteen and 1st Chronicles, and as we will see later, a similar strand connects Isaiah’s chapter fourteen and 2nd Chronicles.
That which is like spiritual Babylon, is treated by God as He treats spiritual Babylon. He is no respecter of persons. That may sound confusing at first, but it is like this. Israel, came to political and military greatness during the reign of David, and the time period of that reign is the time period covered in 1st Chronicles.
But, Israel was not spiritually strong during the time period of 1st Chronicles. David’s personal life was a mess, and as the leaders of a nation go, so goes the nation. The spiritual life of Israel was as much a roller-coaster ride as was the personal life of David.
Low points like David’s affair with Bathsheba, and the murder (effectively) of Uriah, were followed by the revolt of David’s son. Then in 1st Chronicles chapter twenty-one, David numbers Israel and brings the wrath of God down upon himself and his nation.
There are high points, but they are just like the high points on our roller-coaster analogy; they are short lived. Murder, adultery and self-aggrandizement by claiming as your own that which is God’s; this is all part of spiritual Babylon type behavior.
We might think of Israel under King David as the highest point in Israel’s history, but from the high point, there is only one direction to go. The high point is really the beginning of the end, and that is what the tribulation period is; the beginning of the end. The Day of The LORD spoken of in Isaiah chapter thirteen is the beginning of the end for spiritual Babylon, and the period of time covered in 1st Chronicles was the beginning of the end for Israel.
The beginning of the end for spiritual Babylon is described in the thirteenth chapter of Isaiah. The beginning of the end for Israel is described in the thirteenth book of the Bible. They are connected as the beginning of the end in each case.
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