July 25 - Evening
"In the year that the supreme commander, sent by Sargon king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and attacked and captured it — at that time the Lord spoke through Isaiah son of Amoz. He said to him,
'Take off the sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet.'
And he did so, going around stripped and barefoot.
Then the Lord said, 'Just as my servant Isaiah has gone stripped and barefoot for three years, as a sign and portent against Egypt and Cush, so the king of Assyria will lead away stripped and barefoot the Egyptian captives and Cushite exiles, young and old, with buttocks bared—to Egypt’s shame. Those who trusted in Cush and boasted in Egypt will be dismayed and put to shame. In that day the people who live on this coast will say,
"See what has happened to those we relied on, those we fled to for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?” ' "
- Isaiah 20
'Take off the sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet.'
And he did so, going around stripped and barefoot.
Then the Lord said, 'Just as my servant Isaiah has gone stripped and barefoot for three years, as a sign and portent against Egypt and Cush, so the king of Assyria will lead away stripped and barefoot the Egyptian captives and Cushite exiles, young and old, with buttocks bared—to Egypt’s shame. Those who trusted in Cush and boasted in Egypt will be dismayed and put to shame. In that day the people who live on this coast will say,
"See what has happened to those we relied on, those we fled to for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?” ' "
- Isaiah 20
The Naked Prophet
Isaiah chapter 20 is a record of events from 712 BC and continued for 3 years until 709 BC.
Sargon (721-705 BC) is mentioned only here in the Bible. This battle siege at Ashdod is recorded in Assyrian documents and is clearly seen in the archaeological layers which preserved the Assyrian victory stela.
Isaiah’s ministry began in 740 BC, but by 712 BC he is wearing sackcloth which is a symbol of mourning. The Lord instructs Isaiah to give the people of Jerusalem a symbolic prophetic image to think about. This is the only symbolic action used by Isaiah. Jeremiah and Ezekiel have many.
The Lord tells Isaiah to remove his sackcloth and his sandals. The impression is that Isaiah went about in private and in public naked and barefoot. Some commentators seem to feel it is necessary to give Isaiah a loin cloth or some covering, but this seems to mute the point and compromise the image.
The removal of foot coverings was a sign of humiliation and punishment. An ancient Hittite text describes the punishment for a guard who neglected his duty as the removal of the guard’s shoe.
Clearly prisoners of war where led away naked. This is seen in full graphic detail in the images on inscriptions and monuments from this time. Sometimes the dignitaries were led away completely stripped naked, but still wearing their crowns or hats that indicated their position of royalty. (Details 1, 2, 3, 4)
At the end of three years the Lord revealed the meaning and gave the interpretation of Isaiah’s actions. The men and the nations that Judah had trusted in would be captured and led away naked by the Assyrians. Judah had failed to trust the Lord. They had instead trusted these international treaties and promises of men who would be walking away into captivity naked and humiliated. Judah’s hope in men was hopeless and disgraceful.
Proskuneo (Gr) – worship (Eng) – the Greek word proskuneo means “to worship”,
“to make obeisance,” and “do reverence to.”
Proskuneo is a compound Greek word from pros meaning “towards” and kuneo which means “pay homage” or “reverence.”
Proskuneo is used in 1 Corinthians 14:25 and John 9:38 along with many other places in the Bible.
Proskuneo is a compound Greek word from pros meaning “towards” and kuneo which means “pay homage” or “reverence.”
Proskuneo is used in 1 Corinthians 14:25 and John 9:38 along with many other places in the Bible.
Today I will pray for someone who is not listening to the Lord and has rejected his Truth.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Spiritual enlightenment
Church
Electronics, sound board, mics, amps, etc.
Nation
Food
World
Japan
Someone to Quote
"Nobody's perfect...Well, there was this one guy, but we killed him..."
- Christopher Moore
- Christopher Moore
Something to Ponder
Damascus is the oldest continuously inhabited city on earth. It has never been completely destroyed although it has faced war many times. Isaiah addresses the complete destruction of Damascus in Isaiah 17:1 when he says, “See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins.”
Here’s a Fact
Proverb
"Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor."
- Proverbs 25:18
- Proverbs 25:18
Coach’s Corner
The greatest miracle is salvation. The godliest spiritual manifestation is the transformed soul.
Ezekiel 30 New International Version (NIV)
A Lament Over Egypt
30 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘Wail and say, “Alas for that day!”
3
For the day is near, the day of the Lord is near— a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.
4
A sword will come against Egypt, and anguish will come upon Cush.[a] When the slain fall in Egypt, her wealth will be carried away and her foundations torn down.
5 Cush and Libya, Lydia and all Arabia, Kub and the people of the covenant land will fall by the sword along with Egypt.
6 “‘This is what the Lord says:
“‘The allies of Egypt will fall and her proud strength will fail. From Migdol to Aswan they will fall by the sword within her, declares the Sovereign Lord.
7
“‘They will be desolate among desolate lands, and their cities will lie among ruined cities.
8
Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I set fire to Egypt and all her helpers are crushed.
9 “‘On that day messengers will go out from me in ships to frighten Cush out of her complacency. Anguish will take hold of them on the day of Egypt’s doom, for it is sure to come.
10 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘I will put an end to the hordes of Egypt by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
11
He and his army—the most ruthless of nations— will be brought in to destroy the land. They will draw their swords against Egypt and fill the land with the slain.
12
I will dry up the waters of the Nile and sell the land to an evil nation; by the hand of foreigners I will lay waste the land and everything in it.
I the Lord have spoken.
13 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘I will destroy the idols and put an end to the images in Memphis. No longer will there be a prince in Egypt, and I will spread fear throughout the land.
14
I will lay waste Upper Egypt, set fire to Zoan and inflict punishment on Thebes.
15
I will pour out my wrath on Pelusium, the stronghold of Egypt, and wipe out the hordes of Thebes.
16
I will set fire to Egypt; Pelusium will writhe in agony. Thebes will be taken by storm; Memphis will be in constant distress.
17
The young men of Heliopolis and Bubastis will fall by the sword, and the cities themselves will go into captivity.
18
Dark will be the day at Tahpanhes when I break the yoke of Egypt; there her proud strength will come to an end. She will be covered with clouds, and her villages will go into captivity.
19
So I will inflict punishment on Egypt, and they will know that I am the Lord.’”
Pharaoh’s Arms Are Broken
20 In the eleventh year, in the first month on the seventh day, the word of the Lord came to me: 21 “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. It has not been bound up to be healed or put in a splint so that it may become strong enough to hold a sword. 22 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break both his arms, the good arm as well as the broken one, and make the sword fall from his hand. 23 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries. 24 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put my sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan before him like a mortally wounded man. 25 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh will fall limp. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he brandishes it against Egypt. 26 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
Footnotes:
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
A Lament Over Egypt
30 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘Wail and say, “Alas for that day!”
3
For the day is near, the day of the Lord is near— a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.
4
A sword will come against Egypt, and anguish will come upon Cush.[a] When the slain fall in Egypt, her wealth will be carried away and her foundations torn down.
5 Cush and Libya, Lydia and all Arabia, Kub and the people of the covenant land will fall by the sword along with Egypt.
6 “‘This is what the Lord says:
“‘The allies of Egypt will fall and her proud strength will fail. From Migdol to Aswan they will fall by the sword within her, declares the Sovereign Lord.
7
“‘They will be desolate among desolate lands, and their cities will lie among ruined cities.
8
Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I set fire to Egypt and all her helpers are crushed.
9 “‘On that day messengers will go out from me in ships to frighten Cush out of her complacency. Anguish will take hold of them on the day of Egypt’s doom, for it is sure to come.
10 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘I will put an end to the hordes of Egypt by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
11
He and his army—the most ruthless of nations— will be brought in to destroy the land. They will draw their swords against Egypt and fill the land with the slain.
12
I will dry up the waters of the Nile and sell the land to an evil nation; by the hand of foreigners I will lay waste the land and everything in it.
I the Lord have spoken.
13 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘I will destroy the idols and put an end to the images in Memphis. No longer will there be a prince in Egypt, and I will spread fear throughout the land.
14
I will lay waste Upper Egypt, set fire to Zoan and inflict punishment on Thebes.
15
I will pour out my wrath on Pelusium, the stronghold of Egypt, and wipe out the hordes of Thebes.
16
I will set fire to Egypt; Pelusium will writhe in agony. Thebes will be taken by storm; Memphis will be in constant distress.
17
The young men of Heliopolis and Bubastis will fall by the sword, and the cities themselves will go into captivity.
18
Dark will be the day at Tahpanhes when I break the yoke of Egypt; there her proud strength will come to an end. She will be covered with clouds, and her villages will go into captivity.
19
So I will inflict punishment on Egypt, and they will know that I am the Lord.’”
Pharaoh’s Arms Are Broken
20 In the eleventh year, in the first month on the seventh day, the word of the Lord came to me: 21 “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. It has not been bound up to be healed or put in a splint so that it may become strong enough to hold a sword. 22 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break both his arms, the good arm as well as the broken one, and make the sword fall from his hand. 23 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries. 24 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put my sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan before him like a mortally wounded man. 25 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh will fall limp. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he brandishes it against Egypt. 26 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
Footnotes:
- Ezekiel 30:4 That is, the upper Nile region; also in verses 5 and 9
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Isaiah 39 New International Version (NIV)
Envoys From Babylon
39 At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery. 2 Hezekiah received the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices, the fine olive oil—his entire armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.
3 Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, “What did those men say, and where did they come from?”
“From a distant land,” Hezekiah replied. “They came to me from Babylon.”
4 The prophet asked, “What did they see in your palace?”
“They saw everything in my palace,” Hezekiah said. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.”
5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord Almighty: 6 The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. 7 And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”
8 “The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
___________________
Psalm 76 New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 76[a]
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.
1
God is renowned in Judah; in Israel his name is great.
2
His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.
3
There he broke the flashing arrows, the shields and the swords, the weapons of war.[b]
4
You are radiant with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game.
5
The valiant lie plundered, they sleep their last sleep; not one of the warriors can lift his hands.
6
At your rebuke, God of Jacob, both horse and chariot lie still.
7
It is you alone who are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry?
8
From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet—
9
when you, God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land.
10
Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.[c]
11
Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them; let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared.
12
He breaks the spirit of rulers; he is feared by the kings of the earth.
Footnotes:
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Envoys From Babylon
39 At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery. 2 Hezekiah received the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices, the fine olive oil—his entire armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.
3 Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, “What did those men say, and where did they come from?”
“From a distant land,” Hezekiah replied. “They came to me from Babylon.”
4 The prophet asked, “What did they see in your palace?”
“They saw everything in my palace,” Hezekiah said. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.”
5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord Almighty: 6 The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. 7 And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”
8 “The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
___________________
Psalm 76 New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 76[a]
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.
1
God is renowned in Judah; in Israel his name is great.
2
His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.
3
There he broke the flashing arrows, the shields and the swords, the weapons of war.[b]
4
You are radiant with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game.
5
The valiant lie plundered, they sleep their last sleep; not one of the warriors can lift his hands.
6
At your rebuke, God of Jacob, both horse and chariot lie still.
7
It is you alone who are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry?
8
From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet—
9
when you, God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land.
10
Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.[c]
11
Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them; let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared.
12
He breaks the spirit of rulers; he is feared by the kings of the earth.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 76:1 In Hebrew texts 76:1-12 is numbered 76:2-13.
- Psalm 76:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 9.
- Psalm 76:10 Or Surely the wrath of mankind brings you praise, / and with the remainder of wrath you arm yourself
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.