If you recall Isaiah chapters 13-23 essentially contain Messages of Judgment … to one nation after another.
But none (so far) have “hit” three nations at once, not like Isaiah chapter 21 does, today’s Text.
The first of those three countries is really not specifically named, not at first … but obviously is a nation conquered by the Medes (the Elamites). “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.” Isaiah 21:2
The later we are told: “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 21:9
Babylon in Scripture always has been a seat of rebellion against God. (Her final “fall” is recorded in Revelation chapters 17 and 18.)
Next, Isaiah 21:11-12 targets Edom. Read it with me. “The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.” Both Dumah and Seir are identified with the Edomites. Dumah is a location (city?) in Edom. And Seir is a mountain in Edom’s territory as well. The word “dumah” literally means “silence.” (God often sends silence before the storm, before judgment! As in Revelation 8:1 … “And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.”)
After judgment falls upon Edom … there will be nothing but quiet, total silence! (A civilization gone!) The lastly Isaiah preaches against Arabia. (“The burden upon Arabia.” Isaiah 21:13a) Verse 14 hints at severe thirst and hunger … by-products of war. Then … “they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war. 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: 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.” Isaiah 21:15-17 (Kedar being an area of Arabia, perhaps even a city.) Then Arabians were well known for their sharpshooters, archers. “Dimishment!”
Wow!
As Isaiah wrote/preached these Oracles … the actions described were yet future. Now looking back on this chapter, we now know it’s all history! The Assyrian Empire attacked these little Lands and fulfilled (the Lord merely using Assyria as His “tool” for judgment) God’s Word!
What a great God we serve!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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