Thursday 28 August 2008

Background

Isaiah began preaching in the year that Uzziah, the king ofJudah, died in about 740 BC. Isaiah lived through a period whichsaw the expansion of the Assyrian empire, which was seen as aconstant threat to the kingdom of Judah. Samaria, the capital ofthe northern kingdom of Israel, fell to the Assyrians in 722BC.

Gibeon was the place of a memorable victory by Joshua, when many ofthe fleeing Gibeonites were killed by hailstones (Joshua 10:6-15).Mount Perazim was one of the first places where King David haddefeated the Philistines after he had been anointed as king (2 Samuel 5:17-21).In each case, the defeat of these enemies had been interpreted asan act of God.

Isaiah's references to Sheol are to the shadowy place where peopleof his time believed everyone went when they died. It is ironicalto suggest that people had made some agreement with Death that theywould escape the coming act of destruction.

God's strange work is the work of judgement. We expect God to be arescuer, a saviour. It is a shock when the nation, who callthemselves the people of God, find that they themselves are underGod's judgement.

Mount Zion is the hill on which the city of Jerusalem is built.Isaiah saw this as the place where God could build on those who puttheir trust in God.

To Ponder

Do we imagine ourselves immune from the sort ofdisasters that have struck people in other parts of the world?Why?

What are the foundations in which you put yourtrust?