The Worthless Treaty with Egypt
After threatening Judah with judgment because of their...
After threatening Judah with judgment because of their stubbornness and their reliance on Egypt (30:1–17), God again committed himself to deal compassionately with his people and to break the power of their enemies.
This prophecy was against Judah’s dependence on Egypt....
This prophecy was against Judah’s dependence on Egypt. It is the fourth of the six woes (see study note on 28:1–33:24).
This taunt was against those who were busy...
This taunt was against those who were busy trying to please the Egyptians in order to get Egypt’s military support.
6This is the burden against the beasts of the Negev:
Through a land of hardship and distress,of lioness and lion,of viper and flying serpent,they carry their wealth on the backs of donkeysand their treasures on the humps of camels,to a people of no profit to them.7Egypt’s help is futile and empty;therefore I have called herRahab Who Sits Still.†
God instructed the prophet to write down the...
God instructed the prophet to write down the vision for future generations. The present generation was rebellious; they rejected God’s word in favor of the false prophets’ fantasies (see 8:16–17).
Judgment would suddenly overtake the people of Judah...
Judgment would suddenly overtake the people of Judah because they were content with their fantasy world, and they refused God’s path to rest and quietness.
12Therefore this is what the Holy One of Israel says:
“Because you have rejected this message,trusting in oppression and relying on deceit,13this iniquity of yours is like a breach about to fail,a bulge in a high wall,whose collapse will come suddenly—in an instant!14It will break in pieces like a potter’s jar,shattered so that no fragment can be found.Not a shard will be found in the dustlarge enough to scoop the coals from a hearthor to skim the water from a cistern.”15For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said:
“By repentance and restyou would be saved;your strength would lie in quiet confidence—but you were not willing.”16“No,” you say, “we will flee on horses.”Therefore you will flee!“We will ride swift horses,”but your pursuers will be faster.17A thousand will flee at the threat of one;at the threat of five you will all flee,until you are left alone like a pole on a mountaintop,like a banner on a hill.God Will Be Gracious
This prophecy of salvation includes promises that directed...
This prophecy of salvation includes promises that directed Israel’s attention away from their present adversity to the glorious future awaiting the children of God.
19O people in Zion who dwell in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will surely be gracious when you cry for help; when He hears, He will answer you. 20The Lord will give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, but your Teacher will no longer hide Himself—with your own eyes you will see Him.
21And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.” 22So you will desecrate your silver-plated idols and your gold-plated images. You will throw them away like menstrual cloths, saying to them, “Be gone!”
The people of Judah would again enjoy covenant...
The people of Judah would again enjoy covenant blessings rather than curses (see Lev 26:4).
23Then He will send rain for the seed that you have sown in the ground, and the food that comes from your land will be rich and plentiful. On that day your cattle will graze in open pastures. 24The oxen and donkeys that work the ground will eat salted fodder, winnowed with shovel and pitchfork.
25And from every high mountain and every raised hill, streams of water will flow in the day of great slaughter, when the towers fall. 26The light of the moon will be as bright as the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter—like the light of seven days—on the day that the LORD binds up the brokenness of His people and heals the wounds He has inflicted.