Tag Archives: Isaiah

Visualizing Isaiah 12: wells of salvation

Posted on February 13, 2014 | 1 comment

Isaiah describes the Messianic Age as one that will be characterized by many spiritual blessings. The pleasant waters of Shiloah had been rejected by God’s people, but in the time to come Judah would joyfully draw water from the wells of salvation.

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. (Isaiah 12:3 ESV)

The term mayan (wells) is often used in the Old Testament of springs, fountains, wells, or pools of water.

We might think of a well like the one where Jesus stopped at Sychar in Samaria.

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” (John 4:10-15 ESV)

Jacob's well in Samaria. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Jacob’s well in Samaria. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Or, we might think of a spring like the beautiful one at the source of the Banias River at Caesarea Philippi. This spring and river becomes a major source of the Jordan River.

The source of the Banias River, source of the River Jordan. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The source of the Banias River. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

 

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Visualizing Isaiah 11: the River

Posted on February 12, 2014 | 2 comments

Immediately upon looking at Isaiah 11 I think of the reference to the Messiah –  “a shoot from the stump of Jesse.” Look back to chapter 4 for an illustration for that.

I could show you individual photos of many of the animals mentioned in verses 6-7, but I do not have the wild and vicious with the tame and gentle. It doesn’t happen in the animal kingdom, but it is true in the kingdom of the Messiah. See, for example, Colossians 3:11 where there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythians, salve, free. In Christ these distinctions are broken down.

Here I have chosen to concentrate on the promise of the return of a remnant from captivity, an event that took place initially in 536 B.C.

And the LORD will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt, and will wave his hand over the River with his scorching breath, and strike it into seven channels, and he will lead people across in sandals. And there will be a highway from Assyria for the remnant that remains of his people, as there was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt. (Isaiah 11:15-16 ESV)

The Euphrates is the largest, longest and most important river of Western Asia. It is nearly 1800 miles long and was the northeastern boundary of the land promised to Abraham (Genesis 15:18). The empires of Assyria and Babylon, the greatest enemies of Israel, were east of the Euphrates. The Old Testament prophets often put the Euphrates by metonymy for these countries to designate the place from which the punishment of God would come (Isaiah 7:20; 8:7; Jeremiah 46:10

The Euphrates was so significant in the history of Israel that the phrase “the River” is used frequently in the Old Testament to indicate the Euphrates.

View north of the Euphrates River at Berecik, Turkey. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The Euphrates River, looking north, at Birecik, Turkey. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The LORD said that He would bring “the waters of the River, the king of Assyria and all his glory” like a flood to rise to the neck of His people (Isaiah 8:6-8). Now He promises to strike the River and allow His people to return from the exile in sandals. In fact, He says, “there will be a highway from Assyria for the remnant that remains of his people” 11:16).

When Assyrian kings stated in their annals that they crossed the river Euphrates they mean that they went to war against nations west of the River.

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Posted in Bible Lands, Bible Places, Bible Study, Egypt, Israel, Old Testament, Photography, Travel, Turkey

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Visualizing Isaiah 10: “Assyria, the rod of my anger”

Posted on February 11, 2014 | 2 comments

The Assyrians are first introduced in Isaiah 7. In chapter 10 we are informed that they are “the rod of [the LORD’s] anger.” They will serve the purpose of God to punish His people. Isaiah tells us that the Assyrians did not plan to be doing the will of the LORD; they only wanted to destroy many nations.

Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury! Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. But he does not so intend, and his heart does not so think; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few; for he says: “Are not my commanders all kings? (Isaiah 10:5-8 ESV)

In the photos below I hope to illustrate a few ways the Assyrians punished the Judeans. Certainly the same was true of the northern kingdom of Israel (2 Kings 17:5-6).

The Assyrians destroyed northern cities of Israel such as Hazor and the site sometimes identified as Geshur or NT Bethsaida in 732 B.C. By 722/21 Samaria lay in ruins. Assyria continued south into Judah. Sennacherib claims to have destroyed 46 strong cities of Judea in addition to all of the nearby villages (The Taylor Prism).

Assyrian King Sennacherib left reliefs of his war against Lachish on his palace wall at Nineveh. The following photos are portions of that relief now displayed in the British Museum. Many Judeans were taken into captivity. Other begged for mercy in the hilly Shephelah of Judah.

Judeans begging for mercy. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Judeans begging for mercy. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The plea was unsuccessful for some of them. This portion shows an Assyrian commander killing a Judean.

An Assyrian soldier kills a Judean. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

An Assyrian soldier kills a Judean. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

This portion of the relief shows heads of the slain being brought together for accounting. Some Egyptian reliefs show hands and other body parts being gathered for the same purpose.

Heads of Judeans being collected to get a count. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Heads of Judeans being collected to get a count. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

A 25-minute Discovery Channel video entitled The Assyrians: Masters of War uses Assyrian reliefs to tell the story of their savagery in war. Lachish is emphasized. Click here. (HT: Bible Places Blog).

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Posted in Archaeology, Bible Lands, Bible Places, Bible Study, Culture, Israel, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

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Visualizing Isaiah 8: the gentle flowing waters of Shiloah

Posted on February 6, 2014 | 2 comments

Isaiah 8 teaches that the rejection of the LORD by His people would bring about severe punishment. To illustrate this, the LORD says His people “refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently,” and that He would bring up against them “the waters of the River” [Euphrates], that is, the Assyrians. This would not be gentle flowing, but would flood even to the neck. It would be impossible to stay afloat when that happens.

The LORD spoke to me again: “Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks, and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.” (Isaiah 8:5-8 ESV)

From the earliest days of the city, the water source for Jerusalem was the Gihon Spring. The well-known Hezekiah’s tunnel and the new pool that he built on the west side of the city of David would not be constructed for about 25 to 35 years (2 Kings 20:20; 2 Chronicles 32:30).

The Canaanites had cut a small tunnel through the rock to allow water to flow from the Gihon Spring into the valley on the east side of what would later be called the city of David.

The comment in The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament provides a good explanation of the tunnel and pool under consideration.

Hezekiah’s tunnel had not yet been constructed at this time. Water was conducted from the Gihon Spring (in the Kidron Valley on the east side of the city) toward the south through an aqueduct that brought the water to a reservoir at the southwestern tip of the city. This aqueduct is known as the Siloam Channel and in biblical times went by the name Shiloah.

Since 1997 it has been possible for visitors to the source of the Gihon Pool to walk through the dry Canaanite tunnel and exit in the valley which is part of the Silwan village. (That exit is now within an enclosed park area known as the City of David (Jerusalem Walls) National Park.) Our photo below show a portion of that tunnel.

The Canaanite Tunnel through which the gentle "waters of Shiloah" once flowed. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The Canaanite Tunnel through which the gentle “waters of Shiloah” once flowed. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

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Posted in Archaeology, Bible Places, Bible Study, Israel, New Testament, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

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Visualizing Isaiah 6: King Uzziah

Posted on January 30, 2014 | 2 comments

Isaiah 6 begins with this historical note:

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. (Isaiah 6:1 ESV)

There are images from the ancient near east to help illustrate the vision in Isaiah 6, but I have chosen something pertaining to King Uzziah. Uzziah, also known as Azariah (2 Kings 14:21), reigned over Judah from about 792 to 740 B.C. From 792-767 his reign overlapped that of Amaziah.

Epitaph of King Uzziah of Judah. Israel Museum. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Epitaph of King Uzziah of Judah. Israel Museum. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

This Aramaic inscription, now displayed in the Israel Museum, claims to mark the tomb of King Uzziah. It reads “Hither were brought the bones of Uzziah, king of Judah. Do not open!”

The Chronicles of the Land: Archaeology in The Israel Museum Jerusalem includes this comment about Uzziah.

When he died, he could not be buried in the royal tombs because he was a leper. Some seven hundred years after his death, in the Second Temple Period, Jerusalem expanded, and Uzziah’s tomb had to be moved outside the new city limits. An epitaph was erected to mark the king’s new burial place. (69)

See also 2 Chronicles 26:23.

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Posted in Archaeology, Bible Places, Bible Study, Israel, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

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Visualizing Isaiah 5: the vineyard of the LORD

Posted on January 29, 2014 | 1 comment

When Jesus said “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser” (John 15:1), His illustration was understood by all of His hearers. The same is true of those who heard and read Isaiah 5. Read it for yourself and then look at the beautiful photo of a vineyard with a watchtower in it near Bethlehem.

Let me sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.
2 He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.
3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard.
4 What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?
5 And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.
6 I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and briers and thorns shall grow up; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.
7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry! (Isaiah 5:1-7 ESV)

Vineyard Near Bethlehem. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Vineyard Near Bethlehem. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

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Visualizing Isaiah 4: the Branch of the LORD

Posted on January 28, 2014 | 4 comments

The book of the prophet Isaiah promises the return of a remnant from captivity, but is also filled with Messianic expectation. After describing the terrible consequences of the conquest by foreign powers, Isaiah promises,

In that day the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. (Isaiah 4:2 ESV)

It should be pointed out that many of the popular English versions capitalize the word Branch (see NAU, NKJ, CSB, NIV, NRSV). The NET Bible understands the expression to refer to “crops given by the LORD.”

Edward J. Young says,

In the present passage the Sprout is that shoot which comes from the tree of David which has been cut down, and which springs to life from its fallen trunk and brings the tree to more glorious and wondrous heights than before. (The Book of Isaiah)

Our photo is intended to illustrate this truth. The tree of David was cut down; only a stump was left. But a shoot, Sprout, or Branch (the Messiah) sprang from it. Certainly a Divine act.

A Sprout comes forth from an olive stump at Nazareth Village. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

A Sprout comes forth from an olive stump at Nazareth Village. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

I understand this verse to be parallel to the following texts.

In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples– of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious. (Isaiah 11:10 ESV; cf. Romans 15:12; Revelation 5:5; 22:16)

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.” (Jeremiah 23:5)

See also Jeremiah 33:15 and Zechariah 3:8.

If you would like to think of an abundance of fruit, whether literal or figurative, I think this photo might help.

Abundant fruit in the vineyards of Lachish. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Abundant fruit in the vineyards of Lachish. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

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Posted in Bible Lands, Bible Study, Israel, New Testament, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

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