Great Isaiah Scroll Directory - documenta-catholica.eu

Isaiah 36-39(among others) which would increase the self assurance of Isaiah's bold assertions wasthat he has already predicted the punishment and exile and the resultant "remnant"which he describes here as foreordained to return and take root physically in Jerusalemand later to produce the fruit of Isa. 2:2 But the future punishment and exile, he hassaid, is to be inflicted by Babylonia, not Assyria. Without doubt, Isaiah understood hisown political predictions and here he makes application of his previous visions forwhich, at this point, he did not require a further seer's "vision." He knew Assyria wasnot the appointed instrument of Exile, but rather for Judah, was an implement of shortterm discipline. Isaiah knew this: Assyria was the implement of long term punishmentand exile for the nation of Israel while Babylon was reserved for future use by God asHis instrument of punishment and exile for Judah. Therefore, just as I had said foralmost 25 years before 1991, "do not look for the second coming of Christ as long asRussia is an enemy of the Gospel of Christ," and now I say, "do not look for the secondcoming of Christ until there is religious and political freedom in Islamic lands likeArabia, Algeria and Iran," so Isaiah would understand the political consequences of hisprophecy and would be able to say, "Sennacherib will not enter this city."34 By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into thiscity, says the LORD. 35 For I will defend this city to save it for my own sake, and formy servant David's sake. 36 Then the angel of the LORD went and struck onehundred eighty five thousand men in the camp of the Assyrians and when the restarose early in the morning, they beheld all the dead corpses.37 So Sennacherib kingof Assyria departed, and went and returned to dwell at Nineveh. 38 And it came topass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech andSharezer his sons struck him with the sword; and they escaped into the land ofArmenia: and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.Verse 34: By the way that he came: Sennacherib approached the city from the northas Isaiah described in the vision of 10:28-34 and not from the south west, as has beensupposed because he was involved with the siege of Lachish, when the news of theEthiopian intention to attack him hastened his attack on Jerusalem. The ascent from theplain of Sharon to the high passes approaching Jerusalem is a danger point for aninvader. Since the Assyrians already had long term possession of Samaria the returnthere and the descent from higher ground from the north was chosen by Sennacheribbut to little avail. He returned by the way that he came to the north and went back toNineveh. Thirty some odd years later his son would make an invasion and take captiveHezekiah's son but this too would be a short term discipline as Esarhaddon wouldcause no exile of Judeans and would return a repentant Mannaseh to his throne. Isaiah 381. In those days was Hezekiah sick to death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amozcame to him, and said to him, Thus says the LORD, Set your house in order, for youshall die, and not live. 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayedto the LORD, 3 And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech you, how I havehttp://www.ao.net/~fmoeller/36-39.htm (10 of 13)2006-08-01 11:49:16