NOTES for Isa 14:24-32
24 The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: |
25 That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders. |
26 This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. |
27 For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? |
28 In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden. |
29 Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent. |
30 And the firstborn of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety: and I will kill thy root with famine, and he shall slay thy remnant. |
31 Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, art dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none shall be alone in his appointed times. |
32 What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it. |
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Today we read two brief prophecies, about Assyria and about the land of the Philistines, spoken by the prophet Isaiah after the fall of Samaria. These prophecies are separated by about a quarter century, but both are similar in meaning.
For us, living 27 centuries after both of these prophecies, what matters most is that they represent an ancient, original form of apocalypse and speak about the meaning of history. The prophet sees the future and says that, despite all the intricate interests and motives of its actors, history has meaning and purpose. Despite the resistance of nations and kingdoms, despite the temporary triumph of godless empires, the Lord speaks about the future: "...as I have planned, so it shall be, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand."
This prophecy is clothed in a frightening form, but its meaning is great joy and hope. These are words that God's will, good and perfect, will surely triumph.
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Readings for 16 March 2026
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