Isaiah 21: Doom Da Doom Do

Uncover the hidden messages of Isaiah, chapter 21, as we unravel its apocalyptic imagery and divine warnings. What fate awaits nations like Babylon, Edom, and Arabia when they stand against God’s will? This episode promises to immerse you in the vivid symbolism used by Isaiah, as we discuss the role of the watchman and the profound consequences of opposition to divine plans. Through Isaiah's powerful narrative, we aim to reinforce the lesson of God's sovereignty and the ultimate futility of relying on unstable allies, encouraging trust in His salvation.

In a shift to more personal reflections, we explore the dangers of comparison and the peace that comes with trusting God’s unique plan for our lives. By examining the trap of dissatisfaction that comparison can bring, we emphasize the importance of focusing on our individual paths and embracing the distinct seasons of life He has crafted for us. Drawing inspiration from Isaiah 12:2, we find encouragement in trusting God as our unwavering source of strength and salvation. Join us tomorrow as we continue this journey with further insights from Isaiah, chapter 22, and uncover more wisdom to guide us through life's challenges.

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Chapters

• 0:00 Biblical Podcast
• 8:35 Trusting God in Different Seasons

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:24

Hello everybody, welcome back to the Bible Breakdown Podcast with your host, pastor Brandon, today. Isaiah, chapter 21, and today's title is Doom, doom, doom. Okay, doom, doom, doom, but in my head it sounds like doom, doom, doom. But for the sake of us being able to title this properly, doom, doom, doom and then have the tune in your head, right, we're going to get all that in just a moment because God's got Doom on sale and he's giving it out for everybody today. But before we do that, as always, if you like what we're doing here, make sure you like, share and subscribe to the YouTube channel and the podcast. Make sure you're leaving us a five-star review on the podcast. Also, make sure, if you would like to have this podcast and YouTube video sent to your text messaging feed every morning, you can text RLCBIBLE to 94000, and we will send that to you every day. Also, join us at the Bible Breakdown Discussion on Facebook, where there's an amazing team of people doing devotions every single day, and people ask me sometimes why do you say that stuff every day? Well, here's the reason why Because almost every day we have new listeners who are coming in and I want to make sure you are aware of that. So for those of you who are kind of OGs, you've been with us a long time. I know that that's sometimes a little wearing on you to hear about the YouTube channel, the podcast and the Bible Breakdown Discussion Group, but you'd be surprised how many times it is the first time somebody else has heard it. So thank you for partnering with us and giving us grace as we share with other people how they can become part of this growing community. And it's such an honor just to read God's word together, because when is the last time that you read Isaiah chapter 21? I mean like for reals. So I want you to open up your Bibles with me to Isaiah chapter 21,. And I want to kind of give you the background real quick.

Speaker 1: 2:10

And we're going to jump into this, because it really is like doom-da-doom-doom. I mean it is three messages of doom and woe to three different groups of people. Well, why is God doing that? Well, remember, the overall theme of Isaiah is God is our salvation. God is saving the nation of Israel if they'll just turn back to him. Well, as he is calling on them to turn back to him, he's also reminding them, number one, that these people are not your friends, these neighboring nations that you're trying to barter deals with. They're going to be judged, and that some of these who are trying to overwhelm you. They're going to be judged. They are not greater than you and God is not afraid of them. And so Isaiah is pronouncing this judgment, and he's going to pronounce judgment on these three different groups of people, and it is going to be through the imagery of a watchman awaiting destruction.

Speaker 1: 3:08

Now, remember, this is in apocalyptic literature, and so, in order for us to get an idea of what's going on, god would use inspiring Isaiah to do this. He is using different symbols and images to help us get a picture in our heads of what he's talking about. So it's gonna be this watchman, that's someone who would wait at night back before they had the Ring Doorbell app and they had, before they had cameras. They had to use people's eyeballs, you know, and just watch to make sure the enemies were away. Well, what do you think it would feel like to be a watchman when you see an army coming and you've already sounded an alarm, but you got to stay at your post, so all you're doing is literally watching your death come, because you can't leave your post. That's your post, and so you're literally just waiting for death to come, and you have to wait and watch for it. That is the idea that God is sharing with us through Isaiah.

Speaker 1: 4:03

So if you're ready, isaiah, chapter 21, verse 1, says this this message came to me concerning Babylon, the desert by the sea. Disaster is roaring down on you from the desert like a whirlwind sweeping from the Negev. I see a terrifying vision. I see the betrayer betraying, the destroyer destroying. Go ahead, you Elamites and Medes. Attack and lay siege. I will make an end to all the groaning Babylon caused my stomach aches and burns with pain. Sharp pangs of anguish are upon me, like those of a woman in labor. I grow faint when I hear what God is planning. I am too afraid to look, my mind reels and my heart races. I longed for evening to come, but now I'm terrified of the dark. Look, they are preparing a great feast. They are spreading rugs for people to sit on. Everyone is eating and drinking. But quick, grab your shields and prepare for battle. You are being attacked.

Speaker 1: 5:08

Meanwhile, the Lord said to me put a watchman on the city wall. Let him shout out what he sees. He should look for chariots drawn by pairs of horses for the riders on donkeys and camels. Let the watchman be fully alert. Then the watchman called out Day after day, I stood on the watchtower, my Lord, night after night, I remained at my post. Now, at last, look, here comes a man in a chariot with a pair of horses. Then the watchman said Babylon is fallen, fallen. All the idols of Babylon lie, broken on the ground, to my people, threshed and winnowed. I have told you everything the Lord of heaven's armies has said, everything God of Israel told me. This is also the message concerning Edom. Someone from Edom keeps calling to me Watchman, how much longer until morning? When will the night be over? The watchman replies Morning is coming, but night will soon return. If you wish to ask again, then come back and ask.

Speaker 1: 6:15

Then a message came to me concerning Arabia. O, caravans of Dedan, hide in the deserts of Arabia. Oh, people of Tima, bring water to these thirsty people, food to these weary refugees. They have fled from the sword, from the drawn sword and from the bent bow, the terrors of battle. The Lord said to me within a year, counting each day, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end. Wow, there is this massive destruction that God is sending on Babylon, on Edom and on Arabia, and the idea behind this, the application here, is to be vigilant, to watch like a watchman and to not get discouraged when evil appears to be strong, because when the time is right, god always wins. Time is right, god always wins. During this time, arabia and Babylon and Edom looked like extremely prosperous nations and Israel looks like it's falling apart by comparison, and what God is saying is is their time is going to come.

Speaker 1: 7:34

Your job is to watch and be vigilant and watch what God will do. Can I tell you many times it can feel like that in our life. It can feel like we're trying to do the right thing. We're trying not to give up. We're trying to live close to God and be holy and honor God with our families and stick in these difficult relationships and do these hard things and all these kinds of things, and it seems like everybody else who's doing all the wrong things. Everything's going great for them, and so it can feel sometimes very, very unfair. God, if you are faithful, then why are these bad things happening? Right? But here's the thing God tells us you be faithful to me and quit looking at everybody else to figure out how you're doing. Quit looking at their temporary success and judge how you're actually doing. You be faithful to me, because you're not going to want to compare yourselves to them when they're falling in judgment. Stay faithful and watch what I will do. Maybe that's God's word for you today.

Speaker 1: 8:35

Maybe the very quickest way to take something for granted is to compare it to something else. How very, very unfortunate it is when we try to compare ourselves to somebody else, because it's never fair. God's doing something different in their life. They're in a different season in their life. If they're older than us and they have more experience than us and all this kind of stuff, they should be further along than us, just like we're further along than somebody else. And so we don't look at other people to compare God's faithfulness. God's doing something different in us than he has in them. So instead we stay faithful to God and watch what he will do.

Speaker 1: 9:14

Let's pray together right now, god. Thank you so much that God you are faithful and you don't let evil triumph. Always, in the end, you always win. And God, many times in life it can feel like we're getting behind. It feels like those who have cut corners, those are the ones who get ahead. I pray you will help us, lord, to open our eyes to see what you're doing in our life, but then also help us, lord, to be content with the season that we're in, knowing that as long as you're with us, everything is okay. I celebrate you today In Jesus' name. We pray Amen and amen. Well, god's word says in Isaiah 12, verse 2, god has come to save me and I will trust in him and not be afraid. The Lord, god, is my strength and my song. He has given me victory. I love you. I'll see you tomorrow. For Isaiah, chapter 22.