First Upload: Wednesday March 13, 2019
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Author: Eduardo Freire Canosa
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1 See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice.
2 Each man will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.
3 Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen.
4 The mind of the rash will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear.
5 No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected.
6 For the fool speaks folly, his mind is busy with evil: He practices ungodliness and spreads error concerning the Lord; the hungry he leaves empty and from the thirsty he withholds water.
7 The scoundrel's methods are wicked, he makes up evil schemes to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just.
8 But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands.
9 You women who are so complacent, rise up and listen to me; you daughters who feel secure, hear what I have to say!
10 In little more than a year you who feel secure will tremble; the grape harvest will fail, and the harvest of fruit will not come.
11 Tremble, you complacent women; shudder, you daughters who feel secure! Strip off your clothes, put sackcloth around your waists.
12 Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vines
13 and for the land of my people, a land overgrown with thorns and briers—yes, mourn for all houses of merriment and for this city of revelry.
14 The fortress will be abandoned, the noisy city deserted; citadel and watchtower will become a wasteland forever, the delight of donkeys, a pasture for flocks,
15 till the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest.
16 Justice will dwell in the desert and righteousness live in the fertile field.
17 The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.
18 My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.
19 Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely,
20 how blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream, and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.
Every canonical verse is exportable.
1-8. See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. 2 Each man will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land. 3 Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen.4 The mind of the rash will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear. 5 No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected. 6 For the fool speaks folly, his mind is busy with evil: He practices ungodliness and spreads error concerning the Lord; the hungry he leaves empty and from the thirsty he withholds water. 7 The scoundrel's methods are wicked, he makes up evil schemes to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just. 8 But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands.
Analysis: These eight verses were not fulfilled during the monarchy of Hezekiah even though the king "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done" (2 Kings 18:3). Had each man during that reign been "like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm" (v 2) the posterior monarchy of Manasseh which lasted fifty-five years would have been intolerable, inconceivable. King Manasseh "did evil in the eyes of the Lord" (2 Kings 21:2) to such an extent that the Lord vowed to do to Jerusalem what he had done to Samaria (2 Kings 21:10-15, Jeremiah 15:1-4). Therefore verses 1-8 tab the paradisiacal reign of the Branch of the Lord.
Destination: Revised Chapter 4, "The Branch of The Lord."
9-15. You women who are so complacent, rise up and listen to me; you daughters who feel secure, hear what I have to say! 10 In little more than a year you who feel secure will tremble; the grape harvest will fail, and the harvest of fruit will not come. 11 Tremble, you complacent women; shudder, you daughters who feel secure! Strip off your clothes, put sackcloth around your waists. 12 Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vines 13 and for the land of my people, a land overgrown with thorns and briers—yes, mourn for all houses of merriment and for this city of revelry. 14 The fortress will be abandoned, the noisy city deserted; citadel and watchtower will become a wasteland forever, the delight of donkeys, a pasture for flocks, 15 till the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest.
Analysis: This denunciation of complacent women matches the denunciation set forth on Isaiah 3:16-26. The terms "houses of merriment" and "city of revelry" (v 13) help to date the writing of these verses to the monarchy of Ahaz or earlier.
Destination: Revised Chapter 3, "The Lord's Displeasure With Judah and Jerusalem."
16-18. Justice will dwell in the desert and righteousness live in the fertile field. 17 The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. 18 My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.
Destination: These three verses which promise quietness and confidence "forever" accompany verses 1-8 to Revised Chapter 4, "The Branch of The Lord."
19. Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely,
Caution: Only a follow-up verse expressing trust in the Lord or hope in his deliverance despite these harrowing circumstances can complement verse 19. To take the bait and accept verse 20 as the right companion can only draw a smile on the face of a thoughtful reader.
Destination: Revised Chapter 26, "The Lord Is The Rock Eternal,"
19 Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely, 33:6 he will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.
20. how blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream, and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.
Speculation: This glueing of verses 19-20 was done by pranksters during the apostate monarchy of Manasseh (Jeremiah 8:8).
Destination: Revised Chapter 6, "The Vision of The Lord,"
30:23 He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows. 30:24 The oxen and donkeys that work the soil will eat fodder and mash, spread out with fork and shovel. 20 How blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream, and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.
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