Isaiah Chapter 22 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Isaiah 22:1–2
A prophecy about the Valley of Vision: Tell me what is wrong with you, that you have all gone up on the roofs. You city full of noise, confusion and boisterous excitement, your slain did not fall to the sword, nor did they die in battle.
The "Valley of Vision" speaks of Jerusalem and the fact that God had sent prophets to the city to share the comforting words of God with the people. Isaiah predicts that, when they are faced with a siege at the hands of the Babylonians, they will have a "failure of faith". Instead of trusting in God to deliver them, they will run up to their roofs to avoid the invaders and to look for signs of help coming. He describes the people as being dead but not from battle and this is speaking of the fact that, in the eyes of God, they were already spiritually dead.
Isaiah 22:3
All your leaders fled together and were captured without the use of a bow; all from you who were found were captured, even though they had fled far away.
Isaiah goes on to explain what will happen during this siege. The people did not go out to fight and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem fled even before the enemy approached. They fled in the direction of modern Jordan but were captured in the plains of Jericho (see 2 Kings 25). This reminds us that the true measure of a leader is whether he/she demonstrates an attitude of faith or an attitude of fear. These leaders definitely had the attitude of fear which is not of God. This is what Paul was talking about in his letter to the Thessalonians who were worried about the last days (see 1 Thessalonians 5).
Isaiah 22:4
This is why I said, "Don't look at me, leave me alone to weep bitterly, don't try to comfort me over the destruction of my people."
Once again, Isaiah was greatly saddened by the judgment that was coming upon his people. As a true prophet of God, he demonstrated the heart of God and the fact that their "failure of faith" grieved the Lord.
Isaiah 22:5–7
For it is a day of panic, trampling and confusion from Adonai ELOHIM-Tzva'ot in the Valley of Vision. With walls crashing down, they cry for help to the mountains. 'Eilam picks up the quivers, with cavalry and horsemen, and Kir uncovers the shields. In time, your choicest valleys are overrun by chariots, and the cavalry take their posts by the gate;
Isaiah sees the Babylonian army coming against Jerusalem and the fact that it is a judgment from God.
Isaiah 22:8–11
thus is Y'hudah's protection removed. That day you looked for the armor in the House of the Forest. You saw how many breaches there were in the City of David, you collected water from the lower pool, you surveyed the houses in Yerushalayim, tearing some down to fortify the wall. You also built a reservoir between the two walls for the water from the Old Pool; but you didn't look to Him who made these things; you had no respect for Him who fashioned them long ago.
Isaiah sees that, when the Lord brings the Babylonian army against Jerusalem, they will look to their own efforts for safety. The Palace of the Forest refers to Solomon's palace which had four rows of cedar pillars creating the impression of a cedar forest. The storing up of water and strengthening of the wall refers to efforts that Hezekiah took when Jerusalem was being threatened by the Assyrians. Remnants of this strengthened wall still exist and are called the "Broad Wall". At the time, houses had to be torn down inside the city walls to make room for this very large wall. Isaiah laments that they look to their own efforts instead of remembering what God had done to protect them from the hand of the Assyrians. This was their "failure of faith" as they had the example of what God had done in the past but they still did not trust in Him for the threat at hand. Our faith grows stronger as we remember God's action in the past and apply it to our current problems. We can choose to trust in God or to fear the people and things of this world but we cannot do both.
Isaiah 22:12–13
That day Adonai ELOHIM-Tzva'ot called on you to weep and mourn, to shave your heads and wear sackcloth; but instead, one sees joy and celebrating, killing of oxen, slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat, drinking of wine: "Let's eat and drink now, because tomorrow we'll be dead!"
This passage speaks of the fact that the people recognized the hopelessness of their situation and, instead of repenting, they threw one last party and gave no thought of God. They did not see what was happening to them as a judgement from God and they did not believe in the afterlife.
Isaiah 22:14
Then ADONAI-Tzva'ot revealed himself in my ears: "You will not atone for this iniquity until you die." This is what Adonai ELOHIM-Tzva'ot says.
This verse reveals God's perspective on their current situation and that is the fact that, because they did not see God as active in their daily lives, they were going to die in their sin.
Isaiah 22:15–16
Thus says Adonai ELOHIM-Tzva'ot: "Go and find that steward, Shevna, administrator of the palace, and ask him: 'What do you own here, and who gave you the right to cut yourself a tomb here? Why do you get such an eminent tomb? Why are you carving a resting-place for yourself in the rock?'"
In this passage, we see that the "failure of faith" had started with the leadership in Jerusalem. The palace administrator was second only to the king and, instead of trusting in God, he was busy preparing himself a choice final resting place. This steward had given up all hope and was looking to leave a physical legacy with this prominent tomb and that is not how a person of faith behaves.
Isaiah 22:17–19
Look, strong man! ADONAI is about to throw you out! He will grab you, roll you up, and toss you around like a ball in the open country. There you will die, with your fancy chariots, you disgrace to your master's palace! "I will remove you from your office, I will snatch you from your post.
Isaiah shares the judgment on one of the leaders of Judah. This reminds us that God is in control and that even includes so-called democratic elections. The "will of the people" does not override the will of God. When God wants to remove a leader, He can and will. We can rest assured that whoever is in positions of power is only there because of the fact that it fits into his overall plan for the world.
Isaiah 22:20–24
When that day comes, I will summon my servant Elyakim the son of Hilkiyahu. I will dress him in your robe, gird him with your sash of office, and invest him with your authority. He will be a father to the people living in Yerushalayim and to the house of Y'hudah. I will place the key of David's house on his shoulder; no one will shut what he opens; no one will open what he shuts. "I will fasten him firmly in place like a peg, so that he will become a seat of honor for his clan. They will hang on him all the weight of his clan, descendants and offspring, as well as all the vessels of small capacity, from pitchers to cups.
Isaiah speaks of a time when the people will return to Jerusalem from their captivity in Babylon. During this time, Eliakim would be lifted up to replace Shebna. It is a reminder that God was going to preserve a remnant of His people and they would have a new leader. The name Elyakim roughly means "my God he will raise up" and Hilkiyahu "a portion of the Lord". In this we see that this passage also speaks of the resurrection of Yeshua Messiah and that resurrection changes everything. We also see the phrase "no one will shut what he opens; no one will open what he shuts" in Revelation 3 referring to the fact that those who believe the gospel will not go through the time of great tribulation.
Isaiah 22:25
When that day comes, the peg fastened firmly in place will give way; it will be cut down and fall, and the weight that was on it will be cut off." For ADONAI has said it.
This verse speaks of the transition that happens during this great tribulation period and the fact that the Jewish people will accept Yeshua Messiah as their king. Even the people that God puts in positions of authority are only there for a season. Ultimately, all other world leaders will be removed at his coming. This reminds us that, if we put our faith in any man, they will let us down. We must remember that our faith is in Yeshua Messiah and anything else is a failure of faith.