“THROWN DOWN OR FASTENED FIRM?”
(Isaiah 20:1-6; 22:1-23:18)
“Behold, the LORD will hurl you away violently, O you stong man. He will seize firm hold on you and whirl you around and around, and throw you like a ball into a wide land. . . ” – Isaiah 22:17-18
Isaiah continues his prophecies that Assyria will conquer the nations surrounding Judah, including powerful nations that Judah once considered possible allies against Assyria. In Isaiah 20:1–6, the prophet himself is commanded to walk barefoot and stripped for three years—a vivid sign of what would soon happen to Egypt and Cush (modern-day Sudan and southern Egypt).
Assyrian warfare was notoriously cruel. Archaeological discoveries and royal inscriptions from kings like Sennacherib and Ashurbanipal portray the brutality he wrought: cities were besieged and burned, prisoners were impaled on stakes or flayed alive, and survivors were marched in chains, stripped naked, through conquered territories to serve as living warnings to other nations. Entire populations were deported and resettled to break cultural and national identity. This was the future Isaiah glimpsed and declared for the nations around him.
We also read in today’s passages, Isaiah’s only oracle against an individual: Shebna. He was a high-ranking palace official, possibly the highest authority under Hezekiah, similar to Joseph in Egypt under the Pharaoh. Isaiah faces Shebna and declares, “Behold, the LORD will hurl you away violently, O you strong man. He will seize firm hold on you and whirl you around and around, and throw you like a ball” (Is. 22:17, 18). Isaiah describes Shebna’s removal from office, capture and deportation as a prisoner of war, and then his death in a foreign country. God’s charge against Shebna was his ostentation and pride. Shebna had built a tomb on the mountain for himself as though he were royalty and had acquired “glorious chariots” for all to see. Isaiah declares that Shebna the proud will be replaced by Eliakim the servant, “who will be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah” (Is. 22:21)
This message echoes across time: when we trust in politics, wealth, or our own strength instead of humbling ourselves before the Lord, we too risk being “hurled away.” But those who walk humbly with God will be established like a “peg in a secure place” (Isaiah 22:23)—steady, useful, and honored in His plan.
Simple Truth:
God opposes the proud and self-reliant but establishes those who walk humbly and trust in Him.
Reflections:
- What “glorious chariots” or self-built legacies might I be clinging to for identity or significance?
- Am I living in a way that would make me a “peg in a secure place” for others—dependable, nurturing, humble, and faithful?
Application:
- Ask the Lord to reveal any areas of pride or self-reliance and confess them honestly before Him.
- Seek to live like Eliakim: be a steady and godly influence in your family, workplace, or church community.
Closing Prayer…
Heavenly Father, You are the LORD God Almighty, sovereign over every nation and every heart. Reveal to us and forgive us when we rely on our own strength, position, wealth, status, or influence instead of humbling ourselves before You. Help us to trust You like Isaiah and to serve like Eliakim. When the world feels uncertain, help us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
About our Author
Marcia Rainey is a wife, mother, Nana, and retired educator who served eight years as principal and 11 years as a middle school Bible and science teacher at Hawthorne Christian Academy. She now spends her days with her grandson and enjoys baking, long walks with her husband, and the view from any mountain or beach. She is thrilled to be part of the TLC family serving with the children’s, life group, and women’s ministry teams.
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