How Long, O Desert Storm?
A study in Isaiah 21

[With Chris Josephson]

Chapter 19 describes the peace that is to come; however, the chapters are not in chronological order and chapter 21 takes place before millennial peace.

In chapter 20, Isaiah had just come though a big personal test. The Lord asks – and commands – His prophets to do hard and radical things to get His message across. On the other hand if we see one doing a radical thing to attract personal attention, there are ways to tell the difference. If we are close to The Shepherd, we’ll discern the voice of the hireling.

In Isaiah 21, desert nations are pin pointed.

Concerning this chapter, Yair Davidi wrote: It deals with Babylon identified with Rome; the Arabs (perhaps Iraq) and Edom also identified with Rome [also descendents of Edom in Europe, Russia and Japan] . . . Remember Isaiah spoke primarily for the future when addressing his message to events of his time. All prophecy is like this.  

V.1, The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land.

In the Scriptures, “Sea” is representative of nations. Where and in what nation is the [great] desert of the seas? It is always necessary to cross this desert to get to Babylon.

Are both physical and spiritual Babylon joining forces against Israel’s people, land and law? And where is the “terrible land” but where terror originates?

A play on words: The Hebrew word for “burden” is mem-seen-hey – “massah”. Is it coincidental that this is colloquial English for a slave’s master? A burden indeed and brought on by Arabs raiders, capturing blacks in Africa and selling them to “massahs” in the U.S.

V.2, A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealt treacherously, and the spoiler spoiled. Go up, O Elam [Persia]; besiege, O Media [Iran and Iraq]; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.

This identifies “Babylon” – and all who align themselves against God’s purposes for the region.

V.3, Therefore my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travails: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it.

When God does a new thing there are birth-pangs. Israel’s people suffered birth pangs during the Holocaust and the nation of Israel was born. Now, the after birth and it must be expelled which is also a bloody operation. Not painful for a woman in childbirth for the joy of giving birth to her child. However, there the analogy breaks down: for Israel is suffering much pain.

V.4, My heart panted [or, mind wondered which happens when fear grasps hold. But ‘God has not given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind – II Tim. 1:7], fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned [stopped the party!] into fear [frustration, plus] unto me.

V.5, Prepare the table [Get ready for the watch time. You will need special strength, physically and spiritually], watch in the watchtower [the high tower of His Word where you can see it coming.] eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.

“Shield” speaks of defense weapons. Shields were greased so that arrows would glance off rather than pierce them [Stone’s commentary.] Believers must anoint the shield of faith. This means the “oil” of the Holy Spirit will cover – work with – our faith, and we will have a covering shield to deflect the fiery darts of the wicked in the war ahead. (Eph. 6:10-18)

V.6, For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he sees [tremendous media coverage in the forefront of the army].

V.7, And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed.

An all-out threefold attack command. “I can see it coming,” says the watchman.

V.8, And he cried, [As] A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights [constantly watching, full time job for it is likely to happen soon]:

V.9, And behold there cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen [a troop of horsemen in pairs] And he answered and said, Babylon [Babylonia – Stone’s translation] is fallen [She’s had it now when she comes against Israel. Read the 18^th chapter of The Revelation], is fallen [repetition in Scripture is not redundant!]; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.

HalleluJAH! These have ruled society and the church long enough. Now is the time for them to fall.

V.10, O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.

Micah 4:13 tells us WHO is God’s threshing instrument.

V.11, The burden of Dumah: [Edom; northern Arabia] He called to me out of Seir [Seir = Saudi Arabia], Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?

V.12, The watchman said, The morning comes, and also the night: if you will enquire, enquire you: return, come.

The watchman’s answer to the question, “What of the night?” is (1) Dawn of a new day is on the way; (2) But first darker night. (3) Inquire, search for truth! LOVE the TRUTH, for in the new world ONLY truth will be allowed.

Deliverance is at hand (morning), but the night will come for the wicked.

“Return” to what? God’s life-producing Word and Laws for living. “Come.” Turn around and come. Whole-heartedly, about face. The return is on now and questions are being asked by many (and not only those of Jewish descent) about “Hebrew heritage”, our Hebrew roots.

V.13, The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall you lodge, O you traveling companies of Dedanim. [Dedanim – mixed Arabs, etc. – Davidi]

The forest in Arabia is the location of the traveling companions of Dedanim, Midian’s son.

V.14, The inhabitants of the land of Tema [son of Ishmael, so were Kedar and Dumah – Gen.25:13-16] brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented [preceded] with their bread him that fled.

Tema – Syria. Arabs will be dependent on good will.

V.15, For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.

V.16, For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of a hireling [possibly 3 years], and all the glory of Kedar shall fail. [There is some indication that Kedar is representative of “Palestinian Arabs”. There is a time table for their fall.]

V.17, And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken it. He has the final words!   -