1 Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city [where] David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices.
2 Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow: and it shall be unto me as Ariel.
3 And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee.
4 And thou shalt be brought down, [and] shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.
5 Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones [shall be] as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.
6 Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.
7 And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision.
8 It shall even be as when an hungry [man] dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, [he is] faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.
9 Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
11 And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which [men] deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it [is] sealed:
12 And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near [me] with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, [even] a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise [men] shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent [men] shall be hid.
15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
17 [Is] it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.
19 The meek also shall increase [their] joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
20 For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:
21 That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.
22 Therefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.
23 But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.
24 They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.
Overview of Isaiah Chapter 29
Isaiah 29 presents a profound and multifaceted message that addresses the spiritual condition of Jerusalem and its inhabitants. This chapter combines themes of judgment, divine revelation, and the ultimate restoration of God’s people. It serves as a warning against complacency and hypocrisy, while also offering hope for redemption and transformation.
Key Themes
- Judgment on Jerusalem: The chapter begins with a declaration of woe upon Ariel, a symbolic representation of Jerusalem, highlighting the impending judgment due to the people’s disobedience.
- Divine Concealment: God speaks of a time when He will hide His face from the people, indicating a withdrawal of divine guidance and protection as a consequence of their actions.
- Hypocrisy and Lip Service: The text critiques the people’s worship, which is characterized by empty rituals and a lack of true understanding and reverence for God.
- Promise of Restoration: Despite the judgment, the chapter concludes with a promise of future restoration for the faithful remnant, emphasizing God’s enduring commitment to His people.
Detailed Analysis
1. Woe to Ariel (Verses 1-4)
The chapter opens with a lamentation over Ariel, a term that can mean “lion of God” or “hearth of God,” symbolizing both the city of Jerusalem and its altar. The use of “woe” indicates a serious warning of impending doom.
- The mention of “year to year” suggests a prolonged period of judgment, indicating that the consequences of their actions are not immediate but will unfold over time.
- The imagery of siege and distress emphasizes the seriousness of the situation, as the people face both physical and spiritual threats.
- God’s declaration that He will bring low the proud and exalt the humble serves as a reminder of His sovereignty and justice.
2. Divine Concealment and Revelation (Verses 5-10)
In these verses, God describes how He will act against the enemies of Jerusalem, but also how He will bring a spiritual blindness upon the people themselves.
- The contrast between the enemies’ defeat and the people’s spiritual condition highlights the irony of their situation—while they are physically secure, they are spiritually impoverished.
- The reference to the “sealed book” symbolizes the incomprehensibility of divine truth to those who are not genuinely seeking God.
- The people’s reliance on tradition and rote learning is criticized, showcasing their failure to engage with the deeper truths of God.
3. Critique of Worship Practices (Verses 11-16)
This section addresses the hypocrisy of the people’s worship, where their actions do not align with their professed beliefs.
- The idea that they “draw near with their mouth” but “remove their heart far from Me” illustrates the disconnect between external rituals and internal faith.
- The mention of God’s hiddenness serves as a poignant reminder that genuine worship requires sincerity and an authentic relationship with Him.
- The metaphor of the potter and the clay emphasizes God’s sovereignty over creation and the absurdity of humans questioning their Creator.
4. Promise of Restoration (Verses 17-24)
In the final verses, a shift occurs from judgment to hope, as God promises a future restoration for His people.
- The imagery of the “deaf” hearing and the “blind” seeing signifies a transformative work that God will accomplish among His people.
- The reference to the “poor” and “needy” indicates that God’s grace will be particularly evident among those who are humble and dependent on Him.
- The chapter concludes with a vision of a renewed covenant community, where the faithful will rejoice in God’s salvation and experience true understanding of His ways.
Conclusion
Isaiah 29 serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of spiritual complacency and the importance of genuine worship. It highlights God’s judgment while simultaneously offering hope for restoration. This chapter calls for introspection, urging readers to examine their own relationship with God and to seek authenticity in their faith.
