Isaiah Chapter 20
Showing all 6 verses for Isaiah Chapter 20.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it; "
"This happened in the year the Assyrian commander Tartan came to the city of Ashdod (sent by King Sargon of Assyria), attacked it, and captured it."
I care about your real, specific circumstances, not just abstract spiritual ideas floating above your actual life. Pay attention to what's actually happening around you - that's exactly where meaning and guidance show up.
"At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot. "
"At that same time, the LORD spoke through Isaiah son of Amoz, saying: 'Take off the sackcloth from your waist and remove your sandals.' And Isaiah did exactly that, walking around naked and barefoot."
Sometimes standing for the truth costs you your dignity in other people's eyes, and I ask you to be willing to look foolish for the sake of something real. Don't let the fear of embarrassment stop you from doing the right, honest thing.
"And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia; "
"And the LORD said: 'Just as my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a warning about Egypt and Ethiopia (Cush),'"
Some truths take time and sustained commitment to communicate, not just a single dramatic moment. I ask you for patient faithfulness in doing what's right, even when it's uncomfortable and doesn't get resolved quickly.
"So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. "
"'so the king of Assyria will lead away the Egyptians as prisoners and the Ethiopians as captives, young and old alike, naked and barefoot, with their buttocks bare - to Egypt's shame.'"
Humiliation and loss can happen to anyone, no matter how proud or powerful they seem right now. I want that to make you gentle towards people who've fallen, not smug - because none of us are as untouchable as we think.
"And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory. "
"Then they will be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia, the nation they hoped in, and of Egypt, the nation they were so proud of."
Be honest with yourself about what you're actually trusting to keep you safe. If it's something that can be captured, stripped, or taken away, it was never going to be solid ground to stand on in the first place.
"And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape? "
"And the people of this coastland will say on that day: 'Look, this is what happened to the ones we hoped in, the ones we ran to for help against the king of Assyria - so how are we going to escape?'"
When the thing you were counting on for safety fails, that panic you feel is actually an invitation to look for something more dependable. I'd rather you face that uncertainty honestly now than keep leaning on something that was never going to hold.