Isaiah 22
Jeremiah 22 contains God’s message to the kings of Judah and their rule. In particular, Jeremiah’s calling to enter the royal palace of Jerusalem and proclaim God’s word is highlighted. This chapter requires those who are in charge of ruling to practice justice and righteousness, and it warns of judgment that will come if they do not.
1verseThe burden of the valley of vision. What ails you now, that you have all gone up to the housetops?
2verseYou that are full of shouting, a tumultuous city, a joyous town, your slain are not slain with the sword, neither are they dead in battle.
3verseAll your rulers fled away together. They were bound by the archers. All who were found by you were bound together. They fled far away.
4verseTherefore I said, “Look away from me. I will weep bitterly. Don’t labor to comfort me for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
5verseFor it is a day of confusion, and of treading down, and of perplexity from the Lord, GOD of Armies, in the valley of vision, a breaking down of the walls, and a crying to the mountains.”
6verseElam carried his quiver, with chariots of men and horsemen; and Kir uncovered the shield.
7verseYour choicest valleys were full of chariots, and the horsemen set themselves in array at the gate.
8verseHe took away the covering of Judah; and you looked in that day to the armor in the house of the forest.
9verseYou saw the breaches of David’s city, that they were many; and you gathered together the waters of the lower pool.
10verseYou counted the houses of Jerusalem, and you broke down the houses to fortify the wall.
11verseYou also made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you didn’t look to him who had done this, neither did you have respect for him who planned it long ago.
12verseIn that day, the Lord, GOD of Armies, called to weeping, to mourning, to baldness, and to dressing in sackcloth;
13verseand behold, there is joy and gladness, killing cattle and killing sheep, eating meat and drinking wine: “Let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we will die.”
14verseThe LORD of Armies revealed himself in my ears, “Surely this iniquity will not be forgiven you until you die,” says the Lord, GOD of Armies.
15verseThe Lord, GOD of Armies says, “Go, get yourself to this treasurer, even to Shebna, who is over the house, and say,
16verse‘What are you doing here? Who has you here, that you have dug out a tomb here?’ Cutting himself out a tomb on high, chiseling a habitation for himself in the rock!”
17verseBehold, the LORD will overcome you and hurl you away violently. Yes, he will grasp you firmly.
18verseHe will surely wind you around and around, and throw you like a ball into a large country. There you will die, and there the chariots of your glory will be, you disgrace of your lord’s house.
19verseI will thrust you from your office. You will be pulled down from your station.
20verseIt will happen in that day that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah,
21verseand I will clothe him with your robe, and strengthen him with your belt. I will commit your government into his hand; and he will be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.
22verseI will lay the key of David’s house on his shoulder. He will open, and no one will shut. He will shut, and no one will open.
23verseI will fasten him like a nail in a sure place. He will be for a throne of glory to his father’s house.
24verseThey will hang on him all the glory of his father’s house, the offspring and the issue, every small vessel, from the cups even to all the pitchers.
25verse“In that day,” says the LORD of Armies, “the nail that was fastened in a sure place will give way. It will be cut down and fall. The burden that was on it will be cut off, for the LORD has spoken it.”
Structure: Conversations with the Kings and Warnings
- Verses 1-9: a demand for justice and righteousness, protection for the weak, a warning of destruction for disobedience
- Verses 10-12: prophecy about King Shallum (Jehoahaz)
- Verses 13-19: the unrighteousness of Jehoiakim and his outcome
- Verses 20-23: a preview of the lament of Jerusalem and the people of Judah
- Verses 24-30: a declaration of judgment on Coniah (Jehoiachin)
The Flow of the Text and the Message
Jeremiah points out that the leaders of Judah do not practice justice, oppress those who have no power, and pursue luxury and power. God warns of judgment for those who abandon righteous rule, and He also urges the people to truly repent and to put justice into practice. Through this chapter, the responsibility of kings and leaders, the value of justice, and the consequences of disobedience are emphasized.
Meditation Points
- What meaning does God’s command to practice justice and righteousness have for our society and community today?
- Let us reflect on what lessons we can learn about the responsibility of those who have power, and whether there are points we can apply to our everyday lives as well.
Apply It to Me
- I can check for myself whether I am looking after those who are weak and neighbors who are oppressed in my everyday life.
- Within the community, I can reflect on how my life in which I practice justice and follow God’s will is showing itself in my own life.
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