Chapter 669 of 1163

ISAIAH 21

Three pictures help us better understand what is involved in faithful ministry.

The woman in travail (1–4). If you are faithful to your calling, your ministry will not be easy. Isaiah was distressed as he saw what God was doing in the world. He felt like a woman in travail (v. 3); it was very painful for him to “give birth” to his message.

The threshing floor (10). Why would Isaiah be distressed at the fall of the city of Babylon? (This was not the destruction of the city but a temporary takeover by a rival power.) Isaiah had hoped Babylon would stop the advances of Assyria and thus save the Jews from suffering. He saw them being winnowed and crushed by the enemy. He longed for a calm evening of his life (v. 4); instead, he had to carry distressing burdens to the end.

The watchman (5–9, 11–17). While the prophet was anxiously watching so he could warn the people, the nation’s leaders were carelessly feasting and thinking only of themselves (v. 5). The watchman sees both night (trouble) and morning (blessing), and that is how it will be until Jesus comes. The most important thing is that the watchman be faithful to warn when danger is coming (Ezek. 25:12–14).

“Preaching that costs nothing accomplishes nothing.”

John Henry Jowett

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