Beseiged

Isaiah 29
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.

In a chapter surrounded by David's glory past and Jesus' glory to come, we have this striking prophesy of misery to come, to the seige of Sennacherib.

But there is the promise of good things to come.

More From Isaiah 29
19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Here we can hear echos of themes to come - the beatitudes. And....

More From Isaiah 29
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.

And so, in this chapter we look near - to the seige of Sennacherib and to the captivities. And we also look far - to the first coming of Jesus, to the coming of the church and to the second coming of Jesus and the conversion of the Jews.

Lesson for today: no matter how bad it gets, there is always hope in the saving grace of Jesus Christ....