Below are some preliminary questions to assist in the study of this passage. For a comprehensive study of the passage, download the Study Guide (PDF download).
1. When did Isaiah receive this present oracle (see verse 28 printed below?) What is significant about this?
This oracle came in the year king Ahaz died. (Isaiah 14:28)
This present prophecy was given “in the year king Ahaz died”—the nation of Judah had now lost its leader and was at a very low point in their history. Since the days of king David, the nation of Judah had repelled her archenemy, Philistia, and enjoyed much success against that enemy nation. But this had begun to change in the days of king Ahaz.. Under the reign of Ahaz there began the demise of Judah, this being part of the punishment the Lord brought upon His delinquent people. Now, with the death of Ahaz, Judah finds herself without a seasoned leader and completely vulnerable. It is at this point in the history of the nation that the Lord grants to Isaiah this oracle that contains a message of hope for His people.
2. How does the nation of Philistia react to Judah’s loss? But what message does the Lord have for that nation? See Isaiah 14:29 (printed below)
Do not rejoice, O Philistia, over the fact that the rod that struck you is broken; because from the root of that snake will spring up a viper, and the viper’s offspring will be a darting, venomous serpent. (Isaiah 14:29)
Finding the Old Testament people of God at their lowest point caused their archenemy, Philistia, to rejoice in the prospect of Judah’s imminent destruction at the hands of the advancing Assyrian armies. But the Lord now addresses the Philistines, exhorting them, “Do not rejoice … because from the root of that snake will spring up a viper, and the viper’s offspring will be a darting, venomous serpent” (verse 29b). The Philistines may view Ahaz as a snake who had been slain, but the Lord informs them that from the “root” of this snake shall come forth “a viper”—an even more deadly foe (this is a reference to king Hezekiah, note 2 Kings 18:7-8). The offspring of this viper will be a “darting, venomous serpent”—the most potent enemy of all (here is a reference to the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall completely defeat all of those who oppose God and His kingdom).
3. Rather than rejoicing over Judah’s loss, what does the Lord instruct Philistia to do? Why does He instruct them to do so? See Isaiah 14:31 (printed below)
Howl, O gate! Wail, O city! You are melted away, O Philistia—all of you, for a cloud of smoke comes from the north, and there is not one straggler in his ranks. (Isaiah 14:31)
Not only does the Lord exhort the Philistines not to rejoice (verse 29), He further instructs them to howl and wail for what is about to befall them (verse 31). What is described in verses 30b-31 is the complete destruction of these enemies of God who posed a threat to His people and would rejoice in the destruction of His people. “A cloud of smoke…from the north” is a reference to the Assyrian armies who not only attacked Judah but would go on to conquer the land of Philistia. As verse 30b indicates (“I will destroy your root with famine, and your survivors will be slain,”) the Assyrian conquest of Philistia is a model and is representative of the final conquest of the Lord against all His enemies and all those who would threaten His people.
4. Throughout this passage how are the people of God depicted? See Isaiah 14:30 and 32b (printed below)
The poorest of the poor will find pasture, and the needy will lie down in safety. But I will destroy your root with famine, and your survivors will be slain… (32)…They shall declare that Jehovah has established Zion, and in her his afflicted people will find refuge. (Isaiah 14:30,32b)
Throughout this passage God’s people are depicted as being feeble and vulnerable. In verse 30a they are described as being “the poorest of the poor,” literally, “the first born of the poor;” an expression that means, “the poorest of the poor” (Commentary on Isaiah, Joseph Alexander, p.209). In verse 30b they are described as “the needy” who shall lie down—the description is that of a flock of defenseless sheep. In verse 32 they are described as “his afflicted people”—they are attacked, abused, and viewed as easy prey.
5. What does the Lord promise to do for His people? See Isaiah 14:32 (printed below)
What answer shall be given to the envoys of that nation? They shall declare that Jehovah has established Zion, and in her his afflicted people will find refuge. (Isaiah 14:32)
Although God’s people are feeble, the Lord our God is mighty, and He promises to provide a mighty refuge for us. “Jehovah has established Zion”—He has made Zion to be a firm and sure place of refuge, Zion being the place and presence of the Lord Himself (verse 32a). In Zion “his afflicted people will find refuge”—the Lord has prepared a mighty fortress for His people; and now, as they are besieged by their enemies, they are depicted as finding shelter in that divine refuge provided by the Lord (verse 32b).
