Ashdod, the capital of Philistia in Isaiah’s day, went through a period of instability, so King Sargon II of Assyria sent his own commander-in-chief to assume control of Ashdod, but this only led to another rebellion in 715 BCE.
Egypt and Ethiopia agreed to an alliance with the rebels Ashdod to join in their revolt, so (though not mentioned) King Hezekiah of Judah may have been tempted to get his army involved also since King Sargon of Syria of Assyria was all of their common adversary. Earlier in Isaiah 17, Isaiah proclaimed judgment upon the Northern Kingdom of Israel because of the alliance that they had entered into with the Assyrians. So here in Isaiah 20, the LORD warns Hezekiah, king of Judah not to repeat the mistake of Israel in the North, as Isaiah foretells a future of the shame and disgrace of the Egyptians and Ethiopians for their involvement with the Assyrian rebels.
This prophecy in Isaiah 20 does not cancel out Isaiah’s previous prophecies of hope and reconciliation of Israel, Ethiopia, Assyria, and Egypt in Isaiah 18 & 19, but it does tell of judgement that must take place before that peace can be realized.
Read Isaiah 20:1-6
King Sargon’s challenge with the Assyrian rebels in the capital city of Ashdod, is used to mark the time of the events in the text (a more detail reflected on these particular events can be read about in Isaiah 30-31).
When a prophet was called by God, they often wore sackcloth clothing. Sackcloth is a rough fabric that irritates the human skin, and it was to represent the way that God’s Holy Word agitated the prophet’s soul and compelled them to proclaim the burdensome word of the LORD.
The LORD commands Isaiah to remove his sackcloth (a symbol of self sacrifice, righteousness, and piety) and replace it with his nakedness (a symbol of shame, ignorance and disgrace), and to remove his sandals leaving him to walk around barefoot (a symbol of poverty and anguish) on the stoney streets of Judah. All this, God commanded Isaiah to do for a completion of 3 years.
Isaiah was in a sense told by the LORD to walk around Judah dressed as a prisoner of war; naked and barefoot. This was a warning to king Hezekiah and all of Judah, that this would be their fate if they joined in the alliance with Egypt and Ethiopia and the rebels in Ashdod.
This would have also served as a reminder for Judah of what happened to their brothers and sister living in the North, when they disobeyed the LORD by entering into foreign alliances.
Rather Judah is challenged to trust in none other than the LORD their God because the future and purpose of all nations are in his hands.
Reflection
The LORD went to great lengths, causing Isaiah to walk in shame for 3 years as a warning to his people in Judah, to discourage them from interfering with Asssyria’s affairs. What lengths has God gone to to warn you to stay away from something harmful?
In this chapter, rather than the LORD command Judah to take action, he sends out Isaiah to warn them to be still. How might God be calling you to “Be still” in your own life?
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exaltedintheearth." - Psalm46:10
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” - Exodus14:14
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” - James 1:19
You're welcome to pray with me:
God of wisdom and love, We praise you because your thoughts are high above anything that we could ask, imagine, or think. Since you continuously show us your love, we have the assurance of knowing that you only want what is best for us. And so we place you at the head of our lives and the center of our hearts, to lead us and guide us through all of life’s circumstances. Help us to discern your voice as we are constantly bombarded with messages and information, so that as time passes, the wise decisions that we have made in following you will lead us to walk in our purpose bringing glory to you, in Jesus name. Amen!