In today's reading of Isaiah we see the judgement upon Israel and Syria, Ethiopia, and Egypt... And then we read about the shame of those who allied themselves with Egypt.
And now I find one of the strangest passages I have yet to read... as the Lord tells Isaiah to put off his sackcloth and walk naked and barefoot as a sign of what was to happen to Egypt and Ethiopia... It says he did this for three years!
SAY WHAT???
I can't find any commentary in Inspiration regarding this story (at least not in my simple search), so I'm looking at other commentaries. And here they argue that either it was not for three years that he went naked, or that he was not completely naked...
Here's comment from Matthew Henry commentary that I thought was interesting:
Others think sackcloth was what he commonly wore as a prophet, to show himself mortified to the world, and that he might learn to endure hardness; soft clothing better becomes those that attend in king's palaces (Mat 11:8) than those that go on God's errands. Elijah wore hair-cloth (2Ki 1:8), and John Baptist (Mat 3:4) and those that pretended to be prophets supported their pretension by wearing rough garments (Zec 13:4); but Isaiah has orders given him to loose his sackcloth from his loins, not to exchange it for better clothing, but for none at all - no upper garment, no mantle, cloak, or coat, but only that which was next to him, we may suppose his shirt, waistcoat, and drawers; and he must put off his shoes, and go barefoot; so that compared with the dress of others, and what he himself usually wore, he might be said to go naked. This was a great hardship upon the prophet; it was a blemish to his reputation, and would expose him to contempt and ridicule; the boys in the streets would hoot at him, and those who sought occasion against him would say, The prophet is indeed a fool, and the spiritual man is mad,Hos 9:7. It might likewise be a prejudice to his health; he was in danger of catching a cold, which might throw him into a fever, and cost him his life; but God bade him do it, that he might give a proof of his obedience to God in a most difficult command, and so shame the disobedience of his people to the most easy and reasonable precepts. When we are in the way of our duty we may trust God both with our credit and with our safety. The hearts of that people were strangely stupid, and would not be affected with what they only heard, but must be taught by signs, and therefore Isaiah must do this for their edification. If the dress was scandalous, yet the design was glorious, and what a prophet of the Lord needed not to be ashamed of.I don't know that this is the best or most correct explanation for what is going on here, but it does give a little spiritual inspiration to this otherwise quite shocking command.
I was planning to comment on Titus 1 today which talks about the qualifications of those in spiritual leadership... but somehow this story in Isaiah was just too much and I had to do some more digging.
So my takeaway thought is, when God asks something hard of us, it may not look good to the world, and it may appear to taint our reputation, but can we trust God with our reputation. Also, I think we can learn from the mistakes of Israel and other nations who forsook God. Let's repent and confess our sins that we may be covered with Christ robe of righteousness and that we may not be caught naked--spiritually, physically, or any other wise.
Tomorrow's Reading: Isa. 21-22 and Titus 2
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