The Valley of Vision - Isaiah 22:1–14

In Isaiah 13—21, God delivers a list of prophecies to different nations and cities: Babylon, Philistia, Moab, Damascus, Cush, Egypt, Edom, and Arabia. But now, for the first time, He addresses Jerusalem in chapter 22. He gives Isaiah a vision called “The Valley of Vision” (1, 5). The “valley” to which He refers is Jerusalem. The “vision” Isaiah sees is one of devastation.

Isaiah begins the vision wondering what’s going on, as he sees the city’s people have “all gone up to the housetops” (1). The people of the city have ceased normal activities to watch an enemy army marching toward them (2–3).

Isaiah can immediately sense the direction of the vision. In verse 4, he tells those around him, “Turn your gaze away from me, let me weep bitterly, do not insist on comforting me concerning the destruction of the daughter of my people.” Isaiah doesn’t want anyone to see his emotional state as he watches the vision God gives him.

We must stop at this point and recognize that Jerusalem was never destroyed in Isaiah’s lifetime. Chapters 36–39 are clear: God delivers Jerusalem from the Assyrians when Isaiah and Hezekiah lead the city to call on Him in repentance. 

But that’s not the response of Jerusalem here. 

As Isaiah gazes into the vision, he sees Jerusalem’s people confused, oppressed, and panicked (5). They hurriedly prepare for attack by sending soldiers, fortifying the city wall, and storing the waters of the local Shiloah spring (6–11a). 

But they’re forgetting the most important response: “You did not look to Him who made it, nor did you see Him who formed it long ago” (11b). No one turns to Yahweh, the maker of the spring. No one mourns sin in sackcloth and ashes (12). The city dedicated to the worship of Yahweh is acting like atheists.

Instead, once their man-made defenses are prepared, they begin to party: “Behold there is joy and gladness, killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine: ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die’” (13). This is the kind of partying people do when they’ve lost all hope in God. Paul uses the same phrase in 1 Corinthians 15:32 to refer to those who deny the resurrection. Both groups have either forgotten or denied God’s willingness to save those who turn to Him in repentance.

God’s final word is clear: “‘Surely this iniquity shall not be atoned for you until you die,’ says Lord Yahweh of hosts” (14). If they will not repent and seek God’s deliverance, they will pay with their own blood.

Throughout Isaiah’s prophecies to Gentile peoples in earlier chapters, God repeatedly rebukes their trust in themselves. Here in chapter 22, He applies the same judgment to His own people. They, of all people, should know they can trust Him! Yet they preferred to trust in themselves and live their final hours in sin.

It’s no different today. People who trust in themselves sacrifice their eternal glory for a few moments of pleasure. They think they’re clever; but they’re being foolish. True wisdom knows that God is eager to save all who turn to Christ, rescuing even in the last hour.

Pastor David