Depend on Him - Isaiah 22:15-25

In the first half of Isaiah 22, Isaiah received a terrifying vision of Jerusalem. In the vision, Isaiah saw a foreign army drawing near to Jerusalem. In response, he saw some people prepare militarily. He saw others partying as they anticipated death. But no one cried out to God, lamented sin, or sought deliverance. Their response was entirely godless.

Having made the general godlessness of Jerusalem clear, the second half of the chapter focuses on two high-ranking officials in Jerusalem: Shebna and Eliakim. Isaiah 36-37 shows that these men both served under King Hezekiah. They served him before and during Assyria’s siege of Jerusalem.

We learn about Shebna first. Verse 15 identifies him as a “steward…in charge of the royal household”. But though he is a significant official in Jerusalem, verse 16 reveals Shebna is busy carving out his tomb. Like the rest of the city, his mind is fixed on what he can do for himself, rather than God. When Jerusalem needed real leadership, Shebna selfishly wanted to cement his legacy for future generations.

God sends Isaiah to Shebna with a message of judgment. Verses 17-18 promise he will be banished to die ignominiously in another country. Next, verses 19-21 promise he will be replaced by Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah. Shebna was wrongly fixated on securing his status. In response, God guarantees he will lose both his office and his status. 

Eliakim will be a very different leader. In verses 20-23 God describes him as “My servant”, predicting that he will be “a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah” and “a throne of glory to his father’s house”. Most of all, Isaiah says, “When he opens no one will shut, when he shuts no one will open.” This paints a picture of Eliakim as a godly man who shepherds others effectively with care and honor.

But in verse 24, Isaiah foresees a problem that will wear out Eliakim, “So they will hang on him all the glory of his father’s house, offspring and issue, all the least of the vessels, from bowls to all the jars.” These household items seem to figuratively represent Eliakim being burdened with the expectations of his family.

Finally, verse 25 shows Eliakim breaking down under these burdens. “In that day,” declares Yahweh of hosts, “the peg driven in a firm place will give way; it will even break off and fall, and the load hanging on it will be cut off, for Yahweh has spoken.” 

The commentator John Oswalt comments insightfully on Eliakim’s breakdown: “That such a thing will happen in that setting is entirely predictable. The people have rejected divine resources and are trusting in humans instead. Most humans fail their trust, and thus if one turns out to be unusually trustworthy, the loads are simply piled on. But no human can bear what is meant to be rolled onto the Lord.” 

This chapter is a warning about the reliability of human beings. As Psalm 146:3-5 says, “Do not trust in nobles, in merely a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; in that very day his plans perish. How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in Yahweh his God.” 

Only the Messiah, Jesus Christ, can bear all our burdens. Revelation 3:7 calls Jesus, “He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens.” Unlike human authorities, Jesus is perfectly righteous and all-powerful. For every need, and in all situations, we must depend on Him.

Pastor David