Monday - Isaiah 22 - Shebna Tossed Like a Ball

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OD did not want sacrifices, offerings nor entreaties for His city. The city had ceased being loyal to Him long before this. He had scheduled trouble, destruction and perplexity aplenty for the inhabitants of what should have been the Holy City (Isaiah 22:5). Things were certainly going to deteriorate there. Yet, the people proceeded with their festive lives as if nothing was wrong, when in all reality, everything was irreparably wrong.  God wanted to see repentance in them, but instead He found only defiant and aloof complacency. So, He decreed a death against them (Isaiah 22:14).

There was one particular Jew who incurred special anger from Jehovah. That man was Shebna the treasurer. He was a man of excess. At a time when the capital of the nation of Judah was starving, Shebna commissioned the difficult construction of monuments for himself. He was guilty of an immoral abuse of his own power and influence. So, God promised the throw Shebna away like a strong-armed man tossing a ball far into field of tall grass (Isaiah 22:18). The days of his position of privilege were definitely numbered.

This is where the passage gets intensely messianic. Eliakim seems to be a representative of the Messiah. Having the position over the government and being a father to the Jews (Isaiah 22:21); having the key to the house of David, the Messiah will be a sure and secure Savior of His people someday. He will be a strong nail in a good place.