Day 117: Isaiah 20- Naked Faith

In the year that the commander in chief, who was sent by Sargon the king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and fought against it and captured it— 2 at that time the Lord spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and loose the sackcloth from your waist and take off your sandals from your feet,” and he did so, walking naked and barefoot.
3 Then the Lord said, “As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Cush., 4 so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptian captives and the Cushite exiles, both the young and the old, naked and barefoot, with buttocks uncovered, the nakedness of Egypt. 

5 Then they shall be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and of Egypt their boast. 6 And the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, ‘Behold, this is what has happened to those in whom we hoped and to whom we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria! And we, how shall we escape?’”

Meditation
To enhance our humanity we must increase our dependency on the Lord, trusting Him alone in naked faith. 

God often calls His prophets to live the message He wants His people to hear. Hosea’s relationship with Ghomer, the prostitute, communicated God’s unconditional love for His unfaithful people. Jeremiah and Ezekiel also communicated to God’s people through living parables. Isaiah’s living message is unique, called to wander naked for three years as a plea to His people for fidelity of faith in Him.

Isaiah’s nakedness was the dress of a captive, a citizen conquered by a foreign power- exposed and vulnerable. The symbolism pointed to the folly of hoping in Egypt and Cush who were rebelling against the Assyrian Empire. Egypt too would be conquered and to trust in their political power for refuge and strength is to choose captivity.

Foolishness trusts in the powers of the world for what only the Lord can deliver: Protection, strength, provision, security, status, and significance.  Naked faith is to be fully clothed in the promises of a Covenant God who will not leave or forsake His people. God provides for His creation, even birds of the air, will He not provide for His children? Yes. 

Circumstances were dire for Judah as they are uncertain for us today. We must listen to Isaiah’s living message- To trust in the powers of the world, for what only the Lord can give us, leads to captivity. In security of covenant relationship we must have naked faith in the Lord, clothed only in His promises.

Richly Dwelling
-Would you have followed God’s direction if you were Isaiah, communicating God’s word through living in nakedness before the world?

-What powers do you trust in; put your hope in, that is not the Lord? Economic powers? Political? Your own giftedness? Do you see the folly, the eventual captivity of trusting in those powers for what only the Lord can give?

-How can you trust more fully in God, clothing yourself only with His promises?

Key Verse
at that time the Lord spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and loose the sackcloth from your waist and take off your sandals from your feet,” and he did so, walking naked and barefoot.