As we begin Chapter 29 we find the prophet speaking a prophecy against the city of David but we also find him speaking a prophecy of future glory for that city---and of defeat of Israel's enemies.
We know from our previous study of the Old Testament that the forces of the Assyrian army will come to lay siege to Jerusalem. We know that later on the Neo-Babylonian army will come and lay siege to Jerusalem. Isaiah foresees great troubles coming against the city, some in the nearer future and some in the farther off future.
"Woe to you, Ariel, Ariel, the city where David settled!" (Isaiah 29:1a) I don't believe we have ever seen Jerusalem referred to as "Ariel" before and scholars are divided in their opinions as to what the name means. Depending on the proper translation, it either means "lion of God" or "altar hearth of God".
Either translation---or both---is appropriate. Jacob spoke of his son Judah as a lion's whelp back in the book of Genesis and he prophesied that the tribe of Judah would become the royal line of Israel, stating that the scepter would not depart from Judah until the One to whom it belongs comes. This is generally interpreted to be a reference to the eternal King of kings who is of the direct line of David, of the royal line of Judah. The Lord Jesus Christ is often referred to as "the lion of the tribe of Judah", for He fulfills the prophecies regarding the lineage of the Messiah and someday He will take up the scepter and reign from David's throne forever. So it is clear that Jerusalem is the city that Isaiah calls "Ariel" since it is the city where David settled and it is the royal city of the kingdom of Judah and it will be the capital of the Messiah.
If "Ariel" is also intended to represent the "altar hearth of God" then it may be a reference to the fact that the Lord's temple was in Jerusalem and that the only altar authorized by God was there. This also backs up our belief that Isaiah can be talking about no other city than Jerusalem.
What will happen there? While life appears to be going on as usual, disaster will strike. "Add year to year and let your cycle of festivals go on. Yet I will besiege Ariel; she will mourn and lament, she will be to me like an altar hearth." (Isaiah 29:1b-2)
In this passage the mention of an altar hearth indicates burning and ashes, whether literally or figuratively or both. It warns of destruction. It speaks of the useless works of any who eschew God and any who worship idols. As the Lord will say later in the book of Isaiah, the one who bows at the altar of a false god is like one who "feeds on ashes". (Isaiah 44:20) Just as ashes cannot nourish the body and bring health to it, a life lived apart from God cannot nourish the soul or save it.
"I will encamp against you on all sides; I will encircle you with towers and set up My siege works against you. Brought low, you will speak from the ground; your speech will mumble out of the dust. Your voice will come ghostlike from the earth; out of the dust your speech will whisper." (Isaiah 29:3-4) The Lord speaks of these difficult circumstances as though He Himself is encircling the city and laying siege to it. Though He will use enemy armies to do it, this work is His. It will happen at His command to suit His purpose, and His purpose is to bring corrective discipline. Corrective discipline is not administered to destroy the one who has gone off course but to help them see the error of their ways, repent of the error, and get on the right track.
Time and time again in the Bible we find the Lord humbling those who are lifted up in pride, who feel they have no need of Him, who are behaving as if they are the lords of their own lives. But also, time and time again, we find Him blessing and lifting up those who are humble. In today's study we find Isaiah predicting some circumstances through which the Lord will humble the prideful and the idolatrous. In our next segment there is good news though! In time He will lift up Jerusalem again and He will destroy the enemies of His people.
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