Articles
The Peg In The Wall
The Peg In The Wall
A common problem has been where to store your coat that is used to protect from weather and the elements. The common solution was a simple peg in the wall! Here you hang you protection. Thus we draw a picture of hanging our hopes.
This section tells us the history of Shebna, and this section includes the only direct personal prophecy against an individual in the whole book. Smith said of Shebna:
Shebna was a foreigner—most likely an Aramean—in the royal service. As steward he was the ranking officer of the king’s court. At the time of his confrontation with Isaiah, Shebna was preparing a rock sepulcher for himself. This man had betrayed his trust as a public official. He was more interested in building lasting monuments to himself than in helping his people face the national crisis which awaited them (22:15–16).*
Where do we hang our hopes? Upon men like Shebna? Upon government rulers and systems? They and US will all die and pass from this sphere! It is appointed for all to die and THEN THE JUDGMENT – the judgment by God!
How many ‘saviors’ of nations have come in gone? How many rulers have made a name for themselves only to fall and be forgotten by the next generation? Which great man will we put our hope in? What will be the end of him and us?
We live here as aliens and strangers. We are godly citizens of whatever land and government we reside.
“1 If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. 3 For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4).
What peg have you chosen?
Hugh DeLong
James Smith: Old Testament Survey Series: The Major Prophets, pg. 71, Logos edition
