Isaiah 20:1-2 In the year the field commander, sent by King Sargon of Assyria, came to Ashdod and fought and took it, God told Isaiah son of Amoz, “Go, take off your clothes and sandals,” and Isaiah did it, going about naked and barefooted.
3-6 Then God said, “Just as my servant Isaiah has walked around town naked and barefooted for three years as a warning sign to Egypt and Ethiopia, so the king of Assyria is going to come and take the Egyptians as captives and the Ethiopians as exiles. He’ll take young and old alike and march them out of there naked and barefooted, exposed to mockery and jeers—the bared buttocks of Egypt on parade! Everyone who has put hope in Ethiopia and expected help from Egypt will be thrown into confusion. Everyone who lives along this coast will say, ‘Look at them! Naked and barefooted, shuffling off to exile! And we thought they were our best hope, that they’d rescue us from the king of Assyria. Now what’s going to happen to us? How are we going to get out of this?’”
In 711 B.C. the Assyrians captured the Philistine city of Ashdod on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. To reach Ashdod, the Assyrian armies had to pass near or through Israel, leaving the Israelites shaking in their sandals and wondering when they would become the next Assyrian target. Naturally, the Israelites might begin searching for more powerful nations that could save them, such as Egypt or Ethiopia. That’s where this prophetic demonstration comes in.
Anybody who claims to be a prophet had better watch out! It’s great to swan around getting credit for things over which you really have no control, claiming that your prophecies have been fulfilled; however, true prophets sometimes suffer a lot. God wants the Israelites to realize that trusting Egypt and Ethiopia are worthless endeavors and that only He can save them.
God knows that the Israelites are thick-headed and rebellious once they fixate on something, so He instructs Isaiah to take off his outer garment and walk around barefooted wearing only his inner garment and a loin cloth for three years. Three years is long enough for Isaiah to walk through a good share of Israel, underscoring the futility of trusting in outside powers. Isaiah is appearing in public as if he were a captive of a foreign power. In those days, captives were forced to wear only their undergarments and go barefoot as a sign of complete subjugation and humiliation. Sometimes, a conquering army would even chop off the simple tunic to expose the captives’ buttocks and also shave half their beards.
2 Samuel 10:1-4 describes such treatment: “Some time after this, the king of the Ammonites died and Hanun, his son, succeeded him as king. David said, “I’d like to show some kindness to Hanun, the son of Nahash—treat him as well and as kindly as his father treated me.” So David sent Hanun condolences regarding his father.
But when David’s servants got to the land of the Ammonites, the Ammonite leaders warned Hanun, their head delegate, “Do you for a minute suppose that David is honoring your father by sending you comforters? Don’t you think it’s because he wants to snoop around the city and size it up that David has sent his emissaries to you?”
So Hanun seized David’s men, shaved off half their beards, cut off their robes halfway up their buttocks, and sent them packing.”
King David was only sending a delegation to sympathize with the Ammonite king on the death of his father, David’s friend. But King Hanun listened to short-sighted advisors who were likely doing everything they could to gain an early advantage with this new king. After all, what could be more dramatic than abusing some Israelite couriers? What began as an innocent diplomatic gesture wound up as a major insult to King David, the ruler of a neighboring power. David had to allow his emissaries to stay outside Jerusalem until their beards grew back.
The weather in Israel can bebitterly cold. Walking around barefoot and undressed sounds like an invitation to pneumonia. Some scholars think perhaps Isaiah only did this for part of the day; however, no matter how many hours Isaiah spent each day undressed like this, he would suffer.
During the Advent and Christmas season, we read the Messianic prophecies Isaiah has recorded and rejoice in them. At last count, there are at least 41 such prophecies. We read Isaiah’s description of his calling as a prophet in Isaiah 6 and marvel at the glorious description of God’s appearance to Isaiah. But it’s easy to ignore the humiliation and suffering Isaiah endured during his ministry of 55-60 years. And then Isaiah may have died as a martyr at the hands of wicked King Manasseh.
Gotquestions.org tells us: The Bible does not disclose how the prophet Isaiah died, but Hebrews 11 may offer a clue. This chapter, often referred to as the “hall of faith,” presents an extraordinary list of Old Testament champions of faith, including a description of several anonymous martyrs and persecuted saints. Hebrews 11:37 states, “Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword” (NLT). According to some extrabiblical sources, one of those unnamed persons sawed in half was Isaiah the prophet.
Isaiah, whose name means “the Lord is salvation,” is the masterful author of the book of Isaiah. His 55-to-60-year prophetic ministry presented the hope of salvation to the people of Judah in the reigns of the kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Ancient Jewish-Christian tradition suggests that Isaiah was martyred by King Manasseh, son of Hezekiah. According to the tradition, Isaiah was tied inside a sack, placed within the hollow of a tree trunk, and then sawed in two. This story traces back to a first-century, noncanonical book called the Ascension of Isaiah, which claims to tell the story of Isaiah’s death.
Isaiah came from a prominent family in Jerusalem and was married with two children. So not only did Isaiah suffer humiliation and hardship, but his family did as well. Imagine the gossip at the local well when his wife was collecting water or the temple school attended by his children. And Isaiah’s two sons bore names of prophecy as well.
This Christmas, read as many of the Messianic prophecies in Isaiah as possible. https://www.preceptaustin.org/messianic-prophecies-in-isaiah has a complete list. But while you’re reading those prophecies, remember poor Isaiah walking around semi-naked and barefoot for three years. Remember Isaiah’s family. And remember that obedience is the best sacrifice and sometimes that obedience costs a great deal.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to remain obedient, even when it costs us our social position or our reputation. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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