isaiah 21:10

Isaiah 21:10 says, O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.  This is a reference to the people of Isreal who had remained true to God even when they had been cast down like corn in a threshing floor.  They may have been greatly abused, but they were still God's people, and He was going to restore them one day.  Matthew Henry says that the church is God’s floor and Christians are His corn.  He also adds that hypocrites are but chafe and straw.  As followers of Christ, we should be bearing fruit for His kingdom, even in times of persecution.  We are already assured of the victory. 

Verse eleven adds, The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?  Matthew Henry says there are different understandings of who this refers to, but it was someone who was in power that people could call out to for help.  The question put to the watchman shows that at least someone was concerned about what was happening.  We may not always know exactly who is in charge of attacks on Christians today, but we need to be aware that those attacks are happening.  The Holy Spirit is our Watchman, and we need to call out to Him for guidance.  Of course, we as followers of Christ should also be on watch for the dangers that the world can present to us under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Verse twelve continues, The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.  The watchman said after a long dark night that the morning was coming where things could be seen more clearly.  I think to that Sunday morning after Jesus was crucified and placed in the tomb, when the hope of the disciples was nearly gone, but the morning was coming after their long night.  When things look like the darkest night for us as Christians, we just need to remember that the morning is coming.

Verse thirteen states, The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.  The people mentioned here were descendants of Abraham through his son with Ketura according to Matthew Henry.  They were the people of Saudia Arabia, which was a large country south and east of the land of Canaan.  We as Christians have many enemies all around us, so we need to always be ready to defend the faith. 

Verse fourteen adds, The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.  Matthew Henry says these were the descendants of Ishmael, so once again it came back to descendants of Abraham.  The people of Isreal depended on these people to be a barrier between them and the more warlike people, according to Matthew Henry, so when they heard that they were in distress themselves, it became the burden of Israel as well.  As a nation, we often depend on our allies to help form a barrier between us and those who would destroy us.  If they are suddenly in distress or under attack themselves, we should be alarmed.  We cannot afford to turn our backs on our friends if they are in need, but we do still need to do everything under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and put our faith in Him above all else. 

Verse fifteen continues, For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.  Isaiah said that the king of Assyria would destroy those who the people of Israel looked to for help.  There is nothing or no one that is going to save us from spiritual defeat other than Jesus Christ. Whoever or whatever we put our faith in other than Him will one day be destroyed. 

Verse sixteen says, For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:  Isaiah said that God had revealed to him that within a year all the glory of Kedar would fall.  Everything that they put their faith in was going to be taken away, just as everything that people put their faith in today other than Jesus Christ will one day be taken away, no matter how glorious we may think it is. 

Verse seventeen adds, And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the Lord God of Israel hath spoken it.  Their army would be diminished, not just by Assyria, but because God had decreed it.  God has already decreed the defeat of all His enemies, so we would be foolish to put our faith in them in this lifetime.