Isaiah 7:20-25 - They Called for Help and Got Half a Shave - 320

A political “solution” can look wise in the moment, right up until it starts shaving away your peace. We finish Isaiah 7:20–25 with one of the most vivid warnings in the Old Testament: God calls Assyria a “hired razor” and uses that image to show Judah what happens when they trust power instead of God’s promises.

We walk verse by verse through the cultural weight of shaving and why it signals humiliation, then follow the fallout into everyday life. “Curds and honey” show up as survival food, not a celebration. Priceless vineyards become briars and thorns, echoing Genesis 3 and the curse imagery that shows what sin and spiritual neglect produce over time. Even the tools change, because bows and arrows replace farming tools when a once-cultivated land turns wild and dangerous.

From there, we bring it home with clear application: misplaced trust always has a cost, short-term fixes can create long-term consequences, and spiritual compromise leads to spiritual decline. We also zoom out to the bigger picture of Isaiah 7, including the Emmanuel promise pointing forward to Jesus Christ, and we end with a simple question that sticks: What or who are you really trusting today?

Subscribe to Connecting the Gap, share this with a friend who needs steady hope, and leave a review to help more people find the podcast.

Transcript

Cold Open: Trusting Assyria Over God

Daniel Moore 0:05

So instead of trusting God, Judah decided, let's hire Assyria to fix our problems. Well, how's that contract shave working out for you now? A little closer than you expected, huh? And when Isaiah said the land would be overgrown with briars and thorns, did they picture a light landscaping issue, or did they just not think it would turn into a full-blown wilderness makeover? Well this week we're jumping into Isaiah chapter 7, finishing it up with verses 20 through 25, and things get, well, a little hairy. Literally, God uses this vivid image of a razor, specifically Asteria, to shave the land bare. And not in a way a fresh haircut kind of way, but more like a total humiliation and devastation kind of way. This is what happens when Judah chooses to trust political power over God's promises. Turns out, the help they hired becomes the very thing that brings them low. And it doesn't stop there, the once fruitful land gone. Vineyards replaced by briars and thorns. Prosperity, swapped for survival mode, curds and honey become the new normal, not because things are thriving, but because everything else has collapsed. It's a sobering picture, but also a strangely relatable one. Because how often do we, just like Judah, try to solve our problems in ways that feel smart in the moment, only to realize later we've invited the very thing that complicates our lives even more? Well, this week we're gonna unpack what happens when fear drives our decisions, what God is really showing us through this passage, and how we can avoid turning our own lives into a spiritual, overgrown field. Let's get to it. Welcome to Connecting the Gap. This is a podcast about marriage, Bible, and book studies. We interview people that have a story. I'm Daniel Moore, your host. Thank you guys for joining us this week on Familiar with our show. Check out our website, connectingtheGap.net. Our platforms are there, YouTube and Rumble links, we're also on the Christian Podcasting at Edifi, and we're also on your Alexa and Google Smart Devices. You can also visit us on social, on Facebook, Instagram, and X at CTGapOnline. If you're a fan of our show, please subscribe. Feel free to leave a comment on our platforms, give us a thumbs up for five-star review and Apple Podcasts, and we'd be thankful to you for doing that. Well, this week we're going to finish up chapter seven in our verse-by-verse study in Isaiah. But first of all, just want to remind you, here in a little over a week, I'm going to be at the Somewhere in Time Bookstore in Webb City, Missouri doing a book signing event. That's a Saturday afternoon from 1 to 3 p.m. If you live locally in this area and listen to the podcast and maybe we've never met, or if you're just some friends of mine and you want to come in and say hi and give me a little company, I'd love that as well. Again, that's going to be on May the 9th from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Somewhere in Time bookstore in Web City, Missouri. So look forward to seeing you there. I'll have all three of my books and my study guide, copies of all those there, and you can actually get those a little bit of a discount if you come over there to the book signing event, and I'll be glad to stock you up on some good marriage materials, some good marriage books that we've written here for connecting the gap. Well, as I said, this week we're going to go ahead and finish up chapter 7, and let's go ahead and get into it in our verse-by-verse study in Isaiah. So as we get started this week, let's go ahead and read our passage. And this week we only have five verses to go through. But as we finish up this chapter, we'll do a wrap-up of these five verses and an application. Then we're going to wrap up the chapter and do an application for it as well. So let's go ahead and get into it. We'll read our passage here, and of course, this is from the English Standard Version or the ESV version of the Bible. It says, In that day the Lord will shave with a razor that is hired beyond the river, with the king of Assyria, the head and the hair of the feet, and it will sweep away the beard also. In that day, a man will keep alive a young cow and two sheep, and because of the abundance of milk that they give, he will eat curds, for everyone who is left in the land will eat curds and honey. In that day, every place where there used to be a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels of silver will become briars and thorns. With bow and arrows a man will come there, for all the land will be briars and thorns. And as for all the hills that used to be hoeed with a hoe, you will not come there for fear of briars and thorns, but they will become a place where cattle are let loose and where sheep tread. So as we go ahead and get started this week, we'll start with verse twenty, here in chapter seven, pick up from where we left off last week. In that day the Lord will shave with the razor that is hired beyond the river, with the king of Assyria, the head and the hair of the feet, and it will sweep away the beard also. Here in this verse, as we get started, is a vivid, humiliating image of judgment. Shaving was a social disgrace in ancient Israel. Hair, and especially the beard, was a symbol of dignity and manhood. Shaving it off, especially by foreigners, was a sign of utter humiliation. There's another reference in the Old Testament that I want to go to here to give just another insight on this shaving situation, and it's in 2 Samuel chapter ten verses four through five. Those scriptures say so Hanan took David's servants and shaved off half the beard of each, and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away. When it was told David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return. So what is it with this beard business? Why is it it's such a big deal to have their hair and their beards shaved off? Well, let's take a look at that real quick here before we continue with chapter seven, verse twenty. Here in 2 Samuel, King David sends his servants to show kindness to Hanan, the new king of the Ammonites after his father's death. However, Hanan's advisors wrongly assume David's men are spies, so instead of honoring them, Hanan humiliates them. He has their beards shaved halfway and their garments cut in half, exposing them. In the ancient Near Eastern world, this was not just an insult, it was a calculated act of public disgrace. Messengers represented the king who sent them, so this was effectively a direct insult to David himself, and a rejection of peace, which of course ultimately that will lead to war. Well the reason this act was so shameful lies in the cultural significance of beards and clothing. A beard was a symbol of man's honor, identity, and masculinity, and to shave it, especially just halfway, because if you caught that, they only cut off half of the beard, was to strip a man of his dignity and make him appear ridiculous. Likewise, cutting their garments exposed them, which brought deep public shame and a culture that highly valued modesty and honor. Together these actions communicated total humiliation. It was saying, You have no dignity, and neither does your king. So when David hears what happened, he responds with compassion by instructing the men to stay in Jericho until their beards grow back. This shows his care for their dignity. He doesn't force them to return home in shame, but allows them time to be restored. This moment highlights both the severity of Hanan's offense and David's leadership, reminding us how deeply issues of honor, identity, and restoration were understood in that culture. So as we return back here to chapter seven, verse twenty in Isaiah, the razor here that's mentioned in this scripture that is hired beyond the river, the river refers to the Euphrates, and thus the razor is the king of Assyria. Interestingly, Ahaz had effectively hired the Assyrian king by sending tribute and requesting help. But God says this hired razor will be used not for Judah's protection, but for Judah's judgment. In the verse there where it says hair of the feet, that's likely a euphemism for pubic hair, reinforcing the shameful nature of the shaving. God will expose and disgrace Judah through this foreign power. The sweeping away of the beard shows that nothing of status or strength will be left. John Oswalt and Gary Smith observe that this symbolism represents Judah's complete humiliation. Assyria will strip the nation bare, both literally through invasion and figuratively through disgrace. Here as we just finished up the four verses of seventeen through twenty, those scriptures reveal that because King Ahaz and Judah rejected God's offer for help and chose political alliances instead, God would turn their chosen deliverer, Assyria, into the agent of their downfall. The imagery of from last week of the flies, the bees, and then this week humiliating Shave speaks of total divine initiated judgment. These verses fulfill the pattern seen throughout Isaiah that basically states, trust in God brings salvation, but reliance on human powers, of course, is going to lead to ruin. As we look at the final verses here in Isaiah chapter 7, verse 21 says, In that day a man will keep alive a young cow and two sheep. This verse speaks to a future time of desolation following God's judgment. The phrase in that day in this scripture is prophetic language, referring to a specific future event. In this context, the Assyrian invasion and its aftermath. The idea that a man only keeps a young cow and two sheep suggests scarcity. In ancient agrarian societies like Judah, wealth and survival are often determined by the quantity and quality of livestock. The reference to such a small number of animals implies that the land will be so depopulated by war and exile that a man will no longer need or be able, actually, to maintain a large herd or flock. According to the commentary of Matthew Henry, the country will be laid to waste, and there shall be no more occasion for persons to maintain great stocks of cattle, and man will be glad of the milk of one cow and two sheep. The public commentary adds the population will be so diminished that the few who remain will no longer need large herds, and substance will be drawn from what little bit remains. Historically here, a Syria's siege of Judah and the surrounding regions brought devastation not only to the cities, but also to the countryside. Farms and animals were destroyed or carried off, and many people were exiled or killed. Thus the scarcity and minimal livestock reflect this prevailing condition of survival after destruction. As we move on to verse 22 here in chapter seven, it says, And because of the abundance of milk that they give, he will eat curds, for everyone who is left in the land will eat curds and honey. So curds, that's a kind of yogurt or simple cheese that's made from soured milk. Every time I think of a curd, I think of cottage cheese. I'm not sure if that's really what that is. I th that's what it says on the package, I think. Honey also symbolically represents simplicity and substance. And I do like my cottage cheese with some hot honey, I will say that. Unlike the luxurious diets of the wealthy in Jerusalem, which included wine and prepared meals, this verse indicates that the remnant left in Judah after the invasion will live off the land in a substance fashion. The abundance, as quoted here in this verse, here is ironic. While milk is available, it comes not from prospering flocks, but from the few animals survivors are able to maintain. Alec Mother notes that curds and honey signify both deprivation and God's providence. The diet is not luxurious, but sufficient for survival, highlighting God's grace, even in judgment. The Kill and Delitch commentary remarks the abundance is not due to prosperity, but depopulation. The milk is plentiful because there are very few people to consume it. Honey was often wild honey from forests and unmanaged lands, indicating a move away from the cultivated land to a more nomadic or foraging survival method. This again underlines the idea of desolation and abandonment of agrarian life due to the Assyrian conquest. As we move to verse 23 here in chapter 7, it says, In that day every place where there used to be a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels of silver will become briars and thorns. This verse here emphasizes the reversal of prosperity. Vineyards with a thousand vines, once worth significant wealth, such as a thousand shekels of silver, will be overtaken by wild plants, representing total desolation. The number of thousand is likely symbolic of abundance and high economic value, indicating a place of former great productivity. Historically, vineyards were a cornerstone of Judah's wealth and economy. Their demise means economic collapse and desolation. The mention of briars and thorns is a common biblical metaphor for judgment, curse, and wilderness. It echoes Genesis 318, where the ground after the fall produced thorn and signifies the loss of God's blessing due to sin. Let's take a look at that real quick to give us a reminder on that portion of Scripture. In Genesis chapter 3, verse 18, it says, Thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the plants of the field. So here when this happened, God pronounced this curse on the ground in direct response to Adam's sin of disobedience and eating the forbidden fruit, which happened in Genesis 317. As the federal head of humanity, Adam's rebellion brought sin's consequences not only upon mankind, but also upon the created order, which had been placed under his dominion, and that happened in Genesis 128. The curse reflects divine justice, as sin disrupts the harmonious relationship between God, man, and creation, introducing disorder where there was once blessing and abundance. The meaning of the curse is that the earth, previously yielding its fruit effortlessly, now produces thorns and thistles as symbols of resistance and hostility. Man's labor to cultivate food becomes toil and sweat, as mentioned in Genesis 319, foreshadowing the broader reality that all creation groans under the weight of sin, as mentioned in Romans 8, verses 20 to 22. This serves as a merciful reminder of sin seriousness driving humanity toward dependence on God for redemption, ultimately fulfilled in Christ who bears the curse on the cross, as stated in Galatians 3 13. So here in verse 23, we see the briars and thistles mentioned as part of the judgment of what's taking place here because of Judah's relationship that they've had here with Assyria. The expositor's Bible commentary notes even the richest, most productive parts of the land will be rendered useless and dangerous, with no cultivation and untamed growth replacing what was once organized farming. This verse paints a bleak picture of post-invasion Judah, where the productive capacity of the land is nullified by war and abandonment. Verse 24 in chapter 7, we continue with bow and arrows a man will come there, for all the land will be briars and thorns. This verse again continues the picture of devastation. It describes a land so completely overgrown that men will only enter it with weapons. The bow and arrows are for self-protection not against human enemies but wild animals, as the land has become wild and dangerous. Farming tools have effectively been replaced by weapons because the agricultural use of the land has been lost. Pulpit commentary notes the whole land shall be so neglected and overgrown that men will not attempt to cultivate it, but only occasionally pass through it in search of game or honey. The shift from cultivation to hunting is further proof of depopulation. Moreover, the briars and thorns become not only symbols of desolation but also of danger. The judgment is so complete that formerly settled and fertile regions revert to wilderness. The historical context here confirms that during and after the Assyrian campaigns, around 734-701 BC, large swaths of land in the northern kingdom or Israel and parts of Judah became desolate due to warfare, deportation, and economic collapse. So here in verses 21 to 24 we see that it's prophesying a time of national desolation in Judah triggered by Assyrian aggression. Former prosperity is overturned, society regresses to a survivalist economy, and the land reverts to wilderness. The prophetic warning is deeply tied to covenant theology, a failure to trust in God, as King Ahaz did when seeking Assyrian help, results in physical and spiritual decay. And the final verse for this week, as we wrap up chapter seven, verse twenty five. And as for all the hills that used to be hoeed with the hoe, you will not come there for fear of the briars and thorns. But they will become a place where cattle are let loose and where sheep tread. This verse serves as the concluding thought in the prophetic vision of devastation presented from Isaiah seven verses twenty one to twenty five. It continues to describe the aftermath of God's judgment on the land of Judah for its unfaithfulness and King Ahaz's failure to trust the Lord. The reference to the hills which used to be hoed with a hoe, refers to formerly cultivated agricultural lands, areas where vines or other crops were carefully maintained. The use of hoes implies laborious and intensive cultivation, especially on hilly terrain where mechanized farming or even animal drawn plows would be difficult. Historically, hillside farming was common in Judah, particularly for growing grapes and olives. These areas symbolize the effort and ordering of human life under productive blessings. The phrase in this verse, you will not come there for fear of briars and thorns suggest that once prosperous lands will be so neglected and overgrown after the Assyrian invasion that people will avoid them entirely. The briars and thorns are often used in Isaiah and other prophetic literature as images of desolation and the reversal of the Edenic blessing, such as you see in Isaiah 5.6 and what we looked at earlier in Genesis 318. These same phrases are used earlier in verse 23 and 24, reinforcing that the entire land, not just isolated regions, will be devoured by wilderness. Killin De Leach commentary points out cultivated hillsides once tilled and profitable will be left wild and dangerous. The fear of thorns indicates not just discomfort, but danger, likely from animals dwelling among the overgrowth. The latter part of the verse shifts to describe what the land will now be used for. It says they will become a place where cattle are let loose and where sheep tread. This contrast signifies a shift from sophisticated human tended agriculture to simple pasturage. Cattle and sheep were commonly grazed on the less fertile plains or wilderness areas. That these once cultivated hills are now pastures underscores the reversal of prosperity. According to Matthew Henry, what was once the most fruitful and carefully cultivated becomes the most desolate, suited only for grazing. The pride of man's labor is replaced by the simplicity of animal presence. Historically, after Assyrian military campaigns, such as Tiglith Pelezer III's campaigns around 734 and 732 BC, vast regions of the northern kingdom and even parts of Judah were depopulated. Cities and countryside were left in ruins and overgrown. This verse reflects that profound transformation both economically and spiritually. So here in verse 25, this concludes a prophetic picture of judgment and desolation brought on by covenant unfaithfulness and misplaced trust in political alliances rather than in God. The image of cultivated land reverting to wilderness stands as a solemn warning of the consequences of turning away from divine guidance. Have our books there for sale. You can purchase those there to help sew into our ministry. You can also like these episodes and please share them. Please subscribe. That's what helps this podcast to grow. And we thank you in advance for doing that. Again, you can visit our website at connectingthegap.net. Well as we wrap up here with Isaiah chapter seven, verses twenty to twenty five and wrap up chapter seven, Isaiah chapter seven, twenty through twenty five paints a sobering picture of what happens when God's people choose fear over faith. The imagery of the razor hired beyond the river, referring to Assyria, is both vivid and humbling. God is essentially saying the very nation you're trusting to save you will be the instrument of your humiliation. What Ahaz saw as a political solution, God reveals as a spiritual snare. Instead of rescue, Assyria would bring stripping, shame, and devastation. The passage then shifts into a haunting picture of desolation. What was once cultivated land, vineyards worth a thousand silver shekels, becomes overrun with briars and thorns. Agriculture collapses, abundance disappears, and survival replaces thriving. A man keeping a cow and two sheep is not a sign of prosperity, but of reduction, just enough to get by. The land promised to flow with milk and honey is now reduced to a place where milk comes not from blessing, but from lack of options. At its core, this passage is about the consequences of misplaced trust. Judah chose to lean on human strength instead of divine faithfulness, and the result was not just external defeat, but internal decay. It's a reminder that when we invite the world to solve what only God can fix, we often invite the very thing that will strip us bare. God's judgment here isn't random, it's a direct result of a heart that refused to trust him. As we apply this to our lives today, the first thing we can bring from this is misplaced trust always has a cost. Ahaz trusted Assyria instead of God, and what looked like a smart move politically became a disaster spiritually. In our lives we may not be forming alliances with empires, but we often place our trust in money, status, relationship, our own abilities. The danger is subtle, what we rely on begins to rule us. This passage reminds us that anything we trust more than God will eventually expose its inability to save us. True security isn't found in what we can control, but in surrendering to the one who controls all things. The second thing is short term solutions can lead to long term consequences. Ahaz was looking for immediate relief from a present threat, but he failed to consider the long term cost. That's a temptation that we all face, choosing what's quick, easy, or comfortable over what's right. Whether if it's in marriage, finances, or spiritual decisions, shortcuts often lead to setbacks. God calls us to trust him, not just for the moment, but for the outcome. Faith requires patience, but it also leads to a better future than fear driven decisions. The third point we can pull out of this is spiritual compromise leads to spiritual decline. The land didn't just suffer physically, it reflected a deeper spiritual reality. When trust in God is abandoned, life begins to unravel. The briars and thorns are more than agricultural. They symbolize what happens in a heart that drifts from God. Neglecting prayer, ignoring God's word or justifying sin may not seem catastrophic at first, but over time they choke out spiritual fruit. This passage challenges us to examine our hearts. Are we cultivating faith or are we allowing thorns to take over our lives? The fourth thing, God may use what we trust to discipline us. And this is one of the hardest truths in the passage. God used Assyria, the very thing that Ahaz trusted as the instrument of judgment. Sometimes God allows us to experience the full weight of our misplaced trust so we can see clearly where we've gone wrong. It's not cruelty, it's correction. When something we leaned on fails us, it may actually be God redirecting us back to him. Even in discipline, his goal is restoration. And the fifth thing, God's warnings are acts of mercy. It's easy to read passages like this and focus only on judgment. But don't miss the heart behind it. God warned Judah before this happened. Isaiah's message was an invitation to trust God instead. In the same way, God speaks to us through his word, conviction and even circumstances. Warnings are not rejection, they are mercy in motion. God doesn't desire destruction, he desires repentance and relationship. So as we look at a complete wrap up here for the whole chapter of chapter seven in Isaiah, we see a powerful prophetic chapter that blends historical events, divine promises, warnings of judgment, and the foreshadowing of messianic hope. The backdrop of this chapter takes place during the reign of King Ahaz of Judah around 735 to 732 BC when the southern kingdom faced a political and military crisis due to the Syro Ephraimite War. King Rezn of Syria and King Pekah of Israel formed an alliance against Judah in hopes of replacing Ahaz with the puppet king, and Ahaz was terrified. In response, God sends the prophet Isaiah to encourage Ahaz, urging him to trust in the Lord rather than seeking help from foreign nations like Assyria. Isaiah tells Ahaz to ask God for a sign to confirm his promise of protection. But Ahaz refuses under a pretense of piety. Despite Ahaz's refusal, God provides a sign, the famous prophecy of the virgin bearing a son called Emmanuel, or God with us found in Isaiah seven, verse fourteen. This sign has dual significance, a near fulfillment in Isaiah's time and far reaching messianic promise that Christians see fulfilled in Jesus Christ. From verses fifteen to the end of the chapter, the tone shifts to warning. God foretells the Assyrian invasion that will bring devastation not only to Judah, but also to Israel and Syria. The imagery becomes increasingly bleak. Curds and honey is survival food, overgrown vineyards, wild briars and thorns taking over one's cultivated land, and abandonment of formerly productive land. The key themes in this chapter are as follows The first one is God's sovereignty. The heart of the chapter is a call to trust God fully in the midst of crisis. Isaiah reminds Ahaz and us that God controls the destiny of nations. The second key theme is faith versus fear. Ahaz trusted in Assyria instead of trusting in God. That decision had long term consequences. This chapter contrasts the security found in faith and the false hope that human alliances provide. The third key theme is judgment and consequence. Judah's refusal to trust God leads to devastating consequences. This chapter illustrates how departure from God's guidance brings destruction. And the fourth theme is the promise of Emmanuel. The sign of Emmanuel points forward to God's ultimate intervention. It anticipates the incarnation of Jesus Christ, bringing hope to God's people, even in dark times. As we apply this chapter to our lives today in closing, Isaiah 7 here carries a timeless message. Like Ahaz, people today often face crises where they must decide between trusting God or relying on their own strategies or worldly help. Just as Ahaz chose political alliances over faith and suffered the consequences, we too can fall into similar traps when fear guides our choices rather than faith. In moments of personal societal or global crisis, Isaiah 7 reminds us that God is with us, such as in Emmanuel, and we are called to trust his promises even when the future seems uncertain. It also challenges us not to miss what God is doing because of our pride or unbelief. When troubles arise, rather than scrambling for control, we are to pause, listen for God's guidance, and rest in His sovereignty. Moreover, as Isaiah 7 verse 14 points to Jesus, reminding believers that God's greatest assurance is not in temporary security, but in his eternal presence through Christ. The promise of Emmanuel, or God with us, is a daily source of hope and encouragement, no matter how desperate the situation appears. In essence, Isaiah 7 is both a historical snapshot of a kingdom in crisis and an enduring call to trust God, heed his warnings and cling to his promises. So as we leave today, this passage reminds us that when we trade trust in God for trust in anything else, we may gain temporary relief, but we will lose lasting peace. What we lean on apart from God will eventually fail us, but when we place our full confidence in Him, we find not just protection, but true restoration. The question this passage leaves us this week is simple, but it's also powerful. What or who are you really trusting today? Well, that's gonna do it for this week's episode. As we finish up chapter 7 in our verse-by-verse study here in Isaiah, we'll be back next week and we will kick off chapter 8 as we continue our study here in Isaiah. Well, that's all for this week, and as we go, we always want to remind you that we believe that God's word never fails us. God's word has stood the test of time, and through Jesus' death on the cross, he has connected the gap. This is an extension of Connecting the Gap Ministries, and we pray that you have a blessed week.