#982 Isaiah 20 Stripped

In the year that the commander in chief, who was sent by Sargon the king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and fought against it and captured it— 2 at that time the Lord spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and loose the sackcloth from your waist and take off your sandals from your feet,” and he did so, walking naked and barefoot.

3 Then the Lord said, “As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Cush, 4 so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptian captives and the Cushite exiles, both the young and the old, naked and barefoot, with buttocks uncovered, the nakedness of Egypt. 5 Then they shall be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and of Egypt their boast. 6 And the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, ‘Behold, this is what has happened to those in whom we hoped and to whom we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria! And we, how shall we escape?’” Isaiah 20 ESV

Isaiah 20 Sign against Egypt and Cush

In the year that the commander in chief - Some translations have this as Tartan, which is the title of a high ranking official, the kings representative. In 2 Kings 18 we see the title placed with two other words:

Rabshakeh 

chief of the princes, the name given to the chief cup-bearer or the vizier of the Assyrian court; one of Sennacherib's messengers to Hezekiah. See the speech he delivered, in the Hebrew language, in the hearing of all the people, as he stood near the wall on the north side of the city ( 2 Kings 18:17-37 ). He and the other envoys returned to their master and reported that Hezekiah and his people were obdurate, and would not submit. BST

And Rabsaris 

chief of the Heads, one of the three officers whom Sennacherib sent from Lachish with a threatening message to Jerusalem ( 2 Kings 18:17 ; Jeremiah 39:3 Jeremiah 39:13 ). BST

17Nevertheless, the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakeh, along with a great army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They advanced up to Jerusalem and stationed themselves by the aqueduct of the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field.18Then they called for the king; and Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebnah the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder, went out to them.… 2 Kings 18: 17-18

…2And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city was breached. 3Then all the officials of the king of Babylon entered and sat in the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-sarsekim the Rabsaris, Nergal-sharezer the Rabmag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon. Jeremiah 39: 2-3

Came to Ashdod - The taking of Ashdod according to secular history was in the year 711 B. C. Ashdod was a Philistine stronghold near Jerusalem and Egypt. When they rebelled against Assyria they were sorely punished, and the taking of Ashdod caused concern for Judah, thinking "we will be next", but also frightened the Egyptians, who Jerusalem is being told not to rely on. 

Go, and loose the sack cloth from your waste - Sack cloth was worn as an outer garment for those in mourning. Removing this would leave only the undergarments, naked and barefoot, humbled to the state of the poorest in the land. 

"As My servant Isaiah has walked" - Isaiah is a vocal prophet, but has also referenced himself and his sons as visual signs. Their names had significant prophetic signature. He is stripped down to a visual sign of coming humiliation. "My servant" is a beautiful reference in all of this, stripped of human dignity, yet given a title far superior to earthly Tartans. Men may feel privileged representing kings, presidents or other earthly rulers, but Isaiah speaks on behalf of God.

Sign and a portent against Egypt and Cush - Jerusalem need not look for help or alliance where God is bringing calamity. 

The nakedness of Egypt - They would be led away as slaves with their buttocks uncovered. This is the shaming of Egypt and Ethiopia by the Assyrians. Both places were proud of their human wisdom and strength, but those who will not come under the governance of God will be graded not upon the image of God, but by wanton men, who take by force. The picture is horrific, one that almost every person in our age has seen in historical drawings, men and women chained and shackled together, paraded like sides of beef at auction. It is far too easy for men to strip others of human dignity if it works to their end. How many babies do we kill each year, so that another human life won't interfere with our ideals, our hobbies, our disregard for God's law, and the desire to believe in a system without responsibility, without repercussions? Convenience and comfort have become the Generals of this era's holocausts.

And we, how shall we escape - The two countries that Judah thought could deliver them were taken away. If Assyria captured them, then what hope could they possibly have left? Who will deliver us?