Psalms 114:1 - Meaning and Application

We now come closer to home, for this chapter is “the burden of the valley of vision,” that is, Jerusalem. Other places had already been judged because they were tied to Jerusalem in some way, either as bitter enemies or as false friends of God’s people. Now Jerusalem must hear its own warning.

This chapter is about two main things. First, it speaks to Jerusalem itself and the land around it. It tells of the heavy distress they would soon face when Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, invaded the country and surrounded the city (Isaiah 22:1-7). It also rebukes them for how they behaved in that trouble. They did wrong in two ways, they did not look to God while using the means of rescue (Isaiah 22:8-11), and they did not humble themselves under his mighty hand (Isaiah 22:12-14).

Second, it speaks to Hezekiah’s court and its officials. Shebna, a bad man, would be removed from office and sent away from the treasury (Isaiah 22:15-19, 25). In his place, Eliakim would be raised up, a man who would serve his country far better (Isaiah 22:20-24).