Valley of Vision
Isaiah would not be comforted. He would not join in the festive gaiety around him. He had bitter weeping to do. For he loved Jerusalem and yet he could not save it. The time of tumult and trampling had come. The Lord God of hosts had sent His judgment and the city Isaiah loved would enter desperate times in the “Valley of Vision”.
What is the Valley of Vision? Where is this valley? How do you get to the Valley of Vision?
The valley of Vision has both a physical and spiritual perspective. The spiritual perspective may seem familiar even today.
From a physical perspective the title Valley of Vision may refer to Jerusalem itself or simply a place where visibility is good. Maybe a low spot where the surrounding hill tops are exposed to those in the valley and where the full extent of the valley can be seen by those on the hills.
However, from a spiritual perspective ,“Valley of Vision” may be Isaiah’s reference to the course Jerusalem, and Judah as a nation, had chosen. It was clear where they were headed, and as Isaiah contemplated the events to come, he would not be consoled. The darkness the people of Judah refused to turn away from was now upon them. For generations prophets had warned the people of Judah of the desperate times of judgement to come. The nation would be judged by Almighty God because of the peoples’ disobedience, their craving for idols and for their dishonor and neglect of righteousness. Now it was plain to see the weight of their judgement lay just before them, and they were partying.
There was a time when the people could have acknowledged the only One with the power to save them. There was a time when repentance was possible. But the people would not listen and they would not repent. Instead of weeping and sackcloth, there was “joy and revelry” and “eating of meat and drinking of wine.” (vs 13) Sadly the time for repentance had past, and exactly as prophesied, the tumultuous time of judgement was here. The Valley of Vision filled with enemy armies. Isaiah mourned. He cried for his people. Although he was an unheeded prophet, he still mourned for the city and the nation that would not listen to God’s declarations.
This spiritual perspective of the Valley of Vision may seem familiar today. The Valley of Vision may be in view of another people. A people of a different time, yet having the same ailment as the people of Judah in the days of Isaiah - intentional deafness toward the Word of God. The darkness ahead is evident, yet the people rush headlong toward it, refusing to heed the warning signs posted by God throughout the generations preceding them. A time to turn, to repent, to acknowledge the One who can save them still exists. Turning away from Valley of Vision is still possible.