17. The Nail

“In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall the Nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the Lord hath spoken it” (Isa. 22:25). The last ten verses of this chapter should be read carefully. They furnish a striking foreshadowment of the End-time. Shebna was holding some office over (note “government” in v. 21) Israel. Apparently he was a usurper. God announced that he should be set aside in shame, and the man of His choice — Eliakim — should take his place. These historical figures merge into prophetic characters. In v. 22 we read that God says, “And the key of the house of David will lay upon His shoulder, so He shall open, and none shall shut; and He shall shut, and none shall open.” As we know from Rev. 3:7 this refers to none other than the Lord Jesus, and of Him it is here said, “And I will fasten Him as a Nail in a sure place; and He shall be for a glorious throne to His father’s house” (v. 23). Then, in the closing verse of the chapter we read, “In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall the Nail that is fastened in a sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall.” Just as Eliakim foreshadowed Christ, so Shebna pointed forward to the Antichrist; and just as in v.23 we have a prophecy announcing the establishment of Messiah’s Kingdom, so in v. 25 we have foretold the overthrow of the false messiah’s kingdom.