"Greetings in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 23 February 2012"
Today's Blog Title: "Proclamation Against Syria and Israel"
Today's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 17:1-14
Today's Key Verse: Isaiah 17:7 "In that day a man will look to his Maker, And his eyes will have respect for the Holy One of Israel."
The burden against Damascus refers to the capital city of Syria. This chapter is comtemporaneous with chapter 7 and predicts the downfall of the coalition between Syria and Ephraim. Damascus was destroyed by Assyria in 732 B.C. which was a fullment of this prophecy.
The oracle against Damascus in 17:1 through 18:7 falls into seven sections. (1) an editorial superscription (17:1); (2) the desolate ruin of Damascus (17:2-3); (3) the ruin of Israel, which is left only a remnant (17:4-6); (4) the anticpation that in the future, people will trust Israel's God (17:7-8); (5) the accusation that Damascus replaced God with pagan deities (17:9-11); (6) a proclamination of doom upon the nations "who plunder us" (17:12-14); (7) a prediction that a powerful nation will bring tribute to the Lord (18:1-7).
In verses 1 and 2 where people once lived. conditions would be suitable only for flocks. Since Damascus the capital of Syria, was allied with Ephraim, the oracle of God's judgment was against both nations.
The nation of Syria would be "harvested" of its people. The word "Rephaim" is the Hebrew word for "shades" or "ghosts." Thus the Valley of Rephaim is the Valley of Death. There would be a remnant left but it would be pitifully small. The verb translated "look" in verse 7 means "to look with interest" or "to look with favor."
Altars in verse 8 refers to pagan worship. Asherah was represented by wooden images, which were part of the sexual cults of Baal worship among the Canaanite peoples. In that day his strong cities will become as fragile as a little branch.
The northern kingdom had committed the very sin that God warned then not to: They had forgotten God who had saved them from slavery. The lanugage here recalls the first Exodus; the Lord is called "the God of your salvation" and "the Rock."
"Make your plant to grow" alludes to the ancient practice of force-blooming potted plants and allowing them to die. The pagans believed that this reenactment of the life cycle would secure fertile fields. But even after preforming this rite, "the harvest" would be in ruin. Just as the choice vines of the Lord's vineyard disapointed Him, so His errant people would find their harvest hopes shattered.
"Many people" refers to the nations that will plunder Israel and the "seas and mighty waters" speak of chaos and death. "Chaff" which lacks life, value, and stability, was threshed and winnowed on windy "mountains" or "hilltops." When God judges the unrelenting, roaring seas, the nation that plundered God'd people, they will become mere tumbleweed "rolling" before the "whirlwind" of God's judgment. In 17:14 the army would be destroyed between "eventide" and "morning." Isaiah identifies himself with his plundered people.
Have a God filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. Pray for our Brothers and Sisters in Christ who are being persecuted for their Faith and Trust in Jesus Christ. Pray also for God's Peace and Blessings be on the Nation of Israel. Always remember that when you have a spiritual dilemma in your life and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."
Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
Today's Blog Title: "Proclamation Against Syria and Israel"
Today's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 17:1-14
Today's Key Verse: Isaiah 17:7 "In that day a man will look to his Maker, And his eyes will have respect for the Holy One of Israel."
The burden against Damascus refers to the capital city of Syria. This chapter is comtemporaneous with chapter 7 and predicts the downfall of the coalition between Syria and Ephraim. Damascus was destroyed by Assyria in 732 B.C. which was a fullment of this prophecy.
The oracle against Damascus in 17:1 through 18:7 falls into seven sections. (1) an editorial superscription (17:1); (2) the desolate ruin of Damascus (17:2-3); (3) the ruin of Israel, which is left only a remnant (17:4-6); (4) the anticpation that in the future, people will trust Israel's God (17:7-8); (5) the accusation that Damascus replaced God with pagan deities (17:9-11); (6) a proclamination of doom upon the nations "who plunder us" (17:12-14); (7) a prediction that a powerful nation will bring tribute to the Lord (18:1-7).
In verses 1 and 2 where people once lived. conditions would be suitable only for flocks. Since Damascus the capital of Syria, was allied with Ephraim, the oracle of God's judgment was against both nations.
The nation of Syria would be "harvested" of its people. The word "Rephaim" is the Hebrew word for "shades" or "ghosts." Thus the Valley of Rephaim is the Valley of Death. There would be a remnant left but it would be pitifully small. The verb translated "look" in verse 7 means "to look with interest" or "to look with favor."
Altars in verse 8 refers to pagan worship. Asherah was represented by wooden images, which were part of the sexual cults of Baal worship among the Canaanite peoples. In that day his strong cities will become as fragile as a little branch.
The northern kingdom had committed the very sin that God warned then not to: They had forgotten God who had saved them from slavery. The lanugage here recalls the first Exodus; the Lord is called "the God of your salvation" and "the Rock."
"Make your plant to grow" alludes to the ancient practice of force-blooming potted plants and allowing them to die. The pagans believed that this reenactment of the life cycle would secure fertile fields. But even after preforming this rite, "the harvest" would be in ruin. Just as the choice vines of the Lord's vineyard disapointed Him, so His errant people would find their harvest hopes shattered.
"Many people" refers to the nations that will plunder Israel and the "seas and mighty waters" speak of chaos and death. "Chaff" which lacks life, value, and stability, was threshed and winnowed on windy "mountains" or "hilltops." When God judges the unrelenting, roaring seas, the nation that plundered God'd people, they will become mere tumbleweed "rolling" before the "whirlwind" of God's judgment. In 17:14 the army would be destroyed between "eventide" and "morning." Isaiah identifies himself with his plundered people.
Have a God filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. Pray for our Brothers and Sisters in Christ who are being persecuted for their Faith and Trust in Jesus Christ. Pray also for God's Peace and Blessings be on the Nation of Israel. Always remember that when you have a spiritual dilemma in your life and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."
Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
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