epcblog

Devotional thoughts (Monday through Thursday mornings) from the pastor of Exeter Presbyterian Church in Exeter, NH // Sunday Worship 10:30am // 73 Winter Street

Friday, October 05, 2007

Isaiah 17

How long will any nation last? At the height of her power the people of every state dream that their land is going to continue forever. Yet a study of history forces us to a position of more appropriate humility. A study of the Bible should do the same thing. Nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. Meanwhile the eternal gospel will be proclaimed to every nation, and a different kingdom that is not like the kingdoms of this world will be established and it will last forever.

Syria was one of the great ancient nations in the time of Old Testament Israel. Her capital Damascus is mentioned in Isaiah 17. It is common for a whole nation to be referred to in the Bible by the name of a leading city. Also, when the great city was taken, the nation was humiliated, as when the crown jewels have been surrendered by a vanquished kingdom. Damascus, we are told here, will be a heap of ruins. Other important cities where many people were active in commerce and communication will now find their highest and best use to be only pasturelands for whatever flocks may remain after so many people have been destroyed. The symbols of military might will be leveled, and only a few people will remain.

We know that Damascus was captured by Tiglath-Pileser, a king of ancient Assyria, in 732 BC. Shortly after that the northern kingdom of Israel and her leading city of Samaria would also be subdued. All that would be left of Syria would be just a tiny percentage of the fruitfulness that she once enjoyed. The remaining people would be like the two or three olives that have been missed on a tree after the harvesters have done a thorough job of gathering fruit.

What is it like to have your whole nation destroyed? All that is familiar and worthy of respect because it once demanded the honor of a populace is now brought low. Then people look to their Maker, and not to the idols which they once worshipped. The fertility cults that were apparently a part of Syrian pagan life will no longer be a pleasant diversion. The people consider once again with fear that there is a god of power who created them. He alone can be our Rock of refuge in a day of great trouble.

Who can stop the powerful foe, when God grants Him the opportunity to discipline and to destroy? His armies come like thunder, and the roar of his warriors makes Damascus tremble. Once-mighty powers that have made weaker nations tremble before their scepters are eventually brought to the day when a more terrifying adversary is able to dictate the terms of international relations. How far the mighty may fall in that day!

Syria once approached Jerusalem with very proud boasts, but the Lord can make her flee in a moment before the storm of his presence. In the day of Syrian power, she had the capability of looting the people of God’s nation. But this is always only by the permission of God, and only for a season of His choosing. The discipline of Israel or Judah (or the church in our day) is certainly always for the purposes of God, which are good and faithful to His elect.

In short, though we may seem to lose for a time under the oppression of the world, the outcome of our warfare is not in doubt to God, and we must believe what He tells us. Our great leader of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ, has said that we will have tribulation in this world. But then He adds that we are to be of good cheer, for He Himself has overcome the world. In His strength and faithfulness we stand fast in the gospel. There is no other name by which we must be saved. The enemies of the name of Jesus cannot stand, but the love of God in Christ to the elect will be a present and eternal comfort to those who have conceded that they are weak, but He is strong.

posted by Pastor Magee @ 7:00 AM

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