Isaiah 17 THE DOWNFALL OF DAMASCUS AND SAMARIA There are lessons for us throughout the Bible that we do well to look for as we read through some passages that seem hard to grasp. The joining of “Ephraim” with Syria, their “off and on” enemy, gives us an idea of how serious an unequal yoke is, and how much damage can come from an unscriptural union. The usual result is often a bad experience in the short-run and a bad lifetime for both parties in the long-run. Momentary satisfaction does not bring lasting gratification. There are many hidden costs when the people of God join with those who promise great things by seeking to make the things of God appealing to an ungodly society.
This “burden,” “oracle,” “prophecy” of the downfall of Damascus and Samaria, capital cities of Syria and the northern tribes of Israel, took place around the events in chapter seven when Ahaz was reigning over Judah. Samaria had allied with Damascus and were going to be ruined by the invasion of Assyria. The prophecy indicated that the few who remained would be like a few heads of grain left in a wheat field after the harvest, or a few olives left hidden on a tree branch after the fruit had been picked.
When a few overlooked people who stand alone for God, it may seem life has been a failure. But we know that God knows the “two or three” who gather together in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. To Him they are not a failure and He will not abandon them even when they are going through severe trials. He goes with them through those times. “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” Like those last survivors in Israel who would repent and renounce the idolatry, the sinful “groves,” and the cultic practices of the nation, those who turn to the “Holy One of Israel” will be saved.
The fact of a godly remnant remaining in Israel in spite of the great sins of the nation and consequences of sin, encourages us to look to when all Israel will be saved. This will be repeated in the tribulation when those who “endure to the end, shall be saved.” God associates Himself with those who are committed to being separated unto Him. To forget the “God of thy salvation,” is to place one’s self in the path of coming judgment. To follow the leading of one’s natural interests at the expense of following God’s interests, means to reap a bitter harvest of grief and sorrow. To look good, does not make a thing good.
During the many times down through the centuries when Israel has been overcome and then ruled by a foreign power, the land of Israel has been devastated by the land being salted, trees cut down, orchards and vineyards ruined. But since the British Mandate was enforced after World War I, replanting of trees, restoring land, and returning the land to production has taken place. Since the State of Israel became an independent nation in 1948, it has begun to prosper. Sadly, this does not mean that the Jews are returning to the Lord. Consequently, devastation will happen again during the tribulation, and again there will be a small godly remnant in the future that will acknowledge “Jesus Christ is Lord.”
People in the present time are trying to convince themselves that things are getting better and better. Those who accurately read the Bible know the prophecies of the scriptures assure us that “perilous times shall come.” The prophetic warnings in second Timothy tell us that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. Peace will come someday, but there are still costs to be paid. Earthquakes, famines, fear bloody conflicts will happen again and again until our Lord Jesus Christ comes in glory. God will then take action for His earthly people to deliver them. When people forget God, they may do what they can, but barrenness and the lack of anything fruitful, accompanies self-reliance.
There may be short periods of time that seem successful, but the appearance of success does not bring fulfillment. In fact, things often leave us when we want and need them most. False security will bring grief and pain. To trust temporary things to give satisfaction is false hope. Things of the world, the flesh and the devil may bring a quick rush of pleasure, and a long life of regret. Self-gratification can quickly turn into self-mortification.
We don’t need more “handwriting on the wall,” but we do need to be cognizant of the warnings of the word of God. There are now foreshadowing of the times of which the prophets wrote. The word of God is open to us to read, understand and prepare us for what is ahead when we can see those times predicted by the light of the unfailing word of God.