Oracle Against Damascus, Israel, And The Nations

INTRO

Isaiah is quoted more than 65 times in the New Testament. What we’re talking about includes not only salvation topics but also end-time topics. The first 39 chapters in Isaiah are sometimes referred to as the Book of Judgment.¹ The last 27 chapters reference comfort and/or redemption. The first 12 chapters contain prophecies concerning Judah and Jerusalem with predictions of their coming bondage and captivity. Chapters 13—23 contain oracles of judgment against the nations (examples include Assyria and Babylon). Chapters 24—27 contain prophecies of worldwide judgment and deliverance. Chapters 28—33 contain oracles of woe against Samaria, Jerusalem, and Assyria. Chapters 34—35 contain prophecies of worldwide judgment and deliverance. Finally, chapters 36—39 contain a historical interlude and transition.² Even as Isaiah communicated the coming judgments, he still included our word for this book, Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14).

The last 27 chapters are called the Book of Comfort. Chapters 40—48 contain prophecies of redemption and restoration. Chapters 49—55 contain prophecies of God’s Servant, the Messiah. Chapters 56—66 contain prophecies of condemnation and consummation.³ Even as Isaiah spoke the bad news, he also spoke messages of good news to come.

Today we’re going to talk about oracles of judgment against the nations. The oracle, or burden, “signifies a ‘pronouncement’ and is prophetic of events that will certainly occur. It is used 11 times in chapters 13—23 (and three other times in the book) where there is a total of 14 prophecies against the peoples of various geographical regions.”⁴ The word “oracle” is used to describe a load that a beast of burden might carry. These prophecies were a heavy burden for both the prophet and the recipients to bear. For example, in Isaiah 13:1, the oracle against Babylon could also be called the burden against Babylon.⁵ God used Babylon in His judgment against Judah by allowing Judah to be held captive there for 70 years. But then God said He would judge Babylon for doing that. It was very rare for an oracle to contain good news.

TEACHING

Isaiah 17:1-3: This chapter contained an oracle against Damascus, the capital of Syria. The city was located northeast of Mount Hermon on the main land route between Mesopotamia and Egypt, which made it an influential city. The oracle said this city would “become a ruined heap” (v. 1). The city extended “as far south as Aroer, east of the Dead Sea, on the Arnon River (2 Kings 10:32, 33).”⁶ However, a remnant of Aram would survive (v. 3).

Isaiah 17:4–6: John MacArthur summarizes: “As harvesters stripped bare that fertile valley west of Jerusalem, so God’s judgment would leave nothing fruitful in the Northern Kingdom.”⁷ Only gleanings would be left in Israel (v. 6). God’s judgment against Ephraim would leave only spare pieces of her original abundance of food.

Isaiah 17:7–8: When judgment came, the Israelites would turn back to God (v. 7). According to MacArthur, “In the future, severe judgments are to awaken a remnant of Ephraim to their failure to depend on the Lord. Then they will repent.”⁸ Ephraim represented the northern ten tribes, which meant all of their fortresses would disappear (v. 3). They would have nothing left. While God’s glory was originally on the 12 tribes of Israel, God’s glory was now fading away from the ten tribes (v. 4). The term “Holy One of Israel” is used rarely in Scripture, and Isaiah is one of the few who used it. It meant they began to look to Yahweh. It’s hard to determine if “that day” means when the city is destroyed or when they are in captivity. But at some point, Israel will realize they only have God. Once they hit rock bottom, they will have nowhere else to look but up—at Yahweh. Israel will no longer look to the altars and Asherahs they once made (v. 8).

Isaiah 17:9–11: Even though Israel turned back to God, the people would still experience the consequences of the path they had chosen (v. 9). They had tried to do things in their own strength (v. 10), but because they never involved the Lord in the process, the harvest would vanish (v. 11).

Isaiah 17:12–14: God rebuked the Israelites, and He rebuked those who were His enemies (vv. 12–13). All of the above is chaos. The oracle says God’s judgment would come against all. Because Israel didn’t involve the Lord—whether in planting or in their cities—they were overtaken. The ten tribes, when all was said and done, were gone. Yes, there would be a remnant from those cities, but they lost what God had originally given them.

CLOSING

Verse 7 says that “on that day,” the people turned to “the Holy One of Israel.” Do not wait until you receive an oracle to turn to the Lord. Do not wait until you get to the bottom of the barrel and everything is falling apart before turning to God. What if you involve Him in everything now—in your planning decisions, in your financial decisions, and in your life? We need to be looking to Him in everything. Israel lost the unique plan for their lives because they turned to themselves. There’s a fullness God wants us to experience. Many of us are so close to experiencing the fullness of God, but we have to turn to Him—not try to do things in our own strength, our own power, or our own will. Let’s look to the Maker every day so we can experience Him and His presence.