Day By Day - Isaiah 17
By John Horsburgh
Initial Thoughts:
Isaiah lived in a tumultuous period and many of the names he used to describe the people and nations of his time are unfamiliar to us now. With some study, we can learn that the names of those people and nations still carry meaning and can give us insights into what God was saying to the Israelites in Isaiah’s time, as well as what He is saying to us today.
Point 1:
Vs. 1-3 - The destruction of cities is balanced with the picture of flocks finding rest and pasture. These words carried specific meaning to the listeners of the day but they also carry a truth for us to hear. The specific mention of Ephraim back then was a simple reference to the tribe of Ephraim who was one of the sons of Joseph after whom the tribe was named. In the beginning, Ephraim was a part of the nation of Israel but later became the leading tribe that split Israel into two. Ephraim led the revolt against God’s chosen path towards the Christ and abandoned the lineage of David to create their own identity apart from God. Where we read that the fortress is finished and the kingdom has ceased, we see the results of turning away from the truth of God’s word and following the desires of our own hearts.
Point 2:
As I read these verses I see the pride of Israel being challenged and the threat of retribution for their idolatry. What comes to my mind is another passage from the Old Testament which calls the people to humility and repentance. "If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14). God has never left us without hope and in days when we might feel that the world is abandoning every Godly principle we need to hold fast to the promise that we have in Him and do as it says in verse 7, look to God with love and respect.
Point 3:
The New Testament talks of the wide and easy road that leads to hell. A highway that carries too many to a destination that was never intended for man. Isaiah frequently uses “woe” when talking of what lies ahead for those who take that road. There are too many people today that refuse to believe in a right and wrong, good and evil and the consequences of ignoring God. As believers, as disciples of Christ, we must face the reality of what lies ahead for those who have turned away from the outstretched arms of the Saviour. It is not up to us to choose for someone else, the choice is theirs to make but we do need to hear the words of scripture which say, “how can they believe if they have not heard and how shall they hear if there is no preacher…” (Romans 10:14).
Closing Thoughts:
To be honest, this chapter makes me want to double my efforts at keeping my heart right before the Lord. It is full of the results of sin but, at the start, there is a name that carries the connotation of being backslidden. I can do nothing to earn the love of God but I desire to walk in the light of His love and to avoid the traps of worldliness.
Many times we fall, many times we fail Him and when we do we have a pathway back to Him that may well require us to be humble. It is as simple as repenting and seeking His face. “Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find…”
Initial Thoughts:
Isaiah lived in a tumultuous period and many of the names he used to describe the people and nations of his time are unfamiliar to us now. With some study, we can learn that the names of those people and nations still carry meaning and can give us insights into what God was saying to the Israelites in Isaiah’s time, as well as what He is saying to us today.
Point 1:
Vs. 1-3 - The destruction of cities is balanced with the picture of flocks finding rest and pasture. These words carried specific meaning to the listeners of the day but they also carry a truth for us to hear. The specific mention of Ephraim back then was a simple reference to the tribe of Ephraim who was one of the sons of Joseph after whom the tribe was named. In the beginning, Ephraim was a part of the nation of Israel but later became the leading tribe that split Israel into two. Ephraim led the revolt against God’s chosen path towards the Christ and abandoned the lineage of David to create their own identity apart from God. Where we read that the fortress is finished and the kingdom has ceased, we see the results of turning away from the truth of God’s word and following the desires of our own hearts.
Point 2:
As I read these verses I see the pride of Israel being challenged and the threat of retribution for their idolatry. What comes to my mind is another passage from the Old Testament which calls the people to humility and repentance. "If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14). God has never left us without hope and in days when we might feel that the world is abandoning every Godly principle we need to hold fast to the promise that we have in Him and do as it says in verse 7, look to God with love and respect.
Point 3:
The New Testament talks of the wide and easy road that leads to hell. A highway that carries too many to a destination that was never intended for man. Isaiah frequently uses “woe” when talking of what lies ahead for those who take that road. There are too many people today that refuse to believe in a right and wrong, good and evil and the consequences of ignoring God. As believers, as disciples of Christ, we must face the reality of what lies ahead for those who have turned away from the outstretched arms of the Saviour. It is not up to us to choose for someone else, the choice is theirs to make but we do need to hear the words of scripture which say, “how can they believe if they have not heard and how shall they hear if there is no preacher…” (Romans 10:14).
Closing Thoughts:
To be honest, this chapter makes me want to double my efforts at keeping my heart right before the Lord. It is full of the results of sin but, at the start, there is a name that carries the connotation of being backslidden. I can do nothing to earn the love of God but I desire to walk in the light of His love and to avoid the traps of worldliness.
Many times we fall, many times we fail Him and when we do we have a pathway back to Him that may well require us to be humble. It is as simple as repenting and seeking His face. “Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find…”
Posted in Isaiah