Adult Class
December 2006-May 2007
Isaiah
Lesson 9: Judgment on Enemies—Philistia, Moab and Damascus
As Isaiah continues this collection of doom oracles upon the enemies of Judah, he catalogs the nations and alliances that have fought against Judah. The nation of Judah was surrounded by enemies—her former wealth and power under David and Solomon had led to longstanding resentment and envy by her neighbors. Even though the neighbors had successfully rebelled against the kingdom of Solomon and his successors, they still thirsted for warfare and revenge. Yet God has a judgment upon them all, and that is not a cause for rejoicing as it would be for Babylon.
Concerning Philistia: Isaiah 14:28-32
There are a few dates that we can assign with confidence in the Old Testament; this is one. King Ahaz died in 727 B.C. Ahaz was a bad king and he lost wars to the Philistines, to Edom, to Israel and Syria. He had appealed for help from the Assyrians and they responded against his enemies, but it cost Judah her independence as well. It is true that the Assyrians had suffered a terrible reverse and that led to the Philistines’ assumption that they were delivered. In fact, Isaiah makes it plain that while the recent events mean God’s people will be spared, the Philistines will be consumed.
Isaiah has in mind the coming of the Babylonians—a well-trained and disciplined army that will utterly destroy the cities of the Philistines. Meanwhile, all messengers from the various kingdoms must realize that Jerusalem (Zion) is God’s city and His people will be saved.
So often we misunderstand world events and presume that a course of events must necessarily result in a particular outcome. We seem to forget that God is in charge of the universe and His purposes are worked out. If it is His will that a nation or a people rise to prominence, it will happen. If, in His providence, His purposes for that nation or people pass, that nation or people, regardless of former power, will sink.
Concerning Moab: Isaiah 15:1-16:14
Isaiah sees sudden disaster coming to Moab from the north. Moab was a kingdom on the eastern side of the Dead Sea. The nation was fertile and rich. It was subject to David and Solomon, yet rebelled from northern Israelite control during the time of Ahab (about 850 B.C.). It was a perpetual enemy of both Israel and Judah, but it was typically more opposed to the north than the south.
The destruction of Moab is stunning even to Isaiah. The refugees stream southward away from the invaders, entering Judah and appealing for safety and even fleeing to Zoar, in the far southern area of the Dead Sea—where their distant ancestor Lot had first fled at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. They are carrying their possessions with them and they scatter in all directions, even to the eastern border of the nation. Although the border river runs with blood instead of water, God has yet more judgment to inflict upon the Moabites. The invaders will ruthlessly hunt down and kill the stragglers and fugitives.
In terror and despair, the Moabites stream toward Jerusalem, hoping for safety and refuge. They appeal to Judah to shelter them from the invaders, and Isaiah notes that in Jerusalem will be a descendant of David on the throne—the same David who subjected the Moabites to his rule so long before. They had rebelled, but now they begged for help.
Moab is utterly ruined and her pride led directly to her downfall. Once she was happy, wealthy, beautiful and strong, but those days are forever gone. And Isaiah is not happy that the enemy has fallen and the land is deserted. God indicates that all this disaster will come within three years, precisely counted just as a servant would mark off the days of his labor.
Isaiah reflects the heart of God in this. God is never pleased at the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:32). His desire is for repentance and restoration. However, judgment will come upon those who rebel against Him, and although they may live in peace and luxury for a time, when disaster strikes they will have no resources for protection or hope. All they can do then is appeal to those who know God to share the grace.
Concerning Damascus (Syria): Isaiah 17:1-14
God declares that Damascus will cease to be a great city and will instead be a pile of rubble, nothing but ruins. The animals will roam undisturbed. The fortified city (probably Samaria) will be destroyed. Syria and Ephraim had allied for a war against Judah—the very event that prompted Ahaz to appeal to Assyria for help. God declares that Damascus and Samaria will both be destroyed. Israel will suffer greatly in this; only a very few will remain after the invader sweeps through.
In their terrific distress, some will actually abandon the service of their worthless idols and return to God. It always seems that some can never be reached by God’s appeals until they are afflicted with great anguish. Serious diseases, family death, economic catastrophe all intrude to capture the attention of the careless and remind them of the important things of life. For a time we may live in the blessings of God, not caring in the slightest about the source of all good things. But that casual dismissal of God does not change the reality of eternity. And for some, only pain will get their attention.
Isaiah finishes the oracle with a scene of ruin. The cities will be overgrown rubble. No matter how hard they work or how promising it all seems, God will see to it that the projects will come to nothing. This oracle is sure and unswerving in its execution.
There is, though, a note of hope. Even though the Assyrian invader looks as unstoppable as the ocean waves, even though they work their will upon nation after nation, when God speaks, they vanish like smoke. For all their terror, they are powerless before the purposes of God. In one night they are gone. This will be their end.
The invasion of Assyria shattered the complex system of alliances and enmities that existed in the Middle East. This made it easier for Assyria to deal with individual kingdoms, and actually increased the destruction as area after area was destroyed in needless conflict. These were the judgments of God—and He was not through. There were other judgments to inflict upon the rebellious, and Isaiah has something to say about other enemies of God and His people.