Damascus
The next chapter discusses what will happen in Damascus. Throughout Biblical accounts and contemporary day, Damascus is influential and involved in world politics, war and economics (the degree of influence swings depending upon the era of time). Today, Damascus is in Syria; as of August 2019, there is substantial conflict over the nature of President Bashar al-Assad who contributes to the fighting in the Middle East. While a political discussion is not the point of this post, it struck me how history repeats itself. Damascus, a city in a nation (Syria) that opposes Israel today, was also a city in a nation (Aram which is primarily comprised of contemporary Syria) that opposed Israel back in Isaiah chapter 7. “Rezin king of Aram and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to wage war against it…For the head of Aram is Damascus and the head of Damascus is Rezin” (Is. 7:1,8). The tension between Jerusalem and Damascus (as representative symbols of the people groups under those leaderships) has existed for nearly 2700 years. To provide perspective, the Revolutionary War for American Independence officially ended in 1783 with the Treaty of Paris (although the last conflict/battle was in Yorktown in 1781), which was 236 years ago. Can you imagine having skirmishes, political tension and military campaigns against England for the next 2500 years? While not a perfect example due to geography and other governments rising and falling over time, it does provide perspective. The conflict between Israel and Syria is old—very, very old.
The second thought that ran through my mind is: when will this conflict end? Isaiah 17:1 states “Damascus is about to be removed from being a city, and it will become a fallen ruin.” Isaiah further describes Israel, “the glory of Jacob will fade” (Is. 17:4). Again, the question arises: when? While reading prophecy, this always seems to be the question. In verse 7-9, there is a slight hint. “In that day man will have regard for his Maker, and his eyes will look to the Holy One of Israel. And he will not have regard for alters, the work of his hands, nor will he look to that which his fingers have made, even the Asherim and incense stands. In that day their strong cities will be like forsaken places in the forest, or like branches which they abandoned before the songs of Israel; and the land will be a desolation.” These descriptions are inconclusive. Again, my knowledge of history fails me. Is a “fallen ruin” a permanent state or a period? What constitutes Israel having “regard for his Maker, and his eyes [looking] to the Holy One of Israel”? Is it a repentant generation of Israel or the end of all things when Jesus returns?
The passage about Damascus alone doesn’t provide much context or significance other than the direct information about the city and people there. The earlier chapters can shed some light here. Like the way chapters 1-5 were all connected as a long section, chapter 17 is tied to the previous chapters as well. Chapters 10, 11 and 12 each refer to “That day” with several very specific descriptions. The remnant of Israel will rely on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel (Is. 10:20), the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious (Is. 11:10) and the Lord will reclaim the remnant of his people a second time from Assyria, Egypt, Cush, Elam, Babylon and Hamath (Is. 11:11). The next passages begin describing the destruction upon the nations threatening Israel; Babylon in chapter 13, Assyria in chapter 14, Moab in chapter 15 and Damascus in 17. If the context set in chapters 10 and 11 is carried into the remaining passages, then they refer to the time of Jesus return. This would indicate that the fighting between the ruler of Damascus (Aram/Syria) and Jerusalem (Israel) will not end until Christ returns.
The last section of chapter 17 caught my attention. It describes something about the people. “Oh, the raging of many nations-they rage like the raging sea! Oh, the uproar of the peoples-they roar like the roaring of great waters! Although the peoples roar like the roar of surging waters, when he rebukes them, they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumble weed before a gale” (Isaiah 17:12-13). During Jesus return, the nations will not quietly accept him. This image of a defiant man standing against God is disconcerting and awful. Despite all the judgements and discipline, these people will not repent and turn to God as savior. Instead, they hate him as judge.
Revelation discusses shows a similar pattern in the remaining people at Christs return. Revelation 16:8 says, “The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.” That theme continues until Jesus return in Revelation 19. The nations refuse to glorify God and repent despite all that they endure. These people even weep over the fall of Babylon, the city of sin. How can man love sin so much? While Christ’s return is fantastic for me and all believers, there is an element of sorrow and tragedy. How many men and women will die, clinging to their sin and rebellion instead of repenting? In the heat of the moment, it is easy to be angry, upset and disconnected from those with opposing views—with good reason. However, isn’t the point of the Gospel to draw men and women out of those un-biblical views into knowledge of the truth? May my eyes see lost men and women with the compassion of Christ.
