Welcome home, Mike! Hope you enjoyed your vacation. The girls went to La Playa Maya in your absence. The Little Woman and I went to the hallowed ground of Chaps, though. We missed you. Hope you had a good time. Here is the Sunday School lesson for today. However, you'd need to hear the tape to get the preaching and the comments on Bruce Almighty. Let's go to Starbucks!

ISAIAH 17-ISRAEL AND SYRIA: PARTNERS IN JUDGMENT

The alliances we make can have a great effect on us. If we ally ourselves with someone who is corrupt, we will often become corrupt. Even if we do not corrupt ourselves, we may suffer the same consequences as the corrupt partner because of our alliance him.

When I was in private practice, parents would often come to me for help for their child who was in jail. They would often say “he is not a bad kid, he was just hanging out with the wrong people.” I would often think “yes, and he will be doing that for a while longer now.”

Paul warned us about alliances with unbelievers in 2 Corinthians 6:14-17. [Read it!] It is commonly believed that this passage refers to marriage between believers and non-believers, but could also apply to other partnerships or alliances. This principal was set out in the Old Testament too, as the Israelites were to be separate and not adopt the ways of their pagan neighbors.

During Isaiah’s time, Israel violated this premise by making an alliance with Syria to oppose Judah. This was really a symptom of the fact that Israel had become pagan like Syria and its other neighbors. The book of Hosea deals with the idolatry of Israel and God’s promise of judgment.

17:1-3 (Destruction of Syria)

These verses prophecy the destruction of Damascus and other cities in Syria. Damascus was captured by the Assyrians in 732 B.C. 2 Kings 16:9 records this. This also tells you, by the way, that Syria had taken control over land given to Israel by God, that had formerly been land of the Amorites. Numbers 32:35 says that the children of Gad built Aroer. God says these cities will be destroyed so that animals will sleep there undisturbed and all their glory will be gone. (Panthers sleeping in the streets?)

This passage also shows that Israel will be unprotected (the fortress will also cease) and will no longer have glory as when they followed the Lord and had his protection.

17:4-6 (A Remnant Preserved)

Isaiah again shows that God will preserve a remnant of his people.

17:7-8 (Respect For God)

This passage shows the common reaction of the carnal man to life’s trials. When things are going well, he takes the credit, he believes it will last forever, he has no time for God. But, when things go bad, he will “look to his Maker”. When we feel like we lose control, we look to God to be in control. But, the fact is, we are never in control, during good times or bad. Only God is sovereign. God wants us to look to our Maker all the time, not just during trouble. See Micah 7:7. Sometimes he has to use trouble to get our attention. I had a friend who became an atheist in seminary. But, later, he hurt his back and was out of work recovering for a year. He came to believe in God again, as he was totally out of control and totally helpless.

The second phase is to have respect for God. Prayer becomes a priority when we are desperate. Worship becomes a necessity. We recognize God’s place versus our place.

Third, we give up the things we have made. In Old Testament times, those things were false religious idols the Israelites adopted from their pagan neighbors. We are more likely now to put faith in what we have bought, such as houses and cars and businesses. These are really representations of ourselves rather than false gods. In our time, we tend to worship ourselves rather than Dagon or Chemosh. But, in times of trouble, we drop even this idol worship and return to God.

God gives us clear instruction on the matter of self-reliance. See Proverbs 3:5-6. Jesus also told a parable of a rich fool in Luke 12:16.

17:9-11 (Truth And Consequences)

There are consequences for abandoning God and worshiping idols. Here there is desolation and destruction of the country. God says they have forgotten the God as the source of salvation, and as the protector (rock and stronghold). Because of this their work comes to ruin, grief, and sorrow.

As countries fall here, we see these consequences in individuals. Those who turn to things other than God often bear the consequences in their lives as things break down. Romans 8:6 says to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

17:12-14 (Much Ado About Nothing)

Isaiah here points out that the nations, those opposed to God, can make a lot of noise. But, when God rebukes them, they all fall silent before him. When God is ready, all will acknowledge his sovereignty.