Damascus destroyed

ISAIAH CHAPTER 17

A message came to Isaiah from the Lord, concerning Damascus. It said that Damascus would disappear and become a heap of ruins. The cities of Aroer would be deserted and sheep would graze in the streets. The fortified cities of Israel would also be destroyed and power of Damascus would end. A few left in Aram would share the fate of Israel's departed glory.

In that day, says the Lord, the glory of Israel would be dim, for poverty would stalk the land. Israel would be abandoned like the grainfields in the valley. Only a few of its people would be left. Than at last the people would think of their Creator and have respect for the Holy One of Israel. They would not longer ask their idols for help or worship what their own hands have made. They would never again bow down to their Asherah poles or burn incense on the altars they built.

Their largest cities would be deserted and would become like the cities of the Amorites, abandoned when the Israelites came so long ago. And the reason why is because they may plant the finest imported grapevines, but will never pick any grapes. And the only harvest would be a load of grief and incurable pain.

Look! says the Lord. The armies rush forward like waves toward the shore, but though they roar like breakers, God will silence them. They will flee like chaff scattered by the wind. In the evening, Israel waits in terror, but by down its enemies are dead. This is the reward of those who plunder and destroy the people of God.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: God's message to Damascus was that it would be destroyed; the Armeans had turned from God and depended on their idols.

Asherah poles were images of Asherah, a Canaanite goddess who was the female consort of Baal. Queen Jezebel may have brought the worship of Asherah into the northern kingdom.


HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? God's judgment was sure. Often, nowadays, we too try to depend on our own form of idols and our own strength. Sometimes our idols are trappings of success, like cars, pastimes, clothes, homes. These are supposed to bring us fulfillment? But God says we will reap grief and pain if we depend on temporal things to give us eternal security. We must turn from these false idols. Listen to your God.


Yours in Christ,

Mary


Prayer Requests are needed for:
The birth April 16th of Logan's baby.
HEALTH: Pray for Gabe.
Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother who faces another round of chemotherapy and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother-in-law is being taken to Oklahoma to live with an aunt who will care for her.
Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.
Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and for her sister Wanda’s soul which went to heaven.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and for the doctors who have difficulty diagnosing his other symptoms.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.
Pray for another friend named Carolyn whose faith remains strong, but is lost and confused about where and how to spend her elder years.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.