17. Isaiah Chapter Seventeen

Isaiah Chapter 17 This chapter gives a brief oracle concerning Damascus, and proceeds with judgment upon Israel, and especially Ephraim, because it had allied itself with Damascus against Judah. Only a remnant would be left (Isaiah 17:4-6); this would turn steadfastly to God (Isaiah 17:7), and abandon idolatry (Isaiah 17:8).

Forgetfulness of God brings barrenness; there may be much labor and activity in the spirit of self-reliance, but it produces no real fruit (Isaiah 17:9-11). Let us never be unmindful of the true Source of our strength, "the Rock," Christ Jesus lest we bring upon ourselves "grief" and "desperate sorrow" (Isaiah 17:11), the sorrow not of contrition but of remorse.

Again, consistently with the prophetic principle the oracle points, in Isaiah 17:12-14, to the time yet future, when the nations, rushing like mighty waters, gather together "against the Lord and against His Anointed" (Psalms 2:2), only to be driven like chaff, and like "the whirling dust before the storm" (Isaiah 17:13, r.v.; cp. Joel 3:11-12; Zechariah 9:14; Zechariah 14:2-3; Psalms 46:2).