Isaiah 17:1 says, The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. Isaiah said this was the burden of Damascus, and that was that it would be taken away from being a city and become a heap of ruins. Matthew Henry points out that the ten tribes of Israel that still called themselves Israel were in such close alliance with Syia that the destruction foretold of Syria, of which Damascus was the chief city, applied to them as well. We know how much devastation war can wreak on cities and countries today, and often those associated with them suffer as well. We also need to realize that just professing to be a Christian while allying ourselves with the world will one day lead to our everlasting destruction.
Verse two adds. The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid. Isaiah continued saying that the cities of Aroer, a province of Syria, would be desolate, so that the flocks of animals could lie down there without being disturbed. Total destruction is one day coming to the places of this world because of the sins of mankind that they refuse to acknowledge and ask God to forgive them for by putting their faith in Jesus Christ.
Verse three continues, The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the Lord of hosts. Matthew Henry says this refers to the fact that as Syria had gloried in their alliance with the ten tribes of Israel, they would now be just as weak as the people of Israel had been when the alliance was formed. The ten tribes of Israel had joined with Syria in attacking Judah, the remaining two tribes, and now they were paying the price. There are still people today who join with those who profess to be Christians thinking it will give them an advantage in the world, and there are also those who profess to be Christian who attack those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ and are Christians. As an example, some who profess to be Christians claim that those who profess that Jesus Christ as the only way to salvation are closed minded people who aren’t very smart, and those who do this will one day face God’s judgment with the rest of the lost world. We need to proclaim the gospel today so that the next generation will have followers of Christ, but they can never be so just because we as their parents are. We may look back to past generations to see examples of great Christians though.
Verse four states, And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean. When the judgment of Syria came, the numbers of the people of Israel would be greatly reduced. Matthew Henry says that the glory of Jacob was the number of his descendants, and that would be reduced to nearly nothing. If we allow pride in self or in things of this world to become more important than our relationship with Jesus Christ, we will grow spiritually thin no matter how fat in the riches of the world we may be. Even if we are a follower of Jesus Christ, if we allow the things of this world to become more important to us than our relationship with Him is, we will have few treasures laid up in heaven.
Verse five adds, And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the corn, and reapeth the ears with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of Rephaim. Isaiah said that Syria and the people of Israel by their association with them would be carried away by the Assyrian army like corn being carried away in the harvest. Matthew Henry says that the corn is the glory of the field and when it is reaped and gone, where is the glory. The same would be true of Syria once it was defeated. There would be no glory left for it to bask in. We can say also that the people of the world who deny Jesus Christ may appear to be glorious, but when God’s judgment comes, there will be no glory left for them. The things of this world that we glory in will one day pass away forever, unless it is something built on the foundation of Jesus Christ.
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