Damascus Isaiah 17

Isaiah 17:1 "The burden of Damascus, Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap."

Referring to the invasion of Sennacherib, son of Sargon, king of Assyria. The chapter also has reference to the final battle of Revelation in verses 12-14.

Damascus is located 133 miles from Jerusalem and was known as the 'Pearl of the East'. It is also located not many miles from the sea. It has been conquered a number of times and has been under many different rulers including Rome.

Jeremiah talks about it in chapter 49 verse 24" "Concerning Damascus, Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.

Amos sheds some light on the judgment: Chapter 1 verse 3 "Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:"

Syria had been conquered by Joshua and was under the rule of David and Solomon but later became a state and at one time Israel was under their rule.

The Mideast has a very complicated history.

For this study, we will accept that Damascus was being punished for the deed which angered God. I think they were under the same judgment as Israel of the time. I have difficulty keeping the descendants of Abraham separated.

v4 "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."

The nation will not be utterly destroyed but they can hardly be recognized as who they once were.

v9 "In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which the left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation."

So WHY is all this taking place:

v10 "Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shall set it with strange slips:"

We could take heed to this verse in our own country. We have been blessed but as we turn away from God as a nation, we put our country at risk.

Then we come to the balance of the chapter which is most likely referring to future events of the last days: v12 "Woe to the multitude of Many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!"