Let’s analyze today’s Text, as students do when following a skilled instructor. Here learning from Isaiah the Prophet …
“Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted. For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin. Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited. And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.” Isaiah 31:6-9, the last paragraph of the chapter.
And, is this repentance?
Absolutely!
“Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted,” Isaiah preaches, pleads … “Come Home, Israel!” Yes, the prodigal nation will “come to her senses” and (the Hebrew verb is “shub,” the classic Old Testament word for “repentance”) do an “about face!” Running toward the great God from Whom she had been fleeing!
But, what is the result of such true repentance?
“For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.” Forsaking one’s “idols!” (The noun derives from a Hebrew word meaning “worthless!”) The verb “cast away” … “reject, despise, refuse, abhor!” National Salvation! Paul was right … “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” Romans 11:26
But there’s more to our Text, exceeding abundantly more! (As in Ephesians 3:20.) Israel’s arch-enemy is defeated! (This may be a foreshadowing of Armageddon! With “Assyria” a type of all the wicked (Jew hating) Nations of the world.
“Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited. And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD.” A God orchestrated downfall! Using His Mighty Sword, not the swords of any human army! Anti-Semitism … subjugated! Notice how God can send “fear” to whomsoever He will! Our Lord is the Author of Peace as well!
Then the last Line of our Passage this morning. “Saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.” In country vernacular … “WARNING: DON’T MESS WITH JERUSALEM!” Do not touch the “Apple of God’s Eye!” If you do, you will get “burned!”
Here is fire to protect Israel from the enemy. And fire to purify the Jews as well. But also (the context of today’s Meditation) fire to scorch anyone encroaching upon that Sacred City, the Place of God’s Residence! In the Millennium, I mean.
Wow!
What a Sermon!
I suspect the believing Remnant will read it and take courage in the last days of the Tribulation! As Jesus taught in Luke 21:28 … “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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