“In that day man will look to his Maker, and his eyes will look on the Holy One of Israel. He will not look to the altars, the work of his hands, and he will not look on what his own fingers have made, either the Asherim or the altars of incense.”Isaiah 17:7-8 ESV
Reflection: what causes you to turn to the Lord?
In the days after the 9/11 terror attacks on the United States, I read somewhere that many churches saw record attendance. People were turning to God for answers in the pain and the fear. The congregation we attended at the time was no different. I remember there was standing room only; many who had not been to church for a long time. But, as time passed, things went back to the old ways again, the attendance returned to what it was before. And, in more recent memory, we saw something similar during the pandemic. However, since many churches closed their doors to “comply” with government mandates, people were seeking answers online. Looking for truth, many seeking God. The authoritarian rule and control got very bad in some countries, as hopefully we will never forget. Fear was leading many to make poor choices, much of which we now know was built on false information.
We read in the beginning of Isaiah chapter 17, “An oracle concerning Damascus. Behold, Damascus will cease to be a city and will become a heap of ruins.” Isaiah 17:1 ESV. Isaiah saw some of the greatest cities at the time, even mighty people, would be destroyed, including large portions of God’s people. The prophecy, the oracle from God talked about “a day of the Lord” that this would happen. We read “And in that day the glory of Jacob will be brought low, and the fat of his flesh will grow lean. And it shall be as when the reaper gathers standing grain and his arm harvests the ears, and as when one gleans the ears of grain in the Valley of Rephaim. Gleanings will be left in it, as when an olive tree is beaten— two or three berries in the top of the highest bough, four or five on the branches of a fruit tree, declares the Lord God of Israel.” Isaiah 17:4-6 ESV. Notice the reference here to “Jacob”, which really referred to the twelve tribes of Israel (Jacob).
We see God’s hand using all sorts of means to carry out His righteousness and justice. But, as this is going on, as this day of the Lord is happening, we also read that something else was to happen, in our focus verses today. We read “In that day man will look to his Maker, and his eyes will look on the Holy One of Israel. He will not look to the altars, the work of his hands, and he will not look on what his own fingers have made, either the Asherim or the altars of incense.”Isaiah 17:7-8 ESV. The people out of desperation turned to the Lord. Isn’t that exactly the same as we have seen for ourselves, in our times? That many live their busy lives, independent of God, thinking they do not need Him. Until there is some crisis, when it becomes clear that they are lost in their own ways. When they realize that the world kings and leaders, the scientists and engineers, even the religious with man-made altars don’t give the answers.
God’s judgment and justice will prevail. Will be executed, as we have seen in the past, in recent times, and will ultimately be finalized at the end. We know how the story ends, as God has so lovingly told us in advance. Are we as nations as stubborn, prideful and arrogant as the peoples we read about in Isaiah, 3000 years ago? Or are we humbling ourselves before the Lord, turning away from the evil and wicked ways of this world? Babylon will once more fall; will be destroyed, with the rest of the world systems. The everlasting kingdom of Christ will be fully realized, when the oppressor has finally been removed, as we looked at yesterday. And we as God’s people look forward to that day.
But there is a very somber message here today, from the Lord, to all of us. What is it going to take, for people to turn to Him? What are we doing to help people wake up? He is calling all people to wake up, to come to the knowledge of truth, to repent and turn to Him. And He needs all His children to work the fields of His vineyard, until He comes back.