An oracle concerning Damascus: "See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks, which will lie down, with no one to make them afraid. The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim, and royal power from Damascus; the remnant of Aram will be like the glory of the Israelites," declares the Lord Almighty.
"In that day the glory of Jacob will fade; the fat of his body will waste away... yet some gleanings will remain, as when an olive tree is beaten, leaving two or three olives on the topmost branches, for or five on the fruitful boughs, declares the Lord, the God of Israel." Isaiah 17:1-4, 6
I love the picture of the olive tree in verse six. When olives are harvested, the trees are shaken and the olives that drop from the tree are picked up by the harvesters. Well here in Isaiah, we see this used as a metaphor to show that Israel will be shaken, and only a few - a "remnant" - will be left, left on the very top where it is difficult to reach.
In that day the remnant of Israel, the survivors of the house of Jacob, will no longer rely on him who struck them down but will rely on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob, will return to the Mighty God. Isaiah 10:20-21
So I want to ask us all today: what will happen when our tree is shaken? Will we be like the multitude who fall away with little resistance, or will we be prepared to grab a hold of God and stand firm? These words in Isaiah 17 were prophesied of the nation Israel, but don't think that the times of "shaking" are over. On the contrary, times of trials will come, and I hope and pray that we will all be prepared for this. Let the day not surprise us when hard times come and many people fall away from the faith, but let us with sober minds prepare for this day and do all we can to strengthen one another so that we will not fall away when difficult trials come.
In that day men will look to their Maker and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel. They will not look to the altars, the work of their hands, and they will have no regard for the Asherah poles and the incense altars their fingers have made. Isaiah 17:7-8
So let me ask you: when the tree is shaken, where will you be found?
Grace and Peace,
Andrew
