Book of Isaiah, CH 17-18. Proclamation Against Syria, Israel (Ephriam) and Ethiopia (Cush).

Truth In Scripture Pastor Rick Kabrick Sunday October 19, 2025 Book of Isaiah, CH 17-18. Proclamation Against Syria, Israel (Ephriam) and Ethiopia (Cush).
Pastor Rick KabrickPO BOX 595 Tiverton RI 02878www.paypal.me/PastorRickkwww.truthinscripture.org
The prophet Daniel states that GOD removes kings and sets up kings All power on earth is subject to divine authority. DAN 2.The Apostle Paul writes, For there is NO AUTHORITY except from GOD, All governing authorities hold their power only by GOD’s permission and sanction. ROM 13.After HIS resurrection, Yeshua tells HIS disciples, “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to ME” MAT 28. GOD the Father gave Yeshua ALL power and authority, which surpasses any earthly dominion.
3 The fortress also will cease from Ephraim (this is Israel the northern tribes Ephraim being the most prominent biggest of the tribes), The kingdom from Damascus, And the remnant of Syria; They will be as the glory of the children of Israel,” Says the LORD of hosts.
From Philistia which was to the west of Judah, right along the Med. Then we saw the demise coming anyway to Moab to the east. Now we see Damascus, the capital of Aram, to the north.
In the following two chapters we will move on to Egypt in the south. Thus completing the four points of the compass. The arrangement is not chronological but schematic in a geographical sense. Wherever Judah looks, to the west, east, north or south, she sees only nations whose once great glory and power is fleeting and whose fate is sealed.
Isaiah is describing the loss of status and wealth that will come upon Israel (the northern tribes). Israel will grow from healthy and well-fed to desperately starving. As an illustration, he describes those who are dependent on the gleanings in the Valley of Rephaim to survive.The Valley of Rephaim, southwest of Jerusalem, contained fertile fields of grain. The common practice of the day, as mandated by the old testament law, provided for the poor.
The glory of Israel had changed so much that instead of being the one who reaps the crops, they would or had become the one who lives on the gleanings. Northern kingdom for sure and then the southern kingdom.
3 images depict Israel’s condition after her collapse. She will be like a man whose fat has disappeared, leaving him like a skeleton.Then like reaped field in which only a few stalks remain for the poor to glean. Then like a grove of olive trees that have been so beaten that only a few pieces of fruit remain on the highest limbs or branches.
Damascus the capitol of the ancient nation of Syria which is/was north-east of Israel (the northern tribes), around the Sea of Galilee, had constant contact and interaction with Syria. Damascus was said to be one of the most beautiful cities of the ancient world, but the coming Assyrian judgment would reduce it to a heap of ruins. Politically as well as the physical buildings.
Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a ruinous heap with its royal power disappearing. It also states that the strong cities of Israel will also become deserted. This was and is partially fulfilled but more and a final destruction will come.