A Man Shall Look to His Maker

“Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the LORD God of Israel.  At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.  And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images.” Isaiah 17:6-8 (KJB)

God  has spoken of the judgment upon Damascus; and also Ephraim (the northern kingdom also called Israel), and Syria. The word of this  text is to Judah.

Christians can, and need to learn much from the discipline of God upon His people of the Old Testament.  One is that He will not allow His children to continue living in sin without some form of discipline, even  judgment of our sin, to turn our hearts back to Him. Remember what the writer of Hebrews has written,

“…If you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards (or illegitimate), and not sons” Hebrews 12:8

Commentary for Isaiah 17:6-8…

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary on verse 6 – 8…

in it — that is, in the land of Israel.

two or three … in the top — A few poor inhabitants shall be left in Israel, like the two or three olive berries left on the topmost boughs, which it is not worth while taking the trouble to try to reach.”

Verse 7 –  “look to his Maker — instead of trusting in their fortresses – (Isa_17:3; Mic_7:7).”

Verse 8 –  “groves — A symbolical tree is often found in Assyrian inscriptions, representing the hosts of heaven (“Saba”), answering to Ashteroth or Astarte, the queen of heaven, as Baal or Bel is the king. Hence the expression, “image of the grove,” is explained (2Ki_21:7).

images — literally, “images to the sun,” that is, to Baal, who answers to the sun, as Astarte to the hosts of heaven (2Ki_23:5; Job_31:26).”

Look to your Maker today.  He is the One who died on the cross for you, was buried, and He rose again.  He is the soon returning King of kings, and Lord of lords.  He is Jesus the Christ, Son of the Living God, God the Living Son.