Today’s Scripture Reading (January 9,
2017): Isaiah 17
The fate of
Damascus throughout history has been one of a roller coaster ride of ups and
downs. Sometimes, Damascus ruled, but there were other times when her
importance significantly decreased, and
she became just another city of the Levant. Most
recently, Damascus’ role in Syria has been dwarfed by the role of Aleppo –
another ancient urban center in Syria (Aleppo has probably been inhabited since
6,000 years before the time of Christ). It is Aleppo that was the largest of
the Syrian cities for the past several centuries. But that was before the
beginning of the Syrian Civil War. Today, Aleppo stands in ruins. We have no
idea how many people still call the city home, but it is assumed that Damascus
is now once again the largest city in Syria.
But Damascus knows Aleppo’s pain. Damascus is a few centuries older than
Aleppo, and throughout her long history, she has known her own tears. She has
been one of the most important cities in the area, and she has known what it
was like to be considered unimportant. She has been considered the bright spot
in the Levant, and she has been forgotten and thrown away.
As Isaiah utters this prophecy, Damascus is the cultural and religious
center of the area. It was probably unimaginable that the city might disappear,
or even ever be considered unimportant. Yet, in a few short years, the
Assyrians would defeat the city and reduce her importance. And then, a few
short years after the Assyrians takes control of the city; the Babylonians
would defeat the Assyrians and assume responsibility for Damascus. Then the
city would enter into a dark age about which we simply know nothing. Damascus,
for a time, disappears from the pages of history. She would be rebuilt politically
and would once again rise from the ashes to be a force in the Middle East, only
to be defeated and considered unimportant once more. And this pattern would
repeat itself over and over again.
Isaiah probably saw this time of defeat by the Assyrians and then darkness
under the Babylonians as he makes this prophecy. Damascus has always been a city,
but at this point in her history, and several other eras that would follow, Damascus
would no longer be the city of importance that was worthy of her name. She
would be less than the Damascus of history, story, and song.
Today, at least for this period, Damascus is once again on the rise. But
only future historians will be able to tell us how long this time of importance
will last for one of the ancient cities on our planet.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Isaiah
18
