Ariel
As we look
at Isaiah 29, let me clarify this name Ariel.
Symbolically, this is a name for Jerusalem. The name Ariel literally means “lion of God” (or
lioness, depending on usage). The
context of the first verse tells us that Ariel is the city that David
besieged. The word for besieged in
Hebrew can also mean encamped or settled.
We also know that David (and the Messianic line that comes from David)
is called the Lion of Judah. Thus, it
makes sense to think of the city that David besieged and then made his own
capitol would also be called the Lioness of God. (The word lioness is used because cities in
antiquity were feminine in name.)
Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that Ariel is a symbolic name of
Jerusalem and it is used specifically to bring about images of and connections
to David.
What do we
hear about Ariel? Ariel will be besieged
itself. Ariel will have towers built
against it and siege works raised up.
The city will be made low. Their
supposed might will turn into a ghost.
They will be humbled. Like an
arrogant child who confronts an authority figure that is more powerful than the
child’s own arrogance, Ariel will be brought to its knees.
Salvation
However,
this is not the end of the chapter – far from it! The Lord promises that the multitude that
rises against Ariel will eventually be made like dust. The promise of ruthless behavior will fall
away like chaff in the wind. Suddenly the
Lord will come upon them and they will know their salvation. The hunger and thirst of the enemies of God
will go unsatisfied when the Lord comes against them to spare Jerusalem.
Salvation Missed
But,
unfortunately as soon as we have words of God’s salvation we have a return to
reality. Even though the people of
Jerusalem will see God miraculously deal with the Assyrian threat, the people
will return to life as normal without hardly batting an eyelash. Rather than take the opportunity to repent
and humble themselves while recognizing how close they were to destruction,
Isaiah tells them that they will be blind to the Lord’s work and stagger.
What a
horrible reflection on reality. These
people will be besieged. They will see
the glory of the Lord literally rescue them from the teeth of destruction. They will come so close to be destroyed and
they will be spared! Yet they are so
wrapped up in their own greatness and their own desires that they won’t even
recognize the hand of the Lord in their midst.
If ever there is a warning for those who follow after them, this is
it. If ever there is a reason to pause
and ask ourselves if we are in touch with what God is doing in our life, this
is it.
What is the
cause of such behavior? Look at verses
13-16. When we get into the habit of
going through the motions (drawing near the Lord in lip service but not in
heart) but we don’t actually mean it, then we are in danger. Or perhaps we turn things upside down. Rather than seeing ourselves as the clay in
the hand of The Potter we see ourselves as the potter. When we forget our place, we are prone to
missing God’s hand in our life.
Salvation Received By The Unexpected
Now look at
verse 19. The meek shall obtain fresh
joy in the Lord. The poor shall exult in
the Lord. There will come a time when
people will humble themselves before God.
There will come a time when people will remember their place. Then we will have nothing to fear. Then we will have sight enough to see the work
of the hands of the Lord.
But there is
even more to this chapter. Being meek and
humble before the Lord is just the beginning.
Seeing the work of the Lord’s hand is great, but it is not the end. The end is bringing glory to God’s name. The end is standing in awe of God’s glory and
bringing praise to His name. That’s the
end. That’s the good life. That’s the sweet spot. That’s where I want to be.
It is so
easy to get wrapped up in our own life.
It’s so easy to miss what God is doing.
It’s so easy to get things turned upside down. But the sweet life is remembering my place and
my role in God’s agenda. Humbleness is
the goal so that it is God’s name that is praised.
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