The weekly message: Why does the war constantly happen in Gaza? The prophecies against Philistines in O.T. By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

The weekly message: Why does the war constantly happen in Gaza? The prophecies against Philistines in O.T. 

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce                                                                       Date:  11/18/2023   

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts, Gospel, worship music, pastoral ministry & counseling

 

Today, Israel is at war and has been facing Hamas terrorists who attacked, bloodshed, kidnapped women, men and children 240 people in Gaza, Israel since October 7, 2023. Many Christians, ministers, and churches regardless Jewish and Gentiles in the U.S.A. stand up together and lift up our voices to support Israel by prayers, financial support, medical supply and military backing. All the Christians and Jewish brothers and sisters work in unity, and in same hearts and same minds to lift up Israel. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and May the will of God be done in Israel! 

          Why does the war constantly happen in Gaza? What are the prophecies about Gaza? Today, let us discover the prophecies and other oracles against the Philistines in the Old Testament. According to the Old Testament the prophecies against the Philistines are in Jeremiah 47:1-7; Isaiah 14:28-31; Ezek. 25:15-17; Amos 1:6-8; Zeph.2:4-7.  

 

First, Jeremiah’s Prophecies against the Philistines in Jeremiah 47: 1-7 Date: 627-585

 “This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines before Pharaoh attacked Gaza; Pharaoh Necho’s campaign in 609 (2Kings 23:29ff.)

 “This is what the Lord says: “see how the waters are rising in the north; they will become an overflowing torrent…the people will cry out; all who dwell in the land will wail at the sound of the hoofs of galloping steeds, at the noise of enemy chariots and the rumble of their wheels. Fathers will not turn to help their children; their hands will hang limp, for the day has come to destroy all the Philistines and to cut off all survivors who could help Tyre and Sidon. The Lord is about to destroy the Philistines, the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor. Gaza will shave her head in mourning; Ashkelon will be silenced. O remnant on the plain, how long will you cut yourselves? “‘Ah, sword of the Lord,’ you cry, ‘how long till you rest? Return to your scabbard; cease and be still.’  But how can it rest when the Lord has commanded it, when he has ordered it to attack Ashkelon and the coast?” (Jeremiah 47:1-7).

Second, Isaiah’s prophecies against Philistia in Isaiah 14:28-31 Date: 740-680

 “This oracle came in the year King Ahaz died:  Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is broken; from the root of that snake will spring up a viper, its fruit will be a darting, venomous serpent. The poorest of the poor will find pasture and the needs will lie down in safety. But your root I will destroy by famine; I will slay your survivors. Wail, O gate! Howl, O city! Melt away, all you Philistines! A cloud of smoke comes from the north, and there is not a straggler in its ranks. What answer shall be given to the envoys of that nation? “The Lord has established, Zion, and in her his afflicted people will find refuge.” (Isaiah 14:28-32).

 Ahaz died in 715. He was pro-Assyrian, but now Assyria was in difficulty (v.29a). Messengers from Philistia proposed to King Hezekiah that they join in a revolt against Assyria (v.32) The Lord told Isaiah that the respite from Assyrian domination was only temporary (v.29b), that Philistia was doomed (v.30), and that their trust should be in the Lord.(v.32) 

Third, Judgment on Philistia in Ezek. 25:15-17 Date: 592-570

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says, ‘Because the Philistines acted in vengeance and took revenge with malice in their hearts, and with ancient hostility sought to destroy Judah, therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to stretch out my hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Kerethites and destroy those remaining along the coast. I will carry out great vengeance on them and punish them in my wrath. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I take vengeance on them.” (Ezek.25:15-17)

Philistines are descendants of Mizraim, the son of Ham (Gen.10:41;1 Chron.1:12), they were a constant thorn in the side of Israel ( Ex.13:17;Juge.3:2-3;10:6-7;1Sam.4; Judg. 13-16; 1 Sam.13:19-22;17-18;2Chron.17:11;28:18;Zech.9:1-8) They worshiped Dagon (the Semitic grain deity; cf.1 Sam.5) and other gods, and were finally liquidated under the Maccabees in the second century B.C.     

Kerethites is synonymous with the Philistines. Tyre is an ancient Phoenician city-state on the Mediterranean, between Acre and Sidon. She enjoyed great prosperity under King Hiram (980-947), who provided men and materials for the construction of David’s palace (2 Sam.5:11-12) and Solomon’s palace and Temple (2 Chron.2). Many nations would be involved in the destruction of Tyre. Nebuchadnezzar (v.7) besieged the mainland city for thirteen years (585-572) and destroyed it. In 332 Alexander the Great besieged the island city for six months and finally captured it by building a causeway out to it from the debris of the destroyed mainland city. The city was rebuilt and Is mentioned in Matt.15:21-28; Mark 3:8; Matt.11:21-22; Acts 21:3-6. The city was almost completely destroyed by the Muslims in A.D.1291. 

Fourth, The prophecies of Amos concerning Philistia in Amos 1:6-8   Date: 755 B.C.

 This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Gaza even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because she took captive whole communities and sold them to Edom, I will send fire upon the walls of Gaza that will consume her fortresses. I will destroy the king of Ashdod and the one who holds the scepter in Ashkelong. I will turn my hand against Ekron, till the last of the Philistines is dead.” says the Sovereign Lord. (Amos1:6-8)

Gaza is a trade city, trafficking in slaves, where many Israelites were sold into slavery by Edom, their bitterest enemy.           

Fifth, The prophecies of Zephaniah concerning Philistia in Zeph. 2:4-7   Date: 625 B.C.

 Gaza will be abandoned and Ashkelon left in ruins. At midday Ashdod will be emptied and Ekron uprooted. Woe to you who live by the sea, O Kerethite people; the word of the Lord is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines. “I will destroy you, and none will be left.” The land by the sea, where the Kerethites dwell, will be a place for shepherds and sheep pens. It will belong to the remnant of the house of Judah; there they will find pasture. In the evening they will lie down in the houses of Ashkelon. The Lord their God will care for them; he will restore their fortunes.” (Zeph.2:4-7).

Kerethite people are occupants of the southern coast of the Philistine country who had roots in Crete. A small remnant of Jews would be restored after the Babylonian captivity. 

 Conclusion

First, Philistia was doomed and that their trust should be in the Lord. Philistines are descendants of Mizraim, the son of Ham (Gen.10:41;1 Chron.1:12), they were a constant thorn in the side of Israel (Ex.13:17; Juge.3:2-3;10:6-7;1Sam.4; Judg. 13-16; 1 Sam.13:19-22;17-18; 2Chron.17:11; 28:18; Zech.9:1-8). They worshiped Dagon (the Semitic grain deity; cf.1 Sam.5) and other gods, and were finally liquidated under the Maccabees in the second century B.C.  O Canaan, land of the Philistines. “I will destroy you, and none will be left.” The Lord is about to destroy the Philistines, the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor. Gaza will shave her head in mourning; Gaza is a trade city, trafficking in slaves, where many Israelites were sold into slavery by Edom, their bitterest enemy. Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon left in ruins.

            Second, God’s own heart and salvation

         According to the historical events and prophecies, God’s own heart is delight in Israel and He restored the Israel by established a new covenant, the King Messiah will emerge from the Davidic dynasty to rule in the millennial kingdom. As Jeremiah repeated the message concerning Messiah in Jeremiah.23:5 and 33:15-17 as follows,

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: the Lord Our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:5-6)

By In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.’ For this is what the Lord says: David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel. (Jeremiah 33:15-17)

 

 

Bibliography,

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

Weekly Message: Messiah -The suffering and Triumph of the Servant (Isaiah 52:13--53:12) By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Weekly Message: Messiah -The suffering and Triumph of the Servant (Isaiah 52:13--53:12) By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce                                                                                                                              Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry &Counseling  

 Isaiah 52:13 -53:12 is one of the most treasured and important passages in the O.T. These verses present the Servant suffering vicariously for men’s sins. Traditional Jewish interpretation understood the passage to be speaking of Messiah, as, of course, did the early Christians, who believed Jesus to be that Messiah (Act.8:35). Not until the twelfth century did the view emerge that the nations Israel is referred to, a view that has since become dominant in Judaism, but the Servant is distinguished from the “People” (53:8) and He is an innocent victim something that could not be said of the nation. (53:9) the passage divides into five sections of three verses each (1)52:13-15, (2) 53:1-3 (3) 53:4-6 (4) 53:7-9 (5) 53:10-12.[1]

Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing. (Isaiah.51:3) The ransomed of the Lord will return they will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. (Isaiah.51:11). For this is what the Lord days,” You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed.” (Isiah52:3). Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows. Yet we considered him stricken by God. (Isaiah53:4).

In the Isaiah 52:13-15 the preeminence of the Servant. Raised and lifted up. The same words are used of God in 6:1 (cf.Phil.2:9-11). As a result of the mistreatment done Him by Pilate’s soldiers, Messiah’s appearance was so disfigured (Isa.52:14) so that He could scarily be recognized as human. Because of His sacrifice He would be able to sprinkle (v.15) many, as a priest does in order to purify them. (1Pet1:2).[2]

“See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him-his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.” (Isaiah52:13-15)

In the Isaiah 53:1-3 the person of the Servant. The arm of the Lord (v.1) represents the power of the Lord in past miracles and in the future miracles of Messiah. Tender shoot (v.2) Lit., a suckling; i.e., frail (contrast11:1) root out of dry ground (53:2), refers to Messiah’s lowly background. There would be nothing in His personal appearance that would especially attract men to Him, He would experience sorrows (lit. pains,v.3) but men would not recognize His worth.

           “Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot and life a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (Isaiah53:1-3)

            In the Isaiah 53:4-6 indicates the passion of the Servant. Though men would think that God was causing the Servant to suffer for His own sins, the truth was that He suffered vicariously for theirs. “Pierced”(v.5). A term appropriate to crucifixion; “brought us peace” I.e., His punishment that obtained peace or well-being for us. 

“Surely, he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:4-6)  

 In the Isaiah 53:7-9 shows the passivity of the Servant. He didn’t open his mouth (v.7) which confirmed in the Matthew 26:63-64; Jesus did affirm His deity when placed under oath. Compare Isa.53:9 with Matt.27:57-60.

“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment, he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people, he was stricken. He was assigned a grace with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. (Isaiah53:7-9)

            In the Isaiah 53:10-12 indicates the portion of the Servant. His whole being, including His soul(v.11), was involved in the offering (v.10) the word used in Lev.6-7 of the guilt or trespass offering, which required 120 percent restitution, Lev.6:5) His offspring (53:10) are those who would believe on Him. To prolong his days after being made an offering would necessitate bodily resurrection.

“ Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life, and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”(Isaiah53:10-12)

Bibliography

     Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

---

[1]      Charles C. Ryrie. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).(Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986),  989 

 

[2]     Charles C. Ryrie. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).(Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986),  989