Idols Destroyed

Isaiah 27:8-9. “In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it: He stayeth His rough  wind in the day of the east wind. By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when He maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.”

Last Friday we looked at verse seven, which taught us that God will not spare those who oppressed Israel; and that although Israel was punished for her sins, especially the sin of worshiping false gods, she would be spared the severity that God visited upon her enemies.

Now, in verse eight and nine, we see God’s mercy toward Israel. In measure enough to purge Israels sin, He has judged His people. Verse eight, when it shooteth forth, refers to the stroke of judgment of v. 7, which was for correction and not total destruction. God would debate or curb the stroke, knowing how much to give His people: and He will control His judgments on them like He would the rough wind in the day of the tempestuous and violent east wind, so that full damage will not be made on them. The east wind was always violent and rough in Judea (Job 27:21).

By this judgment upon His people the iniquity of Jacob will be purged: and the proof of such cleansing from sin will be when Israel is caused by God to throw down the stones of the altar and the groves and throw away the images they had worshiped.