Devastation of the land

Today’s passage serves as the introduction to the whole of chapter 11. As a result of the people of Israel rejecting the Messiah, “devastation of the land” will come. It says, “Open your doors, Lebanon, so that a fire may feed on your cedars. Wail, juniper, for the cedar has fallen, for the magnificent trees have been destroyed” (v 1-2a). (1) Lebanon was famous for its cedar trees. Solomon required a great quantity of cedars from Lebanon for the construction of the temple (ref. 1 Kings 5:6). In other words, the interior of the temple in Jerusalem was made of cedar wood. (2) Here, “Lebanon” refers to the temple. Therefore, it says, “Open your doors.” The falling of the cedar trees and the destruction of the trees is a prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. It says, “Wail, oaks of Bashan, because the impenetrable forest has come down” (v 2b). (1) Bashan refers to the southern part of what is today the Golan Heights. Here also, “Bashan” refers to Jerusalem. (2) “Because the impenetrable forest has come down” refers to the densely packed houses within the city of Jerusalem (a similar expression is found in Mic. 3:12). “There is a sound of the shepherds’ wail, for their splendor is ruined; there is a sound of the young lions’ roar, for the pride of the Jordan is ruined” (v 3). (1) “The shepherds” refers to the leaders of Israel. They lament when they see the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. (2) “The young lions” refers to the princes, and “the Jordan” refers to the Jordan Valley. This area also will become desolate (ref. Jer. 12:5; 49:19; 50:44).

The fulfillment of prophecy

This prophecy was fulfilled in 70 AD. In that year, Jerusalem fell to the Roman army, and the temple was destroyed. The reason for the destruction was that the people of Israel rejected the Messiah (the remainder of chapter 11 contains that prophecy). In chapter 10, the complete deliverance of the people of Israel and their restoration to the Promised Land had been foretold. Chapter 11 stands in contrast to that. The devastation of the land and the worldwide dispersion of the Jewish people that resulted from rejecting the Messiah (which took place in 70 AD) become the necessary background for the restoration of the people of Israel in the end times. The people of Israel once rejected the Messiah, but God has not abandoned them. Their stumbling led to the salvation of us Gentiles. Remembering this, let us give thanks for the unchanging love of God.