Topical Bible: Sieges: The Judgments of God

◄ Sieges: The Judgments of God ►

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In the biblical narrative, sieges are often depicted as instruments of divine judgment, serving as a means through which God executes His justice upon nations and cities that have turned away from His commandments. The concept of a siege involves surrounding a city or stronghold, cutting off essential supplies, and waiting for the inhabitants to surrender or succumb to starvation and despair. Throughout Scripture, sieges are portrayed as both a literal and symbolic manifestation of God's wrath against sin and disobedience.

Old Testament Examples

One of the earliest and most significant sieges recorded in the Bible is the siege of Jericho. In Joshua 6, God commands the Israelites to march around the city for seven days, culminating in the walls collapsing on the seventh day. This event is not only a military victory but also a divine act of judgment against the Canaanites for their idolatry and wickedness. The fall of Jericho demonstrates God's power and His commitment to fulfilling His promises to Israel.

The siege of Samaria, as described in 2 Kings 6:24-30, is another poignant example. The Arameans besieged the city, leading to extreme famine and desperation among the inhabitants. This event is depicted as a consequence of Israel's persistent idolatry and rebellion against God. The severity of the siege highlights the seriousness of turning away from God's covenant.

Perhaps the most devastating siege in the Old Testament is the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, culminating in the destruction of the city and the temple in 586 BC. The prophet Jeremiah, in Lamentations, mourns the desolation of Jerusalem, attributing it to the people's unfaithfulness: "The LORD has done what He planned; He has fulfilled His word, which He decreed long ago. He has overthrown you without pity, He has let the enemy gloat over you, He has exalted the horn of your foes" (Lamentations 2:17). This siege serves as a profound reminder of the consequences of national apostasy and the fulfillment of prophetic warnings.

Prophetic Significance

Sieges are not only historical events but also carry prophetic significance. In Ezekiel 4, the prophet is instructed to enact a symbolic siege of Jerusalem, lying on his side for a specified number of days to represent the years of punishment for Israel and Judah. This prophetic act underscores the certainty of God's judgment and the inevitability of the consequences of sin.

The Book of Daniel also references sieges in a prophetic context. Daniel 9:26-27 speaks of a future desolation decreed upon Jerusalem, which many conservative scholars interpret as a reference to the Roman siege and destruction of the city in AD 70. This event is seen as a continuation of the theme of divine judgment upon a people who have rejected God's messengers and His covenant.

New Testament Reflections

While the New Testament does not focus extensively on sieges, it does reflect on the theme of divine judgment. Jesus Himself prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem in Luke 21:20-24, warning of the impending siege by Roman forces as a consequence of the nation's rejection of Him as the Messiah. This prophecy was fulfilled in AD 70, serving as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of rejecting God's offer of salvation.

In the broader theological context, sieges in the Bible illustrate the holiness and justice of God. They serve as a call to repentance and a warning of the dire consequences of sin. The biblical narrative consistently portrays God as patient and merciful, yet ultimately just in His dealings with humanity. Through the lens of sieges, believers are reminded of the importance of faithfulness to God's covenant and the hope of restoration for those who turn back to Him.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Micah 5:1
Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops: he has laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Jeremiah
... During the terrible sieges of Jerusalem he was to be ... by a prophecy of the terrible
judgments that would ... should its inhabitants prove disloyal to God and His law ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 34 jeremiah.htm

Oracles on the Scythians. (With Some Others: iv. 5-vi. 29. )
... 12 [Now will I speak My judgments upon them] Lo ... the Lord, And the Rule of their God."
Ah, together ... the Scythians, incapable as they were of sieges and avoiding ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/2 oracles on the scythians.htm

Heresies
... In a war of sieges De Montfort's skill took from ... the clergy to be concerned in judgments
involving death ... with him who keeps not faith with God," and Councils ...
/.../medley/the church and the empire/chapter xii heresies.htm

Sargon of Assyria (722-705 BC )
... of the Hittite bas-relief at Ibriz, took the largest figure for the image of a god. ...
to him; he was also famed for the uprightness of his judgments, which were ...
/.../chapter iiisargon of assyria 722-705.htm

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... brought before him continually increasing as people learnt more and more the justice
of his judgments, Deiokes, finding ... [Illustration: 096.jpg A PHRYGIAN GOD]. ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria 2.htm