The Destroyer Faces Judgment as Zion Pleads for Help

The destroyer who has not yet been destroyed is told his turn will come

Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.

Betrayal meets a measured reversal. The woe is on the as-yet-unspoiled spoiler. Zion's plea that follows is not a modern land deed, not nationalist immunity, and not supersession.

Morning by morning strength is asked, treaties fail, and fire eats the thorns

O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble. At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered. And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.

The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness. And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure. Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly. The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man. The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits. Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself. Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you. And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.

Daily arm, scattered nations, locust-like spoil, Zion filled with justice, failed peace envoys, wasted roads, and a land in mourning lead to the LORD rising. Consuming fire in the poem is his exaltation against treachery, not a warrant to burn people or to claim Zion as coercive property.