Scripture reading – Isaiah 10
The first four verses of Isaiah 10 are in fact a summary of the preceding chapter’s warning to Judah for the injustices that nation’s leaders had committed against the poor and needy (10:1-2). Because God’s people had rejected Him, His Law and Commandments, they would be subject to the harsh laws, and leadership of wicked rulers.
An Admonition to Those Who Abuse Justice (10:1-4)
Knowing God is immutable and just, no nation or people should be blind to the justice He expects of those in authority. As we consider our world today, we can see that the injustices committed by the leaders of Judah are the same injustices prevalent today: The needy and poor are denied justice (10::2a), widows are preyed upon by unscrupulous men, and orphans are tragically trafficked and abused. What becomes of a people who ignores injustices? Such a nation will ultimately fall into such degradation that it will lose its identity and fall to the hand of enemy (10:4).
A Warning of Judgment Against Assyria (10:5-19)
Why was Assyria the focus of God’s wrath in this passage?
That great empire had been the tool, the vessel God used to punish Israel for that nation’s rebellion against the LORD (10:5-6). The king of Assyria was blind to the truth, “1The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever he will” (Proverbs 21:1).
The Assyrian king’s ambition to conquer other nations was planted in his heart by the God of heaven (10:7). He boasted his “princes” (leaders he had ordained to rule over the people he had conquered) were as powerful as kings in their own right (10:8-9). Blinded by ambition, the Assyrian king was unaware when he had “performed his whole work” (all God had ordained to punish Jerusalem, 10:12), He would be punished (10:16). The king boasted he had gathered the riches of other nations, like a farmer gathers eggs (10:14). He believed all he had accomplished was “by the strength” of his own hand (10:13-15).
God promised He would send against Assyria an enemy (Babylon) that would take away that nation’s wealth, and destroy its strength with fire (10:16-19).
God Remembered Israel (10:20-33)
Assyria would destroy Israel (the northern ten tribes), and afflict Judah, but the LORD promised He would not forget “the remnant of Israel” (10:20). Though God’s people would suffer great afflictions for their sins, He promised “the remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God” (10:21). God had promised Abraham his seed would “be as the sand of the sea” (Genesis 22:17; 32:12), but the sins of the people had reduced their number to a “remnant” whom the LORD promised would one day return to their land (10:22-23).
Assured by God’s promises, the prophet encouraged the people that “dwellest in Zion” (Jerusalem), “Be not afraid of the Assyrian: He shall smite thee with a rod…25For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, And mine anger in their destruction” (10:24-25).
Closing thoughts – Judah would be afflicted by Assyria, but it would not be overcome (10:26-27). The Assyrian army would march south, and the cities north of Jerusalem would fall in succession (10:28-32). The citizens of Jerusalem would be shaken, but the LORD promised to intervene, and figuratively “lop the bough [the head of the king] with terror” (10:33).
Assyria appeared unstoppable. Nation after nation, and city after city had fallen to that nation’s army. Israel was destroyed, and the people had been taken captive. The cities north of Jerusalem were conquered, and the king and the people believed they would succumb to the terror of that enemy.
Had the nation heeded Isaiah’s prophecy, they would have known there was no cause to fear Assyria, for the LORD had planned the demise of that nation (10:34).
A word of encouragement – Do you wonder who is behind world events? Do you lack confidence in your nation’s leaders? Do you fear the effects of wicked leaders? Take heart, and be encouraged:
Proverbs 8:15–16 – 15By me [the LORD] kings reign, And princes decree justice. 16By me princes rule, And nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
Remember: The same God who “lopped off” the head of Assyria, is still Sovereign God.
Copyright © 2022 – Travis D. Smith
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