IV. PREDICTIONS OF THE FUTURE MESSIAH ARE INTERMINGLED WITH THE PRESENT POLITICAL CRISIS (CONTINUED) (7:1-12:6)
D. Assyria Is The Rod Of God's Anger (10:1-34)
1. Woe unto those who persist in wickedness (10:1-4)
(1,2) This passage concludes the four stanzas of judgment that Isaiah began in 9:8. The first three were primarily directed toward Ephraim (Samaria), while this passage is directed against the judges and lawyers of Jerusalem (Hailey). These wicked judges do not allow the needy to have "their day in court," while robbing the poor of what little they do have. These wicked men have specifically targeted the most helpless of the poor - the widows and the orphans. This puts these men under God's curse (Deut. 27:19; Lev. 19:15).
(3) The prophet now raises three questions to try and make his listeners think: 1, What will they do in the day of calamity and judgment caused by foreign intervention; 2, where can help be found in that day; and 3, who can be entrusted with the glory of Israel, to keep it safe?
(4) The unrighteous judges are going to fall, perhaps in the very jails to which they had sent the poor, perhaps at the feet of other prisoners as they are taken into captivity, or in battle. Yet, none of these judgments will yield repentance, so Isaiah uses the refrain of condemnation for the fourth and final time: For all this his anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still. Thus comes a terrible end to a people that once had it all as far as blessings from God were concerned. Their conduct demanded the judgment that they would receive.
2. God will use Assyria as the instrument of judgment (10:5-19) - Note that the pattern set forth in thesee verses can be seen elsewhere in the Old Testament: God will raise up a heathen nation to accomplish His purposes, then destroy that nation when He is done with them (Hab. 1:5-11; Isa. 13:17; 44:28-45:7; Jer. 51:11,28; Dan. 8). God would raise His great spiritual kingdom upon the ashes of the great world powers, of which Assyria was the first.
(5) Having pronounced woes upon Judah, himself, Ephraim, and the unrighteous judges, Isaiah now pronounces woe upon Assyria. Jehovah will use Assyria as the rod of mine anger against Israel and when He is through with that rod, He will destroy it.
(6) Jehovah will send the Assyrians because Israel and Judah are profane, polluted by idolatry and wickedness. The entire program of destruction - looting and taking captives - would be at God's direction. The people were to be ground into the mud by the Assyrians.
(7) The Assyrians did not intend to serve God's purposes despite the words of the prophet with Rabshakeh (2 Ki. 18:25). It is more likely that the Assyrians were playing on the prophecies of the Israelites to frighten them. In fact, God was using the Assyrians because their hearts were bent on world domination.
(8,9) The Assyrian will boast concerning his princes and military leaders, holding them up as the greatest in the world. The six conquered cities mentioned are listed in order of conquest from north to south approaching Jerusalem. These questions posed concerning these cities are rhetorical in nature, but aid the historians in placing the date of this prophecy near 717 B.C.
(10,11) The ancient oriental monarchs measured the strength of their victories as an expression of the strength of their idols and the weakness of their enemies idols. The boast of the Assyrian king concerning the capture of Jerusalem was blasphemous because he put his idols in a league with the one true God of Israel.
(12) When God's complete judgment upon the wickedness of His people is complete, then He will turn His wrath upon arrogant Assyria.
(13) The Assyrian king really believed that he had accomplished all of these things on his own. He did not realize that Jehovah is the one who set the bounds of the people, and controlled who would rule (Deut. 32:8; Acts 17:26; Dan. 4:17). The rulers of today need to take these passages into account!
(14) The Assyrian king further boasted that his conquering was as simple to him as stealing eggs from an unprotected nest or as we would say "as easy as taking candy from a baby."
(15) Jehovah answers the boasts of the Assyrian king by asking several simple questions: 1, does the axe use the lumberjack or the lumberjack use the axe; 2, does the saw use the carpenter, or the carpenter the saw; 3, does a rod or staff use the one that wields it, or vice versa? Jehovah is using Assyrians to accomplish His purposes just as a man might use an axe, a saw, or a staff. So the Lord uses the nations to this very day!
(16) When God is through with Assyria, He will cast them on the trash heap to be burned and destroyed.
(17) God will be the fire of Assyria's destruction (Deut. 4:24; Isa. 60:19) beginning in the lower echelon of the Assyrian forces (Isa. 37:36).
(18,19) All of Assyria will be destroyed body and soul.
3. A remnant of Jacob will return (10:20-23)
(20,21) While all of Assyria will be destroyed, a remnant will escape Assyria's attempt at destroying Judah. King Ahaz had attempted to use Assyria and Damascus to save the nation (2 Chron. 28:16,20; 28:23), but the remnant would only turn to the Lord. The remnant would place their hope in God, not some man-made earthly power. A remnant of this remnant will eventually be saved by the Child, the Mighty God (Isa. 1:9; 6:13).
(22) Jehovah never promised that all the descendants of Abraham would be saved, but always pointed to the saved as a remnant (Rom. 9:27). The old ways will be totally done away in an overwhelming flood of righteousness.
(23) A general world judgment will bring a full end to all heathen powers that stand against Jehovah. This judgment will be studied further in Isaiah 24-27.
4. Assyria will later be destroyed (10:24-34)
(24) The prophet comforts the people somewhat by saying that the Assyrian affliction will not last forever. While Egypt used slavery to afflict the people, Assyria would use war.
(25) While it lasts, the indignation would be severe, but when it was accomplished God's wrath would be turned on the oppressor. The Assyrian oppression against Judah lasted about 30 years.
(26) The destruction of Assyria will be a work of God, just as the destruction of the Midianites at Oreb and the Egyptians at the Red Sea was His doing.
(27) The deliverance of the people will be as if a yoke is lifted from their shoulders. Perhaps Israel will be like an ox that grows to large for its yoke, destroying the yoke because of fatness.
(28-32) Now the prophet paints a vivid picture of an invading army approaching Jerusalem from the north, yet we know from scripture that the actual siege of Jerusalem came from the southwest. Remember, at this point Isaiah is trying to make sure that everyone knows the oppression will come from Assyria, which lies to the north. Each of the twelve cities identified are progressively closer and closer to Jerusalem (however the exact location of four of them is still under dispute by the archeologists). When the Assyrians reach a place where the city is in sight, they will feel the battle is already won - so they think!
(33) The Assyrians will be trimmed like a tree being prepared for falling. They will be cut down to size by Jehovah, as He shows them just how mortal they really are.
(34) The mountain of Lebanon represents all the earthly powers, while Mt. Zion represents all of God's power. God's power will completely destroy the earthly powers from the treetop to the underbrush - the destruction will continue until nothing is remaining. The people should not fear; better things are ahead for God's faithful remnant. [TOP OF THIS CHAPTER]
E. The Messiah And His Rule (11:1-12:6)
1. Who the King will be (11:1-5)
(1) The prophet refuses to even call the House of David by its proper name, instead referring to it as "the stock of Jesse" (David's father). While there will be no life left in the Assyrian forests, a Branch will remain in Judah. Out of this Branch will grow God's spiritual kingdom.
(2) Here Isaiah alludes to the scene of Christ's baptism (Mt. 3:16; Mk. 1:10; Lk. 3:22; Jn. 1:32). The Spirit will endow the Branch with three pairs of characteristics: 1, wisdom and understanding; 2, counsel and might; 3, knowledge and fear of Jehovah. The Branch will rule based on this full measure of the spirit.
(3) The Branch will do nothing by compulsion, except those things that are directed by love and reverence for the Father. Judgment will not be based on appearances, but on the thoughts and intents of the heart of the one being judged.
(4) All of the Branch's judgments will be fair and just. While He will side with the meek and poor, the earthly-minded will be crushed by His (s)word (Rev. 1:16; 2:16; 19:15; 2 Thess. 2:8).
(5) Conformity to the standards of Jehovah will support the Branch in every contest with the world. He will never waver in His firmness and stability as He meets and defeats wickedness in its own backyard.
2. What the conditions of peace will be like (11:6-8)
(6-8) But what will be the character of His subjects? Natural foes will dwell together in peace, but only in the Kingdom. This is not a literal prophecy of physical animal behavior anymore than the preceding verses were a literal prophecy of a sword coming out of the mouth of Christ.
3. Where the place of this peace will be found (11:9)
(9) The peace described here will take place only in Jehovah's holy mountain - the kingdom of God. Isaiah is not foretelling world peace among animals or men, but peace within God's kingdom.
4. When this prophecy will be fulfilled (11:10)
(10) When the Messiah comes, these prophecies will be fulfilled. The Gentiles as well as the Jews will rally behind the King (Ro. 15:12). Jesus and His converts fulfill these prophecies. He is ruling and reigning over His followers even now.
5. Who the recipients of the blessings are (11:11-16)
(11) The first remnant was recovered in the days of Zerubbabel and Joshua (Ezra 1-6). This second recovery would come during the days of the Branch. This recovery has been taking place since the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 (Ro. 11:5; 15:12).
(12,13) The Messiah (ensign) will be a rallying point for all nations, including Gentiles and dispersed Jews. The envy that had once existed between Israel and Judah will be abolished.
(14) Even from among such perennial enemies of God's people as the Philistines will come converts. The new kingdom will be made up not only of kinsmen, but former enemies as well.
(15) Any obstacle that might stand in the way of the remnant's return will be removed, whether it be natural or man-made.
(16) There will be no boundaries to restrict the new kingdom, its influence will be world-wide (Acts 1:8; Zech. 9:10). The highway of return will be provided not by man, but by God.
6. A song of thanksgiving (12:1-6)
(1) The provisions of the preceding prophecy call for a song of thanksgiving. The time of the "woes" will be ended in the day of the Messiah, the Lord's anger can now be turned away. Jehovah is the source of salvation, only in Him is forgiveness of sins.
(2) The redeemed will recognize no other as their Savior (Isa. 43:11). Isaiah includes part of Moses' song (Ex. 15:2) to draw our attention to the similarity between the new remnant's return and the return of Israel from Egypt.
(3) Since Jehovah is the salvation, strength, and song of the redeemed, a constant state of rejoicing should be the norm for God's people (See Paul's letter to the Philippians). As Jehovah had provided physical sustenance for the remnant from Egypt, he will now provide spiritual food for the new remnant (1 Cor. 10:4; Jn. 4:10,14; 7:37,38).
(4) Isaiah now urges the redeemed to declare their thanksgiving for Jehovah's goodness through six imperatives: 1, give continuous thanks (Col. 3:15,17;
1 Thess. 5:18; Phil. 4:6); 2, call upon His name (Ps. 50:15); 3, declare His doings among the people; 4, make mention that His name is exalted (Ps. 111:9);
(5) 5, sing unto Jehovah... (Isa. 42:10; Rev. 5:9,10);
(6) 6, cry aloud and shout... (Heb. 12:22; Rev. 14:1-5).