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<h2><a onclick="return mV('Isa',10,'1-');">Isa 10</a> - Assyria Judged</h2>
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<p>Since <a onclick="return mV('Isa',10,'1-4');">Isa 10:1-4</a> connects with <a onclick="return mV('Isa',9,'1-');">Isa 9</a>, it is examined in the previous chapter.</p>
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<p><span>A. God's judgment on arrogant Assyria.</span></p>
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<p class="c1"><span>1. (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',10,'5-7');">5-7</a>) Assyria, the unintentional instrument in the hand of the <span class="c6">Lord</span>.</span></p>
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<p class="c2"><span>"Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger and the staff in whose hand is My indignation. I will send him against an ungodly nation, and against the people of My wrath I will give him charge, to seize the spoil, to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Yet he does not mean so, nor does his heart think so; but <i>it is</i> in his heart to destroy, and cut off not a few nations."</span></p>
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<p class="c4"><span>a. <b><span class="c3">Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger</span></b></span>: In the previous section (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',7,1);">Isa 7:1</a> through <a onclick="return mV('Isa',10,'1-');">10:4</a>), the <span class="c6">Lord</span> revealed that He would use Assyria as an instrument of judgment against Syria, Israel, and Judah. But what about Assyria? Weren't they even more wicked than Syria, Israel, or Judah? Yes, the Assyrians were wicked; yet the <span class="c6">Lord</span> could use them as <b><span class="c3">the rod of My anger</span></b>. At the same time, none of it excused Assyria, so the <span class="c6">Lord</span> says, "<b><span class="c3">woe to Assyria</span></b>."</p>
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<p class="c5">i. "A similar shift in the object of divine judgment occurred in the case of the Babylonians. God raised up the Babylonian armies between 605 and 686 <span class="c6">b.c.</span> to punish Judah (<a onclick="return mV('Hab',1,'6-11');">Hab. 1:6-11</a>), and then He announced judgment on Babylon (<a onclick="return mV('Hab',2,'6-17');">Hab 2:6-17</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',14,5);">Isa. 14:5</a>)." (Wolf)</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">The rod of My anger . . . the staff in whose hand is My indignation</span></b>: The <b><span class="c3">rod</span></b> and the <b><span class="c3">staff</span></b> were sticks used by shepherds to guide and correct their sheep. God is saying that Assyria was like a stick in His hand, used to correct Syria, Israel, and Judah.</p>
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<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">I will send him against an ungodly nation, and against the people of My wrath</span></b>: In this sense, Assyria was on a mission from God. They were doing the <span class="c6">Lord</span>'s will, running His errands when they came against Syria, Israel, and Judah. God gave them permission (<b><span class="c3">I will give them charge</span></b>) to <b><span class="c3">seize the spoil, to take the prey, and to tread them down like mire of the streets</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c4">d. <b><span class="c3">Yet he does not mean so, nor does his heart think so</span></b>: Since Assyria was an instrument in God's hand, since they were doing the will of the <span class="c6">Lord</span>, does this excuse their attack on Syria, Israel, and Judah? <i>Not at all!</i> Though they were instruments in God's hand, they did <b><span class="c3">not mean so, nor does his heart think so</span></b>. They <i>didn't care at all</i> about God's will or glory in the matter. Instead, <b><span class="c3">it is in his heart to destroy, and cut off not a few nations</span></b>. Assyria didn't care about the will or glory of God; they wanted to <b><span class="c3">destroy</span></b> and <b><span class="c3">cut off</span></b> many nations.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. <a onclick="return mV('Psa',76,10);">Psa 76:10</a> says <i>Surely the wrath of man shall praise You</i>. God can use the wickedness and carnality of man to further His will, <i>without ever approving of the wickedness or carnality</i>. In fact, God is totally justified in <i>judging</i> the very wickedness and carnality that He used!</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. The pattern is repeated over and over through the Scriptures. Joseph's brothers sinned against Joseph, but God used it for His purpose, and disciplined Joseph's brothers. Saul sinned against David, but God used it for His purpose, and judged Saul. Judas sinned against Jesus, but God used it for His purpose, and judged Judas.</p>
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<p class="c5">iii. This should help with questions that trouble many people. The first is "How can God bring any good through this evil that was done to me?" We can't often know in advance exactly <i>how</i> God will bring the good, but we can trust that He will as we continue to yield to Him and seek Him. The second is "Doesn't God care about what they did to me?" He does care, and He will bring His correction or judgment according to His perfect will and timing.</p>
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<p class="c1"><span>2. (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',10,'8-14');">8-14</a>) The arrogance of Assyria.</span></p>
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<p class="c2"><span>"For he says, <i>'Are</i> not my princes altogether kings? <i>Is</i> not Calno like Carchemish? <i>Is</i> not Hamath like Arpad? <i>Is</i> not Samaria like Damascus? As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, whose carved images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria, as I have done to Samaria and her idols, shall I not do also to Jerusalem and her idols?'" Therefore it shall come to pass, when the <span class="c6">Lord</span> has performed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, <i>that He will say,</i> "I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks." For he says: "By the strength of my hand I have done <i>it, and</i> by my wisdom, for I am prudent; also I have removed the boundaries of the people, and have robbed their treasuries; so I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant <i>man.</i> My hand has found like a nest the riches of the people, and as one gathers eggs <i>that are</i> left, I have gathered all the earth; and there was no one who moved <i>his</i> wing, nor opened <i>his</i> mouth with even a peep."</span></p>
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<p class="c4"><span>a. <b><span class="c3">Are not my princes altogether kings?</span></b></span> Assyria had such an inflated view of themselves that they regarded their <b><span class="c3">princes</span></b> to be on the level of the <b><span class="c3">kings</span></b> of other nations.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">As I have done to Samaria and her idols, shall I not do also to Jerusalem and her idols?</span></b> Here, the <span class="c6">Lord</span> describes the proud, arrogant heart of the Assyrians. <b><span class="c3">Samaria</span></b> was the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, which was given over to gross idolatry. <b><span class="c3">Jerusalem</span></b> was the capital of the southern kingdom of Judah, which still maintained <i>some</i> worship of the Lord <span class="c6">God</span>. In their pride, they thought the Lord <span class="c6">God</span> nothing more than one of the idols that they had conquered in Samaria or in many other cities. The Assyrians were in for a rude wake-up call!</p>
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<p class="c5">i. "The cities mentioned in verses 9 and 10 came under Assyrian control between 740 and 721 <span class="c6">b.c.</span>, and none of the gods of these areas had provided the slightest help." (Wolf)</p>
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<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks</span></b>: The pride of Assyria and her king was found in his <b><span class="c3">arrogant heart</span></b>, and exposed by <b><span class="c3">his haughty looks</span></b>. How much pride can be revealed by a <i>haughty look!</i></p>
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<p class="c5">i. The Bible describes God's opinion of <b><span class="c3">haughty looks</span></b>: <i>A haughty look, a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked are sin</i>. (<a onclick="return mV('Pro',21,4);">Pro 21:4</a>) <i>The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, him I will not endure</i>. (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',101,5);">Psa 101:5</a>) <i>For You will save the humble people, but will bring down haughty looks</i>. (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',18,27);">Psa 18:27</a>)</p>
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<p class="c4">d. <b><span class="c3">By the strength of my hand I have done it</span></b>: Again, the <span class="c6">Lord</span> is revealing the heart of Assyria. They glory in their own <b><span class="c3">strength</span></b> and wisdom (<b><span class="c3">by my wisdom, for I am prudent</span></b>). They exaggerate their power (<b><span class="c3">I have gathered all the earth</span></b>).</p>
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<p class="c5">i. Julius Caesar had this heart of pride when he said of his military conquests: <i>Veni, vidi, vici</i> ("I came, I saw, I conquered"). Charles V had a better heart when he said of his military conquests, <i>Veni, vidi, sed Christus vicit</i> ("I came, I saw, but Christ conquered").</p>
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<p class="c1">3. (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',10,'15-19');">15-19</a>) God assesses of the arrogance of Assyria.</p>
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<p class="c2"><span>Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it? <i>Or</i> shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it? As if a rod could wield <i>itself</i> against those who lift it up, <i>or</i> as if a staff could lift up, <i>as if it were</i> not wood! Therefore the Lord, the Lord of hosts, Will send leanness among his fat ones; and under his glory He will kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. So the Light of Israel will be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame; it will burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day. And it will consume the glory of his forest and of his fruitful field, both soul and body; and they will be as when a sick man wastes away. Then the rest of the trees of his forest will be so few in number that a child may write them.</span></p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it?</span></b> The <span class="c6">Lord</span> uses the pictures of an <b><span class="c3">ax</span></b>, a <b><span class="c3">saw</span></b>, a <b><span class="c3">rod</span></b>, and a <b><span class="c3">staff</span></b> to make the point that the <i>instrument</i> should never take credit for what the <i>worker</i> does with the instrument. The scalpel can't take credit for what the surgeon does; the strength and the skill are in the user, not in the instrument.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. If it is easy for an unknowing instrument of God to become proud, it is also easy for a willing instrument of God to become proud. Jesus said we should have a different attitude: <i>So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, "We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do."</i> (<a onclick="return mV('Luk',17,10);">Luk 17:10</a>) As wonderful as it is to be an instrument in the hand of God, the instrument deserves no special glory.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">Therefore the Lord . . . will send leanness among his fat ones</span></b>: Assyria sat "fat and sassy" at the time, but God would <b><span class="c3">send leanness</span></b> to them. His judgment will be <b><span class="c3">like the burning of a fire</span></b> among them, <b><span class="c3">and it will consume the glory of his forest and of his fruitful field</span></b>. The Lord will leave Assyria just a shadow of its former self.</p>
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<p class="c4">c. Bultema on <b><span class="c3">both soul and body</span></b>: "Calvin warned against inferring from this that the soul is not immortal. What is meant, according to this keen expositor, is that the soul of this tyrant will have to pay for his wicked deeds on earth after the destruction of His body."</p>
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<p><span>B. Despite the coming attack of the Assyrians, God will preserve a remnant of Israel.</span></p>
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<p class="c1"><span>1. (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',10,'20-27');">20-27</a>) <b><span class="c3">Do not be afraid of the Assyrian</span></b></span>.</p>
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<p class="c2"><span>And it shall come to pass in that day <i>that</i> the remnant of Israel, and such as have escaped of the house of Jacob, will never again depend on him who defeated them, but will depend on the <span class="c6">Lord</span>, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God. For though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, a remnant of them will return; the destruction decreed shall overflow with righteousness. For the Lord <span class="c6">God</span> of hosts will make a determined end in the midst of all the land. Therefore thus says the Lord <span class="c6">God</span> of hosts: "O My people, who dwell in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrian. He shall strike you with a rod and lift up his staff against you, in the manner of Egypt. For yet a very little while and the indignation will cease, as will My anger in their destruction." And the <span class="c6">Lord</span> of hosts will stir up a scourge for him like the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb; <i>as</i> His rod was on the sea, so will He lift it up in the manner of Egypt. It shall come to pass in that day <i>that</i> his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.</span></p>
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<p class="c4">a. The <span class="c6">Lord</span> told Judah to not trust in Assyria as their deliverer when the threat from Syria and Israel came (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',7,'1-');">Isa 7</a>). The <span class="c6">Lord</span> promised that He would deliver them from Syria and Israel, and that they did not have to trust in Assyria. But Ahaz, king of Judah, did not take God's counsel and trusted in Assyria. The <span class="c6">Lord</span> would then use Assyria to defeat Syria and Israel as He had promised, but He would also use Assyria to judge Judah. Now, the <span class="c6">Lord</span> wants to prepare Judah for the attack from Assyria, reminding them that He is still in charge and they can still trust Him.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. This shows the remarkable grace and longsuffering of God. We would not criticize the <span class="c6">Lord</span> if He said, "You want to trust in the Assyrians and not in Me? Fine. You are now on your own. Good luck!" But even in the midst of the judgment they <i>deserved</i>, brought through the Assyrians, God wants to comfort His people and bring them hope.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">The remnant of Israel . . . will never again depend on him who defeated them, but will depend on the <span class="c6">Lord</span></span></b>. The <span class="c6">Lord</span> promises His people, "You are going through this now because you will not trust Me. But I am going to change you so that you trust Me again, and you will once again <b><span class="c3">depend on the <span class="c6">Lord</span></span></b>."</p>
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<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">Yet a remnant of them will return</span></b>: The suffering of God's people at the hands of the Assyrians and others would make them feel as if they would certainly be destroyed. God assures them that this is not the case. He will always preserve His <b><span class="c3">remnant</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c4">d. <b><span class="c3">The destruction decreed shall overflow with righteousness</span></b>: When God allows destruction - whether in outright judgment or loving correction - it is always <i>righteous</i>, and never unfair. In fact, His judgment <i>overflows with righteousness!</i></p>
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<p class="c4">e. <b><span class="c3">For the Lord <span class="c6">God</span> of hosts will make a determined end</span></b>: An end of what? An end of Judah's trust in nations like Assyria. They will <b><span class="c3">never again depend on him who defeated him</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c4">f. <b><span class="c3">Therefore . . . do not be afraid of the Assyrian</span></b>: The <span class="c6">Lord</span> is telling His people, "Judgment and correction are coming, and it will hurt. But I have a plan, so don't be afraid." This is a hard word to believe, because judgment and correction, by their very nature, <i>hurt!</i> Yet we can <i>decide</i> to <b><span class="c3">not be afraid</span></b> and trust in the <span class="c6">Lord</span>, even when it hurts.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. <b><span class="c3">He shall strike you with a rod</span></b>, yet do not be afraid. He will <b><span class="c3">lift up his staff against you</span></b>, but do not be afraid. Why shouldn't they fear? Because the Assyrians are not in charge, the <span class="c6">Lord</span> is. <b><span class="c3">In a very little while . . . the indignation will cease, as will My anger</span></b>. We can always be comforted by the fact that God will never leave His people to the mercy of their enemies. Even when He uses the Assyrians to bring judgment and correction, He is still in charge.</p>
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<p class="c4">g. <b><span class="c3">And the <span class="c6">Lord</span> of hosts will stir up a scourge for him like the slaughter of Midian</span></b>: Judah should trust the <span class="c6">Lord</span> because He will indeed take care of the Assyrians. He will take care of them like He took care of <b><span class="c3">Midian at the rock of Oreb</span></b>. The <span class="c6">Lord</span> will strike Assyria <b><span class="c3">as His rod was upon the sea</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. <a onclick="return mV('Jdg',7,25);">Jdg 7:25</a> describes Gideon's victory over the Midianites <b><span class="c3">at the rock of Oreb</span></b>. As miraculous and complete as Gideon's victory was, that is how miraculous and complete God's judgment on Assyria would be. As it happened, this was exactly the case. <a onclick="return mV('2Ki',19,35);">2Ki 19:35</a> describes how God simply sent the angel of the <span class="c6">Lord</span>, and killed 185,000 Assyrians in one night. When the people woke up, there were 185,000 dead Assyrian soldiers.</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. <a onclick="return mV('Exd',14,16);">Exd 14:16</a> describes how the <span class="c6">Lord</span> used the rod of Moses to divide the Red Sea. In the same way, He would do something totally miraculous against Assyria.</p>
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<p class="c5">iii. The <span class="c6">Lord</span> even took care of the king of the Assyrians according to His justice. <a onclick="return mV('2Ki',19,'36-37');">2Ki 19:36-37</a> describes how when the king of the Assyrians returned home after attacking Judah, that he was murdered by his own sons as he worshipped in the temple of Nisroch his god.</p>
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<p class="c4">h. <b><span class="c3">It shall come to pass in that day that his burden will be taken from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck</span></b>: Assyria would indeed trouble and oppress Judah, but not forever. Instead, <b><span class="c3">the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil</span></b>. Because of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit among Judah (represented by <b><span class="c3">the anointing oil</span></b>), the yoke of bondage would be <b><span class="c3">destroyed</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. Bultema thinks that <b><span class="c3">because of the anointing oil</span></b> should really be seen as <i>because of the anointed one</i>, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He is the source of our victory and freedom from the yoke of bondage!</p>
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<p class="c1">2. (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',10,'28-32');">28-32</a>) A prophetic description of the arrival of the army of the Assyrians.</p>
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<p class="c2"><span>He has come to Aiath, he has passed Migron; at Michmash he has attended to his equipment. They have gone along the ridge, they have taken up lodging at Geba. Ramah is afraid, Gibeah of Saul has fled. Lift up your voice, O daughter of Gallim! Cause it to be heard as far as Laish; O poor Anathoth! Madmenah has fled, the inhabitants of Gebim seek refuge. As yet he will remain at Nob that day; he will shake his fist at the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.</span></p>
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<p class="c4"><span>a. Because of the word of comfort and encouragement in the previous section, Judah might think that God wouldn't send judgment among them at all. This section, with the specific mention of many cities of Judah, is meant to show that God will indeed allow the invasion of the Assyrians, even though He will restore after the attack.</span></p>
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<p class="c4"><span>b. The listing of cities flows from the north to the south, describing the course of the Assyrian invasion. </span><b><span class="c3">Nob</span></b> is right on the outskirts of Jerusalem. This is as far as the army of the Assyrians came against Judah. They were stopped here when the <span class="c6">Lord</span> killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. "With a deft poetic touch, Isaiah told how the enemy moved through twelve different locations, coming ever closer to the capital." (Wolf)</p>
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<p class="c1"><span>3. (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',10,'33-34');">33-34</a>) The <span class="c6">Lord</span> humbles the proud among the people of Judah.</span></p>
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<p class="c2"><span>Behold, the Lord, the <span class="c6">Lord</span> of hosts, will lop off the bough with terror; those of high stature <i>will be</i> hewn down, and the haughty will be humbled. He will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One.</span></p>
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<p class="c4"><span>a. <b><span class="c3">Those of high stature will be hewn down</span></b></span>: The <span class="c6">Lord</span> promises that His judgment will extend even against <b><span class="c3">those of high stature</span></b>. A mighty forest seems invincible and seems as if it will stand forever, but the <span class="c6">Lord</span> can cut it down. Even so, the <span class="c6">Lord</span> will cut down the proud and <b><span class="c3">those of high stature</span></b> among Judah. All that will be left in a once-mighty forest will be stumps.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">And Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One</span></b>: The forests of <b><span class="c3">Lebanon</span></b> were known for their large, mighty cedar trees. God will judge the proud among Judah - and all the nations for that matter - and leave a once mighty forest of <b><span class="c3">those of high stature</span></b> as if they were just stumps. The bigger they are, the harder they fall!</p>
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