Chapter 10 - The Light of Israel

In chapter 10, attention shifts back to Assyria. Israel had a tendency to think too highly of themselves and lamented like a teenager when YHWH used a pagan nation to recompense Israel for their sin. Unregenerate folk are inclined to sin and when used by God as He did Assyria - and Judas - He is not the author of their sin, but He uses it and them to work out history as He has determined it.

Right off the bat we see it's going to be bad news for Assyria: Isaiah 10:1-2 (HCSB) Woe to those enacting crooked statutes and writing oppressive laws to keep the poor from getting a fair trial and to deprive the afflicted among my people of justice, so that widows can be their spoil and they can plunder the fatherless.

You may recall that Israel was often rebuked for unbalanced scales and taking advantage of widows and orphans - same things Assyria is accused of. Same things that happen in our time, as the US government enacts crooked laws that enrich the powerful and insulation from justice. Nothing escapes the notice of the Creator Who will judge the nations when He comes the second time. Let us who claim Christ live with this knowledge and walk humbly with one another in the light.

Isaiah 10:3-4 (HCSB) What will you do on the day of punishment when devastation comes from far away? Who will you run to for help? Where will you leave your wealth? ⌊There will be nothing to do⌋ except crouch among the prisoners or fall among the slain. In all this, His anger is not removed, and His hand is still raised ⌊to strike⌋.

And the next point is just that - the day of punishment is coming, where there will no refuge in the mountains or caves; the ONLY refuge is found in the Judge! For those who do not repent, do not cry out for mercy; all who trust in their wealth - EVERYONE not in Christ will be exposed. And His hand is still raised up to strike.

Isaiah 10:5-6 (HCSB) Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger— the staff in their hands is My wrath. I will send him against a godless nation; I will command him ⌊to go⌋ against a people destined for My rage, to take spoils, to plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets.

Woe to Assyria! They were a godless nation. Assyria was the rod of God's anger used to work out His wrath on another godless nation - apostate Israel! While there was a remnant in ethnic Israel that were truly His people, the nation as a whole was godless and destined for YHWH's rage. He will plunder them and trample them like rubbish on the street. None of us should presume we are "OK with God" for self-deception is the easiest to fall victim to. This is just one of the reasons genuine fellowship with other saints is necessary!

IIsaiah 10:7-11 (HCSB) But this is not what he intends; this is not what he plans. It is his intent to destroy and to cut off many nations. For he says, “Aren’t all my commanders kings? Isn’t Calno like Carchemish? Isn’t Hamath like Arpad? Isn’t Samaria like Damascus? As my hand seized the idolatrous kingdoms, whose idols exceeded those of Jerusalem and Samaria, and as I did to Samaria and its idols will I not also do to Jerusalem and its idols?”

The king of Assyria doesn't think He is the rod of God's anger; he has his own agenda that he thinks he is working out. The puny king of Assyria wants to conquer many peoples and has great confidence in his commanders and their realms. He has a high opinion of the strength of his hand, bragging on his conquests, condescending towards those who have different gods than he. And he has it in his heart to seizes and destroy Jerusalem and her idols. But God sits in the heavens and laughs! The nations are like dust in YHWH's scales!

Isaiah 10:12 (HCSB) But when the Lord finishes all His work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, ⌊He will say,⌋ “I will punish the king of Assyria for his arrogant acts and the proud look in his eyes.”

When God finishes using Assyria as His rod of anger against Israel He will punish the king of Assyria for his arrogance and pride. Verses 13 - 15 are what the king of Assyria said: I am proud and clever, having done all this with my own strength! As a man reaching into a nest for eggs, I gathered the WHOLE EARTH to myself! The ax does not boast - he who uses it gets to brag!

Isaiah 10:16 (HCSB) Therefore the Lord GOD of Hosts will inflict an emaciating disease on the well-fed of Assyria, and He will kindle a burning fire under its glory.

This type of pride brings judgment from God. Assyria will be brought low.

Isaiah 10:17-19 (HCSB) Israel’s Light will become a fire, and its Holy One, a flame. In one day it will burn up Assyria’s thorns and thistles. He will completely destroy the glory of its forests and orchards as a sickness consumes a person. The remaining trees of its forest will be so few in number that a child could count them.

Israel's light, a holy flame, will burn off Assyria's might. John's gospel tells Who this light is - the One Who is judge will destroy Assyria completely. And not just Assyria - every nation and person who is not in Christ will be destroyed with eternal fire.

Revelation 6:15-17 (ESV) Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

No refuge apart from Christ. No boasting except in Him. 2 Corinthians 13:5 (HCSB) Test yourselves ⌊to see⌋ if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail the test.