Isaiah 10: 1 – 34
If Nominated I Will Not Run, If Elected I Will Not Serve
1 “Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, who write misfortune, which they have prescribed 2 To rob the needy of justice, and to take what is right from the poor of My people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless. 3 What will you do in the day of punishment, and in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your glory? 4 Without Me they shall bow down among the prisoners, and they shall fall among the slain.” For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still. 5 “ Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger and the staff in whose hand is My indignation. 6 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. 7 Yet he does not mean so, nor does his heart think so; But it is in his heart to destroy, and cut off not a few nations. 8 For he says, ‘Are not my princes altogether kings? 9 Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus? 10 As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, whose carved images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria, 11 As I have done to Samaria and her idols, shall I not do also to Jerusalem and her idols?’” 12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Lord has performed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, that He will say, “I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks.” 13 For he says: “ By the strength of my hand I have done it, and 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 man. 14 My hand has found like a nest the riches of the people, and as one gathers eggs that are left, I have gathered all the earth; And there was no one who moved his wing, nor opened his mouth with even a peep.” 15 Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it? Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it? As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up, or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood! 16 Therefore the Lord, the Lord[a] of hosts, will send leanness among his fat ones; And under his glory He will kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. 17 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. 18 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. 19 Then the rest of the trees of his forest will be so few in number that a child may write them. 20 And it shall come to pass in that day that 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 LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 21 The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God. 22 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. 23 For the Lord GOD of hosts will make a determined end in the midst of all the land. 24 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD 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. 25 For yet a very little while and the indignation will cease, as will My anger in their destruction.” 26 And the LORD of hosts will stir up a scourge for him like the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb; as His rod was on the sea, so will He lift it up in the manner of Egypt. 27 It shall come to pass in that day that 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. 28 He has come to Aiath, he has passed Migron; At Michmash he has attended to his equipment. 29 They have gone along the ridge, they have taken up lodging at Geba. Ramah is afraid, Gibeah of Saul has fled. 30 Lift up your voice, O daughter of Gallim! Cause it to be heard as far as Laish— O poor Anathoth! 31 Madmenah has fled, the inhabitants of Gebim seek refuge. 32 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. 33 Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, will lop off the bough with terror; Those of high stature will be hewn down, and the haughty will be humbled. 34 He will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One.”
In chapter 9 we began to study the Lord’s chastisement on the nation of Israel because they failed to heed His warnings to turn from their wicked ways. Last time we reviewed three of the chastisements. For your record, they were as follows;
1. The first chastisement is the invasion by Syria and Philistia, seeking to make Israel join an alliance with them against Assyria [9: 8 - 12]
2. The second is the removal of their leadership [9: 13 - 17]
3. The third is the disintegration of their society [ 9: 18 – 21]
Today, we will begin our study with the fourth chastisement, which will be bad leadership, rank injustice, and ultimately captivity.
1 “Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, who write misfortune, which they have prescribed 2 To rob the needy of justice, and to take what is right from the poor of My people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless. 3 What will you do in the day of punishment, and in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your glory? 4 Without Me they shall bow down among the prisoners, and they shall fall among the slain.” For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.
We see a new administration take over in Jerusalem. This group has no regard for justice or for the week and needy - 1 “Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, who write misfortune, which they have prescribed 2 To rob the needy of justice, and to take what is right from the poor of My people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless.”
These new politicians issue unfair decrees or laws and their aides write them down in terms that will only cause trouble [1 “Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, who write misfortune, which they have prescribed]. Do you see the evil behind their deeds? It is all planned out. Their purpose is to prevent the needy from obtaining justice and to take away the people’s rights. These people cannot afford legal representation. The lawyers and judges are in cahoots together with the government officials. Now that they are in charge these leaders will rob everyone blind until someone stops them. A hero has to arrive on the scene to save the day. That Hero Is Jehovah Elyon – The Lord Most High. He will bring an indictment against the Israelite power Mongols.
These leaders live as though they will not have to give an account of all their evil deeds. If you and I know that they will be held accountable and face the Supreme Judge of all the earth, do these politicians, judges, rotten religious leaders, and bullies who operate today not also face the same All Seeing God? The indignation or wrath God will bring on these people is due to their pride and self-confidence.
Their day will come and look at their plea for help? They would not help the needy when they had the chance and now they cry out for someone to help them - 3 What will you do in the day of punishment, and in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your glory? 4 Without Me they shall bow down among the prisoners, and they shall fall among the slain.” For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.
The term ‘bow down’ indicates humiliation and a loss of status. They will be the least among all the prisoners.
‘When you least expect it, you’re elected, this is your lucky day’ was a quote I heard in the past that relates to what is about to happen to the rebellious people but in this case it will not be their lucky day.
5 “ Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger and the staff in whose hand is My indignation. 6 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. 7 Yet he does not mean so, nor does his heart think so; But it is in his heart to destroy, and cut off not a few nations. 8 For he says, ‘Are not my princes altogether kings? 9 Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus? 10 As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, whose carved images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria, 11 As I have done to Samaria and her idols, shall I not do also to Jerusalem and her idols?’”
The instrument that God will use to deal with the unappreciative people is the nation of Assyria. Look at what our Lord says in verse 5. His will use the ‘spanking rod’ of Assyria to discipline His people -5 “ Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger and the staff in whose hand is My indignation.
Why is the Lord saying ‘Woe’ to Assyria because He has selected them to be the instrument of His wrath against the Jews? Because our Lord knows that they will exceed the amount of punishment that was intended to be inflicted upon the Israelites. The ‘Woe’ is given because we will later see how our Lord will turn His attention to the Assyrians for their excessive brutality as revealed in verse 7 - 7 Yet he does not mean so, nor does his heart think so; But it is in his heart to destroy, and cut off not a few nations.’ Their agenda was to destroy everyone and everything that came across their paths.
Our Lord’s aim in this application of justice is to bring consequences upon His sinful rebellious people for their hypocrisy. They played religious games but were far in their hearts from loving and obeying His Commandments. Look at our Precious Holy Spirit’s description of this in verse 6 - 6 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.’ Our Holy God does not like hypocrites. Look at our Master’s opinion of religious ministers who are all show and no substance, as expressed by the Apostle Matthew in chapter 23, “1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ 8 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. 16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ 17 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? 18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ 19 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. 21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it. 23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! 25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’ 31 “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. 33 Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? 34 Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.”
The words ‘Woe’ mean ‘Watch out’. For the Lord sees the Assyrian’s arrogance and will ultimately deal with them - 8 For he says, ‘Are not my princes altogether kings? 9 Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus? 10 As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, whose carved images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria, 11 As I have done to Samaria and her idols, shall I not do also to Jerusalem and her idols?’” They have come to believe that they had won their battles based on their own talents and toughness. The Assyrians were bragging about how great their commanders were. In addition they were bragging about their key wins. However, the Lord will teach them about the consequences of trusting in their idols. They will find out who had allowed them the victories.
The Bible says in the Gospel of Luke chapter 6 we read that by the measure you judge people you will receive back the same. If you are kind and lenient then you will be treated as well. However, if you are brutal and fierce, you are going to get back the same treatment. “37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
We see in the next verses our Lord’s intention to punish the king of Assyria.
12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Lord has performed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, that He will say, “I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks.” 13 For he says: “ By the strength of my hand I have done it, and 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 man. 14 My hand has found like a nest the riches of the people, and as one gathers eggs that are left, I have gathered all the earth; And there was no one who moved his wing, nor opened his mouth with even a peep.” 15 Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it? Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it? As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up, or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood!
Do you see this puffed up pride overflowing in the king of Assyria’s description of himself? Today, on the TV sets we see similar attitudes with so called Hollywood stars, pro athletes, and politicians. This same attitude was displayed by a world ruler. His name was Nebuchadnezzar. One evening he went out on his palace balcony and thought similar visions of his greatness. However, he like the king of Assyria did not realize Who was behind the scenes and was really the One in Charge.
We read in the book of Daniel chapter 4, “28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. 30 The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” 31 While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! 32 And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.” 33 That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
He went nuts. Do we not see the same thing happening today to those who think that their own beauty, or talent, or wisdom has gotten them their success?
Our Lord will show ever proud person no matter who he or she is that He Is Greater!
16 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. 17 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. 18 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. 19 Then the rest of the trees of his forest will be so few in number that a child may write them.
When the Lord decides to act it will be swift - ‘It will burn and devour His thorns and His briers in one day.’
Everything you think you are will be totally consumed – ‘18 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. 19 Then the rest of the trees of his forest will be so few in number that a child may write them.
Yet our Lord will grant immunity to those who try to walk in His Ways. He will save a remnant.
20 And it shall come to pass in that day that 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 LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 21 The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God. 22 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. 23 For the Lord GOD of hosts will make a determined end in the midst of all the land.
Jewish people interpret these passages as a ‘return’ to the land. They have a word which they circulate today that encourages other Jews to move back to Israel. However, if you look at these verses it is not speaking of returning to the land. It is referring to the people ‘returning’ their hearts and minds back to the Lord God of Israel – El Shaddai – God Almighty!
In verses 24 through 34 we read of our Lord’s instructions to His people to not be afraid.
24 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD 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. 25 For yet a very little while and the indignation will cease, as will My anger in their destruction.” 26 And the LORD of hosts will stir up a scourge for him like the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb; as His rod was on the sea, so will He lift it up in the manner of Egypt. 27 It shall come to pass in that day that 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. 28 He has come to Aiath, he has passed Migron; At Michmash he has attended to his equipment. 29 They have gone along the ridge, they have taken up lodging at Geba. Ramah is afraid, Gibeah of Saul has fled. 30 Lift up your voice, O daughter of Gallim! Cause it to be heard as far as Laish— O poor Anathoth! 31 Madmenah has fled, the inhabitants of Gebim seek refuge. 32 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. 33 Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, will lop off the bough with terror; Those of high stature will be hewn down, and the haughty will be humbled. 34 He will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One.”
For one thing the Assyrian oppression will not last forever. Look at our Precious Holy Spirit’s word’s of encouragement in verses 24 and 25, “24 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD 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. 25 For yet a very little while and the indignation will cease, as will My anger in their destruction.”
We need to remember this advice also when we are going through difficulties. In the book of II Corinthians chapter 10 we read in verse 13, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
Like our Precious Lord encouraged His people thousands of years ago, He Is also saying the same to us today to take courage for the trial will not last forever.
When you hang onto the Lord the pressure of the weight of oppression will end. This same thing happened when our Lord stepped in at the right moment for the remnant – ‘26 And the LORD of hosts will stir up a scourge for him like the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb; as His rod was on the sea, so will He lift it up in the manner of Egypt. 27 It shall come to pass in that day that 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.”
You see our Lord Is still on His Throne. He sees all and knows all that is going on. Here He assures the Israelites that He has everything under control. He knows the places where the enemy goes - 28 He has come to Aiath, he has passed Migron; At Michmash he has attended to his equipment. 29 They have gone along the ridge, they have taken up lodging at Geba. Ramah is afraid, Gibeah of Saul has fled. 30 Lift up your voice, O daughter of Gallim! Cause it to be heard as far as Laish— O poor Anathoth! 31 Madmenah has fled, the inhabitants of Gebim seek refuge. 32 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. ‘
You can bet the farm that those who arrogantly puff themselves up will be dealt with by the Lord. The people will see with their own eyes the punishment dealt out to their enemies – ‘33 Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, will lop off the bough with terror; Those of high stature will be hewn down, and the haughty will be humbled. 34 He will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One.”
We close with a look at Psalm 91 which encourages us to take our refuge in Him and in Him alone. “1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” 3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. 4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. 5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, 6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. 8 Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, 10 No evil shall befall you,nor shall any plague come near your dwelling. 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. 12 In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. 13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. 14 “Because he has set his love upon Me therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.”
