Woe to the Unjust
Isa 10:1 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;
Another woe of judgment of God on Israel; upon those that write wicked laws or rulings to oppress the people, or to exalt that which the Bible condemns.
Isa 10:2 To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!
Jesus spoke of these matters when he taught.
Mat 15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
Mat 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Isa 10:3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?
If you deal wrongly with one another, who will you turn to when the Assyrians come?
Jesus spoke of how doing evil in good times, when Jesus was present, would make it almost impossible to survive in bad times.
Luke 23:28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
Luke 23:29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
Luke 23:30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
Luke 23:31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
Our everyday walk with the LORD prepares us for surviving the bad times. If we say we are a victim, and cannot get through small problem in good times, what will happen in evil times to our faith?
Isa 10:4 Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Without God they have no hope against the coming enemies; some will be taken as prisoners and others will die.
In Christ Jesus, we are never without hope.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Assyria's Pride
Isa 10:5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.
God uses Assyria to bring vengeance to a self righteous, idol worshipping Israel.
Isa 10:6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
God used Assyria to chastise his nation Israel, however Assyria had evil plans to destroy and pillage the nation. Assyria cannot escape God's judgment either, if their motives were evil. Assyria must learn that God is the one to control the powers, not satan.
Isa 10:7 Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.
Isa 10:8 For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings?
Isa 10:9 Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?
Assyria was boasting in their past victories, as well as their plans to destroy Israel.
Isa 10:10 As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria:
Isa 10:11 Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?
Isa 10:12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.
God would punish Israel, but idol worshipping Assyria, will not escape the righteous judgment of God, because the king is lifted up with pride.
1 Pet 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Prov 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Prov 16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Isa 10:13 For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man:
Isa 10:14 And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.
No work of the nations is without God's knowledge and design. If evil is done, God will bring vengeance. in his time.
Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
The United States at war, in my life time, has never did it for wealth. Always the nations who lost in battle, were rebuilt and helped. If a nation makes war for evil purposes, God will take vengeance upon it.
Assyria's Judgment Given
Isa 10:15 Shall the ax boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.
God is in control, no one can do anything mighty or good without him. Assyria was boasting in themselves, and God responds to their arrogance. They were just a tool in the masters hand.
Jer 18:3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Jer 18:5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Jer 18:6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
God can use an evil nation for His purpose, how much more will he use his own people? He cannot use a sinful people, especially if they are arrogant and unrepentant. He would use Assyria to humble Israel and to bring them to repentance; for sure God would not let Assyria's pride go without reproof.
Isa 10:16 Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire.
Judgment would come to Assyria, destruction and death, and their glory would be burnt up.
Isa 10:17 And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day;
God is the light of Israel, Jesus is the light, His holy one for a flame, a consuming fire. Thorns and briars were part of the curse on Adam, the Assyrians were as these, to be burned with fire.
Isa 10:18 And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standardbearer fainteth.
The army of Assyria was compared to a forest, and its fruitful field, it's leaders and treasures they had acquired, body and soul consumed or scattered in confusion, as when a standard bearer faints.
Isa 10:19 And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.
There were so few left that a child could count them on his hand. So much for the pride and glory of Assyria, or any nation that leaves God and is full of self pride.
What of Isaiah the prophet? God had given him the future to write down, the truth of God foretold. What an awesome God, who knows our beginnings, our purpose and the whole future of man. We can lean on His everlasting arms and go forth in His purpose. He leads us, what better leader is there and who better to intrust our lives?
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
A Remnant
Isa 10:20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.
A remnant of Israel and Judah, would trust the Lord and serve him. They no longer would put their trust in Assyria. Can a nation be trusted by bribes and promises? King Ahaz of Judah, tried this.
2 Ki 16:8 And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.
Are alliances made with gifts? Judah had become as the enemy, seeking pleasures and false gods. Would not God chastise his wayward son? A merciful God offers comfort: a remnant of the children of the house of Jacob would return to him.
Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Isa 10:21 The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.
Remember Isaiah's son was named Shearjashubas, a remnant shall return, an illustration to King Ahaz.
Isa 7:3 Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field;
Isa 7:4 And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted...
The remnant shall repent, be converted, believing in the coming Messiah and trusting God.
Isa 10:22 For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.
This small remnant will overflow with righteousness.
John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Isa 10:23 For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.
Most of the unrighteous would be consumed, destroyed and the righteous remnant shall be set free. Many of the prophecies have a double fulfillment, then and in the future reign of Christ. God shall always preserve a remnant of His people. When people turn from the truth, it is a sign of evil coming and Judgment.
2 Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2 Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Choose who you will serve, for a dividing is taking place. Will you be of the remnant by faith in Jesus and God the Father?
The Yoke Shall Be Destroyed
Isa 10:24 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.
Therefore, I have told you what I will do, a remnant will return and Assyria will be destroyed; Do not be afraid, though he shall smite you with a rod of correction, and shall lift up his staff of you, making slaves of you as when you were in Egypt.
Isa 10:25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction.
Hold on, for a little while shall be my rod of correction and then my displeasure shall cease; then my anger will turn towards Assyria and their destruction.
James 4:16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
Isa 10:26 And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt.
The LORD of hosts shall punish the Assyrians as he did according to the slaughter of Midian. He sent angels, and will send angels against the Assyrians.
2 Ki 19:31 For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.
2 Ki 19:32 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.
2 Ki 19:33 By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD.
2 Ki 19:34 For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
2 Ki 19:35 And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
...and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt.
As Moses lifted his rod and the Red Sea parted, so will their fate be as the Egyptians who followed after them, and were drowned in the sea.
No nation who opposes God and His people shall prosper.
Psa 37:18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
Psa 37:19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
Psa 37:20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
Isa 10:27 And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.
Jer 28:2 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
Zec 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
This can be understood as future, through Jesus, as well.
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luke 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Luke 4:20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
Luke 4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
Invasion Foretold
Isa 10:28 He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages:
The prophet speaks of the cities and the way that the Assyrian's would seek to enter Jerusalem.
Isa 10:29 They are gone over the passage: they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled.
These are cities of the tribe of Benjamin, the tribe of King Saul.
Isa 10:30 Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim: cause it to be heard unto Laish, O poor Anathoth.
Gallim was the home of Phalti, who married Sauls daughter, who had been David's wife. David reclaimed her and Phalti cried out in anguish.
1 Sam 25:44 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.
2 Sam 3:15 And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.
2 Sam 3:16 And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.
He should have left her with him, for she mocked him and he had no more to do with her.
O poor Anathoth; this was Jeremiah's home town.
Jer 1:1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:
Isa 10:31 Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee.
The people flee from the cities.
Isa 10:32 As yet shall he remain at Nob that day: he shall shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.
Assyria will advance and shake it's hand at Jerusalem. This is as far as the army of the Assyrians came against Judah. They were stopped here when the LORD killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night. (2King 19:35)
Isa 10:33 Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.
Isa 10:34 And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.
The mighty army, princes and haughty leaders of the Assyrian army would be cut down in one day, by the power of God.
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