Category: Isaiah

“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. ² And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. ³ And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, ⁴ but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. ⁵ Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.” (Isaiah 11:1-5)

Isaiah 1:1-2 reveals the character of the Messiah who was promised to come in the flesh. What about His behavior? What will He do when He comes? Will His behavior be in unity with His character? Isaiah 11:3-5 provides the student of the Scripture with the answers to these questions.

To begin with, Isaiah says, regarding the Messiah, “And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.” The Hebrew word for “delight” refers to the sensation of smelling a wonderful aroma. It might be a perfume or the scent of a freshly cut lawn. One of my favorite aromas is walking into my home when homemade spaghetti sauce is being cooked. Wonderful! This takes me back to childhood.

Much like a pleasing aroma, the Messiah’s pleasure, and our pleasure in Him, will be in the reverence and worship of Yahweh. Within the context, Yahweh refers to God the Father. The Messiah’s fear and reverence of the Father is evidenced by His perfect obedience to God’s commandments.

Secondly, “He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, ⁴ but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.” (Isaiah 11:3b-4). The Messiah’s rule and reign on earth will not be centered strictly by His senses. He will govern with a righteousness that will be complete harmony and obedience to God’s Word. This will be a delight to the poor and the meek and a terror to the wicked.

Dr. John MacArthur writes, “The Messiah will reverse Israel’s earlier dealings with the underprivileged (3:14–15; 10:2).  The Branch’s rule over the nations will be forceful. The NT uses equivalent terminology to describe the Warrior-King at his triumphant return to earth (Rev. 19:15; cf. Isa. 49:2; Ps. 2:9).”

“Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins” (Isaiah 11:5). The Messiah will always do what is right, honest and proper. Faithfulness, the character and behavior of trustworthiness, dependability and honor, will be His. These attributes will be like the integral parts of clothing for the people of the ancient world.

 As disciples of Jesus Christ, are you prepared to be following, and displaying, the Lord’s character and behavior as outlined in Isaiah 11:1-5? This is an example of Christlikeness.

Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!  

 

 

“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. ² And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. ³ And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, ⁴ but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. ⁵ Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.” (Isaiah 11:1-5)

What are the characteristics the Prophet Isaiah gives in order to describe the one who will come forth from the family of Jesse, King David’s father, and who is also known as the Messiah?  Isaiah gives us seven.

First, the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him. The word Spirit (Heb. Ruah) can refer to breath, wind or even an intellectual frame of mind. Within the context of Isaiah 11, the word refers to the Holy Spirit. The translators indicate this understanding by capitalizing the noun Spirit in the English. The phrase also indicates the presence of Yahweh. The Spirit originates from and is the One, True God.

The Holy Spirit will rest upon this One who is the Messiah. To rest (Heb. Hahah) means to settle upon and to remain. This means that the Holy Spirit would empower the Messiah. This empowerment occurred at Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22).

Second, the Spirit would give the Messiah wisdom. Wisdom is not only the capacity to not only understand God’s Word and will, but also to apply it in one’s life. Jesus Christ would do so perfectly.

Third, the Spirit would give the Messiah understanding. This refers to discernment and insight into God’s Word.

Fourth, the Spirit would give the Messiah advice, guidance and instruction.

Fifth, the Spirit would give the Messiah strength, might and power.

Sixth, the Spirit would give the Messiah knowledge in possessing moral qualities which would glorify God.

Seventh, the Spirit would give the Messiah a reverence for God the Father.

Dr. John Walvoord explains that, “The attributes of the Holy Spirit would characterize the Messiah. Because of His wisdom, understanding, counsel, and knowledge He is the Wonderful Counselor (Isa. 9:6). Isaiah referred to the Holy Spirit more than did any other Old Testament prophet (11:2 [four times]; 30:1; 32:15; 34:16; 40:13; 42:1; 44:3; 48:16; 59:21; 61:1; 63:10–11, 14).”

Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, is the Messiah who not only saves, but who also rules, now and forever, His kingdom justly and effectively.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. ² And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. ³ And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, ⁴ but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. ⁵ Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.” (Isaiah 11:1-5)

The judgment which the LORD brought upon Israel in the 8^th century B.C., and then upon Judah in the 7^th century B.C., illustrates the everlasting judgment He will bring upon all unrepentant sinners. However, as God preserved a believing remnant then, He will do so today. The believing remnant are those who are in Christ Jesus and who have received His imputed righteousness (Romans 3:21-26; 4:1-25; Philippians 3:1-9) by grace alone through faith alone.

The persona and work of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, is again prophesied in Isaiah 11. We have thus far seen in Isaiah that the Messiah will be virgin born (Isaiah 7:14) and that He will be a Son (Isaiah 9:6). He will also possess several compound names which reflect His holy character. He will be known as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 11:1-5 continued the LORD’s cumulative revelation regarding the Messiah. He revealed through the prophet that, “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit” (Isaiah 11:1).

Have you ever seen a tree which has been cut down and only a stump or trunk is left remaining? I have. It is interesting that often from this remaining stump a new shoot will begin to grow and appear. This is the image and illustration Isaiah declared to God’s people.

The text says that there shall proceed from the root or stock belonging to Jesse, the father of King David, a shoot. A shoot is new growth sprouting from a root-stock stump. This is a figurative expression of the Messiah originating from the family of Jesse implying a renewal or resumption of a David’s kingly rule and reign (Matthew 1:1-7; Luke 1:26-38). David ruled a great kingdom but the greater David (Ezekiel 34:23-25; Zechariah 12:1-10), now only a tender plant in this Old Testament context (Isaiah 53:1-2), will eventually and eternally rule a greater kingdom.

Dr. R. C. Sproul comments that, “All that will be left of the Davidic dynasty after God’s judgment is a stump. The privileged sons of David, no less than Assyria, will be like trees that have been chopped down (10:33-34; Jeremiah 22:30). But in spite of this judgment on Judah, the Lord will raise up new leadership from David’s dynasty (Jeremiah 23:1-6; Matthew 1:1). The remaining stump will be living, and it will send forth a shoot, a branch that will bear fruit,”

Praise the Lord that He has not deserted sinners when He could righteously do so. He has chosen a believing remnant to be His people. These are they who are joined and in union with the shoot from the stump of Jesse: Jesus Christ.

Soli deo Gloria!

   

 

 

^24 “Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts: “O my people, who dwell in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrians when they strike with the rod and lift up their staff against you as the Egyptians did. ²⁵ For in a very little while my fury will come to an end, and my anger will be directed to their destruction. ²⁶ And the Lord of hosts will wield against them a whip, as when he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb. And his staff will be over the sea, and he will lift it as he did in Egypt.” (Isaiah 10:24–26)

Along with the truth that God always preserves and possesses a believing remnant (Isaiah 10:20-23), He also promises that those who are His remnant will also possess liberty. Liberty is possessing freedom, independence, emancipation and liberation. While citizens of the United States of America today celebrate their liberty from England resulting in America’s independence, believers in Jesus Christ celebrate their liberty, freedom, independence and liberation from the penalty, power and eventual presence of sin.

For the Nation of Israel in the 8^th century B.C., the liberty God promised was liberty from the presence of, and persecution by, the Nation of Assyria. The LORD was not reticent about informing Israel, and Judah, that Assyria was His instrument of judgment. However, He also revealed that the His instrument of judgment would itself be judged. He revealed that His fury against Israel would end and that His anger would then be directed towards Assyria.

Dr. Don Carson writes that, “This is a double appeal for faith. First, by recalling ‘His love in time past’ (24–27), secondly by depicting an Assyrian threat suddenly brought to nothing (28–34).”

Dr. John Walvoord explains that, “Isaiah then assured his readers that the Assyrian burden would be removed from Judah. They need not be afraid of the Assyrians. After God had used them to accomplish His purpose against Israel, He would turn His anger against Assyria and punish her (cf. 37:36–37). This would be like His destruction of the Midianites by Gideon (Jud. 7:1–24; cf. Isa. 9:4) and the two Midianite leaders at the rock of Oreb (Jud. 7:25). God would destroy Assyria (figuratively called the waters; cf. Isa. 8:7) as He destroyed Egypt. God promised to lift the Assyrian burden and yoke from Judah (cf. 9:4).”  

The ultimate liberty the sinner has is not necessarily liberty from political or military aggression, but rather from the bondage to sin. Romans 8:1-2 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ² For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

Rejoice today, not only the freedom we have nationally, but also the freedom all who are in Christ possess eternally.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

^20 “In that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no more lean on him who struck them, but will lean on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. ²¹ A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. ²² For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness. ²³ For the Lord God of hosts will make a full end, as decreed, in the midst of all the earth.” (Isaiah 10:20-23)

Who, or what, do you lean upon when life becomes difficult? The government? Your wits? Friends and/or family?

For the Nation of Israel in the 8^th century B.C. they trusted in, depended upon, committed themselves to and honored and worshiped the nation and leaders of Assyria. This is what King Ahaz of Judah was doing in Isaiah 7. The tragic irony for the many in Israel is that because they no longer trusted in, depended upon, committed themselves to, and worshipped the LORD exclusively, the LORD ironically would punish them by the very nation from which they sought protection from their enemies: Assyria.

However, the LORD always preserves a believing remnant. These are the faithful few. It will be these who will no longer lean upon other nations to do what the LORD has promised to do for them. They will seek support from and rely upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. These are they, the LORD says, who will return to the land of the forefathers.

Isaiah said, “For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness.” The expression “sand of the sea” should be immediately recognized as God’s description of Israel and His promise to Abraham (Genesis 22:17).

God’s judgment is sure. It is a righteous judgment where righteousness has been lacking. Isaiah 10:23 says, “For the Lord God of hosts will make a full end, as decreed, in the midst of all the earth.”

Did the LORD know His people would be unfaithful to the covenant? Absolutely. This truth is found in Joshua 24:14-28. Joshua knew the people would forsake the LORD, even though they denied they would.

Dr. John MacArthur writes, “A small nucleus of God’s people, preserved by his sovereign grace, form this righteous remnant in the midst of national apostasy. There were always the obedient few who preserved, obeyed, and passed on God’s law. There will always be a remnant because God will never forsake the Abrahamic Covenant (cf. Mic. 2:12–13; Rom. 9:27; 11:5).

 Thank the LORD for His faithfulness to His covenant. Rejoice today that you belong to His believing remnant if you are in Christ Jesus.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

 

 

¹²” When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes. ¹³ For he says: “By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding; I remove the boundaries of peoples, and plunder their treasures; like a bull I bring down those who sit on thrones. ¹⁴         My hand has found like a nest the wealth of the peoples; and as one gathers eggs that have been forsaken, so I have gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved a wing or opened the mouth or chirped.” ¹⁵        Shall the axe boast over him who hews with it, or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it? As if a rod should wield him who lifts it, or as if a staff should lift him who is not wood! ¹⁶ Therefore the Lord God of hosts will send wasting sickness among his stout warriors, and under his glory a burning will be kindled, like the burning of fire. ¹⁷ The light of Israel will become a fire, and his Holy One a flame, and it will burn and devour his thorns and briers in one day. ¹⁸ The glory of his forest and of his fruitful land the Lord will destroy, both soul and body, and it will be as when a sick man wastes away. ¹⁹ The remnant of the trees of his forest will be so few that a child can write them down.”

Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” The writer of this proverb set forth the fundamental principle that self-exaltation, arrogance and conceit precedes one’s destruction, collapse and breaking. Additionally, a haughty spirit, or an exalted view of oneself, comes before personal stumbling and calamity.

The principle set forth in Proverbs 16:18 is personified and exemplified in Isaiah 10:12-19. The Nation of Assyria was a powerful nation who attacked and conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 B.C. However, instead of recognizing that they were God’s instrument of judgment, they became filled with pride and arrogance.

Isaiah 10:12-19 is God’s oracle that whatever power a nation may possess, it is the LORD who is the source of that power. He not only gives power to a nation, but He also removes power, according to His sovereign purpose and plan. When a nation fails, or forgets, to acknowledge or remember this truth, God will humble that nation.

Consider what Daniel the Prophet prayed in Daniel 2:20-23. “²⁰ Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. ²¹ He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; ²² he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. ²³ To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”

Observe what King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon wrote in light of his own humiliation by God. “³⁴ At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; ³⁵all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” (Daniel 4:34-35)

Several of the United States’ founding documents, such as the Mayflower Compact, colonial constitutions and even The Declaration of Independence, acknowledge their existence by and the providence of Almighty God. Sadly, those important truths have been all but forgotten today by the majority of American, and the world’s, citizens.

Again, recalling the words of King Nebuchadnezzar, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.”

Let us never forget this humbling truth.

 Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

  

      

 

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^5 “Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury! ⁶ Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. ⁷ But he does not so intend, and his heart does not so think; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few; ⁸  for he says: “Are not my commanders all kings? ⁹ Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus? ¹⁰ As my hand has reached to the kingdoms of the idols, whose carved images were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria, ¹¹ shall I not do to Jerusalem and her idols as I have done to Samaria and her images?” (Isaiah 10:5-11)

There are occasions within the Scriptures in which the LORD uses the ungodly, individuals and nations, to accomplish His will. For example, the LORD used the evil of Joseph’s ten older brothers who sold him into slavery to eventually, some 20 years later, save many lives (Genesis 50:20). The LORD used the betrayal of Judas (Psalm 41:9; 6:64; 13:1-11; 18-20; 23-30) to fulfill Scripture and accomplish salvation through the substitutionary atonement by Jesus Christ. The LORD also used the Kingdom of Babylon to bring His righteous judgment upon the Nation of Judah (2 Chronicles 36:17-21; Daniel 1; Habakkuk 1-3), and thereafter the Nation of Persia against the Kingdom of Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Isaiah 45:1-7).

Therefore, it should not take the student of Scripture by surprise that repeatedly the Prophet Isaiah has spoken of God using ungodly nations to punish the ungodliness of the northern kingdom of Israel in the 8^th century B.C.  Isaiah 10:5-11, immediately following the prophet’s poem in Isaiah 9:8-10:4, describes the Nation of Assyria.

^5 “Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury!” The Hebrew word for “woe” can mean “aha,” “alas,” or even “come.” The Assyrians were also known as the people of Asshur. They were located in the northern portion of present day Iraq.

Assyria was a powerful nation in the 8^th century B.C. The LORD referred to them as the “rod of my anger.” Rod means a scepter or staff used for smiting. Anger is literally defined as snorting breathing. It symbolizes God’s wrath. Using synonymous parallelism, the LORD also calls them “the staff in their hand is my fury.” The rod or tribes in their possession is the LORD’s anger and indignation.

⁶ “Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.” Isaiah 10:6 clearly indicates that Assyria is God’s instrument to bring about his righteous judgment against Israel.

⁷ But he does not so intend, and his heart does not so think; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few; ⁸ for he says: “Are not my commanders all kings? ⁹ Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus?” Isaiah 10:7-9 reveals that human ruler have their own reasons for doing what they do. They may not even recognize the LORD who is using them as His instruments. However, they end up doing exactly what the LORD purposed them to do (Ezekiel 38:10).

^10 “As my hand has reached to the kingdoms of the idols, whose carved images were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria, ¹¹ shall I not do to Jerusalem and her idols as I have done to Samaria and her images?” Isaiah 10:10-11 explains that the judgment God brought upon 8^th century B.C. Israel He will eventually bring upon 7^th century B.C. Judah.

Dr. John Walvoord explains that, “God had commissioned Assyria to chasten Israel as the rod of His anger and the club of His wrath. Because Israel was godless and had angered God with her sin, Assyria would plunder her cities and ruthlessly trample her people. God often uses unlikely instruments to accomplish His purposes in the world (cf. His using Babylon against Judah, which puzzled Habakkuk, Hab. 1:6–17). Isaiah was not claiming that Assyria was godly or that the empire even knew that God was using it to do His bidding. In His sovereignty He directed Assyria to be His tool for vengeance.”

What was true in the 8^th century B.C. remains true in the 21^st century A.D. The LORD may use the ungodly, and ungodliness, to accomplish His purposes and to do His bidding. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” All things may not necessarily be good, but God causes all things, both good and bad, to work together for good and for His purpose. This promise of good is directed to those who love God, which are those who are the called.

Let us thank God for the good He causes through all things.

Soli deo Gloria!   

 

Isaiah 9:8-10:4 is a poem by the Prophet Isaiah warning God’s people of the great calamities which the LORD was about to send because of their sin. Israel’s response was to ignore the LORD’s disciplining grace.

Therefore, Isaiah poetically indicated that the LORD would bring about the downfall of His rebellious people. The poem is structured into four stanzas: 9:8-12; 9:13-17; 9:18-21; and 10:1-4. The poem’s theme is refrained four times (9:12; 9:17; 9:21; 10:4). It is “For all His anger has not turned away, and His hand is stretched out still.”

Today, we examine Isaiah 10:1-4 which says, “Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing oppression, ² to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey! ³ What will you do on the day of punishment, in the ruin that will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help, and where will you leave your wealth? ⁴ Nothing remains but to crouch among the prisoners or fall among the slain. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.”

Galatians 6:7-8 says, “⁷ Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ⁸ For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”

The principle of retribution is an important biblical doctrine. People reap what they sow. Or in other words, what goes around comes around. Such is the truth which Isaiah the prophet heralds in Isaiah 10:1-4.

Injustice by Israel’s leaders upon their own people was prevalent in the 8^th century B.C. Isaiah 10:1-2 says, “Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing oppression, ² to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!”

God would bring appropriate judgment upon Israel and its leaders. Those who profited from injustice upon their fellow countrymen would now suffer injustice from foreigners. There would be no help for them. God’s justice would not be denied. “³ What will you do on the day of punishment, in the ruin that will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help, and where will you leave your wealth? ⁴ Nothing remains but to crouch among the prisoners or fall among the slain.”

Dr. John Walvoord explains that, “The corrupt leaders in Israel were perverting the cause of justice and righteousness, in contrast with the Messiah’s justice and righteousness (9:6–7). So Isaiah pronounced woe (see comments on 3:9) on those people. The readers should have realized that this woe would befall them if they followed their leaders’ wicked ways. Israel’s leaders were guilty of six things: They were (a) making unjust laws and (b) issuing oppressive decrees. These actions were repulsive because the Israelites were supposed to care for each other as members of God’s people redeemed from Egyptian slavery by their God. Also they were (c) depriving the poor (dal, “feeble, weak, helpless”) of their rights, (d) taking away justice, (e) hurting widows, and (f) robbing the fatherless. These actions, which involved taking advantage of people who could not defend their rights, violated God’s Law (Ex. 22:22; 23:6; Deut. 15:7–8; 24:17–18; cf. Isa. 1:17). Because of this behavior, the nation would go into captivity (10:3–4). In disaster … from afar (i.e., from Assyria) no one would help them, as they had refused to help those in need. In anger God’s judgment would fall (see comments on 9:12).”

Do you see injustice? Is there anything you can do in order to combat injustice when, and where, you encounter it? Ask the Lord for wisdom in to discern what you can do to help those who have been wronged.

Soli deo Gloria!

Isaiah 9:8-10:4 is a poem by the Prophet Isaiah warning God’s people of the great calamities which the LORD was about to send because of their sin. Israel’s response was to ignore the LORD’s disciplining grace.

Therefore, Isaiah poetically indicated that the LORD would bring about the downfall of His rebellious people. The poem is structured into four stanzas: 9:8-12; 9:13-17; 9:18-21; and 10:1-4. The poem’s theme is refrained four times (9:12; 9:17; 9:21; 10:4). It is “For all His anger has not turned away, and His hand is stretched out still.”

Today, we examine Isaiah 9:18-21 which says, “¹⁸ For wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briers and thorns; it kindles the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke. ¹⁹ Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts the land is scorched, and the people are like fuel for the fire; no one spares another. ²⁰ They slice meat on the right, but are still hungry, and they devour on the left, but are not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own arm, ²¹ Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim devours Manasseh; together they are against Judah. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.”  

The consequences of man’s wickedness are not only from without but also from within. The wickedness of Israel in the 8^th century B.C. is likened by the Prophet Isaiah to a fire. Isaiah 9:18 says, “¹⁸ For wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briers and thorns; it kindles the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke.”  Within the nation, Israel’s own wickedness burns like a fire. It consumes everything.

Additionally, the Lord’s wrath is also compared to a fire. Not only was Israel consumed by its own wickedness, but also by the wrath of God against their wickedness. Isaiah 9:19 says, “¹⁹ Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts the land is scorched, and the people are like fuel for the fire.”

However, rather than repent the people of Israel turn on each other. Isaiah 9:19b-21a says, “no one spares another. ²⁰ They slice meat on the right, but are still hungry, and they devour on the left, but are not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own arm, ²¹ Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim devours Manasseh; together they are against Judah. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.”  

Dr. John Walvoord writes that, “The people’s wickedness (cf. v. 17) is pictured as burning them up like a huge fire with a large column of smoke. The judgment would come not only from God (v. 11) and from enemies of the nation (v. 12), but also from within. The nation would destroy itself by its own wicked deeds. People would oppose each other (v. 19), devour each other (v. 20), and even entire tribes will be in conflict (v. 21).”

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “Pride, narcissism, and greed destroy the fiber of society, especially the covenant relationship between the tribes. Before the revelation of this oracle, Manasseh fought Ephraim (Judges 12:1-4), and together they battled Judah during the war with Israel and Syria. Sin is self-destructive: as a fire, it consumes the land; as a person, it eats its own arm. Even this, though, does not exhaust God’s wrath against sin.”  

In what ways is this oracle being fulfilled within nations today? God’s people must continue to be faithful to preach repentance and forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Why? “For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.”

Soli deo Gloria!

 

Isaiah 9:8-10:4 is a poem by the Prophet Isaiah warning God’s people of the great calamities which the LORD was about to send because of their sin. Israel’s response was to ignore the LORD’s disciplining grace.

Therefore, Isaiah poetically indicated that the LORD would bring about the downfall of His rebellious people. The poem is structured into four stanzas: 9:8-12; 9:13-17; 9:18-21; and 10:1-4. The poem’s theme is refrained four times (9:12; 9:17; 9:21; 10:4). It is “For all His anger has not turned away, and His hand is stretched out still.”

Today, we examine Isaiah 9:13-17 which says, “¹³ The people did not turn to him who struck them, nor inquire of the Lord of hosts. ¹⁴ So the Lord cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one day— ¹⁵ the elder and honored man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail; ¹⁶  for those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up. ¹⁷ Therefore the Lord does not rejoice over their young men, and has no compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.”

The Scriptures do not shy away from the truth that God is not only the source of blessing but also the ultimate source of trials. Triumphs and trials both come from the LORD: either directly or indirectly.

There are times that trials are God’s means to test His children’s spiritual endurance (James 1:1-8; I Peter 1:1-9). These difficulties are from the providential hand and purpose of God. Consider the following biblical texts.

Exodus 4:10–14 – “¹⁰ But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” ¹¹ Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? ¹² Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” ¹³ But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” ¹⁴ Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.”

Ecclesiastes 7:13–14 – “¹³ Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked? ¹⁴ In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.”

Isaiah 45:1–7 – “Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: ² “I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, ³ I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. ⁴ For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me. ⁵ I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, ⁶ that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. ⁷ I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things”.

Lamentations 3:37–38 – “³⁷ Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? ³⁸ Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?”

The LORD provided Israel with ample warning concerning their need, and His command, that they repent of their sin and return to the LORD their God. This they refused to do.

Isaiah 9:13 says, “¹³ The people did not turn to him who struck them, nor inquire of the Lord of hosts.”  The biblical text does not refute the idea that God’s providential and sovereign will and judgment was behind Syria’s and Philistia’s invasion of the northern kingdom of Israel. It would be the same for the southern kingdom of Judah in 605 B.C. (2 Chronicles 36).

Therefore, Isaiah 9:14-15 says, “¹⁴ So the Lord cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one day— ¹⁵ the elder and honored man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail.” From top to bottom, from the elders of the land to the prophets who spoke lies to the people, God judged the entire nation. The symbol of head and tail represents the civil and religious leadership of Israel.

However, God’s judgment is not just reserved for the civil and religious leaders. Isaiah 9:16-17 says, “¹⁶ for those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up. ¹⁷ Therefore the Lord does not rejoice over their young men, and has no compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.”

Not even the most helpless in Israel’s society were exempt from the LORD’s wrath. Not even the most helpless members of society will escape God’s judgment.

Once again, what was true for Israel centuries ago is true for nations today. God calls everyone to repent of their sin and turn to Him by faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Why? It is because “For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.”

Soli deo Gloria!