Isaiah 10:16-34
Sunday Morning Bible Study
March 21, 1999
Introduction
We began a new section of prophecy back in verse 5, one aimed at the nation of Assyria. We saw how God was using the nation of Assyria as his "rod" and "staff". He had used them to bring His judgment on the Northern Kingdom, and would be also using them to discipline the Southern Kingdom of Judah as well. Yet because of Assyria’s pride, attributing all of its victories to its own ability and not to God, God would be bringing judgment on Assyria as well. We ended with:
(Isa 10:15 KJV) 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.
:16-34 Decree against Assyria (cont’d)
:16 send among his fat ones leanness
In ancient times, fatness was a good thing. It was a sign of prosperity. It meant that you had enough food to eat.
:17 And the light of Israel shall be for a fire … burn … one day
God is the light of Israel. He will burn the Assyrians. I believe this is referring to their defeat as mentioned in Isaiah 36-37.
:18 they shall be as when a standardbearer fainteth.
better, "And it will be as when a sick man wastes away"
:19 the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.
There will be so few leaders left in Assyria that even a child could count them all.
The day would come when the Assyrians would come up towards Jerusalem, intending to wipe it out. They would send a threatening letter to King Hezekiah:
Isa 37:14-20
And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. {15} And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD, saying, {16} O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth. {17} Incline thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open thine eyes, O LORD, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent to reproach the living God. {18} Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries. {19} And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them. {20} Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.God spoke to the prophet Isaiah who gave another prophecy at that time declaring that God would take care of the Assyrians:
Isa 37:33-36
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 shields, nor cast a bank against it. {34} By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD. {35} For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. {36} Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.:20 shall no more again stay upon him that smote them
stay – sha‘an – to lean on, trust in, support
Under King Ahaz, the Southern Kingdom of Judah had been looking to the Assyrians for help against the Northern Kingdom and the Syrians. He had been counting on them. Yet the Assyrians would only end up hurting Judah (2Chr. 28:20-21).
:20 it shall come to pass in that day
Though it may just be talking about the day that God judges the Assyrians, there are places where the phrase "in that day" is used to refer to the last days when the Lord returns to punish the wicked and set up His kingdom (for example – Isa. 4:2; 28:5; Eze. 38:14; Joel 3:18; Zec. 12:3).
It seems that we are entering a section where the rest of the prophecy not only applies to the coming destruction of the Assyrians, but also to the time when Jesus returns.
:20 but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.
1st Fulfillment: The nation of Judah had been trusting in the Assyrians, but they would start trusting in the Lord instead.
2nd Fulfillment: In the last days, there will be some of the nation of Israel who will be trusting in the person we refer to as the Antichrist. There will be a "remnant" of Jews who will turn to the Lord in a revival.
Lesson
Who are you trusting in?
When we put our trust in people, we will eventually be disappointed. Under King Ahaz, Judah had been counting on the Assyrians to deliver them.
Sometimes its certain people we always count on to bail us out of our problems. It’s not uncommon for us younger folks to expect our parents to deliver us from all our bad financial decisions.
Sometimes its when we find our heart so thrilled with a person, perhaps even the hope of a friendship or relationship with them, and we begin to find all our joy coming from being with that person rather than being in the Lord. Even in marriage, its not hard to find yourself counting more on your spouse for your sense of fulfillment than you do the Lord. It’s not that we can’t find joy in our relationships, but what are we counting on most?
When we put our trust in the Lord, we will never be disappointed. Yet it’s hard to trust in someone you can’t see.
Illustration
We’re like the little girl who was frightened by the clamor of thunder in the night. Holding her securely in his arms, her father explained that she needn't fear. God would take care of her because He loved her greatly. "I know God will take care of me and love me," she replied. "But right now, Daddy, I want someone with skin on to love me."
Though God at times gives us people with "skin on" to be a part of our lives, there is a place where God wants us to be where we are ultimately putting our trust in Him. That’s what walking by faith is all about. Not seeing God, but trusting Him anyway.
:21 The remnant shall return … unto the mighty God.
Lesson
Tough times can bring us back to the Lord.
Illustration
Tough times can be like a fire in your life. When fire comes in contact with wood, it burns it up. But when it comes in contact with metal, it purifies and strengthens it.
Are your hard times making you bitter or better? Are you allowing your hard times to drive you closer to the Lord, or are you still trying to run from Him?
Remember the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15). After he got his inheritance, he did all he could to get as far from his father as he could. He went to a "distant land". And it was there that he found out how long happiness lasts when you’re away from God. It wasn’t until he was eating pig food in a distant land that he came to his senses. He realized that the worst day with his Father was better than the best day away from Him.
(Luke 15:20-24 KJV) And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. {21} And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. {22} But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: {23} And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: {24} For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Bitter or better? Are you running from God or to Him?
:22 yet a remnant of them shall return
This was the meaning of the name of Isaiah’s firstborn son, Shear-jashub, "a remnant shall return". Paul quotes this (Rom. 9:27-28)
:22 the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness
The destruction that God has decreed to take place against Assyria (as well as the Antichrist) shall be done in righteousness.
Lesson
What is righteousness?
This is one of those words we don’t often stop to think about. Righteousness means to be righteous, to be just, to be right. It’s not a matter being right in our own eyes or according to our standards, but being right according to God’s Law and God’s standards.
The Pharisees of Jesus’ day took pride in the fact that they kept the Law of Moses with such strict precision. Yet Jesus said,
(Mat 5:20 KJV) For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Even their standard of what is right wasn’t close to what God’s standards are. Pure righteousness is God’s standard for entering heaven.
The truth is that none of us, with our human sin nature, can be righteous by our own efforts.
(Rom 3:10 KJV) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
But God took care of our problem by taking our sin by exchanging it on the cross of Jesus. God took our sin and placed it on Jesus, and took the righteousness of Jesus and made it available to give to us:
(2 Cor 5:21 KJV) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
If you want to go to heaven, you can’t do it by trying to be good enough. You can only do it by taking part in God’s great exchange program. You have to agree to give God your sins, and agree to let God forgive you and give you the righteousness of Jesus in return. All for free. Amazing.
In our passage, the idea is that the destruction will take place in a way that is totally and absolutely just and correct. There will be no accusations of impropriety or unfairness. Everything God does is righteous.
:24 be not afraid of the Assyrian
Lesson
Don’t be afraid.
Fear is a part of life. There are good fears and bad fears. It’s good to be afraid for your family’s safety. It’s bad to be afraid of hurting someone’s feelings and they hold it over you to manipulate you to do what you don’t want to do.
The "Assyrians" in our lives can sure seem big. But our God is bigger.
(1 John 4:4 KJV) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
185,000 may seem like an incredibly huge army to face. But they were taken care of by one angel. Just one. Stay with the "big guys", the ones on God’s side.
(Psa 34:7 KJV) The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
:25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease
1st Fulfillment: The difficult times that will come with the Assyrian invasion won’t last forever.
2nd Fulfillment: The Jews who are living during the time of the Great Tribulation will be experiencing the wrath of the Antichrist. Yet these tough times won’t last forever.
The same Hebrew word (za`am) used in this verse for indignation is the same word that’s used at times to describe the Great Tribulation. (Dan. 11:36; Is. 26:20)
Daniel 11:36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
During the Great Tribulation, there will be a great war in heaven, and Michael and his angels will fight against Satan and his angels. Satan will lose and be cast to the earth (Rev. 12:6-9). Satan will take part of his anger out on the nation of Israel during the last 3 ½ years of the seven year Tribulation period:
Rev 12:13-17
And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. {14} And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. {15} And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. {16} And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. {17} And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.The remnant of Jewish believers will be hiding in the "wilderness", we believe possibly in the area southeast of the Dead Sea, in the land ancient Edom, or modern day Jordan. It’s there they will be rescued by their real Messiah, Jesus.
Isa 63:1-3
Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. {2} Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? {3} I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.There was no earthly government to deliver the Jews, and so Jesus will come to rescue them. I believe that it’s very possible that when Jesus first returns to the earth, He will arrive first not in Jerusalem, but in Jordan, Bozrah, to rescue first the Jews that are hiding there.
:26 according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb:
When Gideon fought against the Midianites with his little band of 300 men, they put the Midianites into flight. It was at the "rock of Oreb" that the men of Ephraim had joined the battle, captured two of the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, and cut off their heads. (Judg. 7:24-25).
1st Fulfillment: The slaughter of the Assyrians. 2nd Fulfillment: The defeat of the Antichrist.
(Rev 19:11-21 KJV) And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. {12} His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. {13} And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. {14} And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. {15} And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. {16} And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. {17} And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; {18} That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. {19} And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. {20} And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. {21} And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Notice the similarity of the imagery with Isa. 63. Vesture dipped in blood. Coming to smite. It’s the same event. When He comes, He will take care of the Antichrist.
:26 and as his rod was upon the sea …
God parted the Red Sea for Israel and destroyed the power of Egypt at the same time, when the Sea drowned Pharaoh’s army.
:27 the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.
The yoke of the king of Assyria will be broken.
anointing – shemen – fat, oil. Some translations (NIV, NASB) have here, "the yoke will be broken because of fatness". The idea being that the hold that Assyria has on Judah will be broken because they’ve grown too fat. But the interesting thing is that this word is usually (165/193) translated "oil". It’s the word used to describe the holy anointing oil used in the tabernacle. It’s the word used to describe what was poured over the head of both the priests and the kings in establishing them in their positions. I think this could be referring to three possible things:
1) It could be referring to the king of Judah. In a way, because Hezekiah was willing to trust God, God would deliver Judah from the Assyrians.
2) It could be referring to the Messiah (Psa. 2:2; 45:7; Isa. 61:1; Heb. 1:9), He is known as the "Anointed One". Jesus will certainly be the one who breaks the yoke that the Antichrist has on the world.
3) It could even apply to the Holy Spirit. He too is called the "anointing", and we’ve often seen that oil is often used in the Bible as a picture of the Holy Spirit (1Sam. 16:13).
1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
There is a sense in which the Holy Spirit breaks the yoke of bondage in our lives today.
(Gal 5:16 KJV) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
(Rom 8:13 KJV) For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
As we allow the Holy Spirit to help us die to the temptations of the flesh, and as we allow Him to fill us and empower us, He breaks the yoke of sin in our lives.
:28-29 He is come to Aiath …
We now get into a list of places. We see a description of the approaching Assyrian army, reports coming in that they’re getting closer and closer and closer…
:30 Gallim … cause it to be heard unto Laish
Gallim was south of Jerusalem. Laish may be the city in Dan that was far to the north, even past the Sea of Galilee. They’ll have to make a LOT of noise to be heard that far away!
:30-32 … As yet shall he remain at Nob that day
Apparently as close as the Assyrians would come. Could this also be a picture of the end times, with the armies of the world surrounding Jerusalem? (Zech 14:2)
:32 he shall shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion
The Assyrians would send their emissaries to taunt the leaders of Jerusalem. (Is. 36)
:34 Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.
Lebanon (same area as modern Lebanon) was once known for its forests of tall cedar trees. This was a picture of the exalted king of Assyria and his armies being cut down by a single angel.