Isaiah 10

Verses 1&2

1. “Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;
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!”

Here Isaiah identifies what was happening in his own country; see how accurate it is concerning our own situation today! God does not urge Isaiah to pray for the rulers of his day. No, he was given a severe warning that the rulers were beyond help and support. Today, we cannot pray well for those who destroy and blaspheme. It is sickening to hear prayers made for the wellbeing of governments and movements that destroy others, and which offer solace and support for wicked rulers. No – God says “Woe uno them”! God is against them, so we may not pray for their wellbeing. God said that rulers made unacceptable laws, demanding obedience to their wickedness. They make demands of the poor and downtrodden, but not of or against themselves. Such is the position in our own day.

Verses 3-6

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?
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.
5. O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.
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.”

With such a situation, what do we do when God visits? When enemies overcome us? In this case, Assyrian war and dominance. Who will the ‘two houses’ (Israel and Judah) turn to for help? God is explicit – the peace of their nation depends on Himself…”without me they shall bow down” as prisoners. They will die on the battlefield. And even though many will suffer and die, God’s anger will remain. As today in our own nation, Israel and Judah were under judgment from God and would remain so until they repented nationally. God reminds the Assyrians that their strength and power is given by God, to bring the two houses back into line… so success is NOT given for Assyrian might, but is God’s alone; it is “mine indignation”! It was GOD Who sent Assyria and others against His own people (“I will send him”). Today, how many Christians understand that our present plight and invasion of evildoers, is a sign of God’s wrath? A dire call for us to repent and change. Until that happens the enemy WILL tread us down like dirt, possibly for many generations.

Verses 7-11

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.
8. For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings?
9. Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?
10. As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;
11. Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?”

It is not God’s desire to harm His own people, but His justice demands it. He said that His princes act like mighty kings… and then speaks of the several cities taken by Assyria and Syria – all mighty and rich. Despite their grandeur, these cities would die under God’s judgment, because they followed idols. God destroyed them all, so He would not stop judgment against Jerusalem, because it followed the same idolatry. In our day those who follow evil or false religions (such as Islam) will suffer the consequences.

Verses 12-15

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.
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:
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.
15. Shall the axe 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.”

When God finishes His judgment upon Jerusalem, He will turn to the king of Assyria and bring him to the dust. He thought he was something, but would become nothing. He vainly thought his successes were down to his own wisdom and strength, but it was all a delusion. He pompously thought that his own cleverness and strength prevailed, and that he discovered untold wealth in the land by his boastful pride. He told everyone “I have done it”! How many Christians think that their gains and blessings come about because of their own activity, thinking and power? The king boasted that nobody flinched or fought back (v14b). Isaiah warns against it, for the king was only doing what God commanded! Christians, impressed by modern preachers, follow them starry-eyed, not understanding that if preaching leads to salvation, it is not the preacher’s doing, or his eloquence, but God alone.

Verses 16-19

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.
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;
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.
19. And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.”

Because of the boasting, God would bring about the downfall of those whose pride is in their own devices. His supposed ‘glory’ would itself be burnt to nothing. The light and flame that would do so is from God and through Israel, and when justice came it would cleanse the land quickly. Everything gained by the king would come to nought, leaving him very little – so little that even a small child could count his assets on one hand! When we repent, God will bring about the fall of our enemies.

Verses 20-23

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.
21. The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.
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.
23. For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.”

Possibly referring to the great enslavement in Babylonia, the Hebrews would be freed from their captor and enemy (the size of the enemy is of no consequence, because when God comes to our rescue nothing can stop Him). Then, those freed would return to their own land; they would be very few, a remnant. And many would prefer to live in the land of their enemy. Righteousness would be restored even as God consumes the enemy and darkness. Many are ill-treated or prefer their captivity rather than return to God and true worship… a state of mind that ravaged Israel throughout its history.

Verses 24-27

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.
25. For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction.
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.
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.”

Therefore, because of this, said God, do not be afraid of the Assyrians. They will try to subjugate you with violence, as did the Egyptians, but it will all end soon, and God will bring His hammer onto their heads. Though God used the Assyrians to bring judgment upon His own people, He will also smite those he raised up with destruction. Then, the people would be loosed from their affliction and freed from slavery. When we, as believers, suffer greatly through our own errors and sins, when we repent and turn back to the Lord, He will remove the affliction: “it shall come to pass in that day”.

Verses 28-34

28. “He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages:
29. They are gone over the passage: they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled.
30. Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim: cause it to be heard unto Laish, O poor Anathoth.
31. Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee.
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.
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.
34. And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.”

The whole of Israel and Judah was afraid – God mentions a number of places that fled or were cowed-down. The king of Assyria would stop for a short while at Nob. He would be frustrated by his inability to overtake Jerusalem and would shake his fist at Zion. God held the leaders of Israel and Judah to blame for their downfall, cutting done those who thought they were mighty. They would face the greater might of Assyria and be cut down. Only a few, a small remnant, would survive. And it was Jehovah who led Assyria to attack in the first place; it was up to the two houses to repent and cling to God… or risk obliteration. Let us all learn these lessons, repent, and change.

© 15 June 2025

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