Isaiah 10:5-34 "The Sovereignty of God"

The Bible provides us with perspectives that absolutely rock our common worldviews.  A very common worldview today (and it is even held by many Christians)   is that God has nothing to do with the world’s politics.  It is thought that He leaves that to the world’s rulers. It is thought that He is watching this world from a distance, and some Christians believe that He will only intervene at the end of time, when things have thoroughly gotten out of hand.

Well, the Bible knows nothing of this kind of thinking. Nothing!  Isaiah shows us that God is at work in this world in a sovereign, hands-on way. Even though we do not see Him physically, He is the unseen hand ruling the world, upholding it moment by moment.

Nothing exists or happens in this world which He doesn’t know.

Nothing that happens in this world catches Him by surprise.

God is involved in the political happenings of our world. In and through it all He does not command evil, but He does allow evil to have its way for a while, so that our world may learn to see its own folly. In the history of nations God is frequently seen to be handing nations over to the kind of rulers they deserve.    

Do we have any influence in all of this? 

Yes! We must pray and work. The Bible teaches us to pray (that is, to speak to and ask God) for our governing authorities, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way (1Tim 2:2).  The Bible teaches also that Christians must work positively, working as salt and light in this decaying world.  

From  this text we learn to see God’s hand in the affairs of this world  in  that,

1.     Assyria is  God’s  chastising tool  upon  His wayward  nation (10:5-7)

2.     Assyria   is an arrogant boastful nation  (10:7-11 ; 13-14)

3.    Assyria will be in for a nasty surprise, for God will  judge her (10:12;10:15-19)

4.     God will preserve His people, in the midst of it all political chaos (10:20-34)

1.     10:5-7   Assyria, God’s surprising  instrument of chastisement

In  Isaiah 7:1 -10:4  God  has revealed to  Isaiah that He would use Assyria [i] as an instrument of judgment against Syria, Israel, and Judah, who were at this time  at  war among themselves. God was not standing by idly. He was handing over these nations to Assyria: “Ah Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands  is my fury.”

Do you see the Great Shepherd at work here?  “… the rod of my anger … the staff in  their hands is my fury”.  The rod and the staff are a shepherd’s tools to guide and correct his  sheep. Assyria fulfilled that function right now, as God used her to correct Syria, Israel, and Judah. In that sense Assyria was the servant of God - but only in that sense.  Later in Isaiah  44:28  that  same  idea  is expressed,  when  a century and a half later God calls Cyrus, the Persian ruler to be His shepherd  to deliver Israel from Babylonian captivity and to punish the Babylonians  for their brutal ways.

Back to Assyria. The Lord says,  “against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command  him to take spoil and to seize plunder and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.” (10:6b).

The language here leaves us in no doubt that God  was using the Assyrians who were the political superpower at that time. The Assyrians were an efficient, well developed army in its day. They were the first to develop iron weapons, being superior to the bronze weapons, commonly used at that time. Their skill allowed them to make weapons and protective items, so more soldiers could use them. They were the first army to have a separate engineering unit, which could set up ladders and ramps, and fill in moats, and dig tunnels to help the soldiers get into a walled city. They were also among the first to build chariots. These technological advancements allowed the Assyrians to expand their empire.[ii]   What is surprising in all this is that God would use  a pagan nation, an arrogant nation to chastise His people. In this next section we will explore  the arrogance of the Assyrians.

2.      Assyria - an arrogant boastful nation  (10:7-11 ; 13-14)

We have seen that Assyria is a tool in God’s hand. 

But how does Assyria see herself? Chapter 10:7-11 and 10: 13-14 give us insight here.  Assyria, although she is given this momentary authority by God, we find  this  assessment of her own attitude: "(But he- Assyria) 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” (10:7). Assyrians  think that they are the  masters of their own destiny.  The arrogance of the king of Assyria is described in  10:13, “For he says, By the strength of my hand have I done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding; I remove the boundaries of people, and  plunder their treasures; like a bull I bring down those who sit on thrones…” (10:13,14). Here  we learn  that,  although Assyria was indeed  an instrument in God's hand, and since she  was  doing the will of the LORD,  that this  fact did not free her  from employing her own motives  for  attacking  Syria, Israel, and Judah.  Not at all!  Although  she  was  given a free hand from God, it was in her heart to destroy, and cut off not a few nations.    When we read of the account of the Assyrian besiegement of Jerusalem in Isaiah 36:10 (cf. 2Kings 18:25) we take note that the commander of the Assyrians appeared to have been aware of his divine mandate from the God of Israel. But it is equally clear in that context that Assyria thought little of the God of Israel. The Assyrian commanders appropriated to themselves much glory, but in truth, their enablement came from the sovereign God, who had enabled them to rule at a time such as this.  

Do you see what is happening here? Assyria had an over - inflated view of herself.  She regarded her commanders to be on the level of the kings of other nations: "For he says, 'Are not my commanders  all  kings? Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus?” The cities mentioned in 10:9,10 were systematically conquered  by the  Assyrians, and in so doing they  boasted  that  none of their territorial  gods  had been able to help them.

Observe the pride of the Assyrians. Consider their boastful language: “As my hand has  reached to the kingdoms of the idols, whose carved images were greater than those  of Jerusalem and Samaria, shall I not do  to Jerusalem and her idols as I have done to Samaria and her idols?'"  (10:10,11). They thought of  the  God of Israel as nothing more than one of the idols that they had conquered in Samaria or in many other cities. They glory in their own strength and wisdom and power.  This is asking for trouble! The Assyrians were going to be in for a rude  surprise!

3.     Assyria will be in for a nasty surprise, for God will  judge her  (10:12; 10:15-19)

This brings us to the next point. Do not think that God Almighty overlooks anything! In this very text God the Almighty vows to severely discipline the Assyrians.

10:12  “When the Lord has finished all his work  on Mt 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…”

In 10: 15 -19  the LORD uses the pictures of an axe, a saw, a rod, and a staff to make the point that  a tool  should never take credit for what the workman  does with the tool. The skill is in the user, not in the tool.  Assyria was the tool. God was the workman, but Assyria took the glory.  And now she must face God herself.

10:16 “Therefore the Lord God of hosts will send wasting sickness among his stout warriors…”.   In Isaiah 37:36 we read  how God, in history  actually   judged the Assyrians: “And the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185 000 in the camp of the Assyrians”. That was the end of the Assyrian   attempt to conquer Jerusalem, and that is basically also the end of the Assyrian empire. How those that think they stand beware lest they fall. How the mighty have fallen!  God is a terrible Judge! Let the arrogant and unrepentant  take note! It is a terrible thing to fall into the hand of the Living God.

As we pause to reflect on this, one of the greatest perplexities for the thoughtful reader of Scripture is how God could possibly use such a pagan, arrogant nation to chastise among others, his own people? We shall find that there is nothing uncommon about God’s strategy.  140 years later we shall find a similar situation. In Jeremiah’s  and in  Habakkuk’s day  (605 and 686 B.C.)  God raised up the ruthless, godless Babylonians  to  chastise  the Southern kingdom,  Judah (Hab. 1:6-11), and after which  He promptly  announced judgment on Babylon herself (Hab. 2:6-17)!

Here we deal with the mystery of God’s ways in the temporary judgements of the peoples of the world, and especially in the judgement of His backslidden people.  Here we deal with the fact that the LORD can use a wicked nation like the Assyrians to punish His own people’s wickedness. He could use godless nations as the rod of His anger, whilst at the same time   judging theses godless nations, saying to them, "woe  upon you Assyria!"  (10:5). It is true that the backslidden church  has suffered much  at the hand of an ungodly world over these last 2000 years. All this is seen and ordained by God  who  uses  this wicked world to chastise His own.

Scripture teaches us that God can use wicked people  to further His will, without ever approving of their  wickedness, and in the end judging their wickedness. This  is repeatedly seen in the Scriptures. Joseph's brothers sinned against Joseph, but God used it for His purpose, and He disciplined Joseph's brothers. Saul sinned against David, but God used it for His purpose, and God judged Saul. Judas sinned against Jesus, but God used it for His purpose, and He judged Judas. The wicked assault the  people of God, and God uses that for their sanctification, but in the end, the wicked will be judged for their  wickedness.

God is absolutely able to bring  good out of  evil- even the evil  done to  his beloved children. See what good God has brought out of the cross!  But those who  designed and desired the evil cross  will  need to meet  their Maker in the day of  judgement. We cannot  know  exactly how God will bring about  the good, but we can trust  Him for the outcome. God does care about all the evil done in this world, and He will bring about His judgment according to His perfect will and timing. Again, we cannot know when that will be, but it will happen!

4.      What about Israel? In the midst of it  all  God will preserve a remnant (10:20-34)

God  must judge all sin, including that sin  that  is found among His people. “He is  of purer eyes that to see evil and cannot look at wrong” (Habakkuk 1:13). How then shall  anyone escape?  In the midst of all this, God has a word for the worried – for the righteous, who feel themselves to be pawns in the game.  What about  the  true, faithful people of God that are found in  every generation? What about them?  Are they  just  a lost cause,  are they  just incidental to this story, or  are they, as the militarists say,  ‘collateral damage’ in this  eternal wrangle between God and  evil?

Not at all!

The story of the Bible now takes on another profound turn as we are introduced to the doctrine of the remnant ...the survivors of the house of Jacob (10:20) … the remnant of Jacob (10:21).

Chapter 10 closes with real hope and gives us ultimate perspective and application:

(i)   (10:22) “Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness”. When God allows  the destruction  of his own   cause -  Israel or the church,  we must know that it is always righteous, and never unfair. God’s  judgment overflows with righteousness and the outcome will always  be good! The church of our own day, so beset  with compromise and worldly ways  desperately needs  to be cleaned out by God.  Will not God not use our enemies to do that?

(ii)  (10:23) “For the Lord GOD of hosts will make a full end”.  An end of what? An end of Judah's trust in nations like Assyria. They will never again depend on him who defeated him. In the same way, God must cleanse the church  to  stop her  dependence  on worldly solutions  in terms  of her work in this world.

(iii) (10:24) “Therefore … be not afraid of the Assyrians…”. God is telling His people, "I will chastise you, and it will hurt. But I have a plan, so don't be afraid." This may not be nice to hear, but it is oh so necessary.   It hurts to be disciplined and corrected. Yet we must tell ourselves  to  continue  to  trust God, even when it hurts. Weeping will last for a night. Joy comes in the morning.  

(iv) (10:26) God can- just as he did before! Two examples are used: 

a.     Gideon’s victory over the Midianites, and  the Red sea crossing.  “And the LORD of hosts will wield against them  a whip, as when  he  struck Midian at the rock of Oreb.” This is a reference to Judges 7:25 which  describes Gideon's  miraculous victory over the Midianites at the rock of Oreb. Now  God's judgment on Assyria would be as miraculous and complete as Gideon's victory was. We have already seen how the LORD killed  185,000 Assyrians in one night. 

b.     “And his staff will be over  the sea, and he will lift it as he did in Egypt,”  is a reference  to Exodus 14:16  in which we find a description  of  how  God used  Moses staff  to divide the Red Sea. In the same way, He would do something totally miraculous against Assyria.

(v)  (10:27 -34) “In that day that his burden will depart from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck…”.   In  10:28-32  follows  a  prophetic description of the arrival of the army of the Assyrians. The listing of cities from the north to the south, describes  the route of the Assyrian invasion. Nob is found  on the outskirts of Jerusalem. This is as far as the army of the Assyrians came against Judah. There  they were stopped. Here the LORD killed 185,000 Assyrians in one night (10:33,34).

The buck stops with the Lord God of hosts. Everything rises and falls before the  Sovereign God. 

Do you know of any   human dynasty or world power that has endured for any  significant time? 

No! They all come and go.  

Our text is indeed a grand celebration of the sovereignty of God. So then, do not fear  what man can do. Of what account is he? Fear God.  We need to  be reminded again of what  Isaiah had previously said in 8:11-13,

11For the LORD spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: 12“Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honour as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

Now that is biblical perspective. 

Let God’s Word be true and every man a liar!

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[i] Assyria corresponds to most parts of modern-day Iraq as well as parts of Iran, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey.

[ii] https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/assyrian-empire/

Isaiah 9:8-10:4 "God’s Outstretched Hand"

General  Overview

·       Isaiah  Chapters 7-12  is known as "The Immanuel Book”[1]   

·       Last time we ended on a wonderfully encouraging note as we considered the Immanuel child with the 4 names (9:1-7).

·       This new section (9:8-10:4) appears in sharp contrast to 9:1-7.  This is by design. The glorious age of the Messiah just described will come, but it is not yet. This hopelessness is meant to make us look elsewhere. Until the Messiah comes to redeem His creation, this earth will groan (Rom. 8:18-23).Throughout this  section  Isaiah encourages us to lift our eyes above to Immanuel, our Wonderful Counsellor, the Mighty God, the  Everlasting Father, the  Prince of Peace, the Branch.

·       Isaiah 9:8-10:4 is written in four parts, each part concluding with the words,  “For all this His anger is not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.”    God has been using the prophet Isaiah to warn the people of Israel (NK) and Judah (SK) concerning  the impending judgment which will come upon them if they do not repent. In this text, Isaiah is commanded to speak a Word from the Lord to the NK. But God is also using the prophet Isaiah to speak to us in our own day. 

We will find 4 warnings here that correspond to our own day. 

Outline  of 9:8-10:4

(i)               Because of your  pride  you will be  defeated  by  many  enemies (9:8-12)

(ii)             Because  you refuse to repent  your leadership will be overthrown (9:13-17)

(iii)           Because  you persist  in  wickedness you will turn against one another (9:18-21)

(iv)            Because  you practice social injustice there  will be a day of judgement  (10:1-4)

1.     9:8-12 Because of  your pride  your  will be  defeated by  many  enemies

Our text begins with these dramatic words: “The Lord has sent a word against Jacob, and it will fall on Israel” (Jacob = Israel=  Ephraim= Samaria= NK).  The tribe of Ephraim was the largest tribe in the NK . Ephraim is therefore  often used synonymously with  Israel and the NK.  Samaria was the capital city of the NK.  This prophecy is directed to the NK. The Lord (here  Adonai -  the sovereign  Lord/ Master) has a weighty word for this  wayward nation. Whenever we think of the word of the Lord, we must  not think in small terms. God’s word is always weighty and sure. 

We get a sense of this in Isaiah 55:11: “...so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” 

The words of the Lord are his deeds. God has sent forth this word, and because it is His word, He will bring it to pass [2]. This word is given as a result of the prideful, arrogant attitude of the NK (9:9).  This arrogant attitude   is described in 9:10.  In their pride, the leaders and the people of the NK of Israel said, “The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones” etc. Whatever has fallen down (probably a reference to the earthquake of Amos 1:1;4:11), they said,  we will  simply rebuild with something better.  

In so doing they disregarded the hand of God in the earthquake that caused the bricks to collapse. Their world view was the ‘Yes we can’ attitude, which is so common in our own day.  They and we make no connection with the fact that God sends wars and  calamities against a pride infested people.  But look what is happening! From the perspective of Isaiah, the spokesman of God, it is the  LORD that  sends successive waves of enemies  over time against Israel –first there  is King Rezin and the Syrians from the east and the Philistines from the West (9:11,12),   and later the Assyrians in 10:5ff. At the hand of the Assyrians, the destruction of NK- Israel would be complete. After this they will never rebuild anything!   The most notable  fact here  is that  God is the FIRST CAUSE of their down fall,  as He uses the  Syrians  on the east, the Philistine in the west (9:12), and infighting or civil war (9:18-21)and finally Assyria (10:5-19)  to humble them.

This section  ends with the refrain (9:12b),  “For all this, His anger has not turned away, and His hand is stretched out still”.  It appears at the end of each of these four sections (9:12; 9:17; 9:21; 10:4). Literally, it reads, "All this judgment, but still there is more to come." It signifies that He continues to judge,  which  now  follows  in  the next section…

2. 9:13-17 Because you  refuse to repent, your  leadership will be overthrown.

Listen to this: “The people did not  turn to Him who struck them, nor inquire  of the LORD of hosts.So the LORD cut off from NK- Israel head and tail…” (9:13,14). 

Despite  the fact that God  had  sent these enemies against them they would not listen. The more they were chastised by God the more they refused to listen. The consequence of rejecting the word of the LORD is that they will listen to someone else. “You gotta serve somebody” (Bob Dylan).

The problem  is  that those  that they were listening to  their  societal leaders such  as  the  elder and  the honoured man, and the prophet-  BUT none of these led by the truth. On the contrary, they led their people astray (9:16). They were not leaders – they were misleaders! They misled the young men, the vulnerable orphans  and widows. Even these   were led astray by the godless examples of their leaders.  In the end they were all speaking folly (9:17).

When the Word of the LORD is rejected by leaders,  society crumbles! Hosea[3] says, “and it shall be like people like priest” (Hosea 4:9). All are corrupt. No one is righteous. What else can God do but to   judge this wicked nation?  Isaiah speaks graphically. In one day (i.e. very quickly) head and tail, palm branch and reed (tall growth and low growth), elders, respected men and the prophets will be cut off. And God is the FIRST Cause. He hands us over to bad leaders. Yet, Israel still refuses to turn to God. And once again, God says, [REFRAIN  9:17b]   “For all this, His anger has not turned away, and His hand is stretched out still” -literally - "All this judgment, but still there is more to come."

3.     9:18-21 Because you persist in your wickedness you will attack your own brothers.

Evil leaders are self- centered. We have seen that their self- serving leadership causes their society to lose its cohesiveness. Brother betrays brother. It is a part of what it means to be handed over by God. Let’s see how this happens.

9:18 “For wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briars and thorns; it kindles the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke.”  We all have seen the recent images of wildfires in California, Australia and even South Africa. Wildfires are   unstoppable, swift, uncontrolled, devouring everything before them. The prophet Isaiah applies this image to the wrath of God on this godless society:  “And the people are like fuel for the fire” (9:19).  Their wickedness supplies fuel to the fire of God’s judgment.  He hands us over to ourselves.  It manifests in society by the fact that close family ties are no longer considered sacred. No man shall spare his brother (9:19-21). God did not need to start the fire or fan the flames; He simply takes away the gift of common grace - the “fire retardant” that restrains evil men.  Ephraim and Manasseh (9:21) the sons of Joseph were blood brothers, but  here they devour each other, and together  they are against their brother Judah. It is a picture of utter societal chaos and disintegration. This house is hopelessly divided. It cannot stand.[4]

In terms of application all we have to do is to observe the history of the NK- Israel,   following the death of Jeroboam II  in 2 Kings 14:23-29). We see what follows  in 2 Kings 15:8ff . Six kings reigned before NK-Israel fell in 722 BC. Five came to the throne by assassination of their own brothers.  This is the wildfire of God’s judgment. They fought with each other, and they fought against their brothers in the southern kingdom of Judah. No love for God = no love for fellow man.  The apostle Paul saw this and he warned the Galatians, 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. Gal. 5:13-16

And once again, a third time,  God says, “For all this, His anger has not turned away, and His hand is stretched out still” - "All this judgment, but still there is more to come." (9:21b) There was still sin to judge, and God wasn’t ready to stop His work of judgment.

4.     (10:1-4) Because of  social injustice, you will be exiled and  killed.

Again, the subject here relates to the leadership of NK-Israel, acting in a ruthless  way against the poor and vulnerable of their society: 10:1-2 “Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing oppression, 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! “

The question for them is, “What will you do on the day of punishment, in the ruin that will come from afar? To whom will you flee, and where will you leave your wealth?  (10:3) …and the answer is …” you will crouch among the prisoners or fall among the slain (10:4).  

All that God needs to do to bring judgment on Israel is to withdraw His protection. Without Him they have no hope before  their enemies. And for the fourth time, Isaiah says, “For all this, His anger has not turned away, and His hand is stretched out still” -  "All this judgment, but still there is more to come." (10:4b). The repetition of this refrain reminds us that God is not letting up on them. They will drink His wrath down to the dregs.  There will be no escape from God’s justice. It is either repentance now, or it is the facing of the wrath of God when the day of mercy has expired.  What hope is there for a people like this?

Here is  the only hope! As we look back over the last few chapters we take note that the Immanuel book (Chapters 7-12) reverberates with Name of the Messiah – Immanuel (7:14;8:8,10), Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, everlasting Father (9:6,7), the Branch  (11:1).

Greater than God’s judgment is the message of God’s mercy. The mercy plan of God is rooted in God’s Messiah. Isaiah begs us to look to the Messiah – NOW! The key to our survival is the Messiah. Look to Him! He is the central focus of this section. 

This is the Gospel, the Good News, and it becomes the Good News only because we have learned to recognise the severity of the bad news that surrounds us. 

Do you recognise these societal symptoms in our day?  

"What will  YOU do on the day of punishment... to whom will YOU flee for help, and where will YOU leave  YOUR wealth?" (Isa.10:3)

And in the light of these facts, do you recognise and embrace the Messiah?

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[1] H.C. Leupoldt:  Exposition of Isaiah, Baker Book House, p.39

[2]  E. Young:  The Book of Isaiah,  Eerdmans , p.348

[3] Hosea –the last prophet of Israel to prophesy before the NK fell to Assyria

[4] Luke 11:17; Mark 3:25; Matthew 12:25

Isaiah 9:1-7 The Child with the Four Names

Previously we had seen that the Southern Kingdom under king Ahaz (735-715 BC) of Judah in Jerusalem was being threatened by an alliance of the northern 10 tribes (Israel, under king Pekah - Samaria) and Syria (under king Rezin of Damascus). Ahaz was afraid and instead of trusting in God, as urged by Isaiah, he was beginning to make plans to enlist the help of the Assyrians. He had in fact already given the temple treasury to them in order to buy their support (2 Kings 16:8). It is a sad fact that Ahaz would not listen to the prophet Isaiah sent from God to tell Ahaz that he needed not fear the coming invasion. 

There are none as deaf as those that will not hear.

We also saw that God was prepared to give a sign to Ahaz: “A virgin (or young woman) would bear a child and call his name Immanuel.” The prophecy is veiled in historical obscurity, but it might have been a reference to the birth of Ahaz’s own son, Hezekiah (715-686 BC), who unlike his father was a good king. He would see the fulfilment of all these prophecies. He saw the destruction of the Assyrians (see Isaiah 37 ;  2 Kings 19). Ahaz needed to know that the land promised on oath to Abraham was Immanuel’s land (8:8-10). There was no need to fear, even though the flood of enemies would “reach even to the neck” (Isa. 8:8 - see Psalm 69:1) – seemingly to overwhelm them- but only seemingly. 

It is a common human trait to struggle with the fear of the power of man more than the power of God. We are easily intimidated by the conspiracies of men (8:12). Before we run to God we run to mediums and fortune tellers who chirp and mutter (8:19). 

Very few men of the OT had received greater assurance and promises of help in times of severe crisis than did king Ahaz, and yet he wavered – and the nation presumably with him, for as the leadership goes so the nation goes. The challenge then is that when God promises us deliverance, even in the face of the greatest trial (when the waters come up to our neck) then we must believe God and not the ‘waters’.John Calvin says, "the slightest calamities will overwhelm us if we are deprived of God’s favour; but if we rely on the Word of God, we can come out of the heaviest calamities uninjured.“ [1] A man can drown in a small stream, and yet be saved in the open ocean if he can hold on to a plank and get himself to the shore.

Let us remember what is behind this whole story. The future of David’s messianic line was threatened at this point. Ahaz, one of David’s descendants, ‘did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God, as his father David had done, but walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. He even burned his son as an offering, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel’ (2 Kings 16:1-3). As a result of spiritual apostasy, David’s territory, Jerusalem the city of David, where the temple stood was about to fall into the hands of pagans. But, did God not say that He would keep the house of David? Surely God would not break His covenant with David? That’s right! The people born under the privileges of the covenant may refuse to believe, but there will always be a remnant that will believe. The name of one of Isaiah’s son’s, Shear Jeshub, means ‘a remnant shall return’. Isaiah’s children were ‘signs and portents in Israel from the Lord of hosts’ (8:18) 

Right now, in a dark and fearful moment of history, God is there, promising them His presence; promising them a sign. There would be light on this dark horizon! From the history books we know that Jerusalem was never taken by these evil allies. God truly delivered Jerusalem. And we shall see that this prophecy is so much greater than this historical happening. However, we are constantly made aware in these OT accounts that these things are signs of a greater and ultimate fulfillment. The ultimate light would be the Lord Jesus. He is the light of the world (Jn 1:9; 8:12). 

Isaiah 9:1-2   A Great Light 

Matthew 4:12-16 connects with Isaiah 9: 1-2: Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Now for some geographical perspective: The territories of Zebulun and Naphtali were once part of the northern kingdom. This was the area that was soon invaded by the Assyrians in 722Bc , who scattered them and mixed them with other nations. This produced the nation of the Samaritans, who were a mixed race. This area (Galilee of the nations - 9:1) was the area in which the Lord Jesus would do most of His public ministry. Do you see the significance of this? Not only does Isaiah speak hope to the SK; he also speaks hope to the NK. Yes, Assyria caused havoc in that region, but the Lord Jesus would someday come here and He would do some of His greatest miracles in this region. Here He raised the dead son of a woman in Nain (Lk. 7:11) and a little girl (Matt. 9 :18ff). Here He would do the miraculous feeding of the 4000 & 5000 beside the Sea of Galilee. The light of the Messiah’s ministry would shine in that dark region. 

Isaiah 9 follows chapter 8 which leaves us with a note of gloom and doom in verses 21-22: “They will pass through the land, greatly distressed and hungry. And when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will speak contemptuously against their king and their God, and turn their faces upward. And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness.” 

By contrast Isaiah 9:1 begins with a “but”[2]. There is great darkness and fear in that region in Isaiah’s time. 700 years later there is still great darkness and fear among the people in the days of Jesus’ ministry, as the Romans ruthlessly ruled Immanuel’s land. There is great darkness and fear in our own day as we speak. One senses that even the church (which is Immanuel’s people) acts much like Ahaz. We trust in human wisdom and solutions. Many church members are more committed to pragmatic solutions than to the life of faith and prayer and trust in the Word of God. Our congregations are filled with people that are religious but fearful and possessed with little faith. 

What wonderful light and hope enters as we now come to Chapter 9. See the contrast! The joy in 9:3 is the opposite of the gloom in 8:21,22. The Lord reveals that the nation would be enlarged! This is so different to 6:13, where the nation is being cut down to a tenth and then cut down even more so that only a stump would be left! The enlarged nation[3] is the result of Immanuel’s ministry. Matthew notes that Isaiah 9 was fulfilled in Jesus’ ministry! You may well ask, was Israel really enlarged as a result of Jesus coming? Jesus was crucified in about 30 AD, with no one apparently following Him any longer. How can we say that the nation has been enlarged by the ministry of Christ, when this sort of thing happened ? It was even prophesied that He would be the cause of many falling in Israel (Luke 2:34). It was more likely that the nation would shrink. Yet, if you think carefully, Immanuel’s land was greatly multiplied or enlarged under Christ’s ministry. Many gentiles believed (this is implied in Isa 9:2) . They were added to the kingdom as ingrafted branches (Rom. 11:17). We see how the church after Pentecost has been forcefully advancing and multiplying in the whole world. The greater works that His disciples would do, which Jesus speaks about in John 14:12 is the multiplication of the territory: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”

Having just remembered the anniversary of the 16th century Reformation, the phrase “post tenebras lux” (after darkness, light), comes back to mind. The rediscovery of biblical truth, after a time of spiritual darkness, was followed by the greatest missionary expansion of the church, this world has ever seen. Incidentally, the Jewish feast of Hanukkah[4] (also called the feast of lights) also occurs around this time. This is the Christian season of light. The birth of the Lord Jesus Christ is associated with festive lights. The light that God gives us in the revelation of His Son and through His Word is a significant gift to us. It all comes together in this text.

Isaiah 9:3-5     A Great Battle 

The coming deliverance is pictured in these verses in clear images of military victory. The enemy would be totally smashed by the Messiah. The reference to the day of Midian (9:4) is a reference to Gideon’s victories in Judges 6, which included the provinces of Naphtali and Zebulun in the region of Galilee. Gideon is a picture of the Messiah who will deliver His chosen remnant. Immanuel, however will do this without man made weapons. He showed this by His superior teaching over all religious teachers, His superior power over all sickness and even death, and over all demonic forces. On the cross He crushed Satan’s head (Gen. 3:15). Paul could thus truly write, “The Father has qualified you to share in the kingdom of light, for he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness…” (Col. 1:12,13)

9:6,7:     A Great Saviour - The Child with the Four Names 

Immanuel now comes fully into His own in these verses. Look at these names that are attributed to Him. No one reading this can fail to come to the conclusion that Immanuel must be a divine being! And so Ahaz and we may take courage to know that our future is in God’s hands! The future is bright and filled with light! And it begins with the birth of a child, a son- one born to govern in a new and unique way. 

Look at His titles. 

· Wonderful Counselor: Jesus Christ is the prophet who speaks to us the final and authoritative counsel of God (Hebr. 1:1-3). His divine wisdom and counsel is utterly trustworthy. God the Father says, “This is my beloved Son, listen to Him [Matt.17:5,Mk. 9:7,Lk. 9:35] 

· Mighty God (El –gibbor) [5]: Jesus is in His very nature God. He is co- equal, co-existent, co-eternal with the Father. 

· Everlasting Father: He is not replacing the Father here. He must be seen as the second Adam, the human replacement of our first father Adam, who sinned and thereby caused all his descendants to inherit a sin nature. In Christ we receive an everlasting salvation and in that sense He has ‘fathered’ us into a new life. In that sense Jesus refers to His family as His children in Hebr. 2:13,14, which is a quote from Isa 8:18. 

· Prince of Peace:  The coming of the Messiah(Christ) is associated with the bringing of peace. He guides our feet into the way of peace (Lk. 1:79). As our High priest He makes peace for us with God (Rom. 5:1). He is our peace (Eph. 2:14). 

These four names show us that God’s solution to our darkness is in Christ - our Immanuel. He ALONE is supremely qualified to counsel, lead, care and provide an eternally peaceful environment (heaven) for us. Ahaz needed to know that he could only trust in God alone. We need to know this. Peace and stability will never be established by human alliances. They never work. Only God can maintain this world. Only He can maintain the church. Our challenge is to rest less in our own schemes and plans and walk according to the rules of Immanuel’s land. 

I am so impressed by the constant reference in this prophecy to this phrase, “The Lord spoke thus to me …” (e.g. 8:11). Like Isaiah we must be in constant and prayerful communion with God. He alone  will deliver us from  the fear of our enemies.  To that end will you bow your head with me and pray a prayer of commitment and renewal in the hope and expectation that the LORD our God will grant us the ability to live by faith. 

[1] Isaiah : Calvin, Crossway Commentaries , p. 89 

[2] This reminds us of the great ‘but’ of Rom 3:21 

[3] The enlarging of the nation reappears again in 54:1-3 

[4] Ḥanukah is a Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire. It is also known as the Festival of Lights (Hebrew: חַג הַאוּרִים, ḥag ha'urim). Hanukkah occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar. 

[5] This title is later used of the Lord in 10:21

ISAIAH 8 "Fear God ! Wait for the LORD!"

We are dealing here with a profound and remarkable portion of Scripture.  Isaiah 7-12 has sometimes been called the “Immanuel Book”.  At the heart of these chapters is a mysterious child, called Immanuel (7:14; 8:8,10), a great light (9:2), a  fruitful branch  (11:1-5). He is given as a sign in a political crisis and He finally emerges as the ruler of the whole earth. He is the Wonderful Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace (9:6-7). In fact, Isaiah sees with eyes, far beyond the current state of affairs. He sees with prophetic eyes. He sees a vision so great, that He does not even comprehend it. Isaiah is a man in the hands of a sovereign, great, almighty and awesome God, who acts in the midst of earth’s complex human affairs, politics and history.  It is He that directs even the hearts of sinful kings   for His own glorious ends (Prov. 21:1).  He is the God who rules today. He has the future of His church firmly in His hands, even though the tide of opinion is currently swinging strongly against biblical and true Christianity.  Today, as we remember the Reformation of 1517,  we are called to fear God and to wait on Him. Today, we are called to embrace this text: “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the LORD of hosts, him shall you honour as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” (8:11-13).

We have already spent considerable time looking carefully at the historical situation from Isaiah's call in Chapter  6 (742 BC). The current conflict involves four nations:

·        Assyria, under Tiglath-pileser, is beginning to expand its empire into the eastern Mediterranean. It is the emerging superpower of this era.

·        Syria or Aram borders the northern kingdom of Israel. Aram is made up of a number of related Aramean tribes that are vassals of the Kingdom of Damascus, ruled by Rezin.

·        Israel (the northern kingdom – capital city, Samaria) separated from Judah after the death of Solomon in 931 BC. Its current king is Pekah, the son of Remaliah, one of a series of  18 bad kings. This nation is going to be brought  to an  end in 722BC at the hand of the Assyrians.

·        Judah (the southern kingdom- capital city, Jerusalem) is ruled by the current king Ahaz, son of Jotham. He is not a godly king.[1] Isaiah is a prophet in Judah.

Our attention was drawn to Isaiah’s vision of God in the temple and his subsequent call to the prophetic ministry (Isaiah 6). We have seen that Isaiah is presently commissioned to prophesy to a hard-hearted, n0n-hearing, non-understanding, spiritually dull people (Isa. 6:9-10).  The king of Judah, Ahaz is a sad illustration of this fact.  In Isaiah 7, the prophet Isaiah was to tell Ahaz that he needed not fear the threatening alliance of Israel (NK) and Syria against Judah. He needed only to put his trust in the LORD, the covenant God of Israel.  But Ahaz would hear none of this. He had no faith in God and for this reason he  wanted a political alliance with Assyria, the regional superpower at that time. Isaiah challenges him and says, “… if you don’t believe me then ask the Lord for a sign!” (7:11). Ahaz then says in an act of false humility, “I will not put the LORD to the test” (7:12), upon which Isaiah cries out with exasperation, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin[2] shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (7:14).   God   promises  Ahaz deliverance by means of a child  which is called here,  ‘Immanuel’. He  will be a deliverer  in that immediate context. Some think that this  child sign  will be his own  son Hezekiah (715- 686BC),  who will be a much better king than his father. He will in fact  see  hostile Israel ( Samaria), Syria (Damascus)   and even  mighty Assyria  defeated in his day. Whatever the case may be from a NT  perspective, we know that far  beyond this, Immanuel  will be identified  with  the  Lord Jesus Christ [Matt.1:21-23]. Truly the Bible has an amazing depth and width  and foresight.   But right now, right here the Lord makes Ahaz an incredible offer of deliverance from the very real threat knocking a Jerusalem’s doors.   

Exposition of  Isaiah  Chapter 8

We find here three  sections, each  preceded by the Lord  speaking to Isaiah in 8:1, 8:5 and 8:11

1.       8:1-4  Another Sign – Maher Shalal Hash Baz

God speaks  to Isaiah, commanding  him   to  make  a banner and writing upon it for all to see, “Maher Shalal Hash Baz“, literally meaning, “speed-spoil-haste–booty“. This is a typical prophetic action. Israel’s prophets, speaking on behalf of God, by dramatic actions provoked their public to ask questions.  The issue at hand relates to the threatened invasion of the SK, which God promised, would not happen. The LORD also provided for him  two reliable witness, Uriah the priest and Zechariah^[3]   to testify that  the message  from Isaiah, written boldly upon a banner, was indeed true.

But the prophetic message is not yet complete. It had to become flesh in the form of a son  that would be born to Isaiah’s wife^[4]. When that son is eventually born  (at least 9 months later)  this boy is called   “Maher Shalal Hash Baz“. He  is the LORD’s  sign (see 8:18). 

In 8:4  we are informed that before  this boy  would be able to talk, the Assyrians would successfully attack the enemies of Judah, namely   the Syrians (Aram)  and Israel, and utterly defeat them and  carry off the spoil or booty.  Please note – God was going to do this! Ahaz did not need the help   of the  Assyrians.  

2.       8:5-10:  God speaks again through Isaiah – The Assyrian army will defeat the alliance

“This people“ refers to the northern kingdom of Israel.  Approximately 200 years earlier these 10 northern tribes had rejected the house of David as king, even though it was God’s ordained monarchy.  They had refused the gentle waters of Shiloah- the waters which flow from the Gihon spring into Jerusalem.  At Gihon  Solomon,the son of David was anointed and declared to be king (1 Kings 1:32-35). It was here that Isaiah first found king Ahaz (7:3). Ahaz was worried that the enemy would cut off the water supply from Jerusalem.  It was ‘this people‘  the NK (Israel) which had  alienated themselves from that life giving water  long time ago. They had become so removed from their southern brothers that they were ever hostile to them. We see that at this point they are ready to conquer and destroy them in alliance with the Syrians with their headquarters in Damascus.  And now God says here that they (Israel and Syria) would endure the “Assyrian flood“(8:7,8). It would also sweep into Judah, BUT it would not wipe out Judah!  It would come “up to the neck” (8:8), but no further.  Assyria never managed to conquer Jerusalem.

In Hezekiah’s day  (following the rein of Ahaz), they tried  and  we read in  2 Kings 19:35 that the Lord struck down 185 000 Assyrians and that was basically the end of Assyria. According to verses 8-10 they were broken and shattered,… and why?

This was Immanuel’s land! Verse 10 could also be paraphrased,“Go ahead, you Assyrians  and whoever else , make your crazy plans;  they will  fail for God is with us! ” 

This causes us to reflect upon a very comforting doctrine.  Every opposition against Immanuel’s land must fail.  Assyria  had  the  military capacity to swallow  Judah, but it was still Immanuel’s land ! Now we know that this truth applies to the NT church.  She is Immanuel’s land. The Lord Jesus Christ, her Living Head, our Immanuel is with us.   No weapon formed against her will stand (Isa 54:17).  Jesus said that the gates of hell would not prevail against His church (Matt 16:18). He is the same LORD who cared for Israel and supplied her needs in the desert (1 Cor. 10:4).  He is the same Lord that keeps His people today. They are not limited to a geographical  area, for the earth is  the Lord’s (Ps 24:1). The earth belongs to the meek in Christ! (Matt 5:5 cf. Ps.37:11). 

3.       8: 11 – 22:  Do not fear- trust the LORD!

This section has four great warnings  and  applications.  This will cure your fear of man.

a. 8:11-13:  11 For the Lord spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: 12 “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13 But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

In times of attack God’s people must guard their our hearts and minds by not giving into conspiracy theories  and  fear mongering. Their eyes must remain firmly on God. Godly people  must fear the LORD alone. “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28). It is very tempting  to think like the world. But Romans 12:1&2  encourages us not to be conformed  to this world , but to be transformed by  the renewal of our minds …”.

b. 8:14,15: 14 And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.”

God is either for you or against you. There is no middle-ground.  God is either a sanctuary or a stone of offense/ stumbling[5]  for all people. The sanctuary is the holy place where God dwells and  where He is approached by sacrifice for acceptance. In the NT Christ has become our sanctuary.  But He is also a stumbling stone  for  those who will not take Him seriously.  This  was said of  the Lord  Jesus by  the old prophet Simeon: “He is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel (Luke 2:34). Peter  quotes  Isa.8:14  and identifies  Christ as the stumbling stone.  To those who believe in Him and obey Him, He will be a sanctuary.  Those that ignore Him  or  oppose Him will stumble (1 Peter 2:8).  No one could get away from the God of the OT. No one  can get away from Christ.

c. 8:16-20: Hold on to the Word of God: 16 Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching  among my disciples. 17 I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him. 18 Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion. 19 And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? 20 To the teaching (law) and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.

In times of attack hold on to God’s word! “Let God be true and every man a liar” (Rom. 3:4).  What God had  said through Isaiah was God’s word.   Just because people could not see nor  hear (6:9,10), just because God’s face was hidden, did not make His word to them  less valid.  Isaiah believed this word, his family, and his disciples believed this Word,   and in time  it would prove to be a true word. The prophets  rarely ever saw  the fulfillment of their prophecies  (1 Peter 1:10-12) , but they are known to be true prophets because what they said  came true ! Isaiah’s family were  signs and symbols (8:18)  that communicated truth. One son’s name (Shear-Jashub - 7:3) promised that there would always  be a remnant;  another son’s name  Maher-Shalal Hash Baz was a prediction that swift destruction would come on Judah’s enemies. In fact this  happened while  this boy  was still a baby who could not yet talk. Isaiah’s  own name means  “the Lord saves”, a gospel message in  itself!  Immanuel would appear as a sign  now and later, as the Messiah  in the flesh, according  to the line of David centuries after Isaiah spoke!

Those who reject God’s word  always seek alternative counsel  and wisdom.  They turn to mediums  and necromancers who chirp and mutter (8:19). They prefer an obscure   word from the dead over the clear Word of the Living God – the law and the testimony (8:20). By doing this they broke God’s law (Deut. 18:9-13). He was their God (see vv.19 & 21), but they were rejecting Him. In doing so they lost their heritage, blessing, and life.

d.  8: 21& 22: A Reflection upon the sad result of unbelief: 21 They will pass through the land,  greatly distressed and hungry. And when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will speak contemptuously against  their king and their God, and turn their faces upward. 22 And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness.

The result of unbelief was that they cursed both their king and their God. Unbelief brings about intense dissatisfaction. It  would bring distress, darkness, and fearful gloom as we shall see in the opening verses of chapter 9. Godlessness brings chaos. Let us learn from this. If we  reject  God’s revelation and direction in favor of some other “light”, we will not have light at all but darkness and all the despairing gloom that comes with it. 

Next  time we are going to take a close look at Isaiah 9,   in which we see Immanuel  dispelling the gloom  of people  that have been walking in darkness. 

Thank God for the Gospel of  our Immanuel!

---

[1] The SK will have 11 bad and 8 good kings

[2] Hebrew – almah –can also mean ‘ young woman’

[3] See  2 Ki. 16:10-16;18:2

[4] The title ‘ prophetess ‘ was probably given to Isaiah’s wife here because she was literally the bearer  of the  Lord’s Word, incarnate in her son  ( Motyer , p.90)

[5] Gr. ‘skandalon’