Isaiah 10
VERSES 1 to 4 are connected with chapter 9 in subject. One class — the judges — should have remained on the solid ground of truth and righteousness when the people and their guides went astray. But all were now corrupt in the northern kingdom, and the visitation of divine wrath was about to take place. Then what would they do who decreed iniquitous decrees, and prescribed oppression, that widows might be their prey, and that they might rob the fatherless? They could but crouch under the prisoners, and should fall under the slain, in the day when the Assyrian army swept over the land.
The Assyrian is then again made the subject of prophecy (verses 5 to 34). He is the Rod of God’s anger and His indignation against His people, sent by Him against them because of their hypocrisy and their mounting sins. The king of the Assyrians did not realize that he Was only a tool in God’s hands working out His purposes.
The later Assyrian empire, as it is called, is generally considered to have been founded by Tiglath-Pileser in 745 B.C., and five years later that monarch destroyed Damascus and carried away the tribes of Israel who lived east of the Jordan. The king of Judah seems to have acknowledged him in a way as his overlord, but he was bent on seizing Jerusalem as he had Damascus and Samaria and other foreign capitals. This, God would not allow him to do, as Isaiah himself later shows. He would overrun Judah, and besiege Jerusalem, but would not be permitted to capture the city.
The Assyrian empire has crumbled into dust long since, but it is to live again, and when the Lord has performed His whole work upon Mount Zion and upon Jerusalem, He will punish the fruit of the stoutness of heart of the king of that land, and the glory of his high looks (verse 12). In that day the Lord will be at the head of His earthly people, and a short work will they make of the Assyrian army (verses 16-19).
Then the remnant of Israel will no more rely upon those who smote them, but will rely upon the Holy One of Israel, the Lord. The unbelieving mass of Israel will die in their sins (verses 22 and 23).
Those who turn to God are comforted in verse 24 and following, with. the assurance that though the Assyrian smite them with the rod, they need not be afraid of him. Only a very little while would he appear to have his own way, and then he would be overwhelmed in destruction. While this prophecy had an early fulfilment (in Isaiah’s life time) in the larger sense, it awaits for fulfilment the long promised time when Israel will be again in their land with the Lord Jesus as their King.
The last verses of this chapter, 28-34, trace the course of the Assyrian army, coming from the north toward Jerusalem. Not all of the places can now be identified, but Aiath is believed to be Ai, near Jericho; Migron, Michmash and Anathoth are nearer to Jerusalem, and can be found on a map of Palestine. The Assyrian king will seem to have everything his own way, but the beauty and pride of Assyria will unexpectedly meet with a power they have never known, and utter defeat will follow. He shall fall by a mighty One.
ML 05/21/1933