Review Chapters 7-8: Ahaz put his trust in man not in God, what happened to Ahaz? Read 2 Chronicles 28:1-8. God is a just God but He is also a merciful God and God’s mercy is never far away. There can be no good news if there isn’t bad news. Isaiah 7-8 speaks of God’s judgment on an obstinate people but chapter 9 begins with good news for everyone.
Isaiah 9:1-7 is considered by many to be a two-fold prophecy. In one sense it speaks of Hezekiah’s reign, contrasting it with the reign of Ahaz. In a broader sense, it clearly predicts the coming of the Messiah. Read Isaiah 8:21-9:7.
The placement and content of Isaiah 8:21-9:7 date this oracle near the beginning of Hezekiah’s reign (715 BC; 2 Kings 18:13). It contains four contrasts between Judah’s devastation at the end of Ahaz’s reign and the renewal Hezekiah brings. Ahaz’s reign brought distress“Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land” (Isaiah 8:21). Hezekiah’s reign brings joy: Isaiah 9:1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress Isaiah 9:3 You have enlarged the nationand increased their joy. Ahaz’s reign brought defeat “In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali” (Isaiah 9:1). Hezekiah’s reign brings victory “For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor” (Isaiah 9:4). Ahaz brought darkness “Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness” (Isaiah 8:22). Hezekiah brings light “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light”(Isaiah 9:2). Where Ahaz was an evil king, Hezekiah is a good king.
Judeans remaining after Assyrian subjugations live in chaos and despair. They curse their king (Ahaz), in whom they had great confidence; and their gods, whom they adopted from the nations (2 Kings 16:10-18; 2 Chronicles 28:2-4, 22-25) and whom they trusted instead of God. Isaiah 8:21 “they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God.”
Isaiah 9:4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,you have shattered the yoke that burdens them,the bar across their shoulders,the rod of their oppressor. As God miraculously defeated the large Midianite army with 300 poorly equipped, inexperienced soldiers under Gideon (Judges 6:2-6; 7:1-25), so God, through His angel, will defeat the large Assyrian army with a much smaller Judean army under Hezekiah (Isaiah 37:36).Some think verse 4 referred to Israel’s future liberation from foreigners who oppressed them. Others, though, believe the word yoke was a symbol for the hearts bondage to sin. It is in this sense that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, broke the yoke for all people with his death on the cross. It could also mean both.
Isaiah 9:1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan.While the first few verses of Isaiah 9 in their immediate sense likely point to Hezekiah’s reign, it is also a prophecy of the coming Messiah. Galilee of the nationswas one of the three provinces of the northern kingdom created by the Assyrian general Tiglath-Pileser when he plundered Israel. As a result of the man coming from “Galilee of the nations” or “Gentiles” there would be no more gloom.
Isaiah 9:1 is quoted in Matthew 4:13-15 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: 15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. This passage talks about the fact that Jesus was raised in Nazareth of Galilee and came from there to bring blessings upon the people of God. Good was bestowed on the people, a new day dawned, and there would be rejoicing in the land. They would overcome the judgment of God and there would be a glorious place to live.
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah predicted that this child would grow to become a great ruler, saying, “the government will be on His shoulders.” By recording the names that the Messiah would be called Isaiah gives the details of His life.
These names give details about the future Messiah. Each of the four names of the Messiah consists of two elements. Unlike Immanuel, these titles were not like normal O.T. personal names. “Counselor” points to the Messiah as a king who determines upon and carries out a program of action (see Isaiah 14:27 “purposed”). “Wonderful Counselor” indicates that he will be a man of Godly wisdom. As “Wonderful Counselor”, the Messiah will carry out a royal program that will cause the entire world to marvel. What that program will be is spelled out in Isaiah 11, and more fully in Isaiah 24-27. “Mighty God” speaks of His deity, His divine power as a warrior is stressed. “Everlasting Father” tells of His eternal power and that He is Jehovah/ Yahweh. He will be an enduring, compassionate provider and protector. “Prince of Peace” means that He not only gives victory as a prince, but He will bring peace unto His people. His rule will bring wholeness and well-being to God’s people.
Isaiah 9:7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The dominion of His kingdom will be vast and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom”— a prophecy that the angel Gabriel quoted to comfort Mary in her role as the one who would give birth to Messiah (Luke 1:32-33).
Luke 1:32-33 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” In spite of the sins of kings like Ahaz, Christ will be a descendant of David who will rule in righteousness forever (see Isaiah 11:3-5).
Isaiah 9:7 (b) The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. God is described here like a jealous father who will not abandon His children.
Contrary to all the glorious future promised in the first part of Isaiah 9, Isaiah 9:8-10:34 gives the description of the destruction of Samaria. They had rejected the Holy One of Israel. God made three very important statements to Samaria about their fall.
First, they had suffered a lot of past loss, but it did not make an impression upon their minds (Isaiah 9:8-12). The arrogant fools of Israel had not only ignored God’s past judgment, but they had boasted that they could recover without any help from God. Isaiah 9:8-12 The Lord has sent a message against Jacob; it will fall on Israel. 9 All the people will know it—Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria—who say with pride and arrogance of heart, 10 “The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.” 11 But the Lord has strengthened Rezin’s foes against them and has spurred their enemies on. 12 Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west have devoured Israel with open mouth. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
Any time a nation suffers great economic, political, or religious loss they need to stop and think. Any time they suffer a defeat in battle, they need to stop and think. An impression needed to be put upon their minds that the wrath of God was being revealed from heaven against all their ungodliness and unrighteousness (see Romans 1:18). Samaria had suffered loss from the Philistines, Syria, and Assyria, but these losses did not make an impression.
Second, there was judgment in the past that was intended to bring them to their knees in repentance, but it did not. Isaiah 9:13-17 But the people have not returned to him who struck them,nor have they sought the Lord Almighty. 14 So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail,both palm branch and reed in a single day; 15 the elders and dignitaries are the head,the prophets who teach lies are the tail. 16 Those who guide this people mislead them,and those who are guided are led astray. 17 Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men,nor will he pity the fatherless and widows, for everyone is ungodly and wicked,every mouth speaks folly. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,his hand is still upraised.
God had done all that He would. That was all that could be done. The people refused to acknowledge God as their judge and as their God. Romans 1:18-32 speaks of people like this and there are plenty of people like this in our world today. Isaiah made the statement that God would bring more severe judgment upon them because of this. God intended for them to have the opportunity to repent but repentance is a choice, God will not force it. Since they had not repented at the smaller judgments, then more severe judgment would come. It would mean total destruction of their land. There would be a total departure from God by their rulers and their spiritual guides. And God would bring total judgment upon them without mercy, even the widows and the orphans. Is it hard to imagine a nation so evil that God had to bring His judgment upon it?
Third, the real problem was their lack of authority. Anarchy was consuming them (Isaiah 9:18-21). There are four valuable lessons to learn about sin from this text.
1. Sin is a wasting power. Isaiah 9:18 Surely wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briers and thorns, it sets the forest thickets ablaze, so that it rolls upward in a column of smoke. Where sin abounds so does desolation. The longer anyone – a man, woman, or a nation – has lived under sin’s dominion the more is lost. Power withers, possessions decrease, heritage is wasted and lost. Sin, first of all, destroys the less valuable things represented by “briers and thorns”. Sin destroys the visible, the temporal, the financial, the material, and the fleshly. But then sin also destroys the more valuable represented by the “forest of thickets”.
The reputation of a land, especially in ancient days, was its forests. After the less valuable, then there is the loss of honor, the loss of intelligence, the loss of character, the loss of influence for good of the nation of Israel and the loss of its reputation. Sin is a wasting power.
2. Sin is a suicidal thing. Isaiah 9:19 By the wrath of the Lord Almighty the land will be scorched and the people will be fuel for the fire; they will not spare one another. The fuel for the fire of human sin is humanity itself. This is obviously and painfully true. It is true of the individual. He who sins against God will destroy his or her own soul. It is not only the obvious sinners who injure themselves by their iniquities. Look far enough or look deep enough and one will find that every transgressor is putting his own precious interest as fuel into the devouring flame of God’s judgment. This is also true of the community. It is the departure from God’s divine will that brings about all the evils, and as a result, human society is destroyed. Sin destroys a nation. Strife within the state, contention within the church, and discord in the family all destroy the body that is involved.
3. The waste of sin is the divinely appointed penalty from God. Isaiah 9:20-21 On the right they will devour, but still be hungry; on the left they will eat, but not be satisfied. Each will feed on the flesh of their own offspring: 21Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim on Manasseh; together they will turn against Judah. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,his hand is still upraised. The sinner is never satisfied with devouring his enemies. He always wants more. Sinners end up devouring each other. God’s judgment should cause men to look inward and then look upward, and to stop looking outward at enemies or heroes of their day. It does not always work that way. Every judgment of God simply drives those who are determined to be wicked deeper into their wickedness.
In the New Testament, Jesus healed a blind man and made this tremendous statement about why He had done that and why He had come into the world. John 9:39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” Israel thought they knew and Israel thought they saw. Not all of these produced their intent. When evil times come and judgments come upon God’s children, they need to take time for introspection. They need to look at their lives and do an investigation. Look into God’s Word and take time for repentance. What happened to Israel? They had all these losses, all this judgment, and all this help from God, but for all of this they did not turn from their wickedness.
4. Continuing in sin brings about judgment. Samaria’s captivity was coming because the people had continued in their sinful ways. Isaiah 10:1-4 Woe to those who make unjust laws,to those who issue oppressive decrees, 2 to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. 3 What will you do on the day of reckoning,when disaster comes from afar? To whom will you run for help?Where will you leave your riches? 4 Nothing will remain but to cringe among the captives or fall among the slain. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,his hand is still upraised. This passage is a description of those that were about to be judged. They made unjust laws. They deprived the poor and the oppressed of their rights. They devoured the substance of widows and orphans. They were wicked to the core. They had no sense of Godliness. Isaiah, inspired by God, said they would not escape. They would be absolutely and totally destroyed. Even with all of this, God’s anger was still not turned away.
Isaiah 10:5-11 (God’s Judgment on Assyria) “Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger,in whose hand is the club of my wrath! 6 I send him against a godless nation,I dispatch him against a people who anger me, to seize loot and snatch plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets. 7 But this is not what he intends, this is not what he has in mind; his purpose is to destroy,to put an end to many nations. 8 ‘Are not my commanders all kings?’ he says. 9 ‘Has not Kalno fared like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad,and Samaria like Damascus? 10 As my hand seized the kingdoms of the idols,kingdoms whose images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria—11 shall I not deal with Jerusalem and her images as I dealt with Samaria and her idols?’”
Even though God was using the wicked nation of Assyria to bring judgment, they were not justified in their actions. God has some strange tools in His box. He uses whatever He wants, whenever He wants. Notice the description of the Assyrians “the rod of my anger,in whose hand is the club of my wrath!” This nation was but a tool in God’s hand. The wicked of this world boast of their power. They boast of what they are doing, when in actuality all they are doing is being used by God.
Notice that God gave a commission to the Assyrians. He said, “I send him against a godless nation,I dispatch him against a people who anger me”. God sent Assyria to oppress Israel because He wanted Israel to repent. He wanted them to see His anger so they would turn from their evil ways and turn back to His love.
The Assyrians did not want to be God’s tool. They had no desire at all to obey God. Their desire was to destroy as many nations as they could with the power they had. They believed their power was greater than any god. That was their mistake; God was not only going to judge Israel. He was also going to judge Assyria.
Isaiah 10:12-19 When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes. 13 For he says: “‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, because I have understanding. I removed the boundaries of nations, I plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their kings. 14 As one reaches into a nest, so my hand reached for the wealth of the nations; as people gather abandoned eggs, so I gathered all the countries; not one flapped a wing, or opened its mouth to chirp.’” 15 Does the ax raise itself above the person who swings it, or the saw boast against the one who uses it? As if a rod were to wield the person who lifts it up, or a club brandish the one who is not wood! 16 Therefore, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will send a wasting disease upon his sturdy warriors; under his pomp a fire will be kindled like a blazing flame. 17 The Light of Israel will become a fire, their Holy One a flame; in a single day it will burn and consume his thorns and his briers. 18 The splendor of his forests and fertile fields it will completely destroy, as when a sick person wastes away. 19 And the remaining trees of his forests will be so few that a child could write them down.
The Lord’s will for Assyria and His reason for destroying them was that Assyria had to be judged for its prideful heart and haughty eyes. Isaiah gave a description of their fall. It was based upon God’s creation of Assyria. God had raised up a nation and He took down that nation. Assyria was not prepared for that to happen.
Assyria’s power was wasted and all of their resources were consumed. Remember, sin is a wasting power, it is suicidal, and continuing in it brings judgment from God.
God is never far away from mercy. God will not speak of judgment very long before He also speaks of mercy. After His judgment, God was concerned for the remnant.
Isaiah 10:20-27In that day the remnant of Israel, the survivors of Jacob, will no longer rely on him who struck them down but will truly rely on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.
21 A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God. 22 Though your people be like the sand by the sea, Israel, only a remnant will return. Destruction has been decreed, overwhelming and righteous. 23 The Lord, the Lord Almighty, will carry out the destruction decreed upon the whole land. 24 Therefore this is what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, says: “My people who live in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians, who beat you with a rod and lift up a club against you, as Egypt did. 25 Very soon my anger against you will end and my wrath will be directed to their destruction.” 26 The Lord Almighty will lash them with a whip, as when he struck down Midian at the rock of Oreb; and he will raise his staff over the waters, as he did in Egypt. 27 In that day their burden will be lifted from your shoulders, their yoke from your neck; the yoke will be broken because you have grown so fat.
Character was demanded of the remnant. They had to forsake their trust in the world. They had to totally trust in God. That was all God ever required of His people (Proverbs 3:5-6) and nothing has changed. God promised that there would be a return to the land, but only a remnant would return. This return would happen after the whole land had been judged.
A remnant is a small part of something that was originally a big thing. God’s promise was that there would only be a small part remaining of the large nation that was once Israel. He would bring the remnant to salvation. Assurance was given that the remnant did not need to fear judgment. God would judge their oppressors as soon as He was finished with the judgment that Israel needed. Isaiah described Assyria as they marched from the north part of the land to the south.
Isaiah 10:28-32 They enter Aiath;they pass through Migron; they store supplies at Mikmash. 29 They go over the pass, and say,“We will camp overnight at Geba.” Ramah trembles;Gibeah of Saul flees. 30 Cry out, Daughter Gallim!Listen, Laishah! Poor Anathoth! 31 Madmenah is in flight;the people of Gebim take cover. 32 This day they will halt at Nob;they will shake their fist
at the mount of Daughter Zion, at the hill of Jerusalem.
Assyria strutted through the Promised Land as if they owned it, traveling from the north to the south. They made a mistake at Nob which was Jeremiah’s hometown. They shook their fists in defiance to the one true God. When they stopped and shook their fist at the one true God; they were shaking their fist at their master. Israel was no match for them, but because they stopped at Nob and shook their fists in God’s face, God would deal with them.
Isaiah 10:33-34 See, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will lop off the boughs with great power. The lofty trees will be felled,the tall ones will be brought low. 34 He will cut down the forest thickets with an ax;Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One.
God was going to chop down their forests. Anybody who tried to oppose God would find themselves in immediate and irreversible trouble.
The New Testament reminds us that “God cannot be mocked” (Galatians 6:7). It’s the same God; He does not change (Malachi 3:6). God is always on His throne (Isaiah 6:1), He is always in control, and He is always involved in the events of our world. It is our duty to remain faithful (Isaiah 7:9), to trust Him with all of our heart and not lean on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). Remember Isaiah’s God inspired words to Ahaz back in chapter 7 “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand all” (Isaiah 7:9).
Control what God has given you the ability to control and leave the rest to Him and don’t worry about it. Focus on seeking His will for your life and doing the next right thing.