Isaiah 10

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Isaiah 10:1-34 (KJV) 

1 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness [which] they have prescribed; 

When we write laws against God’s laws we put ourselves in a position of deadly consequences.

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! 

We tell those who need help to move away.  We charge exaggerated prices to those we know cannot afford it.   Black men are charged excessive amounts for tickets and our courts do nothing to stop the crime of giving tickets for no reason.  Women without husbands are taken advantage of by people who know they are in need.  For example:   If a carpenter knows that a woman lives alone, many of them will take advantage of what they need and overcharge for their services.  Our children who live in homes with no fathers are victims of robbery.  They are left to defend themselves when they should be being protected and supervised.  We usually see their lack of being fathered when they become older.  Then they begin ways of vandalism.

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? 

Judah like Americans refuses to listen to God.  If God wrote the exact things we are doing and tells

us to stop why don’t we listen?  This chapter was written 3000 years ago and we have not changed.  We have gotten worse.

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. 

If we do not change, we will be worse than a prisoner and our death toll will deviation.

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

I will use the Assyrian to get your attention. You refuse to listen to me so I will choose the worse people on earth to make your life miserable; because you refuse to change and behave like people who know that I am God and I am good. These people will come upon you because I will allow it.   If you want to be led by somebody else other than me then I will give you someone who will make you believe that I am who I say I am.  

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. 

You are hypocrites. I will send people against you.  You refuse to listen to what I have to say, you refuse to obey what I said and you love following bad leadership.

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. 

The Assyrian's motive is to take over.  God took his motive and declared that Judah would fall into hands unlike his.  Judah knew of Assyrian's reputation but did nothing to avoid being overcome by them.

8 For he saith, [Are] not my princes altogether kings? 

Assyrian boast in saying are we not known to take over lands and crown ourselves to be king of the land we took?

9 [Is] not Calno as Carchemish? [is] not Hamath as Arpad? [is] not Samaria as Damascus? 

Check out the country we have subdued.

10 As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria; 

The Assyrians yet boast of how they took land more popular in idols than Jerusalem and its capital.  How easy can it be for us to conquer Jerusalem?

11 Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols? 

If we capture Samaria the capital we can easily take Jerusalem.

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. 

After the Assyrians finish their bragging rights, God speaks and declares He will put Assyria in its place.  Yes, God is allowing Judah to suffer by the hand of Assyria, only because Judah did not want His protection.  But God will punish Judah, but He will bring Assyria to its fate.

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]: 

Assyria boasts of how strong they are and testifies of how they have hurt many...

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.

The boasting continues.  When we boast of how we have hurt others, we testify against our own crime.  Assyria is making it clear how they treated people and they feel proud of what God will take to show them what it will feel like to be the victim.

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. 

God is using Assyria.  Just like a tool be used by a carpenter, Assyria is in the hand of God.  How silly does it sound to hear the tool talking to the one who is in charge of building the whole structure?

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. 

The tables are about to change for Assyria.  Their boasting is expensive and God wipes 185000 men out in one day.

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; 

God is the light and the fire and Assyria will feel His heat and they clearly know that God is the one fighting against them.

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. 

God will wipe every part of Assyria.

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

All of what Assyria used to count that no one could count that far, God says the numbers will be so low, that a child could be the bookkeeper.

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. 

Israel will learn the lesson, after all, is said and done.  The few people who will return from exile will understand that God is to be feared.

21 The remnant shall return, [even] the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. 

A few will come back and God will be their 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. 

Israel will leave being many, but Israel will come back with few.  But the few that will last will be powerful.  God will accomplish His decree.

23 For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land. 

God will carry out His plan.  Judah will be captured.

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. 

Although God is punishing Judah, He is also telling them though you will be a victim for a moment, do not plan to be a victim forever.  Serve your time and be confident in knowing I will be your God.  Don't be afraid of these people, just know I am punishing you, but nobody will ever rule you forever.

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

I will be angry with you for a little while.  You already know my anger does not last long.  However, when I get angry you will hurt me during the time I am angry no matter how short it lasts.

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. 

Assyria will fall dead as the men that came against Gideon and the men 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. 

I will remove your enemy from ruling over you and you will see it.  It will not be by your power, it will be by Me.  I will see to it myself.  Judah will be so weak it will take God to subdue Assyria.  Pharoah fell dead by God, the Midianites killed themselves; now God is telling Judah that the Assyrians will fall the same way.

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.

God shows Judah the path the Assyrians will travel to overtake their land.  All the cities mentioned here are Judah's.  God clearly shows them how they will be conquered.  Isaiah knows the navigation of how the Assyrians will travel to conquer them and they will be taken according to what he prophesies and they will not stop the plight. 

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. 

Judah, you will be hurt and I am telling you before it all happens.

34 And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.

Assyria will be taken down by one blow.  Lebanon is Assyria and it will fall by the force of God all at one time.

These are details that will be brought about because of the rebellion of Judah.  Not one word of what Isaiah is saying will be avoided.