Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

ISAIAH - CHAPTER 10

ASSYRIA, THE INSTRUMENT OF GOD’S WRATH

1. Judgment is declared against those who, by rulings that are iniquitous if not illegal, deprive widows, orphans, and the needy of their rights and actually prey upon their helplessness, (Verse 1-2; Isaiah 5:23; Isaiah 29:20-21; Isaiah 59:4; Isaiah 59:13; Isaiah 1:23; Isaiah 3:14-15).

2. The wealth accumulated through oppression and injustice will be of no value in the storm which is about to break upon them, (Isaiah 2:12; Isaiah 5:25-29; Isaiah 20:6; Isaiah 29:6-7).

3. Since the Lord has delivered them over to judgment, there will be no one to help; thus, they will be humiliated and led captive, (Verse 4; Jeremiah 9:9; Hosea 9:7; Isaiah 24:21-22).

4. Even then the Lord’s anger "is not turned away"; since divine discipline has failed, they must face divine judgment!

Va. 5-11: THE ASSYRIAN AN INSTRUMENT IN GOD’S HAND

1. A "woe" is pronounced upon the Assyrian even though God will use him as an instrument in the disciplining of His erring people, (Verse 5; comp. Isaiah 9:19).

2. Through the Assyrian the Lord will unleash His wrath upon a profane nation; He commissions him to take spoil and prey, (Isaiah 37:26-27; Jeremiah 34:22) - bringing them to extreme degradation.

3. The Assyrian, however, fails to view himself as God’s instrument; in the arrogance of his own proud heart, he lays ambitious plans for world conquest, (Verse 7; comp. Micah 4:11-12; Genesis 50:20; Acts 2:23-24).

4. The proof of his boastfullness, selfishness and pride is clearly set forth in verses 8-11.

a. He boasts of his princes as kings: wise, subtle and powerful, (Verse 8).

b. He boasts of his achievements: with apparent ease his armies have taken the wealth of one city after another - their accumulation of protective idols falling helplessly before his onslaught.

c. Samaria, the capitol of the northern kingdom (Israel), is no different from the others - for God has given her up to exile.

d. Nor will the Assyrian be satisfied with Samaria; according to his view, Judah and Jerusalem need not think their God (or gods, as he reasoned) can save them from his powerful hand, (Verse 11; comp. Isaiah 36:18-20; Isaiah 37:10-13).

Verse 12-19: THE PROUD ASSYRIAN TO BE HUMBLED

1. When the Lord has accomplished his disciplinary purpose upon His people, He will then punish the arrogance and haughtiness of the Assyrian -putting an end to it by the infliction of His vengeance in an extraordinary way, (Verse 12, 33-34; Isaiah 14:25; Isaiah 30:31-33; Isaiah 31:8-9).

2. Again, the Assyrian is seen boasting of his own military power, political sagacity and the ease with which he has gathered the wealth of nations without any effective opposition, (Verse 13-14; Isaiah 37:24-27; 2 Kings 19:22-24; Habakkuk 2:6-8; comp. Jeremiah 48:16).

3. That boasting is inappropriate and premature; the story is not yet complete, (Verse 15; comp. Verse 5; Jeremiah 51:20; Isaiah 29:16; Isaiah 45:9).

4. The fiery indignation of the Lord of Hosts will, in a single day, bring the Assyrian to such utter humiliation and bankruptcy of military might that "the remnant of the trees of his forest shall be few", (Verse 16-19; Isaiah 30:33; Isaiah 31:9; Isaiah 37:23; Isaiah 33:10-12; Jeremiah 21:14; Ezekiel 20:47-48; comp. Isaiah 21:17).

Verse 20-23: A REMNANT WILL TRUST IN JEHOVAH

1. Ahaz, fearing the alliance of Israel and Syria (and afraid to depend on God for protection), has sought aid from Assyria -relieving his immediate distress, but setting the stage for unimagined evil, (2 Kings 16:7-8).

2. When the Lord has delivered them from their oppressors the remnant of His people will have learned, in truth, that the Holy One of Israel is their only real security, (Verse 20; Isaiah 17:7-8; Isaiah 50:10; comp. 2 Chronicles 14:11).

3. In verse 21 there is an obvious reference to "Shear-Jashub" (a remnant shall return) - the symbolic name of the prophet’s oldest son, (Isaiah 7:3; Isaiah 6:13).

4. This is a far-reaching prophecy concerning the extensive judgments whereby the covenant people (once numerous as the sands of the sea) shall be reduced to a remnant, (Verse 22; Romans 9:27-28; Isaiah 28:22; Daniel 9:27).

5. The Lord will bring them to an end of their presumptuous wilfullness, that they may learn to trust Him and Him alone, (Verse 23; Isaiah 6:11-12).

Verse 24-34: ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE REMNANT

1. Since the Assyrian is to be tamed, the inhabitants of Zion are not to be afraid of him, (Verse 24; comp. Isaiah 7:4; Isaiah 37:6; Isaiah 12:2).

2. The Lord’s indignation against His people will soon be past; then His anger will be turned toward destroying the Assyrian tyrant, (Verse 25; Isaiah 26:20).

3. The manner of his destruction will be so marvelous that it is comparable to what God did to the Egyptians in the Red Sea (Verse 26-27; Exodus 14:16; Exodus 14:21-30), and the great slaughter of Midian, (Judges 7:19-25).

4. Verses 28-32 describe the progressive march of the aggressor to the very gates of Jerusalem, where he shakes his fist in defiance of the God of heaven and earth.

5. Then the prophet returns to the figure that was dropped in verse 19 and describes the catastrophe that overtakes the Assyrian in terms of the felling of a great forest, (Verse 33; comp. Isaiah 18:5; Isaiah 37:36-38; comp. Amos 2:9).

6. It is the Lord (Jehovah of Hosts) Himself Who brings down the pride of the Assyrian by the power of His outstretched hand, (Verse 34; Ezekiel 31:3; Ezekiel 31:10-14).