Recent events in Isaiah! At the beginning of chapter 9 a great promise is made. ‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ But immediately before the promised Emmanuel comes, because of the evil practices Israel is punished by God using the Syrians and the Philistines. Israel fails to repent and is decimated. God hates the wickedness of the Israelis and judges them but the arrogance of the conquering Assyrians brings them to judgement. God says that ‘he will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria’ whom He has used to discipline Israel, but who have disobeyed God’s instruction, practicing murder instead of plunder! Some dramatic phrases are used to describe the Assyrians attitude. ’10: 15 Shall the axe boast over him who hews with it, or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it. As if a rod should wield him who lifts it, or as if a staff should lift him who is not wood!’ And so, to today’s passage!
20 In that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no more lean on him who struck them, but will lean on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness. For the Lord GOD of hosts will make a full end, as decreed, in the midst of all the earth.
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD of hosts: “O my people, who dwell in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrians when they strike with the rod and lift up their staff against you as the Egyptians did. For in a very little while my fury will come to an end, and my anger will be directed to their destruction. And the LORD of hosts will wield against them a whip, as when he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb. And his staff will be over the sea, and he will lift it as he did in Egypt. And in that day his burden will depart from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck; and the yoke will be broken because of the fat.”
Comment: Points that God makes in todays passage: i) It’s essential that Israel learns to depend on Jehovah God and not other allies friendly or conquering! ii) God’s punishment is righteous and aimed at having a righteous remnant rather than a sea of unfaithful people! “A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness.” God’s judgement is fully justified! iii) God says “Cheer up, remnant, I will get rid of your oppressors and the world will be back to normal for you!” iv) God quotes two past events where He has proven His ability to carry out His promises – against Midian and Egypt. It is as if God says ‘You can trust Me to do what I promise! Do we?
Jer 1: 12 – Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.” & Psalm 105: 42 – For he remembered his holy promise,
and Abraham, his servant. So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing.
Prayer: Thank You Lord that I can completely depend on You to fulfill Your promises.
As I read it! 