ISAIAH: GOD CONTROLS THE NATIONS GOD’S PLANS FOR JUDAH, ASSYRIA AND EGYPT ISAIAH CHAPTER S 10 TO 20 _NORMAN HILLYER_ CHAPTER 10 GOD’S JUDGEMENT AGAINST EVIL LAWS V1 *Woe to those who make cruel and unfair laws. V2 And *woe to you judges who issue unfair judgements. You rob poor people of thei... [ Continue Reading ]
‘He lifts his hand’: see my note on 9:12. THE KING OF ASSYRIA IS GOD’S TOOL V5 *Woe to the *Assyrians! Their own terrible punishment will be coming. But just for now, they are like a heavy stick. For a short time, I am seizing that heavy stick because of my anger. V6 I shall use that heavy stick t... [ Continue Reading ]
The *Assyrians do not recognise the *Lord as the one real God. But the *Lord is still going to use them against this ‘nation’. That is, against Judah. God had chosen Judah to be his special people. But the people in Judah have not obeyed their covenant (agreement) with the *Lord. They are now refusi... [ Continue Reading ]
The first four cities in this list were north-west of Damascus, which is the capital of Syria. The order of the places in this list shows the progress of the *Assyrian army from the north. The *Assyrians are advancing nearer and nearer to Judah. Nobody can stop them. THE KING OF ASSYRIA’S METHODS... [ Continue Reading ]
The *Assyrians do not realise that they are merely a temporary tool in God’s hand. The *Lord, not people, controls history.... [ Continue Reading ]
It was common to use a pile of stones to mark a boundary (see Deuteronomy 19:14). Someone who removed such a mark was claiming the land as their own (see Deuteronomy 27:17).... [ Continue Reading ]
To *seize the wealth of the nations also means that they cannot buy more arms to defend themselves. The king is like someone who takes eggs from a nest. This picture in words means that the king prevents the possibility of new forces to oppose him. GOD ANSWERS THE KING OF ASSYRIA V15 An axe is no... [ Continue Reading ]
The king of Assyria has made a great mistake. Military arms may be the most modern and efficient. But unless the soldiers are able to use them, the arms have no value whatever.... [ Continue Reading ]
This probably refers to the sudden fate of the *Assyrian army. In one night, 185 000 soldiers died (see Isaiah 37:36-37). A FEW PEOPLE WILL RETURN V20 On that day the few people that remain in Israel and in Judah will never again have to depend on the *Assyrians for supplies. They will completely... [ Continue Reading ]
The few people who returned could see a great promise from God in the name of Isaiah’s son Shear-jashub (see Isaiah 7:4). • ‘All-Powerful God’ is one of the titles of the *Messiah (see Isaiah 9:6). GOD WILL PUNISH ASSYRIA V24 Now the *Lord, the *Lord (commander of heaven’s armies), speaks to God’... [ Continue Reading ]
Long ago, the *Egyptians were very cruel to the *Israelites (see Exodus 1:11).... [ Continue Reading ]
• Gideon and his little band of men attacked the great *Midianite army. They killed the *Midianite commander, Oreb. Afterwards, the place where he died was called the Rock of Oreb (see Judges 7:24-25). • God acted so that Moses was able to lead the people to safety across the sea (see Exodus 14:29-... [ Continue Reading ]
Aiath is probably the same town as Ai (see Joshua chapter 7). Aiath and Micram are at the south end of the northern country called Samaria.... [ Continue Reading ]
Geba is in the north of Judah. The *Assyrians are now over the border, as they advance towards *Jerusalem. Anathoth was where Jeremiah was born (see Jeremiah 1:1). All the places in these verses are towns and villages in the area. The inhabitants are in great fear.... [ Continue Reading ]
The *Assyrians will be able to see *Jerusalem from the town called Nob. ‘Shake their fists’ means to threaten (warn) the inhabitants. The *Assyrian attack will be fierce.... [ Continue Reading ]
The situation seems beyond human help. But often, that is when God acts to rescue his people (see Matthew 19:25-26). WOE ~ a very sad cry because there is much pain to come. WOE ~ a very sad cry because there is much pain to come. RIGHTS ~ the rules that protect weaker people in a country with good... [ Continue Reading ]