30/07/17 Isaiah 10:5-14 “Do not rob God of His glory!”

 

Isaiah 10:5O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.

 

Oah!, alas!, ha!, ho!, O!, woe!

Assyrian – either the nation, or even the name of the god of that nation – Asshur, but was probably referring to the king of Assyria at that time. (Note that Babylon was under Neo-Assyrian domination or direct control from 911 to 609 BC.) The Assyrian here appears to be the same as “the king of Assyria” in Vs 12 below.

 

O Assyrian – either Ho! Assyrian, or Woe! Assyrian. It could be a calling out to the “Assyrian” to be used to punish God’s people, or it could be saying that the one who is used as the rod of God’s anger will in turn face his own variety of woes. The Assyrian is, however, the rod or club that will express God’s anger against Israel, and the staff (or rod) in his hand (with which God will strike His people) is the indignation of God. It does appear that the Assyrian is being called by God to deal out judgment to Israel, and because of Vs 7 (and following) below, his boasting of his own greatness will then draw God’s wrath upon him for daring to think that he has conquered God’s people by his own power and his own gods.

 

But who was the king of Assyria here? Tiglath-pileser III merely defeated Israel. It was his son, Shalmaneser V, who later took the battle to Israel in order to destroy her, but during that battle he was replaced by Sargon II, his younger brother. It is even possible that Sargon caused Shalmaneser to be deposed or killed. Thus, Sargon II could be the Assyrian here. However, it is most probable Sennacherib is the king here because he led an army against Judah, laying siege to Jerusalem in 701 BC. At this time all 185,000 men of Sennacherib’s army are killed by God (2 Kings 19:35). From the context (see Isaiah 10:11-12), Judah could be the focus. (By the time Sennacherib laid siege to Jerusalem, Samaria – Israel’s royal city – was defeated. (Vs 11 below appears to indicate that at this stage Samaria has already fallen.)

 

Isaiah 10:6I 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.

 

hypocriticalirreligious; godless; profane; blasphemers; impious. See Isaiah 9:17

nationgoy, goyim (nation or people, usually non-Israel or foreigners, Gentiles). Translated nation in Isaiah 9:1 & 3. Isaiah generally refers to the nation of Israel as am (people) rather than goy (nation).

peopleam (nation, fellow countrymen)

 

It appears that when God refers to Israel as goy, He is seeing them as not His nation because of their sin, yet they are also His people because of His covenant with them. Here they are firstly an impious or profane nation, therefore unholy and thus goy, not am, yet then they are His people (am) upon whom He will send judgment because they are His people (am).

They are profane and godless; they are deserving of wrath (overflowing anger or fury) because God’s people should not behave like this.

 

God will give a charge (give command to take charge) to him (the Assyrian) to take the spoil (literally shalal shalal or “plunder the plunder”) and to take the prey (literally bazaz baz or “prey the prey” – compare with Maher-shalal-hash-baz), and to tread them down (cause them to be trampled) like the mud (the word is used for “potter’s clay” in Isaiah 29:16) of the streets.

That is, the people act like dirt, so they’ll be treated like dirt! An ignominious defeat, like being squashed like ants into the dirt!

 

Isaiah 10:7Howbeit 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.

 

he means not so – he doesn’t think so; he doesn’t imagine that to be so.

think so – reckon; invent; regard.

in his heart – inner man; mind; understanding; inclination; resolution; conscience.

 

So, God might say that it is His judgment and His action that the Assyrian is taking against God’s people, but the Assyrian doesn’t think this is so; nor does he consider it as such in his heart. As far as the Assyrian is concerned, it is his own inclination (resolution) to destroy (annihilate; exterminate) and cut off (destroy; permit to perish) more than just a few nations (goyim).

That is, the Assyrian considers that what he is about to do is just part of his own planning, his own power and authority, his own strength, his own glory. As Cambridge says, “The charge is not so much that Asshur exceeds his commission, as that he recognises no commission at all; his policy is entirely oblivious of moral interests.

 

Isaiah 10:8-98 For he saith, [Are] not my princes altogether kings? 9 [Is] not Calno as Carchemish? [is] not Hamath as Arpad? [is] not Samaria as Damascus?

 

Are not those who rule under my authority all kings in their own right? (There were said to be 23 kings under the direct control of Tiglath-pileser III, and this later Assyrian king may possibly have had even more kings under him.)

 

Calno could be Calneh, a city of Nimrod in the land of Shinar (Genesis 10:9-10), also called Canneh in Ezekiel 27:23. It is said to be a city of Assyria on the Tigris River.

Carchemish is said to be an Assyrian city on the Euphrates (Jeremiah 46:2).

Hamath, a city of Syria, originally belonging to one of the Canaanite tribes (Hamathites – Genesis 10:18).

Arpad is another Syrian city near Hamath (see 2 Kings 18:34).

Samaria was the royal city of Israel. (This list apparently assumes that Samaria has already fallen to the Assyrians, especially noting vs 11 below.)

Damascus was the capital city of Syria; it may also be assumed from this list that it has already been defeated by Assyria.

 

The Septuagint makes the boasting element of this statement much clearer.

Isaiah 10:9 – then shall he say, Have I not taken the country above Babylon and Chalanes, where the tower was built? (supposedly Babel) and have I not taken Arabia, and Damascus, and Samaria? (Septuagint)

 

The Assyrian king is boasting of his power and authority in that he is not only just a mere king but a king over many other kings, and victorious over the cities of many other kings. This may be seen as an attempt to rival God’s claim to be King of kings.

The first king known to use the title "king of kings" (šar šarrāni) was probably Tukulti-Ninurta I of Assyria (13th century BC). In Ezekiel 26:7 God gives Nebuchadnezzar the title of king of kings, as were others such as Alexander the Great. But the ultimate title goes to Jesus (Lord of lords and King of kings – Revelation 17:14).

 

The Assyrian king is boasting of his (and his country’s) prowess in waging victorious war against all their enemies, thus effectively claiming that the victories were in his own strength and power and thus totally independent of any help from God.

 

Isaiah 10:10-1110 As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria; 11 Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?

 

idols – good-for-nothings; worthlessnesses; non-entities; false gods. The word could assume that these are gods who are really non-gods, gods you worship when you don’t really have any gods at all worth being named as gods!

It is used twice in Vs 10-11, the third “idol” being a different term.

 

The boasting of the Assyrian king continues. “As my hand (or strength) has found (encountered, and therefore subjugated) the kingdoms (dominions; sovereignty) of the idols (good-for-nothings; worthlessnesses; non-entities; false gods) and whose graven images (idols) did excel (or were more in number than, or were stronger than) those of Jerusalem and Samaria ……”

 

That is, as my (the Assyrian king’s) strength alone has encountered (and therefore the assumption is that they have also been overcome) the dominions of false gods, whose numbers or level of authority has exceeded the numbers or authority of those of Jerusalem and Samaria, then what is there to stop me from doing what I have done to Samaria and (with) all her idols (good-for-nothings), to do the same to Jerusalem and her idols (images)? If I can overcome those of Samaria, then what can the idols of Jerusalem do to prevent me overcoming them as well?

 

What god (or non-god) can stand up against the god Asshur of Asshur (Assyria)? The Assyrian king is so convinced that it is the superiority of the god of Assyria that is behind all his victories against all his enemies, so how can Jerusalem hope to win if all the useless gods of so many defeated countries couldn’t help their people?

Isaiah 36:13-2113 Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and said, Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of Assyria. 14 Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you. 15 Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. 16 Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make [an agreement] with me [by] a present, and come out to me: and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern; 17 Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards. 18 [Beware] lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, The Lord will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 19 Where [are] the gods of Hamath and Arphad? where [are] the gods of Sepharvaim? and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? 20 Who [are they] among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand? 21 But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

 

Isaiah 10:12Wherefore 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.

 

Wherefore – as a consequence

God tells the Assyrians that when He has finished using them for His purposes concerning the judgment of mount Zion and Jerusalem, He will then turn His attention toward the Assyrians themselves and their arrogant boastful pride.

it shall come to pass – a statement of inevitability; that which God has promised and therefore will certainly happen.

 

hath performed – accomplished; completed.

will punish – attend to; visit upon; give attention to.

stout – proud; insolent.

glory – glorying; boasting.

high – haughty; lofty.

 

When the Lord has accomplished (through Assyria) his intended work (of judgment) upon mount Zion and Jerusalem, He will attend to (give His undivided attention to) the fruit (of actions) of the insolent (boastful) heart of the king of Assyria, and to the boastfulness of his haughty looks (or attitude).

 

Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire, is first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 10:11Out of that land went forth Asshur (second son of Shem), and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,

Babylon was merely one of the “kingdoms” of Nineveh. Its last great king was the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal (or Asshurbanipal = “Asshur is the creator of an heir”). He died in 627 BC after which Nineveh was destroyed in 612 BC (by Babylonians, Chaldeans, Medes, Persians and others), with the Assyrian empire coming to an end in 605 BC. Nabopolassar (a Chaldean, son of Ashurbanipal and father of Nebuchadnezzar) was largely responsible for the fall of Nineveh. The Assyrians maintained some presence in Babylon; the last ruler (Nabonidus) and his co-regent son (Belshazzar) were Assyrians of Harran; they ruled from 556 – 539 BC. After this, Nineveh (and also Babylon some time later) disappeared from society, becoming dead cities. It is only in recent centuries that both cities have been rediscovered.

 

Isaiah 10:13For 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]:

 

God continues to speak against the arrogance of the Assyrian king. For the Assyrian king has said, “By the strength (power; might) of my hand (that is, by myself and not the work of their God) I have done (performed; brought about) this task, because of my wisdom (skill; shrewdness; ability). For I am prudent (I have intelligence; I have insight). I have removed the bounds (boundaries; borders) of the peoples, and (I) have robbed (plundered) their treasures (literally that are prepared or made ready; the things that have been set aside as preparation for the future?). I have put down (brought down) the inhabitants (those who sit down or have their abode; dwellers; could mean those in authority) like a very mighty one would do.

God is simply demonstrating beyond any doubt at all the self-centredness of this megalomaniac Assyrian king.

 

Isaiah 10:14And 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 self-centred boastful claims continue; note the continued use of “my” and “I”. This Assyrian king certainly loves himself. In fact, this self-adulation is a common occurrence among those who seek honour and glory from those who are allegedly their “bootlickers”. Many “pastors” of large churches wouldn’t dream about going into a situation where they might have to put up with a car more than a year or two old, and a second-hand house, and occasionally going to “op” shops to supplement needs.

 

His hand has found (come upon; acquired) the riches (treasures; strength; might) of the people (nations) and he has gathered these riches of the earth as easily as one might gather eggs; not one “hen” or “bird” moved (fluttered) a wing or even peeped (chirped).

Like taking candy off a baby, so to speak! He claims that not one nation argued with him and therefore this is a demonstration of his might and power. He fails to understand that if God had not given these people into his hand, then he would never have taken them at all!

 

Note the pharisees who sought the praises and glory from others around them.

John 12:42-4342 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess [him], lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

 

Thus, God who has chosen the Assyrians to be the instruments of His judgment upon His people Israel and Judah, is making a very clear point known: that those whom God uses for His purposes should never consider at any time that it was their skills and abilities that have achieved the desired results. It is never their glory!

Jeremiah 9:23-2423 Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise [man] glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty [man] glory in his might, let not the rich [man] glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I [am] the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these [things] I delight, saith the Lord.

 

Paul had similar things to say.

1 Corinthians 1:29 & 2:529 That no flesh should glory in his presence. …..

5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

 

We have an epidemic in the church today, a sickness of huge proportions. And, no, it isn’t the “sickness” (that is, the “identity amnesia”) that Paul Tripp (that teacher of great heresy) tells us is throughout the church: that we all need to be “Biblically” counselled to renew our victory! No, it’s a frighteningly real sickness that’s sweeping the church, one that, unless fought vigorously, will end up largely destroying the church.

 

It’s our desire to feed our self-importance such that we measure the success of our ministries by the level of honour received as a result. If we cannot feel important in our ministry, then we are failing! So, unless our ministry produces large numbers (and correspondingly large incomes to buy houses, cars, friends etc) then we should reconsider whether we might actually be called by God. For the general idea today appears to be that those who are called by God into ministry will also be abundantly blessed (with all kinds of material benefits) from God.

 

Another application of this epidemic is that our salvation is only because we are important enough to be saved. MacArthur says:

“We were so important to God that He gave up His Son to die on our behalf. ... Thank God for considering you valuable enough to bestow such riches upon you. ... If you're struggling with a lack of self-worth, remember that you were important enough for God to give you to Jesus as an inheritance.”
(The Believer's Life in Christ, MacArthur Bible Study Guide, Eph. 1:1-2:10 [Word of Grace Communications:1989/1995], pp. 27, 36, & 69-70).

Yet not one of the non-elect was similarly important enough to MacArthur’s God! That is, if you are not one of the chosen (elect) of God, then you aren’t important enough. If Jesus didn’t die for you, then you were not important enough!

 

MacArthur also says that if Jesus died for all people, even for those who go to hell, then he wouldn’t feel special at all. How could he feel special if even the lost were special enough to die for? (The Doctrine of Actual Atonement, Part 1)

According to this philosophy, if our worship of God doesn’t give us a sense of feeling like we belong, that we’re important to God, then that must mean we are not really worshipping God!

 

What happened to verses such as Hebrews 13:15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name.

A sacrifice is something that costs us! King David recognised this when he was offered the materials to sacrifice for nothing.

2 Samuel 24:24And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy [it] of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

 

Spiritual warfare is a similar story: if it’s going to cost the church to fight the enemy, then back off, don’t get your fingers burnt! It’s all about comfort and a nice lifestyle these days. Don’t bother too much about being too extreme or too fanatical about your beliefs, either; it only gets you into trouble with the rest of society (especially the church!). Don’t be too particular about what the Bible says; after all, mature Christians should be able to pick and choose the beliefs they have, shouldn’t they?

 

And don’t let anybody ever tell you that your ministry “success” has little or nothing to do with your abilities, either; they’re just jealous of your “success”; they just don’t have what it takes to be successful! Of course, you are “successful” because you are the one with ability, drive, get-up-and-go; what does God’s calling have to do with it! No, to today’s Christian, it has less to do with God’s enabling, and more to do with your own abilities! Like the Assyrian, it was his might and power that won the victories, not God’s enabling!

 

The church today just continues to glorify its workers at the expense of God. It’s the church leaders who drive around in luxury cars and have luxury houses, and where the size of the church (both congregation and building) is a measure of their greatness. (Many church leaders today have more glory than God, it seems!)

 

Sacrifice is a little-used word in Christian circles today. It generally equates to hard work and little thanks for it. No wonder the church today is running away from such; and away from God, too!

 

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