The Punishment of Israel
February 10, 2021
Commentary
After giving a description of the coming Messiah, Isaiah focuses on the nation of his day. The nation in Isaiah’s day was ruled by leaders who did not care about the people under them. Pride made Israel think it would recover and rebuild in its own strength (vv. 8-9). Isaiah was writing to the nation of Judah but he used the Northern Kingdom of Israel as an example of the fact that God’s judgment is sever. Even as these words were being penned the Northern Kingdom was already in disrepair. Judah should have realized that she too would be destroyed if she continued in her sinful ways. However, Israel’s inhabitants apparently felt they would only experience a temporary setback and that they could rebuild better than before (vv. 10-12). But in God’s plan this was not to happen. He judged them for their hardness of heart in their refusal to return to the Lord (vv. 13-17).
Israel was being led astray by false prophets and foolish leaders; the nation would not listen to God’s Word. Ephraim’s own wickedness was destroying the nation, the way a fire destroys a forest or a field (vv. 18-19). In their greed, the people of the Northern Kingdom were devouring one another, (v. 20) and battling one another (v. 21); but they would soon be devoured and defeated by Assyria.
Application
Pride made Israel think they could get away with the things they were doing. Even though God made Israel a nation and gave them the land they occupied, the people put their trust in themselves rather than in Him. Too often I tend to take pride in my accomplishments rather than giving God the credit for our every resource and ability. Lord help me to always put you first and me second.
Isaiah 9:8– 21 (NET)
8 The Lord decreed judgment on Jacob, and it fell on Israel.
9 All the people were aware of it, the people of Ephraim and those living in Samaria. Yet with pride and an arrogant attitude, they said,
10 “The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with chiseled stone; the sycamore fig trees have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.”
11 Then the Lord provoked their adversaries to attack them, he stirred up their enemies—
12 Syria from the east, and the Philistines from the west; they gobbled up Israelite territory. Despite all this, his anger does not subside, and his hand is ready to strike again.
13 The people did not return to the one who struck them, they did not seek reconciliation with the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
14 So the Lord cut off Israel’s head and tail, both the shoots and stalk in one day.
15 The leaders and the highly respected people are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail.
16 The leaders of this nation were misleading people, and the people being led were destroyed.
17 So the Lord was not pleased with their young men, he took no pity on their orphans and widows; for the whole nation was godless and did wicked things, every mouth was speaking disgraceful words. Despite all this, his anger does not subside, and his hand is ready to strike again.
18 For evil burned like a fire, it consumed thorns and briers; it burned up the thickets of the forest, and they went up in smoke.
19 Because of the anger of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the land was scorched, and the people became fuel for the fire. People had no compassion on one another.
20 They devoured on the right, but were still hungry; they ate on the left, but were not satisfied. People even ate the flesh of their own arm!
21 Manasseh fought against Ephraim, and Ephraim against Manasseh; together they fought against Judah. Despite all this, his anger does not subside, and his hand is ready to strike again.