Arrogant Assyria is Judged

Isaiah 10:1–19
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Isaiah pronounced woe on the people (vv. 1-4). Israel’s leaders were guilty of six things: They were (a) making unjust laws, (b) issuing oppressive decrees, (c) depriving the poor of their rights, (d) taking away justice, (e) hurting widows, and (f) robbing the fatherless. These actions, involved taking advantage of people who could not defend their rights. God had commissioned Assyria to chasten Israel. God often uses unlikely instruments to accomplish His purposes. Isaiah was not claiming that Assyria was godly or that the empire even knew that God was using it to do His bidding. In His sovereignty He directed Assyria to be His tool for vengeance (vv. 5-6).

Though Assyria was a tool in God’s hands God was not pleased with her (vv. 7-11). She had the wrong attitude in conquering Israel. Discounting the greatness of Israel’s God, Assyria assumed that Jerusalem was like any other city she had conquered and could take it easily. Since these other conquered cities had greater gods, in the minds of the Assyrians, Jerusalem could be taken more easily. Though God was using Assyria, her motives were purely political and expansionist.

After using Assyria to punish Jerusalem, God would then punish Assyria because of the king’s willful pride evidenced by his haughty spirit. The words of the Assyrian king express the empire’s haughty pride (vv. 12-14). The king felt that what had been achieved had been done by his strength and wisdom (six times he said I and three times my). Because of Assyria’s pride, the Lord said He would judge the king of Assyria and his empire (vv. 15-19). The Lord said He would destroy the Assyrian army by disease and fire. The Assyrian Empire fell to Babylon.

Application

Lord, help me to never think I can conquer battles in my own strength but rely on You.