God uses Assyria in order to judge Israel, Syria and Judah but what about Assyria? They were even more wicked than Syria, Israel, or Judah. They will be judged also.

1. Captivity because of the corruption of judges (vs. 1-4)

Woe to the rulers of Israel who were not fair to poor people.

2. Assyria will punish Judah (vs. 5-11)

God is going to judge the people by the Assyrians. The divine intention is in verse 5. Assyria will bring down Judah and Israel. (vs. 6). The Assyrian mind set is given in verses 7-11. Assyria in her pride, glories in her heart while praising their gods. In their pride, they thought the Lord God nothing more than one of the idols that they had conquered in Samaria or in many other cities. The Assyrians were in for a rude wake-up call!

3. God will punish Assyria (vs. 12-19)

As Assyria was proud and did not recognise and praise the Lord God, they will be judged by Him. God is the light of Israel. His fire will consume the Assyrians. Their invincible armies were a patch of briers. They and their leaders would be devastated by God’s fiery judgment that a little child could easily count the number left!

4. The returning remnant of Israel (vs. 20-34)

Isaiah’s other son was Shear-Jashub (“a remnant shall return”). The suffering of God’s people at the hands of the Assyrians and others would make them feel as if they would certainly be destroyed. God assures them that this is not the case. He will always preserve His remnant. The forests of Lebanon were known for their large, mighty cedar trees. God will judge the proud among Judah – and all the nations for that matter – and leave a once mighty forest of those of high stature as if they were just stumps. The bigger they are, the harder they fall!

Categories: Isaiah