This prophecy, spoken before the Assyrian invasion, shows that this seemingly unstoppable army will in fact be stopped. Those who did the plundering will be plundered, and will be dealt with treacherously by others.

1. Judgment against Assyria (vs. 1-13)

We have our final foe here, the sixth woe. The other five woes were directed at Judah.

• Assyria’s doom is declared. (vs. 1). Assyria has been besieging Judah and Jerusalem and will one day be destroyed itself. See Galatians 6:7-8.
• Isaiah expresses confidence in the Lord by way of prayer which merges into assurance of victory and climaxes in an exaltation of Jehovah (vs. 2-6). Isaiah sees also beyond into the future. Judah’s hope is based on the fear of the Lord.
• The doom is described. (vs. 7-13). Isaiah speaks of the disappointment of the Israeli ambassadors in Sennacherib (vs. 7). He later turned on them. There is reference to the treachery of Sennacherib (vs. 8). Isaiah then describes the discouragement of the land at this shock betrayal. (vs. 9). Isaiah now leads up to the rise of Jehovah in judgment (vs. 10-13). As the whole earth is brought low by the judgment of the Lord, at the same time, the Lord lifts Himself up. God’s judgment will come like fire, and the wicked and worthless works of man will be like chaff and stubble that is quickly and ferociously burned in the fire.

2. The peace of Israel (vs. 14-20)

Isaiah describes what happens as a result of the deliverance of the Israelites from Sennacherib. In verse 14 we read that the people will be woken up. God is “the everlasting burnings” and “devouring fire”. God is not only love but He is also fire. He hates sin. See 1 John 4:16 & Hebrews 12:29.

Isaiah gives the answer to the question in verse 14 in verse 15. Shall these sorts of people be consumed by fire? No! They shall endure because of the cross.

The blessings are mentioned in verse 16. The pure in heart shall see God. (vs. 17-20). The King is the Messiah. Although the text applies firstly to Hezekiah, Christ is in the background.

3. The all-sufficient Jehovah (vs. 21-24)

Jerusalem had only a tiny trickle of a stream while Assyria had a mighty river called the Tigris. In those days there was great power associated with much water. Most great civilizations have grown up around important rivers. Israel in general and Jerusalem in particular were exceptions to this. Jehovah will be the power of Israel in the future.

Categories: Isaiah