These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
- Fall of Assyria…
- God told Isaiah to take a LARGE [גָּדוֹל] scroll [huge banner] and write these words on it…
- QUICK [מַהֵר] plunder [שָׁלָל] hurry [חוּשׁ] rob [בַּז]
- The message was CLEAR – King Ahaz was looking to ASSYRIA to save JUDAH…
- But ASSYRIA would NOT save them – they would instead come and ROB them…
- God would bring the King of ASSYRIA like a FLOOD over ALL of JUDAH…
- And having filled the LAND – they would reach up the NECK [Jerusalem]
- But ASSYRIA would NOT take Jerusalem – because IMMANUEL [God is with us]!
- Reason for Assyria…
- God warned Isaiah NOT to follow the other people [join in their fear]
- Instead – Isaiah was to warn the people to FEAR the LORD…
- The Lord is a REFUGE to those who FEAR Him – but a STUMBLING block to everyone else…
- ASSYRIA was a TEST for the people of God – to see who they would TRUST…
- God was NOT silent – He was speaking – if the people would LISTEN…
- Therefore – STOP going to MEDIUMS [asking the dead advice for the living]
- Because if the people did NOT turn back – they would be driven into DARKNESS!
- 1st – The Light… vs. 1-5
- 1st – The Hope… vs. 1-2
- Oppressed… vs. 1
- Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed.
- As when at first He lightly esteemed the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali.
- And afterward more heavily oppressed her by the way of the sea.
- Beyond the Jordan in Galilee of the Gentiles!
- In LIGHT of the DARKNESS that was going to come upon the LAND…
- The ASSYRIAN army that would rush over them like a mighty FLOOD…
- God gave a RAY of hope – the DARKNESS [gloom] would NOT [לֹא] stay!
- The TRIBES of Zebulun and Naphtali – NEVER got much attention [lightly esteemed]
- If there are TRIBES of Israel people forget to mention – they are at the top of the list…
- Yet they were HEAVILY [כָּבוֹד] oppressed when ASSYRIA attacked [Northern most tribes]
- attacked came in by the GALILEE – and moved down the Jordan river [valley]
- They followed the Via Maris [way of the sea] as they conquered Israel…
- So that the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali became filled with GENTILES!
- Darkness… vs. 2
- The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
- Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death – upon them a light has shined!
- But in the place where it was DARKEST [Zebulun and Naphtali]
- Those same people saw [perfect] a GREAT [גָּדוֹל] light [אוֹר]
- The people in the shadow of DEATH [almost wiped out] – had a light SHINE on them!
- Matthew 4:13-15 – “[Jesus] dwelt in Capernaum… in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali.”
- Did you ever wonder WHY did Jesus start His ministry in Capernaum…
- It would seem to have made more sense to begin in Jerusalem [Temple]
- But God did NOT bring the light to the BRIGHTEST place…
- He instead chose to come to the DARKEST – a place where few faithful Jews remained!
- Our God will let things get very DARK – the shadow of DEATH – Psalms 23:4
- Not that He has abandoned us – but so that we can see Jesus…
- Because when things are the DARKEST – the light shines the BRIGHTEST…
- And we learn NOT to depend on ourselves – but on our God who raises the dead!
- II Corinthians 1:9 – “We had the sentence of death in ourselves – that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.”
- 2nd – The Victory… vs. 3-5
- Rejoicing… vs. 3
- You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy.
- They rejoice before You according to the joy of harvest.
- As men rejoice when they divide the spoil!
- God would INCREASE [רָבָה] the [הִ] nation of Israel again [restoration]
- And in that day – God would bring GREAT joy upon His people…
- LIKE [כַּ] when the people were HARVESTING their crops…
- Or LIKE [כַּ] when they had VICTORY in the battle – and got to enjoy the SPOILS!
- Think PAYDAY – when we get our checks for our hard work…
- It might be TOUGH putting in the hours – but we are HAPPY when the reward comes!
- Freedom… vs. 4-5
- For You have broken the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder.
- The rod of his oppressor as in the day of Midian.
- For every warriors sandal from the noisy battle – and garments rolled in blood.
- Will be used for burning and fuel of fire!
- BECAUSE [כִּי] the YOKE that was burdening them…
- The STAFF across their shoulders – the ROD that struck their back…
- God would cause [hiphil] to BREAK – just as [כַּ] He did in MIDIAN…
- Therefore [כִּי] – in that day ALL of the clothes of war [boots and bloodstained coats]
- Will NO longer be needed – but shall be [sequential] thrown into the FIRE!
- When the 135 THOUSAND Midianites swarmed into the land of Israel – Judges 8:10
- God commanded Gideon to raise up an army to defeat them…
- But God sent home those who were AFRAID [20 thousand]
- And reduced their numbers further at En Herod – till only THREE hundred remained…
- Because the battle was NOT won by men – God fought for them!
- Whether we admit it or not – we were all in BONDAGE – slaves to SIN – Romans 6:16
- It had us under its YOKE – it was the ROD at our back – but Jesus broke the power of SIN…
- NOT by our efforts but by His strength – He set us FREE!
- John 8:36 – “If the Son makes you free – you shall be free indeed.”
- 1st – The Hope… vs. 1-2
- 2nd – The Child… vs. 6-7
- 1st -His purpose… vs. 6
- The son…
- For unto us a Child is born – unto us a Son is given.
- Isaiah gives the ORIGIN of the LIGHT what would COME…
- He would be [prophetic perfect] born [pual] as a CHILD [יֶלֶד] – IMMANUEL – Isaiah 7:14
- Israel would be [prophetic perfect] GIVEN [niphal] – the GIFT of a SON [בֵּן]!
- Jesus is the SON of God – NOT because He was born to MARY…
- His title [used 44 times in the NT] – is NOT a reference to His BIRTH…
- It speaks of His POSITION in the Godhead [Father – SON – Spirit]
- The Government…
- And the government will be upon His shoulder!
- AND [וַ] it will be [imperfect] that the GOVERNMENT will be upon His shoulders…
- GOVERNMENT [מִשְׂרָה] – 2x in OT [both here] – from the root word to RULE [שַׂר]
- This likely has a DUAL fulfillment – PRESENT and FUTURE…
- PRESENT – Ahaz would have a SON – who would grow up to RULE [Hezekiah]
- And God would use him to set Judah FREE from the YOKE of ASSYRIA…
- FUTURE – Jesus would come to set us FREE from the YOKE of SIN!
- The ONLY way God could save us from our SIN – was for the SON to become a CHILD…
- He had to HUMBLE Himself – become a MAN – so He could DIE for us…
- He BORE our sins upon His back – took up His CROSS…
- ONLY then could He RULE [שָׂרָה] over SIN – and set us FREE!
- Philippians 2:8 – “Being found in appearance as a man – He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death – even the death of the cross.”
- 2nd – His name… vs. 6
- Wonderful…
- And His name will be called:
- Isaiah gives the NAME [singular] of the LIGHT what would COME [five titles]
- FIRST – Wonderful [פֶּלֶא] – the God who can do the IMPOSSIBLE!
- The word was first used to DESCRIBE the parting of the RED Sea – Exodus 15:11
- The second time it is used it is a REMINDER to NOT forget what God can do – Psalms 77:11
- To a nation that will be FLOODED by the ASSYRIANS…
- It was important to REMEMBER who has the power to PART oceans!
- Counselor…
- SECOND – Counselor [יָעַץ] – the God who has the PLAN!
- When Moses was trying to answer ALL of the problems of Israel…
- It caused a line that lasted from morning until night [waiting to see Moses]
- His father in law Jethro came to him and gave him COUNSEL [יָעַץ] – Exodus 18:19
- Rather than people standing before him – he needed to stand before God…
- To a people who were looking to a MAN [king] to give them their answers…
- God reminds them He is the one who has the PLAN – stand before Him!
- Mighty God…
- THIRD – Mighty God – literally the God [אֵל] who is STRONG [גִּבּוֹר]
- The Assyrian army was MORE powerful than Israel [a lot]
- NO nation had been able to stand up to them – Isaiah 37:11
- But as STRONG as they were – they were NOT as strong as GOD…
- Our God is the ALMIGHTY – ALL [πᾶς] POWERFUL [κράτος] – Revelation 1:8
- Everlasting Father…
- FOURTH – Everlasting [עַד] Father [אֲבִי] – this can be interpreted one of TWO ways…
- It could mean – He is the FATHER who is ETERNAL [had no beginning or end]
- It could also mean – He is the one who is ALWAYS fathering [protecting us]
- Because the ROLE of a FATHER is to PROTECT and PROVIDE…
- Either way it is worth noting – that the SON is also called the FATHER!
- How can there be ONE God – but in THREE persons…
- There have been many attempts for people to define the TRINITY…
- Water [solid – liquid – gas] – or an egg [shell – white – yoke]
- But the reality is there is NOTHING in this universe like our God [He is unique]
- We may NOT be able to tell COMPREHEND how three can be one…
- But we can APPREHEND that is how the Bible defines His nature…
- Jesus is the MIGHTY God – He is ONE with the Father!
- John 10:30 – “The Father and I are one.”
- Prince of peace…
- PRINCE of peace – literally He has AUTHORITY [שַׂר] over PEACE [שָׁלוֹם]
- Because only when we LOOK to the ONE who can PART oceans [wonderful]
- Only when we LISTEN to the ONE who has the PLAN [counselor]
- Only when we FOLLOW in the ONE who has ALL the power [mighty God]
- Only when we TRUST in the ONE who is ALWAYS protects us [everlasting Father]
- THEN we will have PEACE – because we are have Jesus!
- Ephesians 2:14 – “For He Himself is our peace.”
- 3rd – His Authority… vs. 7
- No end…
- Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.
- Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom.
- To order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward – even forever!
- This is where we mark the MESSIANIC nature of this prophecy…
- Although parts of this were no doubt fulfilled by HEZEKIAH [victory over Assyria]
- There was an END to his RULE [מִשְׂרָה] – peace did NOT last [Babylon]
- But the MESSIAH [Jesus] will RULE and bring PEACE [שָׁלוֹם] that will NEVER [אִין] end…
- God will set Jesus upon the Throne of David [kingdom]
- It will start [hiphil] in JUSTICE [מִשְׁפָּט] – and be sustained [hiphil] by RIGHTEOUSNESS [צְדָקָה]
- From NOW [עַתָּה] – until the END of time [עוֹלָם]!
- After the Tribulation – Jesus will come riding out of heaven – Revelation 19:16
- He will have the name KING of kings – and LORD of lords…
- He will return with us – ten thousands of His saints – Jude 1:14
- With one word he will defeat the Antichrist and his army – II Thessalonians 2:8
- 30 days after the Return of Jesus – 1290 days after the Abomination – Daniel 12:11
- Jesus will judge the nations – those who survived the Tribulation – Matthew 25:31-46
- Then Jesus will establish His Millennial Kingdom – Revelation 20:1-4
- And there will be peace – the lion will lay down with the lamb – Isaiah 11:6-9
- Zeal of the Lord…
- The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this!
- This would NOT be a work of MAN – it was a work of the LORD of heavens armies [צְבָאוֹת]
- He will [future] be the one [imperfect] to do this – [׃ס] pause and consider…
- There is NO question – the END is already written – God WINS!
- As important a lesson for us today – as it was in the days of Isaiah…
- We might NOT have an invading army flooding into our country [yet]
- But NO matter what our PROBLEMS might be – the SOLUTION is the same…
- Come to the God whose KINGDOM will NEVER end – and we will find PEACE!
- 1st -His purpose… vs. 6
- 3rd – Judgement of Samaria… vs. 8-21
- 1st – No Repentance… vs. 8-13
- Northern Kingdom… vs. 8
- The Lord sent a word against Jacob and it has fallen on Israel!
- Then the MASTER [אֲדֹנָי] sent a WORD to rebellious JACOB [self-reliant]
- And it also fell upon the faithful people of ISRAEL [governed by God]
- Because when godly people stand with the ungodly – they end up sharing their fate!
- Rebuild… vs. 9-10
- All the people will know Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria.
- Who say in pride and arrogance of heart:
- The bricks have fallen down – but we will rebuild with hewn stones.
- The sycamores are cut down – but we will replace them with cedars!
- EVERYONE [כָּל] who was in the NORTHERN Kingdom [Ephraim] would KNOW [יָדַע]
- Especially to those who live in their Capital city of SAMARIA…
- Who always speak [infinitive] in PRIDE [גַּאֲוָה] – thinking [heart] they are GREAT [גָּדוֹל]
- That although the BRICKS had fallen – and SYCAMORE tree were cut down…
- They would REBUILD – and replace them with STONE and CEDAR [something better]
- Their PRIDE convincing them that things would IMPROVE!
- People like to think POSITIVELY – look for the silver lining…
- But unless we put God into the equation – things are more likely to get WORSE…
- And no matter how ENCOURAGING our words might be…
- What we are going to SEE [יָדַע] – is that God is NOT done teaching us HUMILITY!
- Destruction… vs. 11-12
- Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him – spur his enemies on.
- The Syrians before and the Philistines behind – they shall devour Israel with an open mouth!
- Because [sequential] of the PRIDE of the NORTHERN Kingdom [Samaria]
- The LORD Himself would raise [hiphil] up the ENEMIES [צַר] of Rezin [King of Syria]
- And STIR up [piel] those who HATE [אֹיֵב] Israel – against them [עַל]
- God would bring SYRIA from the EAST – and the PHILISTINES from the WEST…
- Together would CONSUME the nation like a closing mouth!
- Anger of God… vs. 12-13
- For all this His anger is not turned away – but His hand is stretched out still!
- For the people do not turn to Him who strikes them. Nor do they seek the LORD of hosts!
- But their destruction [כָּל] would NOT quench the ANGER of the LORD…
- His hand would still be STRETCHED out to STRIKE harder…
- Because the people still did NOT turn [לֹא־שָׁב] to the one who was DISCIPLINING them…
- Neither did they SEEK the LORD of HOSTS [צְבָאוֹת]!
- A father does NOT spank his child – because he enjoys seeing them in pain…
- The point of a punishment – it to teach a lesson…
- But if that child refuses to LEARN the lesson the father is teaching…
- Then it means for the sake of the child – the father will PUNISH them even harder!
- Hebrews 12:6 – “Whom the LORD loves He chastens – scourges every son whom He receives.”
- 2nd – Bad leadership… vs. 14-17
- Head and tail… vs. 14-16
- Therefore the LORD will cut off head and tail from Israel – Palm branch – bulrush in one day.
- The elder and honorable – he is the head. The prophet who teaches lies – he is the tail.
- For the leaders of this people cause them to err – those who are led by them are destroyed!
- He would remove both the MIGHTY [palm branch] – and LOWLY [bulrush] in ONE day…
- A poetic way of saying the whole nation would suffer because of rebellion…
- Why did [sequential] Israel refused to TURN to the LORD…
- Because of their HEAD and TAIL – that the Lord [hiphil] would CUT off…
- The ELDER who was lifted [passive] up – the HEAD…
- And the PROPHET who teaches [hiphil] LIES – the TAIL…
- Both LED [piel] the people away from God – to their DESTRUCTION!
- There are TWO places people look to for answers in times of trouble…
- They look to GOVERNMENT – to give them practical answers…
- And they look to the CHURCH – to give them spiritual answers…
- If NEITHER is pointing the people back to God – then a nation is in real trouble!
- Whole nation…
- Therefore the Lord will have no joy in their young men.
- Nor have mercy on their fatherless and widows.
- For everyone is a hypocrite and an evildoer – and every mouth speaks folly!
- THEREFORE [כֵּן] – the MASTER [אֲדֹנָי] is [imperfect] NOT happy with the KIDS [בָּחוּר]
- He is [imperfect] NOT showing ANY mercy [piel] to the fatherless or widow…
- One would assume God would be the more lenient on these THREE categories…
- They represent the INNOCENT [kids] and UNDERPRIVILEGED [widows and orphans]
- But the leaders had led ALL of the people to be HYPOCRITES….
- They were ALL doing EVIL [רָעַע] – yet out of their mouths came PRAISE to God [folly]!
- Not done…
- For all this His anger is not turned away – but His hand is stretched out still!
- Even though the MASTER showed NO mercy…
- For the SECOND time we are told – ALL this [כָּל] would NOT quench the ANGER of God…
- His hand would still be STRETCHED out to STRIKE harder Israel even HARDER!
- 3rd – Social breakdown… vs. 18-21
- Spreading fire… vs. 18
- For wickedness burns as the fire. It shall devour the briers and thorns.
- And kindle in the thickets of the forest – they shall mount up like rising smoke!
- Because [כִּי] – the WICKEDNESS [רִשְׁעָה] of Judah was like [כָ] a FIRE…
- It did NOT seem dangerous at FIRST – a spark that started to burn the thorns…
- But that was just the KINDLE – that fed the FIRE – until the whole FOREST was consumed…
- And before long a PILLAR of smoke rose up from the devastation!
- How dangerous can a LIE be – how bad is bending the truth…
- How much trouble can ONE look get me into – surely it CANNOT hurt!
- People tend to have a very LAX view of SIN [not very dangerous]
- What they fail to realize is that it SPREADS – and CONSUMES…
- And if it is NOT dealt with quickly – all that is left is a burned out life…
- With the SMOKE of the devastation being the headstone that marks their grave!
- Consuming fire… vs. 19-20
- Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts the land is burned up.
- And the people shall be as fuel for the fire. No man shall spare his brother.
- And he shall snatch on the right hand and be hungry.
- He shall devour on the left hand and not be satisfied.
- Every man shall eat the flesh of his own arm!
- In [בְּ] the WRATH the LORD of heavens armies [צְבָאוֹת] poured out…
- The LAND grew [niphal] DARK [because of the smoke]
- As the people became [sequential] the FUEL that fed the FIRESTORM…
- The people CONSUMED each other – not even having pity on their FAMILY [bother]
- They ATTACKED their neighbor on the left – and CONSUMED the one on their right…
- Yet they were still HUNGRY – and ended up eating their own ARM!
- This might be hyperbole – people putting themselves before others…
- But it could also be LITERAL – the result of a severe famine caused by a siege…
- Men reduced to cannibalism in order to survive – II Kings 6:28-29
- God had warned Israel what would happen if they turned away from Him!
- Deuteronomy 28:53 – “You will eat the flesh of your own sons and daughters.” [NLT]
- Divided… vs. 21
- Manasseh shall devour Ephraim – and Ephraim Manasseh.
- Together they shall be against Judah.
- For all this His anger is not turned away – but His hand is stretched out still!
- Manasseh and Ephraim [sons of Joseph] would be against one another [brothers]
- And they would come together to attack Judah [relative]
- The Northern Kingdom against the Southern Kingdom in a CIVIL war…
- Yet for the THIRD time we read – in ALL this [כָּל] the anger of God was NOT satisfied…
- His hand was still STRETCHED out to STRIKE them even HARDER!
- 4th – Total collapse… vs. 1-4
- Chapter break…
- There is a bad chapter break here…
- As the content connects the first FOUR verses to the previous chapter…
- Chapter marks were added to the Bible is 1227 A.D. [Stephen Langton]
- Their purpose was to make it easier to look up particular passages…
- But they are NOT inspired – and sometimes cause confusion!
- Woe to you… vs. 1-2
- Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees.
- Who write misfortune which they have prescribed.
- To rob the needy of justice and to take what is right from the poor of My people.
- That widows may be their prey and that they may rob the fatherless!
- WOE [הוֹי] to the LEADERS of Israel who make WICKED [אָוֶן] laws…
- Who write down [piel] rules that only cause TROUBLE [עָמָל]
- Laws used to TURN away [hiphil] those in need – take away JUSTICE from the POOR…
- So that these leaders can take advantage of WIDOWS and ORPHANS!
- The role of a government is to DEFEND and PROTECT the most vulnerable…
- But when it is the government that write the laws to instead ABUSE them…
- That nation does NOT have long before it will collapse!
- Back at you… vs. 3
- What will you do in the day of punishment and in the desolation which will come from afar?
- To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your glory?
- Because WHAT will these leaders turn to in their DAY of visitation…
- When DESTRUCTION comes from a faraway place [Assyria]
- WHO will they look to when someone mightier picks on them [reversal of roles]
- WHERE do they think they can hide their MONEY [כָּבוֹד]!
- Matthew 7:2 – “With what judgment you judge – you will be judged.”
- There is a TRUTH that the way we treat others – is how we will be treated…
- Those who take ADVANTAGE of the needy – will themselves be taken advantage of…
- And since they were not HELPFUL – they will have NO one to HELP them!
- Conquered… vs. 4
- Without Me they shall bow down among the prisoners and they shall fall among the slain.
- For all this His anger is not turned away – but His hand is stretched out still!
- God would NOT be there to HELP them [they rejected God]
- Some would be taken PRISONERS – others would FALL in battle…
- For the FOURTH and FINAL time – ALL this [כָּל] did NOT satisfy the anger of God…
- His hand was still STRETCHED out to STRIKE harder them even HARDER!
- Giving us a powerful CONTRAST – two very different roads…
- To those who turn to the LORD – there is a LIGHT – there is PEACE…
- But to those who continue to REBEL – nothing with satisfy the WRATH of God!
- 1st – No Repentance… vs. 8-13