INTRODUCTION

Yahweh has pronounced “woes” against Judah and Israel, and many of these woes involve invasion, defeat, and exile at the hands of the Assyrians (cf. 7:17-20; 8:5-8, 21-22; 10:3-4). But Yahweh is the Judge of all the earth, and so Assyria too will be held accountable for her sins.

THE TEXT

“Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger and the staff in whose hand is My indignation. I will send him against an ungodly nation . . . .” (Isaiah 10:5-34).

STRUCTURE

Verses 5-15 contain the woe against Assyria, and the reasons for the Lord’s judgment. Verses 16-34 is divided into two large sections, each beginning with “therefore” and the name, “Lord, Yahweh of hosts” (vv. 16. 24). These sections are each divided by the phrase “in that day” (vv. 20, 27).

ROD, STAFF, AXE, SAW

After seven woes (5:8-23; 10:1-4), Yahweh pronounces an eighth woe, but this time on Assyria. “Eight” is the number of rebirth in Scripture. When Yahweh’s wrath has been filled to a seven, He renews His people by striking Assyria. Even when Assyria triumphed over Israel and Judah, though, they were only tools in God’s hand to plunder Israel (as Egypt was plundered) and to trample Israel back to the mud from which they were taken (v. 6). Assyria is Yahweh’s “rod” (v. 5) and “staff” (v. 5), tools of the shepherd. Assyria is also like an axe and saw (v. 15), tools of the carpenter. In spite of what might appear to be the case, Yahweh is using Assyria to build His people into a house. Because Yahweh wields the rod of Assyria, the people of Israel need not fear (v. 24). For the same reason, Yahweh can decide when He will break the yoke of Assyria (vv. 25-27). Assyria was a savage conqueror, but in the Lord’s hands that savagery accomplishes His just purposes.

ARROGANT EMPIRE

Assyria has different intentions. Assyria doesn’t humbly acknowledge that it is only an instrument, but proudly boasts of its own power (vv. 7, 12-14). Worse, the Assyrians treat Jerusalem as if it were on a par with every other nations. The graven images of Calno and Carchmish, Hamath and Arpad, are greater than the gods of Jerusalem and Samaria, so Assyria is confident that it will conquer Jerusalem just as easily (vv. 9-11). This is the boast of Sennacherib when he besieges Jerusalem (Isaiah 37:1-13). As Yahweh revealed Himself to Pharaoh, so He will do with Assyria. Once He has used Assyria for His purposes He will judge its arrogance, and show that the God of Jerusalem is the living God (v. 12). Assyria has been Yahweh’s axe for chopping up the forest of Israel, but eventually He will take up another axe and start chopping down the great imperial tree of the Assyrians (vv. 33-34). In Scripture, Assyria reached its pinnacle of power when it attacked Jerusalem (v. 12). Once the empire had accomplished that purpose, the Lord was through with her.

LIGHT AND FIRE

Yahweh will overthrow Assyria with a plague, a “wasting disease” that will infect its warriors, and this will consume the glory of Assyria (v. 16). Israel herself, however, plays a role in the overthrow of Assyria. Israel is a light and fire, lit by the fire of the Holy One (v. 17), and the fire of Israel will devour the thorns and briars of Assyria and will leave few trees in the forest of empire (vv. 17-19). Assyria may think it’s safe to conquer Yahweh’s holy people, but seizing Israel is sacrilege, and when all is said and done any empire that swallows down Israel will have to vomit her out of its mouth.