Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"Woe to Assyria"
Text: Isaiah 10:5
ASSIGNMENT GIVEN TO ASSYRIA
It was the LORD who had sent Assyria to chastise Israel and Judah. But Assyria had its own ideas as to what it wanted to do as his troops came to Israel and Judah.
“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,
And against the people of My wrath
I will give him charge,
To seize the spoil, to take the prey,
And to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
Yet he does not mean so,
Nor does his heart think so;
But it is in his heart to destroy,
And cut off not a few nations.”
Isaiah 10:5-7
1. A “Woe” pronounced against Assyria.
a) Assyria was simply a rod of God.
b) It was meant to be used as a staff against God’s people who had chosen
the path of sin and wickedness.
2. A “Charge” had been given to Assyria from the LORD.
a) Assyria would triumph over Israel and Judah.
b) The two houses of Israel were described candidly.
i) Israel had become an ungodly nation.
ii) They had become people of God’s wrath.
iii) This was to express the fact that God was angry with their sinfulness.
c) What Assyria may do:
i) To defeat and to tread down Israel.
ii) To have the spoils of war.
iii) To seize the prey (Israel).
3. Assyria had its own ideas.
a) His heart was not inclined to obey God.
b) He had no intention to fulfil what God had charged him to do.
c) The heart of Assyria revealed:
i) It wants to destroy and not just chastise.
ii) It wants to cut off a few nations
(and not just punish Israel on God’s behalf).
d) Thus, the LORD pronounced a solemn “Woe” to Assyria.