Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"The Light of Israel will be for a fire"
Text: Isaiah 10:17
THE LIGHT OF ISRAEL
A profound title of God, “The Light of Israel”, was used effectively. The nuance in this application is that of a Flame!
“So the Light of Israel will be for a fire,
And his Holy One for a flame;
It will burn and devour
His thorns and his briers in one day.
And it will consume the glory of his forest and of his fruitful field,
Both soul and body;
And they will be as when a sick man wastes away.
Then the rest of the trees of his forest
Will be so few in number
That a child may write them.”
Isaiah 10:17-19
1. The Light of Israel has two major applications:
a) To bring enlightenment through knowledge and discernment.
b) To be a flame that sets things on fire.
c) The second usage is employed in this context.
2. “The Light of Israel”
a) It is clearly identified.
b) It is a reference to the Holy One of Israel.
3. What the LORD would do against Assyria.
a) He would set Assyria aflame.
b) He would burn the arrogant nation.
c) How God sees the nation of Assyria:
i) As thorns and briers.
ii) These would be easily devoured by flames of fire.
iii) The power of God’s flame (“Light”) would destroy Assyria.
4. The glory of the Assyrian empire seen through proud eyes.
a) Described as a glorious forest.
b) Also described as a fruitful field.
5. The Assyrian empire seen through God’s eyes.
a) It is compared to a dying man who is sick and wasting away.
b) Both body and soul would perish.
6. The glorious forest.
a) It will be destroyed by fire.
b) There would be very few trees left.
c) Children in those days learn to write on slates of wood.
d) The forest would be so reduced that there would only be wood enough
to make slates for children to write on.