Isaiah
again addresses the destruction of the wicked and the ultimate return to God of
His chosen people. The first four verses compose the fourth part of a four part
poem which began in verse 8 of the previous chapter. The main focus of the
chapter is the Assyrian destruction of Israel because of the wickedness of
Israel. This destruction is a type of the destruction of the wicked which will
accompany the second coming of the Savior. It should serve as a reminder to us
that the Lord will come out victorious. He has power over our enemies
today. The entire chapter is written as
a chiasmus or inverted parallelism. This chiasmus is broken down by Victor L.
Ludlow:
A.
The wicked will bow down (vs. 1-4)
B. Assyria raised by the Lord (5)
C. The Assyrian king
speaks against Jerusalem (6-11)
D. The Lord will punish proud Assyria
(12-14)
E. An ax is used as a tool (15)
F. The Lord is a burning fire in the land
(16-17)
G. Only a remnant of the many remain
(18-19)
H. A remnant of Israel shall return
to the Lord (20-21)
G’. Out of the sands of the sea-only a
remnant returns (22)
F’. A divine consumption is in the land (23)
E’. A rod is used as an instrument
(24-26)
D’. Assyria’s yoke will be lifted (27)
C’.
Assyrian army approaches Jerusalem (28-32)
B’. Assyria humbled by the Lord (33)
A’. The haughty will be cut down (34)
(Isaiah,
Prophet, Seer and Poet, Victor Ludlow, p. 161.)
Vs. 1-4- proclaims the 4th injustice begun
in chapter 9.
Vs. 3 - A very important question for us
to ask ourselves is if we turn away the needy, who will we turn to in the day
of our need?
Vs. 4 - God’s hand remains outstretched if
we will turn our lives to him.
Vs. 5 - Assyria is the rod in God’s hand
to chasten Israel. The purposes of Assyria in using this rod are different than
the Lord’s. It reminds us that the Lord
used the Lamanites to remind the Nephites of their need for the Lord and
ultimately to destroy them when they ripened in iniquity. Spoil and prey refer
to the prophetic name Mahershalalhashbaz. (In making speed to the spoil, he
hasteneth the prey. 2 Nephi 18:1-4) Assyria also represents also evil nations
of our day. The Lord is speaking in verses 5-7
Vs. 6 - The hypocritical nation is Israel
who claims to be God’s chosen people but do not follow him. The Lord allows
this destruction.
Vs. 7-11 - A telling of Assyria’s lack of
awareness that they have been instruments in the Lord’s hands. They have taken
the glory to themselves. The King of Assyria is speaking in verses 8-11
Vs. 12- The account of Assyria’s attack
upon Jerusalem is told in 2 Kings 19:32-37 and Isaiah 37:33-38. The Lord sent
his destroying angel to destroy much of Sennacherib’s army. Sennacherib was
soon thereafter killed by his sons.
Vs. 13-15 - The Lord puts Assyria in their
place. When we do God’s work, have we cause to boast any more than an ax can
take credit for chopping down a tree? (See Alma 26-Ammon)
Vs. 16 - Assyria, who had been mighty will
be reduced to leanness and the glory of Assyrian will be burned.
Vs. 17-19 - The destruction of Assyrian will
include the rank and file of the army (thorns and briers) and the leaders
(glory of his forest). The Lord used the Babylonians and later the Persians to
destroy Assyria.
Vs. 20-23 - The return of Israel to the land
and the Lord
Vs. 20 - The Hebrew word lashuv means to return and to repent.
The meaning of the word repent in Hebrew means more than discontinuing bad
thing. It requires a return to the Lord.
Vs. 26 - The Lord compares the help he
gave to Gideon as he fought Midian in Judges 7:19-25. Oreb, prince of the
Midianites, was slain on a rock that bears his name. Assyria is the figurative
name God gives to latter-day enemies of righteousness.
Vs. 27 - The time will come when, because
of the anointed Messiah, the burdens of earthlife will be removed.
Vs. 28-32 - Future conquests of Assyria are
listed as she approaches Jerusalem. Shaking his hand at Jerusalem will be as
close as Assyria gets.
Vs. 33-34 - Assyria, both mighty and low in
stature will be taken down. After Jehovah, the forester, chops down the mighty
cedars of Lebanon and the great Assyrians, he will clean up the underbrush so
that the tree of Jesse, or the tree of the Messiah (identified in the next
chapter) can flourish.
