Destruction of Assyria
Text: Isaiah 10:5-34
God Selected Assyria to Punish a Godless Nation - Isaiah 10:5-6
God pronounces a curse against Assyria. He is making use of Assyria to punish a godless nation (Israel). Its task is to capture its wealth and trample it down.
However, Assyria Only Intends to Destroy - Isaiah 10:7-11
However, Assyria has its own agenda. It is not intent on working for God. It wants to destroy as many nations as it can because it is convinced of its superiority. The people of Assyria believe their lower officials (its princes) are equal to any king in other countries. They believe their towns are equal to any other country's capital city. Because they have conquered, they are convinced that no god can withstand them, especially the God of Israel. Since Samaria's gods could not stop the Assyrians, they didn't think they would have any problems with Jerusalem (II Kings 18:33-35).
God Will Destroy Assyria After Making Use of It - Isaiah 10:12-14
When God has finished using the Assyrians to punish Jerusalem and its people, God will turn and punish Assyria's arrogant king.
Assyria thought it could conquer because it was more powerful and wiser than all other nations. It removed national boundaries by destroying nations and taking over their land. No one had the strength to oppose it. Assyria was able to plunder the wealth of these nations like someone gathering eggs from hens. When it did so, no one dared object or squawk.
Assyria Is Only a Tool in God's Hand - Isaiah 10:15-19
God asks which is superior, the well-made tool or the person who wields it. The obvious answer is that the person using the tool is greater. Assyria is only a tool in God's hand.
To prove this, God will remove the strength of Assyria's army by sending in a wasting disease. God's glory will shine as He burns up all of Assyria's defenses. He will destroy the glory of its forests and gardens to the point that a child can count how much is left.
Only a Remnant of Israel Will Return - Isaiah 10:20-23
Israel is not left without hope. A small remnant of its once great population will one day return. They will have learned their lesson. They will know that they can't rely on powerful nations for protection, but they can rely on God. This prophecy is quoted by Paul in Romans 9:27-28 and applied to the few of Israel who turned to God and became Christians. However, the destruction of Israel is determined and cannot be avoided.
God's Anger Will Only Be for a Little While - Isaiah 10:24-27
Those in Jerusalem should not fear the Assyrians. They will become like Egypt, which had oppressed Israel in slavery and then was destroyed by God's ten plagues. God will use Assyria to vent His anger, and then He will turn against the Assyrians. God reminds them that He has done it before with Midian and Egypt. God will destroy Assyria because they will have become too successful. So, the burden inflicted by Assyria will be removed from Judah.
God Will Remove Assyria After It Attacks Judah - Isaiah 10:28-34
Assyria will come and destroy many of Judah's towns. Everyone will flee from before its army. No one will stand and fight. It will lay siege to Jerusalem, but at that point, God will take out its arrogant leaders, much like someone chopping off the tops of tall trees. The whole "forest" will fall.
