Invasion of Assyria
Text: Isaiah 8:1-10:4
Syria and Israel Will Fall - Isaiah 8:1-4
God warns the people in plain language that they will fall to Assyria. He has Isaiah write on a tablet, "Swift is the booty, speedy is the prey." Isaiah has Uriah and Zechariah witness the writing. Isaiah then has sex with his wife, and a son was born to them. The Lord tells Isaiah to name the son the same phrase: Mahar-shalal-hash-baz. Another prophecy is given that before the boy is old enough to call his parents "father" and "mother," Assyria will carry off the wealth of Syria and Israel.
Who Do You Depend On? - Isaiah 8:5-8
Shiloah is an aqueduct that carries water from the Gihon Spring into Jerusalem. It has a gentle flow. The aqueduct represents God's offer to aid Israel through David's descendants. Instead, they sought aid from Assyria, represented by the river Euphrates. That water flowed strongly and, in the prophecy, overflowed its banks. Assyria will sweep through the lands north of Judah and even into Judah itself, threatening to overwhelm Judah.
All Nations Listen and Learn - Isaiah 8:9-10
Despite its power, Assyria will be shattered. No matter how well it prepares and makes plans, it will still fall because God is with His people.
Have Confidence in God - Isaiah 8:11-22
God instructed Isaiah and the people of Judah not to follow the ways of the heathen nations. Don't follow the crowds into a panic where they see conspiracies on every hand, though none exist. Only God is to be feared and regarded as holy. But if they refuse to find refuge in God, both Israel and Judah will stumble over God. Instead of being protected, He will become a trap. Sadly, God predicts many will fall.
This prophecy is to be completed (bound) and sealed (testified to as being authentic) among God's followers. God's words will prove to be true. Isaiah is willing to wait for God to reveal Himself. Isaiah and his family are for signs to testify of God's truth.
However, some will not have patience. They will seek out spiritists and mediums to tell them what the future holds. God asks why His people are not asking Him their questions. He invites them to look in the Law, and if they don't follow it, it is because they lack even a feeble light within them. They will suffer and blame their king and their God. They will turn from the only source of light and go off into darkness.
In the Future, God Will Send Light into the Land - Isaiah 9:1-7
The northern tribes of Israel (Zebulun and Naphtali), tribes that were held in contempt by the rest of Israel, will receive the honor of having the Messiah among them. He is described as a great light in a land of darkness (John 1:4-9). As a result, joy will return to the land as the Messiah removes a great burden (sin). God will come as a child and live among them. And his kingdom will not end.
God's Anger at Israel - Isaiah 9:8-10:4
Israel will fall, but in its pride, the people think the punishment will be short, and they will be able to rebuild. Not only that, but they will rebuild better than before. It is because of this arrogance that God is sending the Assyrians, the Arameans, and the Philistines against them. Even after they are destroyed, God will not relent in His anger.
Despite the severity of their punishment, the people of Israel will not turn back to God. So, God removes the head (the leadership) and the tail (the false prophets). God will not honor the young men or have pity on the defenseless because every person in Israel is evil. And still, God's anger doesn't relent.
Like a wildfire, the people will turn against themselves and consume themselves in civil war. They fight over food and never have enough. And yet, God's anger continues to burn.
Finally, God charges Israel with enacting evil laws and the courts making unjust decisions to the detriment of the poor, the widows, and the orphans. As a consequence, when Israel is invaded, they will have no one to help them as they sit with other captives as slaves. Even this doesn't appease the anger of the Lord.
