In Isaiah 2:22, we read these words of the prophet: “Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?” This divine exhortation is what Ahaz and Pekah, the kings of Judah and Israel, failed to do as they sought to fight off the threat of Assyria. We saw in our last blog how both kings placed more trust in their political manoeuvrings than in their LORD’s promises.
How God Works In World History
In Isaiah 9:8, we read that the Israelites had no room in their hearts for the LORD’s message, and as a result, this same message would suddenly fall on them in judgment. The northern kingdom of Israel has begun to experience the loss of some of their territory at the hands of the powerful Assyrian army.
Instead of turning to the LORD, the Israelites respond in prideful independence and defiance: “The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars” (Is. 9:10). About 10 years later, the northern kingdom was annihilated by the Assyrian army. So much for Israel’s grandiose proposed building plans of making their land great again. In Isaiah 9:8-10:4, we have a devastating account of Assyria’s dismantling of ungodly and unfaithful Israel.
In Isaiah 10:5-19, we have a remarkable passage which reveals Isaiah’s understanding of how God works in the world’s history. God’s sovereign power is seen in how He is able to use a nation which has no sense of the LORD in their lives to serve His purposes. And then, once He is finished using this nation (Assyria), He will then bring judgment on them for their overweening pride and wickedness. The LORD is in ultimate control over the nations of the world.
In the last part of Isaiah 10, we see the difference that God’s judgment produces in Israel, as compared to a pagan nation like Assyria. God’s work of judgment and discipline will produce a remnant of faithful worshippers among His people. Although the tree of Israel has been cut down, and even though a remnant will only be left from what was a multitude, the LORD will accomplish His purposes through those who truly learn to rely on the LORD and obey His word (Is. 10:20-23).
The World’s Great Hope: God’s Messiah
What is remarkable is that the LORD will effect a New Exodus (Is. 10:26-27) through a Messianc King from David’s line (Is. 11:1-9). This King will not be anything like the worldly and carnal kings and leaders of the world. Yet, He will exercise such a powerful influence on the earth, and effect such a transformation, that it can only be described as New Creation. As we read Is. 11:6-9, we can reasonably conclude that the curse of the old creation has been removed.
And not only that, but through the ministry of this Jewish Messiah, this New David, the remnant of the LORD will include people from all nations (Is. 11:10). People from Assyria, Egypt, Babylon and the islands of the sea, that is, the far reaches of the world (Is. 11:11). A New Exodus is envisioned for the different peoples of the world who turn to the Root of Jesse, the New David (Is. 11:15-16).
The Christian Church have seen this Jewish Messianic Figure to be a prophesy of Jesus. When Jesus was born, the angel Gabriel declared to the Virgin Mary that her son would be “the Son of the Most High“, and that he would be given the throne of David by God Most High, ruling over the house of Jacob forever (Lk. 1:32-33).
Jesus’ Name means ‘the LORD is salvation”. It is no accident that after the great prophecy of the Messiah in Isaiah 11, that we read these words in Isaiah 12:2:
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
God’s people are now in relationship with God through the New Covenant, made possible by the shed blood of the Incarnate Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is Messiah of God…………..Chosen of God…………..Beloved of God………….The Anointed One of God…………….The True Vine of God, through whom God’s People can bear fruit for God (John 15:1-8). The Olive Tree of Israel through whom Gentile and Jewish branches are connected to (Rom. 11:17-21). Branches who cleave to Him for their very life.
No wonder Isaiah wants us to sing to the LORD for the great things He has done and to make it known to the world (Is. 12:5-6). Let us keep our eyes on the Lord Jesus. Let us hope in Him and not in flawed man. Let us not become engrossed in the political manoeuvrings and celebrity boastings of men and women who are here today, and gone tomorrow.
QOTD: Are you being conformed to the pattern and the ideologies of this world, or are you being transformed by the LORD, as you surrender to Him in total trust?