Isaiah Homepage

1. Introduction to Isaiah

2. Two portraits of Messiah

3. Isaiah Chapters 1-5: The Kingdom of God

4. Isaiah Chapters 6-10: God with us

5. Isaiah Chapters 11-26: The Rod of Jesse

6. Isaiah Chapters 27-32 The Righteous King

7. Isaiah Chapters 33-39 The Righteous King

8.  Isaiah Chapters 40-43 The Servant of the Lord

9. Isaiah Chapters 44-45 The Servant of the Lord

10. Isaiah Chapters 46-48  The Redeemer and Savior

11. Isaiah Chapters 49-52:  The Suffering Servant

12. Isaiah Chapters 53-58: The Suffering Servant

13. Isaiah Chapters 59-66: Salvation to the Earth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Isaiah Chapters 6 to 10, The Kingdom of God

Introduction Isaiah Chapters 6 to 10

 

The book of Isaiah reveals a great deal about the coming of the Messiah, as first promised by God at the fall.  Isaiah clearly reveals the two aspects of the Messiah.  Messiah’s divine and human nature, the Messiah would be both “Son of Man” and “Son of God”.  Here in the early chapters of Isaiah, God describes the process of the incarnation.

      This portion of Isaiah reveals the process of the incarnation. How does God redeem the “Sons of Adam” from their fallen nature?  How does he enter the world of humanity? Through Isaiah, 700-years before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah proclaimed the sign of the virgin birth. 

      In the year of King Uzziah (783-742 B.C.) died, was the year Isaiah was called to minister to be a prophet. Uzziah was also called Azariah (2 Kings 14:21; 15:1-7, 2 Chronicles 26).  He was struck with leprosy in the later years of his kingdom, he lived in isolation, while his son Jotham, 751-742- he reigned as co-regent.

 

The Call of Isaiah 

Isaiah 6
1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!" 4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts." 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged." 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."  Isaiah 6:1-8

 Year that King Uzziah died:  The year king Uzziah died was 742 B.C., this was the year Isaiah was commissioned to be a prophet. Chapters 1 through 5 were probably written after chapter 6.  Uzziah ruled jointly with his son Jotham due to his illness.  (2 Chronicles 26:16-20).

I saw the Lord:  Isaiah saw the Lord sitting on His throne as God and King.  Ezekiel also saw the Lord sitting on His throne (Ezekiel Chapter 1).   This was Christophany (Appearing of Christ in the Old Testament), John identifies this as appearance as Jesus, before the incarnation.  When the Pharisees rejected Jesus and wanted to kill him John writes;

 

37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" 39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: 40 "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them." 41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him. 42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 
John 12:37-41

a throne: The throne of God, is the central point of the Temple.  The “Mercy Seat” which covers the Arc of the Covenant in the Temple, is a representation of the Throne of God.  Isaiah is in the Temple of God in Jerusalem, when he sees the LORD appear.  Ezekiel and Jeremiah are both recorded as priest who would have access to specific Temple areas.  It not stated that Isaiah was a priest.

Stood Seraphim:  The Hebrew word Sereph means to burn, the word hear means “Burning ones”, these angels are listed above the throne of God.  These angles have six wings, the Cherubim angels we see in Ezekiel chapter 1 have 4-wings, in Revelation 4:8 the angels have 6-wings but their description is similar to Ezekiel’s.  Its likely the Serephim and the Cherubim are the same grouping of angels since both are around the throne of God and they cry, “Holy, Holy, Holy”. 

Seen the King:  The king of Israel is Jesus, who was sitting on the throne here before His incarnation.  John in the 12th Chapter identifies Jesus as the King foretold by the prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 9) and in the Psalms.

 

13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna!'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' The King of Israel!" 14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 15 "Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey's colt." John 12;13-15 

 9 And He said, "Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.' 10 "Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed." Isaiah 6:9-10

 Go and tell this people: Isaiah was commissioned to warn the people of God’s coming judgment for their sins.  This warning and did not only concern the Jews in the days of Isaiah, it would include the Jews in the days of the Second Coming.   Matthew applies these verses to Israel at the first coming, when the rejected the words of Jesus (Matthew 13:51).

  

11 Then I said, "Lord, how long?" And He answered: "Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, The houses are without a man, The land is utterly desolate, 12 The Lord has removed men far away, And the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. 13 But yet a tenth will be in it, And will return and be for consuming, As a terebinth tree or as an oak, Whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy seed shall be its stump."  Isaiah 6:11-13

 

How long:  Isaiah was called to minister to a people who would not listen to him.  The people would not hear his message.  The results would be destruction of the land. 

Until

Yet a tenth: Only a remnent will survive.  Only 10% would return, they also would be consumed in time. From the “Stump” would come the branch of Jesse, the Messiah, and the people who would one day accept Him as their Messiah.

Holy seed: Both the Messiah and “Believing” Israel would come from the “Stump” preserved.

 

 Isaiah Chapter 7

 

Ahaz (735-715 B.C.) was the son of Jotahm (751-735 B.C.), he replaced his father because Judah looked to Assyria for help against its enemies.  They relied on human power, rather then turning to Lord for strength.  Isaiah is written within the context of the geo-political events within its day.  Assyria, Egypt and Babylon were all competing forces vying for the heart of the nations of Judah and Israel.  Chapter seven is written with this conflict in mind.

Pekah was king of Israel (northern kingdom) at a time when Tiglath-Pileser III was advancing toward Israel.  Pekah teamed up with Syria’s king Rezin to stop the advance.  They wanted Judah to join the alliance against Assyria, but under Isaiah leadership Judah refused.  Pekah and Rezin tried to overthrow Judah and install the “Son of Tabel” replacing the sons of David as King.

Isaiah came to reassure Ahaz of God’s provision, he told Ahaz not to seek the help of Assyria against Israel and Syria, that God would provide the help.  The book of 2nd Kings gives us the background to these events.

 

5 Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem to make war; and they besieged Ahaz but could not overcome him. 6 At that time Rezin king of Syria captured Elath for Syria, and drove the men of Judah from Elath. Then the Edomites went to Elath, and dwell there to this day. 7 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, saying, "I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me from the hand of the king of Syria and from the hand of the king of Israel, who rise up against me." 8 And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasuries of the king's house, and sent it as a present to the king of Assyria. 9 So the king of Assyria heeded him; for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus and took it, carried its people captive to Kir, and killed Rezin. 10 Now King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus; and King Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the design of the altar and its pattern, according to all its workmanship. 11 Then Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus. So Urijah the priest made it before King Ahaz came back from Damascus. 12 And when the king came back from Damascus, the king saw the altar; and the king approached the altar and made offerings on it. 13 So he burned his burnt offering and his grain offering; and he poured his drink offering and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings on the altar. 14 He also brought the bronze altar which was before the Lord, from the front of the temple-from between the new altar and the house of the Lord-and put it on the north side of the new altar. II Kings 16:5-14

 

 The sign to the House of David

 

The real target of the assault by Israel and Syria (Aram) was the line of David.  Their goal was to replace the line of David with the “Son of Tabel”, thus the prophecy regarding the line of David and the Messiah could not be fulfilled.   Ahaz put forward a false piety, regarding the words of Isaiah, even though Isaiah promised their plan would not succeed, because God would not allow it.  Ahaz went to Assyria for help against these two kings.  Hezekiah his son listened to the prophet Isaiah, and God preserved Judah and Jerusalem fro the Assyrian assault of King Sennecharib (Isaiah 37-38) 33-years later.

 

Isaiah 7
1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to make war against it, but could not prevail against it. 2 And it was told to the house of David, saying, "Syria's forces are deployed in Ephraim." So his heart and the heart of his people were moved as the trees of the woods are moved with the wind. 3 Then the Lord said to Isaiah, "Go out now to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-Jashub your son, at the end of the aqueduct from the upper pool, on the highway to the Fuller's Field, 4 "and say to him: 'Take heed, and be quiet; do not fear or be fainthearted for these two stubs of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and the son of Remaliah. 5 'Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah have plotted evil against you, saying, 6 "Let us go up against Judah and trouble it, and let us make a gap in its wall for ourselves, and set a king over them, the son of Tabel" 7 thus says the Lord God: "It shall not stand, Nor shall it come to pass. 8 For the head of Syria is Damascus, And the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be broken, So that it will not be a people. 9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria, And the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If you will not believe, Surely you shall not be established." ' " 10 Moreover the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, 11 "Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above." 12 But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!"
Isaiah 7:1-12

 Immanuel 

13 Then he said, "Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? 14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. 15 "Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 "For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings.   Isaiah 7:13-16 

 

House of David: Ahaz is of the line of David, the Messianic line.  The combined assault on Judah from Israel and Syria was a grave threat to the line of David and Judah existence.

Weary men: Ahaz put forward a false faith to not “Test” God.  Isaiah questions this false faith.

Give you a sign: God uses Ahaz rejection of a sign as an opportunity to proclaim the coming of the “Incarnation”. 

Virgin ( hml[ `almah).  The word in Hebrew can be used for young maiden and does not necessarily mean virgin.  The translators of the Septuagint translated this word into the Greek word for virgin, since this was the implied meaning.  Going back to Genesis 3:15-16, the promise of the “Seed of the woman” was that one day he would crush the head of the Serpent, who was Satan.

Bear a son: The Woman would have a son, this is the “Son of Man” who would redeem humanity.  The King of Israel as foretold in Isaiah 9:6, “unto us a child is born”  a “son is given”.  The virgin would be the means of God’s incarnation. 

Immanuel (lawnmm[ `Immanuw'el):  The child’s name underscores His identity, “God with us”, the point of the incarnation and the first coming, is that God would dwell with His creation in human form and pay for the sins in His death as foretold in Isaiah 53. 

Before the child: Since the Ahaz was planning and plotting a way to stop the alliance of Israel and Syria, Isaiah promises him that before the child shall “know” .  Historically this alliance was abolished when Tiglath-Pileser III in 732 B.C., destroyed the Syrian kingdom killing Rezin the King. ( 2 Kings 16:7-10).  Pekah was overthrown by a rebellion led by the future king Hosea (2 Kings 15:29).

both her kings:  The prophecy was addressed to the “line of David”, even though Ahaz is being referred to here. 

 

The coming Assyrian assault

 

Ahaz did not believe the words of Isaiah and called for help by going to Assyria.  The Assyrian gladly helped him by conquering Syria, as a result Judah was forced to pay a heavy tribute.  This eventually led to the return of the Assyrian armies in the days of Hezekiah.

 

17 "The Lord will bring the king of Assyria upon you and your people and your father's house-days that have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah." 18 And it shall come to pass in that day That the Lord will whistle for the fly That is in the farthest part of the rivers of Egypt, And for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. 19 They will come, and all of them will rest In the desolate valleys and in the clefts of the rocks, And on all thorns and in all pastures. 20 In the same day the Lord will shave with a hired razor, With those from beyond the River, with the king of Assyria, The head and the hair of the legs, And will also remove the beard. 21 It shall be in that day That a man will keep alive a young cow and two sheep; 22 So it shall be, from the abundance of milk they give, That he will eat curds; For curds and honey everyone will eat who is left in the land. 23 It shall happen in that day, That wherever there could be a thousand vines Worth a thousand shekels of silver, It will be for briers and thorns. 24 With arrows and bows men will come there, Because all the land will become briers and thorns. 25 And to any hill which could be dug with the hoe, You will not go there for fear of briers and thorns; But it will become a range for oxen And a place for sheep to roam.  Isaiah 7:17-25 

 

Chapter 8: The Coming King of Assyria

 

Isaiah chapter 8 continues the describing this coming assault from Assyria.  Ahaz did not trust God to deliver Judah, therefore he invited the Assyrian’s help.   Therefore the Isaiah promises Judah would not be destroyed by the Assyrians despite the lack of faith Judah had.  He also promises that Rezin the King of Syria and Pekah the King of Israel (Remaliah’s son) would be removed.   

      God instructs Isaiah to not be fearful like this people, because “God is with us” (vs. 10), the land is called Immanuel.  God is with the land of Judah for out of the land will come the Messiah, Immanuel, the incarnation of the Creator into the world.

      The nations, pictured here as Assyria will one day come against Judah (Israel) and they will fall because the “Son of God” will intervene on behalf of the nation.

 

Isaiah 8

1 Moreover the Lord said to me, "Take a large scroll, and write on it with a man's pen concerning Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. 2 "And I will take for Myself faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah." 3 Then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the Lord said to me, "Call his name Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz; 4 "for before the child shall have knowledge to cry 'My father' and 'My mother,' the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be taken away before the king of Assyria." 5 The Lord also spoke to me again, saying: 6 "Inasmuch as these people refused The waters of Shiloah that flow softly, And rejoice in Rezin and in Remaliah's son; 7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up over them The waters of the River, strong and mighty-The king of Assyria and all his glory; He will go up over all his channels And go over all his banks. 8 He will pass through Judah, He will overflow and pass over, He will reach up to the neck; And the stretching out of his wings Will fill the breadth of Your land, O Immanuel. 9 "Be shattered, O you peoples, and be broken in pieces! Give ear, all you from far countries. Gird yourselves, but be broken in pieces; Gird yourselves, but be broken in pieces. 10 Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; Speak the word, but it will not stand, For God is with us." 11 For the Lord spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying: 12 "Do not say, 'A conspiracy,' Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. Isaiah 8:1-12

 The rock of offense

 

Judah is told to trust the “Lord of Hosts” for their hope.  They are not to fear the nations, nor the Assyrians they are to fear Him alone.  This is where Israel and Judah both failed, they failed to trust the Lord and they trusted in the military might of the nations. This will be the same case in the last days.

This portion of Isaiah is used by Peter, Paul, Matthew, Luke and the writer of Hebrews as referring to Jesus.  Jesus becomes the “rock of offense” the nation of Judah at His First Coming.  Jesus is the Lord of Hosts, who is incarnated into the world to pay for the sins of the world. 

13 The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread. 14 He will be as a sanctuary, But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense To both the houses of Israel, As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many among them shall stumble; They shall fall and be broken, Be snared and taken." 16 Bind up the testimony, Seal the law among my disciples. 17 And I will wait on the Lord, Who hides His face from the house of Jacob; And I will hope in Him. 18 Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel From the Lord of hosts, Who dwells in Mount Zion.  Isaiah 8:13-18

 

The Lord of Hosts:  Jesus is the Lord of Host, the King of Israel as Isaiah proclaims in Isaiah chapter 6.  The King of Israel is the Jesus, who is also the Lord of Hosts, the revelation of God in the Old Testament.

Your fear:  Israel was not to fear the nations, they were to fear God alone.  Ahaz turned to Assyria when threatened by Israel and Syria.  Later Judah would turn to Egypt when threatened by Assyria rather then trusting in the Lord.  In the time of Christ, they were worried about appeasing Rome rather then in trusting the Lord.

   In the last days, Israel (Judah) will finally turn to the Lord as all the nations come against them. 

Your dread:  When we fear God, we should not be worried about what man can do to us. 

Sanctuary

Stone of stumbling:   Jesus is the stone which the builders rejected.  His appearance caused many who  were the leaders in Israel to fall.  They could not understand God’s plan of redemption, because it went counter to the flesh.  God become man and die for the sins of man seemed impossible, yet Isaiah and the other prophets clearly state it.  The flesh did not want to accept the picture of redemption.

 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against Luke 2:34

 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."  Romans 9:32-33

 9 And David says: "Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them. 10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, and bow down their back always." 11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.  Romans 11:9-11

 8 and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.  I Peter 2:8

 44 "And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." Luke 21:44

 Rock of offense:  Jesus is the Rock, the foundation stone.  He is also offensive to those who are opposed to God’s plan.  People are offended in Jesus, this is exactly what Isaiah tells us will happen.

 22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. Psalm 118:22

 

Testimony: The whole focus of scripture is the Jesus, he is the seal of the law and the prophets.  Jesus himself explained this,

 39 "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 "But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.  John 5:39-40

 My disciples: The Disciples of the messiah, the Lord of Hosts who is the Rock of offense.

I will wait:

Hides his face: The God of Israel is concealed from Israel, he reveals Himself through the prophets, when Jesus came into the world, His identity as the Lord of Hosts was not made public until after he was resurrected. 

Here am I:  The writer of Hebrews quotes this verse as referring to Jesus.

 

13 And again: "I will put My trust in Him." And again: "Here am I and the children whom God has given Me." 14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,  Hebrews 2:13-14

 We are for signs: God revealed Himself to Israel in signs and wonders, both in the Old and New Testaments.  In the future God will again reveal Himself in signs and wonders.  Those who are his followers the Prophets, Disciples and the Church are signs of God’s nature and person.

 

The Lost

 

In contrast to those who follow the “Rock of Offense” are those who seek after false gods, through mediums and wizards, the demonic forces.  Their end is gloom of anguish in the end they will be driven into darkness who reject the Lord.

 

19 And when they say to you, "Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter," should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. 21 They will pass through it hard pressed and hungry; and it shall happen, when they are hungry, that they will be enraged and curse their king and their God, and look upward. 22 Then they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and they will be driven into darkness. Isaiah 8:19-22

  

 

The coming light up the land of Zebulun and Naphtali

 

Continuing on the theme of the coming  Assyrian oppression,  Isaiah looks forward to a day of redemption when the King of Israel will rule over an eternal kingdom on  throne on the throne of David (Isaiah 9:7). However before that happens, he will be born as a child, he will be a “Son” given. 

   Isaiah begins the chapter 9, referring to the gloom and darkness of the Assyrian assault on the Northern Kingdom of Israel.  The land north of Judah would be occupied by Assyria and after Syria and Israel are assaulted.  Judah then would be forced to pay a heavy tax, gloom would be upon the land. 

   However into this day “Light” would shine, the coming of the Messiah who will bring redemption to Israel.  This is referring to the first coming, and the second coming is hinted at when with clothing of the warrior being used for burning and fuel of fire.

 

Isaiah 9
1 Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, As when at first He lightly esteemed The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, And afterward more heavily oppressed her, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles. 2 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. 3 You have multiplied the nation And increased its joy; They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden And the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, As in the day of Midian. 5 For every warrior's sandal from the noisy battle, And garments rolled in blood, Will be used for burning and fuel of fire. Isaiah 9:1-5

 

Zebulun...Naphtali: The land was attacked via Galilee, the Assyrian forces occupied Galilee, from that point on it became known as of the Gentiles.

 

12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 15 "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: 16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned." 17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."  Matthew 4:12-17

 Son is given

 

What is the light in the land? The First coming of Messiah, the birth and ministry of Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14) “God with us” (Isaiah 8:10). God would enter the world of humanity, born as a child. 

  

6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:6-7

  

Us: The people of Judah, the oppressed of the land, the nations of humanity.  The focus of Isaiah, though he is referring to the situation in Judah in his day, his audience is all of humanity. 

Child born: The incarnation of the Messiah, he will be born into humanity to Redeem humanity as our “Kinsman” redeemer. 

Son is given: The Messiah was the “Son of God” given for sins of the world.  He was the gift of God for our redemption from our sins. 

Government upon His shoulder: The Messiah’s kingdom is an eternal kingdom, an everlasting Kingdom, he will rule on the throne of David.

Name: His name reveals his nature.

Wonderful: alp Pele'The name of the Messiah is Yeshua (Jesus), He is salvation to the earth.   Understanding just who Messiah is

Counselor: #[y Ya`ats

Mighty God: rwbbg Gibbowr la 'el

Everlasting Father: d[ `ad ba 'ab

Prince of Peace rX Sar

No end: Since His kingdom is everlasting, his kingdom is eternal. 

Throne of David:  The throne of David, is the throne the Messiah will sit on as promised to David. 

 

12 "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 "He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 2nd Samuel 12:12-13

His kingdom: This will be the messianic kingdom, At the Second Coming the end of this age will take place.  His kingdom is the focus of the “End Times”.

Even forever

Zeal

Judgment against Israel

 

This promise of eternal redemption is in contrast to the vain human kingdoms of man as exemplified in the Syrian and Israelite attitude.  God Himself will fight against these kingdoms and their arrogant attitudes.

 

8 The Lord sent a word against Jacob, And it has fallen on Israel. 9 All the people will know-Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria-Who say in pride and arrogance of heart: 10 "The bricks have fallen down, But we will rebuild with hewn stones; The sycamores are cut down, But we will replace them with cedars." 11 Therefore the Lord shall set up The adversaries of Rezin against him, And spur his enemies on, 12 The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; And they shall devour Israel with an open mouth. For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still. 13 For the people do not turn to Him who strikes them, Nor do they seek the Lord of hosts. 14 Therefore the Lord will cut off head and tail from Israel, Palm branch and bulrush in one day. 15 The elder and honorable, he is the head; The prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail. 16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led by them are destroyed. 17 Therefore the Lord will have no joy in their young men, Nor have mercy on their fatherless and widows; For everyone is a hypocrite and an evildoer, And every mouth speaks folly. For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still. 18 For wickedness burns as the fire; It shall devour the briers and thorns, And kindle in the thickets of the forest; They shall mount up like rising smoke. 19 Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts The land is burned up, And the people shall be as fuel for the fire; No man shall spare his brother. 20 And he shall snatch on the right hand And be hungry; He shall devour on the left hand And not be satisfied; Every man shall eat the flesh of his own arm. 21 Manasseh shall devour Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh; Together they shall be against Judah. For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still. Isaiah 9:8-21

 

Judgment on Assyria

 

Assyria is referred to as the “Rod of my anger”, Assyria would be judged.  God used Assyria as an instrument of His wrath against the sinner of Israel and Judah.  One day God would judge Assyria.  The promise of redemption to Israel, despite the judgments is clear, this the focus of the Second Coming, when the Messiah comes to judge the nations.

 

Isaiah 10

1 "Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, Who write misfortune, Which they have prescribed 2 To rob the needy of justice, And to take what is right from the poor of My people, That widows may be their prey, And that they may rob the fatherless. 3 What will you do in the day of punishment, And in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your glory? 4 Without Me they shall bow down among the prisoners, And they shall fall among the slain." For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still. 5 "Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger And the staff in whose hand is My indignation. 6 I will send him against an ungodly nation, And against the people of My wrath I will give him charge, To seize the spoil, to take the prey, And to tread them down like the mire of the streets. 7 Yet he does not mean so, Nor does his heart think so; But it is in his heart to destroy, And cut off not a few nations. 8 For he says, 'Are not my princes altogether kings? 9 Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus? 10 As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, Whose carved images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria, 11 As I have done to Samaria and her idols, Shall I not do also to Jerusalem and her idols?' " 12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Lord has performed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, that He will say, "I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks." 13 For he says: "By the strength of my hand I have done it, And by my wisdom, for I am prudent; Also I have removed the boundaries of the people, And have robbed their treasuries; So I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man. 14 My hand has found like a nest the riches of the people, And as one gathers eggs that are left, I have gathered all the earth; And there was no one who moved his wing, Nor opened his mouth with even a peep." 15 Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it? Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it? As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up, Or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood!  Isaiah 10:1-15

 

The Judgment of God (Second Coming)

  

16 Therefore the Lord, the Lord of hosts, Will send leanness among his fat ones; And under his glory He will kindle a burning Like the burning of a fire. 17 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. 18 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. 19 Then the rest of the trees of his forest Will be so few in number That a child may write them. 20 And it shall come to pass in that day That the remnant of Israel, And such as have escaped of the house of Jacob, Will never again depend on him who defeated them, But will depend on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. Isaiah 10:16-20

 The Promise of Redemption

 21 The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, To the Mighty God. 22 For though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, A remnant of them will return; The destruction decreed shall overflow with righteousness. 23 For the Lord God of hosts Will make a determined end In the midst of all the land. 24 Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts: "O My people, who dwell in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrian. He shall strike you with a rod and lift up his staff against you, in the manner of Egypt. 25 "For yet a very little while and the indignation will cease, as will My anger in their destruction." 26 And the Lord of hosts will stir up a scourge for him like the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb; as His rod was on the sea, so will He lift it up in the manner of Egypt. 27 It shall come to pass in that day That his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, And his yoke from your neck, And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil. 28 He has come to Aiath, He has passed Migron; At Michmash he has attended to his equipment. 29 They have gone along the ridge, They have taken up lodging at Geba. Ramah is afraid, Gibeah of Saul has fled. 30 Lift up your voice, O daughter of Gallim! Cause it to be heard as far as Laish-O poor Anathoth! 31 Madmenah has fled, The inhabitants of Gebim seek refuge. 32 As yet he will remain at Nob that day; He will shake his fist at the mount of the daughter of Zion, The hill of Jerusalem. 33 Behold, the Lord, The Lord of hosts, Will lop off the bough with terror; Those of high stature will be hewn down, And the haughty will be humbled. 34 He will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, And Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One.  Isaiah 10:21-34

Click to expand Chart below