Arrogant Pride is Judged

Isaiah 10:1-15

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!

Not only did the Lord pronounce certain judgment on Israel by unleashing just wrath for their sin on their heads without relenting, but He also judged the proud and arrogant of Assyria who imagined their power which went to their heads would destroy God’s people as well.  The unjust of both could not escape the divine judgment allowed to them as spoken by Isaiah.  God had used Assyria as a tool to enact judgment on disobedient Israel out of Samaria, but there were limits set and accountability for their actions as well.  God recompenses evil unless grace consumes it.  He sent the Assyrians to overcome the ungodly under His wrath on their sin, but their pride made them assume it was all their ability and strength instead of the Lord’s.  He used them to take out the idols in Jerusalem as they had in Samaria, but then He was done with that unwieldy sword of justice and punished its holder for the arrogance and proud countenance against Him and His people that had been disciplined by that punishment.  Yes, the Assyrian king lifted himself up by claiming the wisdom and strength for himself instead of giving the glory to God who gave these for a higher purpose.  The Assyrian king imagined himself to be valiant and wise, but became a fool as he robbed the nest of the helpless.  Isaiah passed the judgment of God to him by parables of tools supposing that they did the work like an ax or saw, a rod or a staff, not understanding that it was the hand (God’s) which wielded the tool (Assyria) and not the tool itself.  This principle applies not only to enacting God’s work of justice in judgment but also in any work He gives us to do.  Only our arrogance and pride assume that it is our doing by our wisdom or strength which works through us.  We can do all things appointed for us through Christ who strengthens us, but it is His work in and through us and not our own.  We do well to learn these things, especially when we endure discipline (Hebrews 12:5-6) to correct us by the love of God and in his goodness of grace.  May we yield as willing instruments of grace with humility and not claim his work as our own or boast in the wisdom and power which are the Lord’s (Philippians 2:13).  May we be instead used by God in all humility according to His word and in His strength.  We will be lifted up by His mighty hand in lowering ourselves (1 Peter 5:6).