Isaiah 9:8-10:4 Word to Israel, The Moment of Decision
“For all this his anger has not turned away,
And his hand is stretched out still.”
J. Alec Motyer sees in Isaiah 9:8-11:16, a repeated sequence similar to 7:1-9:7, however, directed at the northern kingdom. We have here the moment of decision, followed by a pronouncement of judgement, followed by a description of the remnant, ending with a vision of the glorious hope.
John N. Oswalt has a different framework overlaid on this section that compliments Motyer. Where 7:1-9:7 was all about Judah turning to Assyria to trust them instead of God, this “Moment of Decision” poem here in 9:8-10:4 shows Israel being judged for their rejection, leading to a word of judgment against God’s tool, Asyria. Both larger sections culminate in the glorious hope of the Messianic reign.
In any case, what we have here is Isaiah’s words against Israel, the northern kingdom. If Judah had turned to Assyria to protect it from the threat of Israel, was Judah not right? After all Assyria was going to “save” Judah from Israel. The answer is no. Assyria is merely a tool in YHWH’s hands. Israel would be judged by God using Assyria to exile it. However, Judah will also be judged by God using Assyria. Israel will be conquered; Judah will be punished.
Here in 9:8-10:4, we see the reasoning why Israel needed to be exiled. They have abandoned the Word of YHWH. God has sent his word, but Israel has ignored His warnings and prophecies. They are self-reliant where Judah looked to other nations. “If our stuff gets knocked down, we will just rebuild!” (9:8-12). As they rely on themselves, their leaders and prophets (the head and the tail) ignore God. Both the guides and the guided ignore God’s warnings to return to Him. (9:13-17). Ignoring God’s Word, wickedness increases and is unabated. The people turn on each other as community collapses and the people look to their individual appetites. Even this serves as a taste of God’s judgment on wickedness. The people receive the just consequences of their sins (9:18-21). Woe is pronounced on the northern kingdom and its leaders (10:1-4).
J. Alec Motyer sees in Isaiah 9:8-11:16, a repeated sequence similar to 7:1-9:7, however, directed at the northern kingdom. We have here the moment of decision, followed by a pronouncement of judgement, followed by a description of the remnant, ending with a vision of the glorious hope.
John N. Oswalt has a different framework overlaid on this section that compliments Motyer. Where 7:1-9:7 was all about Judah turning to Assyria to trust them instead of God, this “Moment of Decision” poem here in 9:8-10:4 shows Israel being judged for their rejection, leading to a word of judgment against God’s tool, Asyria. Both larger sections culminate in the glorious hope of the Messianic reign.
In any case, what we have here is Isaiah’s words against Israel, the northern kingdom. If Judah had turned to Assyria to protect it from the threat of Israel, was Judah not right? After all Assyria was going to “save” Judah from Israel. The answer is no. Assyria is merely a tool in YHWH’s hands. Israel would be judged by God using Assyria to exile it. However, Judah will also be judged by God using Assyria. Israel will be conquered; Judah will be punished.
Here in 9:8-10:4, we see the reasoning why Israel needed to be exiled. They have abandoned the Word of YHWH. God has sent his word, but Israel has ignored His warnings and prophecies. They are self-reliant where Judah looked to other nations. “If our stuff gets knocked down, we will just rebuild!” (9:8-12). As they rely on themselves, their leaders and prophets (the head and the tail) ignore God. Both the guides and the guided ignore God’s warnings to return to Him. (9:13-17). Ignoring God’s Word, wickedness increases and is unabated. The people turn on each other as community collapses and the people look to their individual appetites. Even this serves as a taste of God’s judgment on wickedness. The people receive the just consequences of their sins (9:18-21). Woe is pronounced on the northern kingdom and its leaders (10:1-4).
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