Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Isaiah 10:20

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

Assyria’s pride and punishment (10:5-34)

God is angry with the rebellious people of Israel and has used Assyria to punish them (5-6). Assyria, however, has no concern for God’s purposes and thinks it has won its victories by its own might. It therefore decides to attack Jerusalem, confident that it will conquer Judah as it has conquered other nations (7-9). It thinks that because the gods of other nations have not been able to save them from Assyria’s might, the God of Judah will not be able to save Jerusalem (10-11). This boastful self-confidence and lack of respect for Yahweh is Assyria’s big mistake. God will not allow it to go unpunished (12-14).
Assyria is merely a tool that God uses to do his work, but when that tool tries to make itself greater than the one who uses it, it must be destroyed. Assyria will come to a humiliating end. It will be like a mighty forest that is burnt down, like a strong soldier who grows sick and dies (15-19).
Israel may be destroyed and Judah attacked, but God will always preserve the remnant of faithful believers who trust in him and not in military alliances. Those who trust in Assyria will come under Assyria’s power, and in the end will cause their nation to be taken into captivity. But a remnant will return and rebuild the nation (20-23).
On the basis of these certainties, Isaiah appeals to Judah once again not to fear Assyria nor to ask help from it. Assyria will be defeated, just as enemies in Israel’s past history have been (24-27). Isaiah then paints a vivid picture of an Assyrian attack on Jerusalem - the setting up of the base camp, the rapid approach over the mountains and through the valleys, the conquest of towns along the way, the flight of the citizens (28-32). But the Assyrian army is suddenly smashed by God, like a giant tree that is chopped down and comes crashing to the ground (33-34).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and they that are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again lean upon him that smote them, but shall lean upon Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel in truth. A remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. For though thy people, Israel, be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them shall return: a destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness. For a full end, and that determined, will the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, make in the midst of the earth.”

It should be remembered that the name of Isaiah’s first son Shear-jashub has the meaning of, “A remnant shall return,” thus certifying the authenticity and early date of Isaiah’s receiving these great prophecies of the wholesale destruction of Israel, the deportation of the nation as a whole, and the return of a small remnant.

It is significant that here the prophet takes one of the titles of the Messianic Prince given in Isaiah 9 and applies it to Almighty God himself.

There is a prophecy in these verses that Israel “in that day” will no longer rely upon alliances with foreign powers as Ahaz had done in the case of Assyria; and Cheyne pointed out that indeed all of this came to pass during the Babylonian captivity. “`The remnant’ of Israel was weaned from its false confidences and returned to God.”T. K. Cheyne’s Commentary, p. 73. After the return of the “remnant,” there were never any more examples of Israel lapsing into idolatry.

As Archer observed, “No matter how small a fraction `that remnant’ might prove to be, after the judgments of God had fallen on the apostate nation, the future would lie with them.”Gleason L. Archer, Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 620.

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

And it shall come to pass - The prophet proceeds to state the effect on the Jews, of the judgment that would overtake the army of the Assyrian. One of those effects, as stated in this verse, would be, that they would be led to see that it was in vain to look to the Assyrians any more for aid, or to form any further alliance with them, but that they should trust in the Lord alone.

The remnant of Israel - Those that would be left after the Assyrian had invaded and desolated the land.

Shall no more again stay - Shall no more depend on them. Alliances had been formed with the Assyrians for aid, and they had resulted as all alliances formed between the friends and the enemies of God do. They are observed as long as it is for the interest or the convenience of God’s enemies to observe them; and then his professed friends are made the victims of persecution, invasion, and ruin.

Upon him that smote them - Upon the Assyrian, who was about to desolate the land. The calamities which he would bring upon them would be the main thing which would open their eyes, and lead them to forsake the alliance. One design of God’s permitting the Assyrians to invade the land, was, to punish them for this alliance, and to induce them to trust in God.

But shall stay ... - They shall depend upon Yahweh, or shall trust in him for protection and defense.

The Holy One of Israel - see Isaiah 10:17.

In truth - They shall serve him sincerely and heartily, not with feigned or divided service. They shall be so fully satisfied that the Assyrian cannot aid them, and be so severely punished forever, having formed an alliance with him, that they shall now return to Yahweh, and become his sincere worshippers. In this verse, the prophet refers, doubtless, to the times of Hezekiah, and to the extensive reformation, and general prevalence of piety, which would take place under his reign; 2 Chronicles 32:22-33. Vitringa, Cocceius, Schmidius, etc., however, refer this to the time of the Messiah; Vitringa supposing that the prophet refers “immediately” to the times of Hezekiah, but in a secondary sense, for the complete fulfillment of the prophecy, to the times of the Messiah. But it is not clear that he had reference to any other period than that which would immediately follow the invasion of Sennacherib.

Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

20It shall be in that day. Returning now to the elect people, he describes the result of the chastisement which was at hand. As it is painful and disagreeable to us to endure calamities and afflictions, and as we refuse them so far as lies in our power, the Lord points out to us the result of them, that we may be taught to consider the design of them, and may thus bear more patiently: as if he had said, “You would wish that the Assyrians were driven to a great distance from you, and that you could live in comfort and safety. But consider, that this chastisement is as necessary as medicine would be for curing your diseases; for you do not acknowledge the power of God, and you withdraw your confidence from him to give it to wicked men. It is truly wretched to place the hope of salvation in enemies, and to rely on those who aim at nothing but your destruction.” In like manner, Israel relied sometimes on the Assyrians and sometimes on the Egyptians.

But shall stay upon the Lord We ought not to despise this compensation made for the diminished numbers of the people, that the small portion which survived the calamity learned to place their hope in God. Hence we see more clearly how necessary it was that God should chastise Israel. The mitigation which he holds out, that still a remnant is left, among whom the true worship of God is maintained, is fitted to yield very high consolation.

In truth. This phrase is not superfluous; for until the Lord had afflicted them, all wished to be accounted the children of Abraham — all made profession of the faith, and indiscriminately worshipped God; but it was mere pretense. Isaiah therefore reproves this hypocrisy, and says that their hope will afterwards be true and sincere when they shall have been cleansed from impostures; for although they very haughtily boasted of their confidence in God, still they continued to place their confidence in the assistance of the Assyrians. Consequently, when they shall be chastised by their hand, they will learn to trust in God alone, and will withdraw their heart from the assistance of men. Hence infer that we cannot place our confidence in God unless we altogether withhold our heart from creatures; for we ought to rely on God alone in such a manner as not to think it a hardship to renounce all other grounds of confidence. Where this perfect confidence does not exist, there is no room for truth; for the heart is divided and double. (Psalms 12:2.)

Smith's Bible Commentary

Chapter 10

Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! ( Isaiah 10:1-2 )

And this is the thing that upsets me most. I think about these computerized letters and all. If they go out to these poor little widows on Social Security and these little, you know, these people are sending in their money to these guys that are driving Cadillacs and living high. That just galls me. They're making a prey of the widows; they're robbing the fatherless. These people that can't afford it, and yet they don't have enough sense to read between the lines and they send in their pension money to these fellows. Oh, that is upsetting to me. They live in fancy mansions and... God's going to deal with them. Woe unto them! You bet your woe!

In II Peter, chapter 2, "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you." How are you going to know them? "Who privately will bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through [this is how you recognize them, through] covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you" ( 2 Peter 2:1-3 ).

Any time a person by flattery or feigned words seeks to make merchandise of you, you know he's a false prophet. A true shepherd is interested in feeding the flock rather than fleecing the flock. Pray for me. God help me. I could... The Bible says suffer not thy mouth to cause thee to sin. And I have to be careful that I don't let my mouth get me into deeper trouble.

And what will you do in the day of visitation ( Isaiah 10:3 ),

That is the day when God visits in His judgment.

in desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory? Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still ( Isaiah 10:3-4 ).

Going deeper and deeper, and yet they continue in their ways and God's hand is still stretched out. So God is going to use Assyria now as a rod to punish the Northern Kingdom.

O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against a hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither does his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings? Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus? ( Isaiah 10:5-9 )

In other words, I've destroyed these other capital cities. I've destroyed these other nations, and aren't one just like another? I'll just go through and wipe them all out.

Now here's an interesting thing. God says, "I'm going to use Assyria as the rod of my judgment to come down and to wipe out Samaria." And yet, though Assyria is used as God's rod of judgment, because Assyria destroys God's people, then God's going to wipe out Assyria. They didn't realize that they were being used of God in this and they began being lifted up in pride.

Now the interesting thing when you go back into Chronicles and you read of Hezekiah, when Sennacherib came against Jerusalem and he began to challenge the men who were sitting there on the wall, he said, "Don't let Hezekiah the king tell you that God is going to take care of things. That God will defend you. For where are the gods of the Syrians?" And he began to name all of these nations that they have conquered. "Their gods weren't able to help them and neither is your God able to help you. Don't listen to Hezekiah. He's telling you just, you know, 'Don't worry, God can take care.' Listen, the other gods weren't able to handle them and your God isn't able to handle you." And the very thing that Isaiah predicted is actually the very taunt that the Assyrian ambassador spoke against the people.

And so because God said, "Because they said I'm not able to defend, watch what I'm going to do." And in one night the angel of the Lord went through the camp of the Assyrians and wiped out 185,000 of the first line troops. Just broke the back of the Assyrian invasion. They woke up in the morning, the Israelis did, and looked out, and their enemy was just nothing but a bunch of corpses out there. A hundred and eighty-five thousand in one night. An angel of the Lord.

That is always interesting to me to realize what one angel can do in one night, because I remember the statement of Jesus when Peter drew his sword to defend the Lord. You know, so many times we're seeking to defend the Lord. "I'll defend You, Lord." The day the Lord needs my defense He's in big trouble. The day He...just like the day He needs my support to keep His program going. If He's not able to keep His own program going, I'll never keep it up. Jesus said to Peter, "Hey, put away your sword. Don't you realize, Peter, I could call ten thousand angels that would come to my defense right now? In fact, they're chomping at the bit. Don't you realize I could call 10,000 angels? Put your sword away, Peter. The cup that the Father has given Me to drink, shall I not drink it? I'm in control, Peter. Don't worry about. I'm on the throne; I'm in control, Peter. Put your sword away now. I'm in control. I could call 10,000. I could get out of this if I wanted," is what He is saying. "But the cup that the Father has given Me to drink, shall I not drink it?"

If one angel could wipe out 185,000 Assyrians in one night, surely the 10,000 angels could have delivered Him easily out of the hand of those Roman soldiers and the high priest and anybody else. But He drank the cup for you and for me. He submitted Himself unto the will of the Father and He paid the price that you might have redemption. That you might have the forgiveness of your sins. That you might be able to dwell with Him eternally in His kingdom.

Now, inasmuch as He has purchased that for you, isn't it rather ridiculous that a person not accept now the offer that He gives? Since He's paid the price for it. And all you have to do is accept it. It is rather foolish not to accept it.

So the Assyrians are going to be lifted up with pride because God is delivering Samaria into their hands. They're going to think that they've done it themselves.

As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria ( Isaiah 10:10 );

In other words, they're going to think that their gods are superior and that's why they are conquering these other lands, because their gods are superior. And that's exactly what Sennacherib said. Rabshakeh who was the spokesman for Sennacherib.

Wherefore it shall come to pass, when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and upon Jerusalem, I will punish [the Assyrians,] those with a stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks ( Isaiah 10:12 ).

"I'll put him down," and God did. Wiped them out, 185,000. And Rabshakeh went back and was assassinated in his temple, even as the prophet declared he would be.

For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, I have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped ( Isaiah 10:13-14 ).

So the Assyrian began to exalt himself. "I, I, I, I have done all of this," not realizing that he was just a tool that God had used. He was just an instrument that God had used. And inasmuch as he was just an instrument in the hand of God, God said,

Shall the axe boast itself against him that chops with it? ( Isaiah 10:15 )

The axe is only the instrument. The axe without a man's hand, without the man's arm is just lying there dormant. It can't do a thing. It's only when the axe is being used by a man that it can have any value in chopping.

shall the saw boast against the guy who is shaking it? ( Isaiah 10:15 )

In other words, the instrument should never seek to take glory in itself. The glory should go to the one who uses the instrument, for the instrument by itself can do nothing.

Now what a lesson that is for us tonight who seek to be instruments in the hand of God. "Shall the axe boast against him that hews with it or the saw against him who is shaking it?" All I can be is an instrument in the hand of God. Anything that comes forth of any value out of my life I cannot take credit for it. I am only an instrument, and if God's hand isn't upon me, if God isn't using me, then whatever I do is absolutely worthless and useless. Without God's hand I'm just lying dormant. I can't do a thing. Of and in myself I can do nothing. And therefore it would be totally wrong and foolish for me to try to take credit for anything that God has wrought, because at best I am only an instrument in the hand of God. And the glory and the credit to whatever has been accomplished should always go to God, never to the instrument. The instrument is never to boast or glory itself or in itself. It is only an instrument and nothing more.

Your life is just an instrument in the hand of God. And if God uses you, praise the Lord, that's great. But don't take glory for it. Don't think, "Oh, look at me, God used me. Well, the reason why He used me is because I was so sharp." You know, some way we want to get credit in there for ourselves. Not so. Just be an instrument. Let God use you. And then give glory to God for whatever comes of it, because to God be the glory, great things He has done.

as if the rod could shake itself ( Isaiah 10:15 )

Can't. Assyria's My rod but it can't shake itself.

against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood. Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day; and shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standardbearer fainteth. And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them ( Isaiah 10:15-19 ).

In other words, He's going to wipe them out and a child will be able to count the remnant that remains. And a child could count the soldiers that came back from the Assyrian invasion of Judah after God fulfilled His word and wiped them out. Because of their pride, because they began to glory in themselves, rather than the fact that God was using them.

Now Isaiah looks forward to a yet future day, very soon to be fulfilled. When God preserves His remnant in the Great Tribulation, as God takes the remnant and preserves them down at the rock city of Petra during the time of the Great Tribulation. We will get more of this when we get to chapter 16 and chapter 26. But now Isaiah looks forward to the Great Tribulation.

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth ( Isaiah 10:20 ).

You see, they have been deceived by the antichrist, who when he comes into power, he makes a covenant with the nation Israel whereby he helps them to rebuild their temple. And because he helps them to build their temple, they're going to acclaim him as their Messiah. An interesting thing today, if you go to Israel and you ask them about the Messiah, of course, they disclaim Jesus Christ as being the Messiah. You talk to the Orthodox Jew, they'll tell you they're expecting the Messiah any time. In fact, there's a little prophet going up and down the streets of Jerusalem telling them that their Messiah is coming in 1981, '82. And the people are generally looking for the Messiah because the nation is in very serious shape. In fact, forty percent of the people in Israel in a recent poll said that they would prefer a dictator to their present form of government. Because the government has been inept in handling the crisis of the inflation and so forth, and people are really discouraged with their present form of government. Forty percent said they would like to see a dictatorship.

Now to these people, you talk to the Orthodox Jew and you say, "How are you going to recognize your Messiah when He comes?" And they will tell you, "He will help us build our temple." That's what the Orthodox Jew is looking for. A man to come and help them build their temple. Now that is what the antichrist is going to do. Jesus said, "I came to you in my Father's name, you did not receive Me. Another is going to come in his own name and him you're going to receive" ( John 5:43 ). And they're going to hail this man. They're going to acclaim him, "This is the Messiah." They said, "We're not looking for a divine Son of God. We're looking for a man like Moses. He's going to be just a man like Moses is a man, but he'll help us build our temple." I've had them tell me that over and over again.

Now the Bible tells us that's exactly what's going to happen. The prince of the people shall come, will make a covenant with the nation Israel, but in the midst of the seven-year period, after three-and-a-half years he'll break the covenant as he comes to the rebuilt temple, stands it and declares that he himself is God. So here we read about that.

The remnant that escaped. Jesus said when that happens, when you see the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place, as was spoken by Daniel the prophet, then flee to the wilderness. Don't even stop in your house to get your coat. Get out of here. So the remnant that flees from Jerusalem will no more again trust in the antichrist, but here will be the national conversion and they will turn to the Lord and begin to trust in Him. They will stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel in truth. And they're going to turn, tremendous revival.

The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet only a remnant of them shall return: and the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness ( Isaiah 10:21-22 ).

God will destroy through the judgment the world, but just a remnant will make it through.

For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land ( Isaiah 10:23 ).

The Great Tribulation period.

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt. For yet a little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction. And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt. And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing ( Isaiah 10:24-27 ).

That yoke that the antichrist puts upon them and all will be destroyed.

Now we are approaching the battle of Armageddon.

He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his [tanks, chariots or] carriages ( Isaiah 10:28 ):

Up into the area of Megiddo.

They are gone over the passage: they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled. Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim: cause it to be heard unto Laish, O poor Anathoth. Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee. As yet shall he remain at Nob that day: he shall shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem. Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled. And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one ( Isaiah 10:29-34 ).

So the prediction of this coming, gathering together of the nations for the battle of Armageddon as they are gathering their tanks and all together in the area for the huge battle.

Now it is interesting that following in order, the eleventh chapter where we begin next week deals with the return of Jesus Christ in glory. "And there shall come forth the rod out of the stem of Jesse" ( Isaiah 11:1 ). And chapter 11 gets into the glorious Kingdom Age which we are seeing now. Of course, this chapter 10 as its beginning to frame around us the great day of the wrath of God. But to be followed by the glorious Kingdom Age.

So as you get into chapter 11, we get into a whole new dimension now as we move beyond this great slaughter and desolation to the glorious day of the Lord and the establishment of His kingdom. What a day that shall be! So next week we will continue chapters 11-15 in the prophecy of Isaiah.

Shall we stand.

May the Lord be with you and may your life be an instrument in God's hand this week. May you have that unusual joy of realizing God's hand is upon my life. He has used me. May God help you to share His love with those that are still sitting in darkness. And may you experience the anointing of God's Spirit upon your life in a new and a very special way as He empowers you to do His work. In Jesus' name. "

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

The destruction of the destroyer 10:5-34

This segment presents Yahweh as the transcendent God who controls the destiny of all nations. He creates history just as He created the cosmos. The victory of the Assyrians did not prove the superiority of her gods, nor did Judah’s defeat mean that Yahweh was inferior. The whole passage contrasts sovereignties: Assyria’s and Yahweh’s.

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

In some future day, the remnant (cf. Isaiah 6:13; Isaiah 7:3) who escaped annihilation by the Assyrians would no longer trust in man for deliverance, as Ahaz and Judah did before the Assyrian takeover. They would learn this most important lesson and truly trust in Yahweh, the holy one of Israel. Thus Israel would be the really wise and strong nation, not Assyria (cf. Isaiah 10:13). Israel, as well as Assyria (Isaiah 10:19), would have a remnant left over after the Lord’s destruction of both nations.

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

The promise of restoration 10:20-27

The focus of the prophecy shifts from Assyria to Israel.

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And it shall come to pass in that day,.... Here begins a prophecy relating to the people of Israel, and concerns things that should befall them after the destruction of the Babylonish monarchy, which after Nebuchadnezzar did not last long; there were but two kings after him mentioned in Scripture, Evilmerodach, and Belshazzar; so that its tall trees, its kings, were very few, so few that a child might count them; and what is after said is for the comfort of that people, and seems to refer to the times of the Gospel, as appears by some words in the context cited by the Apostle Paul:

[that] the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob; who should return from the Babylonish captivity, and be settled in their own land:

shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; either on the kings of Egypt, who were originally their oppressors, and in whom they had been so foolish as to put their trust and confidence, they being but a broken staff and reed, Isaiah 30:2 or on the king of Assyria, in the time of Ahaz, who made him pay tribute, and afterwards fought against him:

but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth; that is, upon Christ, the Lord of all, and King of saints; the Lord their righteousness, and from whom they have their holiness: to stay or lean on him is expressive of faith in him, of reliance and dependence on him, and trust in him; which is done in sincerity and uprightness of soul, unfeigned and without dissimulation; not in profession only, but in reality, and as nakedly revealed in the Gospel, without type and figure; for this respects Gospel times, in which the shadows of the law are gone, and Christ, as the object of faith, appears unveiled, being come a High Priest of good things to come. The Targum is they

"shall no more lean on the people whom they served; but they shall lean upon the Word of the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth;''

that is, on the essential Word, the Messiah: this was the case of a few of them, a remnant according to the election of grace, as the following words show.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.   21 The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.   22 For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.   23 For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.

      The prophet had said (Isaiah 10:12; Isaiah 10:12) that the Lord would perform his whole work upon Mount Zion and upon Jerusalem, by Sennacherib's invading the land. Now here we are told what that work should be, a twofold work:--

      I. The conversion of some, to whom this providence should be sanctified and yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness, though for the present it was not joyous, but grievous; these are but a remnant (Isaiah 10:22; Isaiah 10:22), the remnant of Israel (Isaiah 10:20; Isaiah 10:20), the remnant of Jacob (Isaiah 10:21; Isaiah 10:21), but a very few in comparison with the vast numbers of the people of Israel, who were as the sand of the sea. Note, Converting work is wrought but on a remnant, who are distinguished from the rest and set apart for God. When we see how populous Israel is, how numerous the members of the visible church are, as the sand of the sea, and yet consider that of these a remnant only shall be saved, that of the many that are called there are but few chosen, we shall surely strive to enter in at the strait gate and fear lest we seem to come short. This remnant of Israel are said to be such as had escaped of the house of Jacob, such as escaped the corruptions of the house of Jacob, and kept their integrity in times of common apostasy; and that was a fair escape. And therefore they escape the desolations of that house, and shall be preserved in safety in times of common calamity; and that also will be a fair and narrow escape. Their lives shall be given them for a prey,Jeremiah 45:5. The righteous scarcely are saved. Now, 1. This remnant shall come off from all confidence in an arm of flesh, this providence shall cure them of that: "They shall no more again stay upon him that smote them, shall never depend upon the Assyrians, as they have done, for help against their other enemies, finding that they are themselves their worst enemies." Ictus piscator sapit--sufferings teach caution. "They have now learned by dear-bought experience the folly of leaning upon that staff as a stay to them which may perhaps prove a staff to beat them." It is part of the covenant of a returning people (Hosea 14:3), Assyria shall not save us. Note, By our afflictions we may learn not to make creatures our confidence. 2. They shall come home to God, to the mighty God (one of the names given to the Messiah, Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 9:6), to the Holy One of Israel: "The remnant shall return (that was signified by the name of the prophet's son, Shear-jashub,Isaiah 7:3; Isaiah 7:3), even the remnant of Jacob. They shall return, after the raising of the siege of Jerusalem, not only to the quiet possession of their houses and lands, but to God and to their duty; they shall repent, and pray, and seek his face, and reform their lives." The remnant that escape are a returning remnant: they shall return to God, and shall stay upon him. Note, Those only may with comfort stay upon God that return to him; then may we have a humble confidence in God when we make conscience of our duty to him. They shall stay upon the Holy One of Israel, in truth, and not in pretence and profession only. This promise of the conversion and salvation of a remnant of Israel is applied by the apostle (Romans 9:27) to the remnant of the Jews which at the first preaching of the gospel received and entertained it, and sufficiently proves that it was no new thing for God to abandon to ruin a great many of the seed of Abraham in full force and virtue; for so it was now. The number of the children of Israel was as the sand of the sea (according to the promise, Genesis 22:17), and yet only a remnant shall be saved.

      II. The consumption of others: The Lord God of hosts shall make a consumption,Isaiah 10:23; Isaiah 10:23. This is not meant (as that Isaiah 10:18; Isaiah 10:18) of the consumption of the Assyrian army, but of the consumption of the estates and families of many of the Jews by the Assyrian army. This is taken notice of to magnify the power and goodness of God in the escape of the distinguished remnant, and to let us know what shall become of those that will not return to God; they shall be wasted away by this consumption, this general decay in the midst of the land. Observe, 1. It is a consumption of God's own making; he is the author of it. The Lord God of hosts, whom none can resist, shall make this consumption. 2. It is decreed. It is not the product of a sudden resolve, but was before ordained. It is determined, not only that there shall be such a consumption, but it is cut out (so the word is); it is particularly appointed how far it shall extend and how long it shall continue, who shall be consumed by it and who not. 3. It is an overflowing consumption, that shall overspread the land, and, like a mighty torrent or inundation, bear down all before it. 4. Though it overflows, it is not at random, but in righteousness, which signifies both wisdom and equity. God will justly bring this consumption upon a provoking people, but he will wisely and graciously set bounds to it. Hitherto it shall come, and no further.