Sermon notes

INTRODUCTION Yahweh sends Assyria as an axe to lop down the proud trees of Judah (10:33-34). But the Lord will also bring new growth from the stump of Jesse, a new Davidic king (11:1). THE TEXT “Behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, will lop off the bough with terror; those of high stature . . . . Continue Reading »

Chiasm in Isaiah 10

Isaiah 10:5-15 seems to be organized in a chiastic order. A. Rod and staff, v 5 B. Plunder, v. 6 C. Boast of Assyria, vv. 8-11 D. Yahweh’s response, limiting Assyria’s power, v. 12 C’/B’. Assyria’s boast/plunder, vv. 13-14 A’. Axe, Saw, Rod, Staff, v. 15 This . . . . Continue Reading »

Buz Buz

Isaiah 10:6 warns that the Assyrians are coming to “spoil spoil, and to prey prey.” Both words are doubled, and the poetic equality of the phrase is enhanced by the fact that the Hebrew word for “prey” is baz - bazaz in its verb form, baz in its noun form. In Isaiah 10:6 . . . . Continue Reading »

People of wrath

In Isaiah 10:6, Yahweh describes Israel as a “people of wrath” ( ‘am ‘avrati ). Like other phrases that Isaiah uses to describe godless Israel, this one is a pun. ‘avarah puns first with ‘ever , or Eber, the ancestor of the Jews and the source of the name . . . . Continue Reading »

Sermon notes

INTRODUCTION Yahweh has pronounced “woes” against Judah and Israel, and many of these woes involve invasion, defeat, and exile at the hands of the Assyrians (cf. 7:17-20; 8:5-8, 21-22; 10:3-4). But Yahweh is the Judge of all the earth, and so Assyria too will be held accountable for her . . . . Continue Reading »

Bricks

Babel is the first brick construction in Scripture (Genesis 11:3). They burn earthy clay to make it into building material for the city and teh tower that reaches to heaven. Egypt also deals in brick, and puts Israel to work making the bricks for its storage cities, its neo-Babels (Exodus 1:14; . . . . Continue Reading »

Oppressors

Oppression is an Egypt-word in Scripture, the root of the noun “taskmasters” in Exodus (3:7; 5:6, 10, 13, 14). But Egypt is not the only oppressor. The next time the word is used is in Deuteronomy 15, where anyone who refuses to release debtors in the seventh year is considering an . . . . Continue Reading »

First and Last, Light and Heavy

Isaiah 9:1 is structured around a contrast between the “beginning time” and the “after time.” In the beginning time, Yahweh treats the land of Zebulun and Naphtali “lightly,” but in the after time, He will cause it to be heavy, glorious. This movement from light . . . . Continue Reading »

Structure in Isaiah 9:3

Isaiah 9:3 is organized in a fairly neat chiasm, with a triple use of the word “joy” ( samach ) in the center: A. You multiply the nation B. You make great their joy ( simchah ) C. They rejoice ( samach ) before you B’. As the joy ( simchah ) in harvest A’. As men are glad ( . . . . Continue Reading »

Islands of the sea

There’s land, and there’s sea. Israel and the nations. What then are islands? Bits of land within the sea. Kings of the islands bring tribute to the Davidic king (Psalm 72:10), and the islands rejoice when God reigns over the earth (97:1). Isaiah 11:11 says that the Lord will recall His . . . . Continue Reading »