Below are some preliminary questions to assist in the study of this passage. For a comprehensive study of the passage, download the Study Guide (PDF download).
1. In Isaiah 7:5-8 the Lord had declared that He would oppose Israel’s ungodly alliance with Syria and their goal of destroying Judah. Now, Israel is beginning to experience the Lord’s opposition to their evil course—perhaps by this time the Assyrians had begun their advance into Israel. But what is Israel’s reaction to this calamity ordained by God in His opposition to their sinful endeavor to conquer Judah? See Isaiah 9:8-10 (printed below)
The Lord has sent a message against Jacob; it will fall upon Israel. (9) All the people will experience it; namely, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, those who say with pride and arrogant hearts, (10) “The bricks have crumbled, but we will rebuild with stone cut out of the quarry; the sycamore trees have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.” (Isaiah 9:8-10)
The nation of Israel exhibited a spirit of pride and arrogance; they are described as speaking “with pride and arrogant hearts” (literally, “greatness of heart;” i.e.; stout, hard, defiant hearts). Their heart is swollen with arrogance, self-determination, and defiance. Far from being humbled and becoming repentant as a result of the chastening judgments of the Lord, they are resolutely determined not to give in but to resist. They are determined to withstand God and rebuild on an even grander scale: “The bricks have crumbled, but we will rebuild with stone cut out of the quarry; the sycamore trees have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.”
2. What is the Lord’s response to Israel’s attitude? See Isaiah 9:11-12 (printed below) Note: “Rezin” is the king of Syria, his foes are the Assyrians, and the pronoun “them” is a reference to Israel. Thus, Isaiah is telling us that the Assyrians would conquer Syria and then successfully advance against Israel.
Therefore Jehovah will strengthen Rezin’s foes against them, and will stir up their enemies against them. (12) The Syrians from the east and the Philistines from the west shall devour all of Israel with their mouths wide open. Yet, despite all this, Jehovah’s anger is not pacified, his hand is still raised against them. (Isaiah 9:11-12)
Because of this spirit of defiant pride and arrogance exhibited by Israel in the face of His former judgments, the Lord will now bring upon them even greater judgments. “Jehovah will strengthen Rezin’s foes against them”—the Lord will not only allow the Assyrians (defined as “Rezin’s foes”) to defeat Syria, but to defeat Israel as well (literally, they will be “set up on high against” Israel). Consequently, the Syrians, now under the control of Assyria, would conquer the ten northern tribes of Israel. Furthermore, the Philistines would attack the two southern tribes of Israel, namely, Judah—as is described in 2 Chronicles 28:16-19; thus, all of Israel would suffer at the hands of foreign aggressors. Isaiah now goes on to declare, “Yet, despite all this, Jehovah’s anger is not pacified, his hand is still raised against them” (9:12b). That is to say, because of the people’s arrogant defiance in the face of the Lord’s chastening judgments (note verse 13), His anger is not pacified—because His acts of judgment have met with resistance rather than repentance, the Lord will continue to set Himself against these people who persist in their sin.
3. How are the people of Israel described in Isaiah 9:13 (printed below?) What consequence will they now suffer because of their attitude and behavior? See Isaiah 9:14 (printed below)
But the people still have not returned to the one who struck them, nor have they sought Jehovah of hosts. (Isaiah 9:13)
Therefore, in a single day Jehovah will cut off from Israel both “the head” and “the tail,” both “the palm branch” and “the reed” (Isaiah 9:14)
In spite of what they have thus far suffered, the people have not turned to Him who has struck them (verse 13). In administering His chastening, the Lord’s design and desire was to bring these people back to Him in repentance and restoration (cp. Psalm 119:67,71,75). Unlike their forefathers (cp. Judges 6:1,6), this generation has shown itself to be incorrigible—incapable of learning from the correction the Lord brings into their lives, demonstrating a refusal to be reformed. Consequently, “in a single day Jehovah will cut off from Israel both ‘the head’ and ‘the tail,’ both ‘the palm branch’ and ‘the reed’” (verse14). Because of their incorrigible spirit in the face of God’s partial judgments, the Lord will enact a total judgment against these people (cutting off both “the head” and “the tail;”) and He will do so with incredible swiftness (“in a single day”)—cp. Proverbs 29:1.
4. Who does the Lord especially hold responsible for the present moral and spiritual state of the nation? See Isaiah 9:15-16 (printed below)
…the elders and prominent men are “the head,” and the prophets who teach lies are “the tail.” (16) All this will happen because those who lead these people cause them to go astray, and those who are being led will be destroyed. (Isaiah 9:15-16)
As verses 15-16 indicate, the political and religious leaders are held to blame for the moral and spiritual state of the nation. The political leaders supported the popular practices of injustice and made no effort to enforce God’s moral law (10:1-2). The religious leaders acquiesced to the people’s desire and proclaimed a message of peace and immunity from judgment, instead of calling for the repentance that would result in true peace and communion with God (Isaiah 30:9-11). But, as 9:16b indicates, the people themselves are also held accountable for their conduct: “those who lead these people cause them to go astray, and those who are being led will be destroyed.”
5. What sin is being condemned in Isaiah 10:1-2 (printed below?) What question is posed to those people who practice this sin and what answer is given? See Isaiah 10:3-4a (printed below)
Woe to those who make unjust laws and those who record mischievous decisions—(2) intended to deprive the powerless of justice and to rob the poor among my people of their rights, so that widows may be their spoil and they may plunder the orphans. (Isaiah 10:1-2)
Now what will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes upon you from afar? To whom will you run for help? Where will you find a secure place to leave your wealth? (4) There will be nothing else to do but cringe among the captives or fall among the slain. (Isaiah 10:3-4a)
In 10:1 woe is pronounced against those who write unrighteous and perverse laws. That is to say, those who seek to use the legal system for their own selfish ends—instead of enacting justice. According to 10:2, the design and effect of such practices is to take unfair advantage of those who are socially and politically powerless and helpless. In verse 3 the question is posed to those who would pervert justice and manipulate the legal system for their own personal gain at the expense of justice, “Now what will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes upon you from afar? To whom will you run for help? Where will you find a secure place to leave your wealth?” In other words, To whom will you turn for defense when the Righteous Judge calls you before His judgment seat and enacts His sentence of judgment against you? In verse 4 the answer is provided: there will be no escape for such people when the judgment of God comes in the form of foreign invasion and conquest.
