A Chopped Christmas Tree

O. T. #1583  "A Chopped Christmas Tree"
Dec. 11, 2019
Isaiah 10

LET IT GLOW

During my childhood, Dad went out in the cold and sometimes snowy weather, on the back 40 acres, to cut down a tree for our Christmas tree. He probably used an ax to chop it down. Then he would put it in a container of water, and I would help Mom decorate it. Back then, we only had tinsel, colored lights, and breakable ornaments for decorations.
Today, we read where an empire would be cut down like trees in a forest, with an ax. Read on, friend.

Isaiah continues to warn Israel of her coming doom. He warns Assyria not to become proud of her victories, since she is only a tool in the hands of God. One day she will be defeated.

What is the hope for the Lord's people found in this chapter? Starting with verse 20, the remnant will:

• no long depend on allies who sought to destroy them, but they would faithfully trust the LORD, the Holy One of Israel; (verse 20)
• be small in number; (verse 22)
• experience the yoke of slavery being broken and lifted from their shoulders. (verse 27)

Looking at the timeline, Israel fell captive to Assyria 136 years before Judah did. Judah was held captives for 70 years. Prophet Isaiah did not live when the remnant returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and the city. It occurred some 87 years after Isaiah died. But he believed God would redeem them.

God was in charge of all this. The great empire of Assyria fell to Babylon. Nineveh, Assyria's capital, fell after 185,000 men were killed by the Babylonian army. (Is. 37:36-37)

Does God need to chop us down to size because we are so prideful? I hope not.

LET IT GROW

The Lord used the king of Assyria to accomplish his purpose. If only Israel and Judah had repented of their sins, destroyed idols, and worshiped God only, teaching the Law.

Proud Assyria is compared to a forest being cut down with an ax and burned so completely, so that a child could count and write down the number of trees left. (verse 34) (There were few trees in the area.)

What can we learn from this chapter?
We have no right to boast, for God is always in sovereign control.
We should not fear human enemies, for God has our situation in His hands.
God provides for His faithful servants.
Serve Him with humility.


LET IT GO

Worship King Jesus with humility so He doesn't have to chop me down to size.
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, Lord of heaven and earth.