Isaiah 10

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Fall of Assyria and Preservation of a Remnant

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. God in His discipline employed the ax of Assyria.

  2. God in His judgment punished the pride of Sennacherib.

  3. God in His grace preserved a remnant of Jacob.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. You can’t take it with you!

QUESTIONS

  1. Why was God so angry with Israel?

  2. Why is Assyria referred to as the rod of God’s anger and His ax, saw, and club?

  3. What was Assyria’s viewpoint of their victory over Israel?

  4. Why would God punish Assyria after using her as a disciplinary ax?

  5. When did this judgment on Assyria come?

ANSWERS

  1. Israel had turned away from the Lord and turned to foreign gods. They were guilty of personal and national sin. In verses 1-4 of this chapter, the social sins of the nation are denounced.

  2. God was using the Assyrian empire to discipline His people. Israel was referred to as a godless nation and the people of God’s wrath.

  3. They did not know they were being used of God to discipline His people. Assyria thought they were just plundering another nation. They thought the gods of the kingdoms they had already conquered were greater than the god of Jerusalem.

  4. In her pride and arrogance, Assyria claimed that she had conquered all these territories and kingdoms with her own military might. Assyria would be punished for not recognizing the one true God.

  5. In 701 B.C. the proud Assyrian king, Sennacherib, marched his armies against Jerusalem intending to conquer King Hezekiah and the kingdom of Judah. But God intervened and cut down the arrogant Assyrians.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Just as God used the pagan Assyrian empire as His rod, ax, and club to discipline His people Israel, so God can use any tools He wants to discipline us. Can you think of a time when God used events, circumstances, or people to discipline you when you sinned? Was there a positive end result?

  2. Discuss how God has preserved a remnant of Jewish people throughout history, despite repeated attempts by Satan to eliminate this nation.

CHALLENGE

  1. Have you ever seen a U-Haul behind a hearse? If you are trusting your wealth for your security, remember, “You can’t take it with you!”

KEY VERSES

  • “Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger And the staff in whose hand is My indignation.” Isaiah 10:5

  • “Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it? Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it? As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up, Or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood!” Isaiah 10:15

  • “The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, To the Mighty God.” Isaiah 10:21

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