Great Isaiah Scroll Directory - documenta-catholica.eu

Isaiah 7 - 8Verse 4: The king of Assyria: This verse introduces the coming punishment to bebrought on the northern kingdom of Israel through the agency of the kings of Assyria,called in the text "the king," however several kings of Assyria from Tiglath-Pilezer toSennacherib would be used to fulfill God's purpose in punishing Israel and Judah andfulfilling these next 4 chapters. Judah would be invaded in this period but notconquered by the Assyrians which is made plain in the prophecy. Afterward theAssyrians would be punished by God because they went beyond his will in what theydid to Israel and the other nations whom they destroyed. The description of punishmentof Israel by the kings of Assyria introduces a contrast at the end of this chapter in boththe level of destruction wrought by them and that to be wrought by the future Messiah,the latter being far worse. After the Messianic portions are introduced they will then bebrought up again in the ensuing paragraphs describing the Assyrian assault andcontrasting it with the messianic coming, as will be noted in the verses below. Theseseemingly unintelligible verses (8:22-9:2&ff) are opened to clear understanding whenthe two visitations are seen as being contrasted in the next several chapters.The first, or "light," visitation of the kings of Assyria is to be drenched in blood. Thesecond "heavier" visitation is described as a visitation of burning and of fire. Thesecond visitation is to be understood as a spiritual visitation which is greater indestructive force because the spiritual is real while the physical is transitory and willnot have eternal consequences on the true remnant of Israel who will unfortunatelyhave to endure the physical calamities while they remain in the love of God. With thisin mind, read chapters 8 through 12 and see the contrast continued. The main themewill be the imminent, that is, Assyrian destruction of the northern kingdom of Israeland the invasion of Judah and Assyria's punishment in the not too distant future placedin contrast with the future Messianic visitation to the same people and area that wasvisited by the Assyrians. Those who believe in God are exhorted to await God'spurpose for the nation in the future restoration of the purged remnant as well as the nottoo distant future destruction of the Assyrians. But their destruction will not be untilafter they have been used as a "rod of God's anger" upon Israel.5 The LORD spoke also to me again, saying, 6 Forasmuch as this people refuses thewaters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son;Waters of Shiloah Euphamism for Jerusalem. See Chapter 22.Verse 6: This is a further dating of the prophecy. Rezin was still king of Syria andPekah the son of Remaliah was still king of Israel at Samaria. Thus it must be shortlybefore 731 B.C.7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up upon them the waters of the river,strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come upover all his channels, and go over all his embankments: 8 And he shall pass throughJudah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and thestretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.http://www.ao.net/~fmoeller/7-8.htm (11 of 15)2006-08-01 11:49:02