THE PEOPLE HAVE NOT RETURNED TO HIM

Isaiah 9:8-10:4 / Keywords 9:13

But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the LORD Almighty.

9:8 The Lord has sent a message against Jacob;

    it will fall on Israel.

9 All the people will know it—

    Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria—

who say with pride

    and arrogance of heart,

10 “The bricks have fallen down,

    but we will rebuild with dressed stone;

the fig trees have been felled,

    but we will replace them with cedars.”

11 But the Lord has strengthened Rezin’s foes against them

    and has spurred their enemies on.

12 Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west

    have devoured Israel with open mouth.

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,

    his hand is still upraised.

13 But the people have not returned to him who struck them,

    nor have they sought the Lord Almighty.

14 So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail,

    both palm branch and reed in a single day;

15 the elders and dignitaries are the head,

    the prophets who teach lies are the tail.

16 Those who guide this people mislead them,

    and those who are guided are led astray.

17 Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men,

    nor will he pity the fatherless and widows,

for everyone is ungodly and wicked,

    every mouth speaks folly.

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,

    his hand is still upraised.

18 Surely wickedness burns like a fire;

    it consumes briers and thorns,

it sets the forest thickets ablaze,

    so that it rolls upward in a column of smoke.

19 By the wrath of the Lord Almighty

    the land will be scorched

and the people will be fuel for the fire;

    they will not spare one another.

20 On the right they will devour,

    but still be hungry;

on the left they will eat,

    but not be satisfied.

Each will feed on the flesh of their own offspring[b]:

21     Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim on Manasseh;

    together they will turn against Judah.

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,

    his hand is still upraised.

10:1 Woe to those who make unjust laws,

    to those who issue oppressive decrees,

2 to deprive the poor of their rights

    and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people,

making widows their prey

    and robbing the fatherless.

3 What will you do on the day of reckoning,

    when disaster comes from afar?

To whom will you run for help?

    Where will you leave your riches?

4 Nothing will remain but to cringe among the captives

    or fall among the slain.

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,

    his hand is still upraised.

Footnotes

b. Isaiah 9:20 Or arm

1. His anger is not turned away (9:8-21)

When God judged his people Israel, he meant for them to repent their sins and return to him. Instead they confidently said, "We'll build back better houses and plant better trees." They became proud and arrogant in their hearts, but did nothing about the sin in them that aroused the anger of the Lord. When the people did not return to the Lord, his anger was not turned away from them. They remained apart from the Lord and became the objects of his wrath and judgment.

 

2. To whom will you run for help? (10:1-4)

God pronounced judgment on the leaders in Israel who made laws that were opposite of God’s law. God’s law is full of mercy and justice for all people. It is meant to return people to God, who promised atonement for their sins. When God’s people abuse his justice and mercy, where can they go for help?

 

Prayer Lord, heal my heart from pride and arrogance. You are the one who can atone for sin. Teach me to return to you with a repentant heart and hope.

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