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Isaiah 10:33-34 God, the Lumberjack

Posted in Isaiah, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , on December 22, 2013 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 10:33-34 Behold, the Lord, the GOD of hosts, will lop off the boughs with a terrible crash; those also who are tall in stature will be cut down and those who are lofty will be abased. He will cut down the thickets of the forest with an iron axe, and Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One.

Who is coming? The meaning of God’s names in this context are: Adonai (The Master), Yahweh (the Existing One). The grammar in the Hebrew indicates God is the cause. He is doing this repeatedly and intensively. The actions are extended and intentional. Descriptively, the actions are shocking and terrifying. This is a shock and awe campaign.

This is the same Lebanon that borders present day Israel to the north. Lebanon was known for their forests. It was a significant source of income. The trees are a sign of economic prosperity. Today on Lebanon’s flag is the very Cedar of Lebanon. These trees grow primarily in the mountains of the Mediterranean region. They grow up to 130 feet tall with a trunk of up to 8 feet in diameter. The wood of the cedar is disease resistant and slow to decay. Timber came from here to build the temple under Solomon. Cedar is the chosen wood of God’s temple. The temple built by Solomon was primarily made of cedar. 1 Kings 6 gives significant detail regarding the temple. Lebanon’s physical resource of lumber will be destroyed.

The verses are a reminder to the Assyrian. He is a tool of iron, an axe. The Assyrian is under the direction of God. Isaiah 10:15 Is the axe to boast itself over the one who chops with it? Is the saw to exalt itself over the one who wields it? That would be like a club wielding those who lift it, or like a rod lifting him who is not wood. To the Assyrian, “This is how you wield an axe!”

A pattern of Scripture is noted in this verse along with other places in the Bible: trees, like proud men, are coming down. Psalm 29:5 confirms this fact. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

Isaiah 2:13 And it will be against all the cedars of Lebanon that are lofty and lifted up,

Pride will be humbled. God will take care of that.

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Isaiah 10:16 Burn, Burn, Burn!

Posted in Isaiah with tags , , , , , , , , , on October 27, 2013 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 10:16 Therefore the Lord, the GOD of hosts, will send a wasting disease among his stout warriors; and under his glory a fire will be kindled like a burning flame.

There are three names or concepts of God mentioned in the initial part of this verse.

Adonai is the Hebrew term that is translated “Lord”. It can mean ruler, master, owner, or sovereign. The word is plural. When Adonai is the term for God, it indicates His absolute sovereignty and greatness (The Doctrine of God, Chester McCalley).

Yahweh YHWH (scholars refer to this as the Tetragrammaton, Greek for four letters) is the proper name of the Hebrew God of the Bible. The correct spelling is YHWH. Note there are no vowels in this term. Vowels from the name Adonai were substituted and the term Yahweh emerged. Jehovah is a word that has been translated to English from the Hebrew, Yahweh. The name for LORD is Jehovah. It means the existing one. This name is so sacred, Jews refuse to pronounce it. The name is first introduced in Exodus 3:14 when Moses and God are having a discussion. His name is a statement of existence. Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

Lord of Hosts is a military term. He commands the armies or angels.

The king of Assyria has been informed who is in control and in charge of the situation. God is intentionally sending a nasty disease to the Assyrian army. This disease will affect the strongest and most vigorous of the troops, the fat ones.

… and under his glory a fire will be kindled like a burning flame. The Hebrew language is repetitive with this portion of the verse. Another loose translation could read …burn, burn, burn, burn! The last reference in the verse for flame is the Hebrew word ‘esh. One of the definitions for this word according to Strong’s is a supernatural fire with accompanying theophany. To the king of Assyria, fire is coming. Is this a hint of what is to come?

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Isaiah 4:2 Branch of the LORD

Posted in Isaiah with tags , , , , , , on April 22, 2012 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 4:2 In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth will be the pride and the adornment of the survivors of Israel. 

The Branch of the LORD is a name that is given of the Messiah in the Old Testament. In the present day and age, we know him as Jesus. He is the Branch of the LORD. Listed below are examples in the Old Testament of the name of the Branch.

Isaiah 11:1 Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.

Zechariah 3:8 ‘Now listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you—indeed they are men who are a symbol, for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch.

Jeremiah 23:5 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land.

Zechariah 6:12 “Then say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Behold, a man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the LORD.

The word for “branch” in the Hebrew is tsemach. Per Strong’s, it means: a sprout, growth, branch, or shoot. In Isaiah 4:2, the “Branch” is of the LORD or Yahweh. Two members of the Trinity are represented in this verse, the Father and the Son.

The description of the Branch is beautiful, glorious, honorable, abundant with riches, splendorous, and reverent in the Hebrew.

During the reign of the Branch, the vegetation and produce will be prolific. This is confirmed throughout the Old Testament. Three examples include Jeremiah 31:12 “They will come and shout for joy on the height of Zion, And they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD— Over the grain and the new wine and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; and their life will be like a watered garden, and they will never languish again.

Isaiah 30:23 Then He will give you rain for the seed which you will sow in the ground, and bread from the yield of the ground, and it will be rich and plenteous; on that day your livestock will graze in a roomy pasture.

Ezekiel 34:27a “Also the tree of the field will yield its fruit and the earth will yield its increase, and they will be secure on their land…”

For the remnant that escapes and is delivered, better days are coming. That is the case with God. Blessing and abundance follows trials and tribulation.

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Isaiah 19:21-22 I AM the LORD

Posted in Isaiah with tags , , , , , on April 25, 2011 by paulthepoke

Thus the LORD will make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day. They will even worship with sacrifice and offering, and will make a vow to the LORD and perform it.

This is a two way street. Both parties will know each other. The Egyptians will turn from their god(s) and worship the God of Israel. Does this seem possible today (April 2011)? The Egyptians worship towards the God of Israel with oblation, sacrifices, gifts, and tributes. They offer their worship in word, by vow, and by deeds.

The text is very specific who is being worshipped. The name for LORD in this verse is Jehovah. It means the existing one. This is the proper name of the Hebrew God of the Bible. Jehovah is a word that has been translated to English from the Hebrew, Yahweh. The correct spelling is YHWH (Hebrew font is not available).  Scholars refer to this as the Tetragrammaton, Greek for four letters. This name is so sacred, Jews refuse to pronounce it. The name is first introduced in Exodus 3:14 when Moses and God are having a discussion. God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

The LORD will strike Egypt, striking but healing; so they will return to the LORD, and He will respond to them and will heal them.

Egypt gets a spanking. The smiting shall bring about healing. The rod of discipline is used by God. There is a cause and effect. Yes, physical punishment can bring about a change in attitude and behavior. Egypt is struck which causes them to return to LORD. Like a good Father, when His people return to Him, He heals them. The verse does place an emphasis on healing by God. Healing is noted two times in the verse.

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