Isaiah 9:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But the LORD raises the adversaries of Rezin against him, and stirs up his enemies.

NIV: But the LORD has strengthened Rezin's foes against them and has spurred their enemies on.

NASB: Therefore the Lord raises superior adversaries against them from Rezin And provokes their enemies,

CSB: The Lord has raised up Rezin's adversaries against him and stirred up his enemies.

NLT: But the Lord will bring Rezin’s enemies against Israel and stir up all their foes.

KJV: Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;

NKJV: Therefore the Lord shall set up The adversaries of Rezin against him, And spur his enemies on,

The people of Israel had become arrogant in Isaiah's day. They faced the upcoming onslaught of the Assyrians with the belief that they will simply rebuild bigger and better once it passed (Isaiah 9:10). They underestimated the Assyrians. But even more so, they gravely underestimated the Lord's judgment. It is God who is sending the Assyrians to wipe them out (Isaiah 8:7).

Now Isaiah adds that the Lord is raising up the enemies of Rezin against them. Rezin was the king of Syria, north of Israel. Israel and Syria had an alliance. It is possible that Israel was trusting this alliance to give them protection from the worst attacks of their enemies. The problem, as Isaiah points out here, is that an alliance means that your ally's enemies become your enemies as well.

The Lord causes the enemies of Syria to turn their attention on Israel. This is in addition to the juggernaut of the Assyrian army. Israel will soon face destruction from a host of enemies.

Isaiah 9:8–21 returns to describing the judgment coming upon Israel in Isaiah's time. Despite the arrogance of the people, the enemies of their allies will devour them. When the people do not repent, the Lord will wipe out their leaders. He will have no compassion for the sinful people in every level of society. Wickedness burns through the people like a wildfire, turning human lives into fuel. Sinfulness causes people to devour each other and even themselves in trying to satisfy sin's appetite. The Lord will judge Israel for all of it.

Isaiah 9 begins prophecy about a future when darkness will be lifted from Israel. The nation will be free, prosperous, and at permanent peace. This will happen because God will send a child who will become a king on David's throne. More than a man, this king will be called Mighty God and Prince of Peace and will rule forever. In Isaiah's day, though, God's judgment will soon fall on Israel. He will wipe out their leaders. Wickedness burns through the nation like fire.

Isaiah 9 begins with what may be the conclusion of the previous chapter. Isaiah 8 ended with the description of the darkness experienced by those in Israel who reject the Lord. The prophet describes a day in Israel's far future when the gloom will lift and glory will return. A child will become king of Israel, but He will also be the Everlasting Father who will rule forever. However, In Isaiah's time, the Lord will judge Israel with destruction from other nations. The following chapter pronounces disaster for the people who persist in sin.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).

Accessed 4/27/2024 11:40:09 PM