Isaiah 9:8-12 - His hand is still upraised

9:8-10

We now get another of the sudden changes in mood of the message. This feature is so important. If we just focus on the “good bits” or just on the “wrath bits” we will have zero understanding of the message. We need to take both aspects fully on board. A message of judgement was sent against Israel and Judah, but there reaction to initial defeats was to say “we will rebuild”. This might seem to be a laudable response, but they were ignoring the real issue, their sin against God.

9:11,12

Earlier we read that Judah was afraid of Aram and Israel. This was a misplaced fear, for the Lord had “strengthened Rezin’s foes against them and had spurred their enemies on”. One of the overriding themes of Isaiah is the sovereignty of God. Judah needed to fear the Lord, for He is the One with all power and authority, and He is the one they were truly offending. Israel ( the northern kingdom) had at this point been defeated by Assyria. Yet God was still on the warpath!