Isaiah 10:13
13 For he saith, ['amar] By the strength [koach] of
my hand [yad] I have done [`asah] it, and by my wisdom; [chokmah] for I am prudent: [biyn]
and I have removed [cuwr] the bounds [gabuwlah] of the people, [`am] and
have robbed [shacah] their treasures [`athuwd], [`athiyd] and I have put
down [yarad] the inhabitants [yashab] like a valiant ['abbiyr] [kabbiyr] man: KJV-Interlinear
13 For he has
said, "By the power of my hand and by my wisdom I did this, For I have
understanding; And I removed the boundaries of the peoples, And plundered their
treasures, And like a mighty man I brought down their inhabitants, NASB
These words are prophetic
and refer to events that will occur in the future relative from their writing.
Isaiah uses the imagery
of historical rhetoric to describe the attitude and words or the kings of Assyria,
to describe their attitude and self-justification for what they have done,
after they have done it.
Assyria saw no wrong in
their actions against invaded countries.
Assyria saw no wrong in
the taking or looting of those countries.
Assyria saw no wrong in
the defeat and destruction of strong kings or bulls as it were, elevating
itself higher and stronger and tougher than those it defeated.
Assyria was racing across
the Middle East with no clear reason, except for their lust of territory and
glory and such. Their invasion plans
were evil at best.
When World War 2 broke
out, evil was raging across Europe and the Pacific. That had to be stopped lest the world would come
under the control of tyranny and result in even more horrendous crimes.
That was a calling of
righteousness to stop and to defeat evil and to restore freedom and
liberty. And whether anyone recognized it
as Gods calling or not, is irrelevant, the fact remained that evil had to be
stopped or far worse would happen to the world.
North Korea was an evil
that had to be stopped. North Vietnam
was an evil that had to be stopped. Iraq
was an evil that had to be stopped.
And when people look at
these incidents and try to justify their existence, try to vilify anything that
opposes these evils, then it becomes clear that spiritual truth and the
understanding of truth is lacking in a society.
Authority is disrespected, loyalty is insulted, patriotism is ridiculed,
and the need to do the right thing is opposed.
Opposition to truth
brings trouble and eventually disaster.
Opposition to truth
brings compromise to principles of truth and allows degenerative norms and
standards into society, that too, lead to eventual self-destruction. Establishment principles are diluted and
problems of varying types enter into society.
There are five cycles of
national destruction, Lev. 26.
First, negative volition
toward truth, apathy.
Second, family disintegration.
Third, degeneracy of
social morals and standards.
Fourth, economic
distress.
Fifth, severe judgment or
destruction of the nation.
Note that all problems
begin with a disinterest in truth. And
from there, all goes downhill. The big
problem is that most folks who become apathetic toward truth, do not see
themselves as anti-truth, but rather see themselves as reasonable with no
self-serving agenda. They just want to be
free, as they define free, to make their own decisions without regard to the
repercussions of their choices.
They see God as
restricting their choices, never convinced that their choices are detrimental and
not really freedoms at all. They pursue idealisms that are not truth but really
detachments from reality.
And so standards are
defined for everyone, freedoms become restricted.
Rules are made for
everyone, liberties are controlled.
Equalities are dangled
before everyone, privacy and ability and achievement are ignored.
And in all of this and
more, the social structure of society deteriorates.
And as a nation declines,
another nation, becomes the predator and takes advantage of the weak.
Israel declined and
Assyria took advantage in a selfish and evil way, and saw no wrong in their
actions.
