“As my hand has reached to the kingdoms of the idols, whose graven images were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria, shall I not do to Jerusalem and her images Just as I have done to Samaria and her idols?” (Isa 10:10-11).
Although I've often quoted the verses in Isaiah about the exalted names of the Messiah (Isaiah 7:14: God with us; Isaiah 9:6: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace), I never asked what purpose these names have in the context of the book. And then it occurred to me. Israel was being threatened by a tyrannical ruler of a superpower who was speaking as if he was a god; he was also speaking about the LORD as if he was just an idol at the bottom tier of a host of other worthless idols. This boastful ruler had plans to overthrow the house of David, which was being established and upheld by the promises of God (Isa 9:7; 37:35; 38:5). While all the other kings and rulers on this planet may talk the talk, Israel alone is the only nation on the planet that can say with full confidence: Our king really is, no exaggeration, God with Us and the Mighty God! Tyrants be warned; people of God being encouraged! ”
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” (Rom 8:31).
