God’s Reproach of Israel, vv. 1-4
A. God denounces injustice in Judah, v. 1.
1. Judah denies justice to the poor, v. 2.
2. Judah denies justice to the widows and orphans, v. 2.
B. God declares Judah cannot survive without Him, v. 4.
God’s Rule over Assyria, vv. 5-19
A. Sometimes God uses wicked people to punish His people, vv. 5-7, even when it is not their plan.
B. Afterward, God punishes wicked people for overstepping their bounds and ascribing their victory to their own ability, vv. 8-15.
C. God will then use His repentant people to punish the wicked people, vv. 16-19.
God’s Restoration of Israel, vv. 20-34
A. God will preserve a remnant of His people, Israel, vv. 20-23.
B. God will pillage Assyria just as He did in the past:
1. Judges 7:25 describes Gideon’s victory over the Midianites at the rock of Oreb. As miraculous and complete as Gideon’s victory was, that is how miraculous and complete God’s judgment on Assyria would be. As it happened, this was exactly the case. 2Ki_19:35 describes how God simply sent the angel of the LORD and killed 185,000 Assyrians in one night. When the people woke up, there were 185,000 dead Assyrian soldiers.
2. Exodus 14:16 describes how the LORD used the rod of Moses to divide the Red Sea. In the same way, He would do something totally miraculous against Assyria.
C. God will punish Israel, vv. 28-32
1. Aiath… Migron… Michmash… Geba: The listing of cities flows from the north to the south, describing the course of the Assyrian invasion. Nob is right on the outskirts of Jerusalem. This is as far as the army of the Assyrians came against Judah. They were stopped here when the LORD killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night.
2. God will humble the proud people of Judah, vv. 33-34.
Conclusion
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Judgment will hurt, but God only designs punishment to refine and correct His people.