Verse 10: “The bricks have fallen, but we will build with hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.”

Bricks … hewn stones; the sycamores…cedars: God was going to bring judgment, but they were going to say that they were going to come out of God’s judgment better than when they went in.

Hewn stones: Stones properly cut.

Sycamores…cedars: Their mindset was that in the past what seemed good (sycamores) was going to be even better in their future (cedars). They did not acknowledge that there was going to be consequences for their sin.

They expected to pick themselves up, dust themselves off and make things better in spite of God’s displeasure with them. This attitude smacked of arrogance and rebellion.

Verse 11: “Therefore the Lord will raise up the enemies of Rezin against him, and his oponents he will have to contend with.”
Raise up: Elevate. Give power to.

Him: Referring to the Northern kingdom.

Contend: He will have conflict with his enemies and with his opponents – those who stand in opposition to him.

Note: This is a Biblical principle: When we say ‘No’ to God, when we do not want to receive His revelation or implement His truth in our lives, He empowers our enemies to come against us.

Verse 12: “Syria beforehand and the Philistines after; they will eat Israel with every mouth. Nevertheless, His anger was not turned away, but still His hand is outstretched.”

Syria … and the Philistines: Historically these nations have caused Israel much suffering. Eat Israel with every mouth: Meaning they devoured Israel in every way.

His anger was not turned away: The Northern kingdom suffered greatly. Once they were exiled, they were destroyed and never went back to the land of Israel. In the last days God will allow the descendants of the Northern kingdom back into the land of Israel.

Still His hand is outstretched: Even though He was punishing them, God still extended His hand to them. He was still willing to receive them – if they repented, turned and embraced His truth.

Verse 13: “And the people did not repent unto the One who struck them, and the Lord of hosts they did not seek.”

Did not repent unto the One who struck them: God was discipling them, but they did not respond to Him. They knew who was striking them. They knew God was displeased with them. However, they did not repent and nor did they seek God.

Seek: This is a strong word which means to utterly and completely, with great intensity, beseech the Lord. They did not do this. The people were simply not interested in having a relationship with the Lord. This was because they wanted their own way. The problem is
that we cannot have God’s way and our way at the same time. One way will always give way to the other.

Verse 14: “The Lord cut off from Israel the head and the tail, the palm branch and the bulrush in one day.”

Note: Believe it or not, but this is actually a message of hope. Although God was going to bring judgment upon them the judgment had a purpose – and that purpose was to bring about change.

Cut off: ‘Cutting off’ is a judgment. It is a consequence which is tied to a covenant. The Old covenant had blessings and cursings attached to it. Because they did not respond faithfully to that covenant they were not going to be blessed – they were going to be cursed. This is what is being referred to here.

In one day: God can make a change happen very quickly.

Verse 15: “The elder and honorable one is the head, and the lying prophet and false teacher are the tail.”

Elder …honorable one …lying prophet and false teacher: God was going to cut off this ungodly leadership. The prophets and teachers had been held up by the people as honourable, but these leaders had actually led the people into judgment.