Isaiah 9 · a question people ask
Why does the chapter keep saying his anger is not turned away?
The chapter gives its reasons in its own words. Pride: Ephraim and Samaria "say in pride and in arrogance of heart" that they will build again with cut stone (9:9-10). Not turning: "Yet the people have not turned to him who struck them, neither have they sought the LORD of Armies" (9:13) (tap turned). Those who lead: "For those who lead this people lead them astray; and those who are led by them are destroyed" (9:16). "for everyone is profane and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly" (9:17). "For wickedness burns like a fire" (9:18). The chapter doesn't say how long the hand stays stretched out; it says the refrain again, "For all this" (9:12, 9:17, 9:21). The next chapter has the verb of 9:13 again: "A remnant will return, even the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God" (Isaiah 10:21), where will return is shuv. These notes apply the chapter's words to no nation or people today.
The verses
“All the people will know, including Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart, “The bricks have fallen, but we will build with cut stone. The sycamore fig trees have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.””
“The Syrians in front, and the Philistines behind; and they will devour Israel with open mouth. For all this, his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. Yet the people have not turned to him who struck them, neither have they sought the LORD of Armies.”
“For those who lead this people lead them astray; and those who are led by them are destroyed. Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men, neither will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is profane and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. For wickedness burns like a fire. It devours the briers and thorns; yes, it kindles in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke.”
“Manasseh eating Ephraim and Ephraim eating Manasseh, and they together will be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.”