Isaiah 10:3

And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation [which] shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?

And what will ye do {H6213} in the day {H3117} of visitation {H6486}, and in the desolation {H7722} which shall come {H935} from far {H4801}? to whom will ye flee {H5127} for help {H5833}? and where will ye leave {H5800} your glory {H3519}?

What will you do on the day of punishment, when calamity comes from afar? To whom will you flee for help? Where will you leave your wealth,

What will you do on the day of reckoning when devastation comes from afar? To whom will you flee for help? Where will you leave your wealth?

And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?

Commentary

Isaiah 10:3 is a stern warning from the prophet Isaiah to the unrighteous leaders and people of Judah (and implicitly, Israel) concerning the impending divine judgment. It poses rhetorical questions that underscore their utter helplessness in the face of God's coming "visitation" through foreign invasion and desolation. The verse challenges them to consider what their earthly power, wealth, and alliances will be worth when the true reckoning arrives.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse is part of a larger prophecy in Isaiah, primarily directed at the Northern Kingdom of Israel, but also serving as a warning to Judah, concerning God's judgment against their sin, particularly injustice and oppression of the poor. The "desolation which shall come from far" directly refers to the powerful Assyrian Empire, which God would use as His instrument of wrath against His disobedient people. The people, especially the powerful, had grown arrogant, trusting in their own might or foreign alliances rather than the Lord, leading to a spiritual complacency that ignored the coming storm.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Accountability: The "day of visitation" signifies a time when God inspects and holds His people accountable for their actions, particularly their moral and social injustices. It is a reminder that no one escapes God's scrutiny.
  • Futility of Earthly Reliance: The questions "to whom will ye flee for help?" highlight the emptiness of trusting in human strength, political maneuvering, or idols when facing ultimate divine judgment. Their usual sources of security would fail them. God alone is a true refuge in times of trouble.
  • Loss of Earthly "Glory": "Where will ye leave your glory?" speaks to the transient nature of wealth, status, power, and reputation. In the face of God's overwhelming judgment, these earthly achievements and possessions become meaningless and cannot offer protection or salvation. Proverbs 11:4 also speaks to the worthlessness of riches in the day of wrath.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "visitation" is pequddah (ืคึฐึผืงึปื“ึธึผื”), which carries a dual meaning of inspection or reckoning. While it can imply a positive visit (like God visiting Abraham), in this context, it clearly denotes a punitive visitation, a time of divine judgment where sins are brought to account.
  • "Desolation" comes from sho'ah (ืฉืื•ึนืึธื”), meaning ruin, devastation, or calamity, emphasizing the utter destruction that awaits.
  • "Glory" translates from kabod (ื›ึธึผื‘ื•ึนื“), which encompasses weight, honor, reputation, wealth, and splendor. The question implies that all their esteemed earthly possessions and status would be stripped away or rendered useless.

Practical Application

Isaiah 10:3 serves as a timeless warning for all generations. It urges us to consider where our ultimate trust lies. Are we relying on our financial security, social standing, political power, or human ingenuity, or are we placing our faith in God? The "day of visitation" can be understood in various ways: personal crises, national calamities, or ultimately, the final judgment. This verse calls us to:

  1. Examine Our Foundations: Build our lives on the solid rock of God's Word rather than fleeting earthly securities.
  2. Seek True Refuge: Recognize that only God can offer true help and salvation when earthly systems fail.
  3. Prioritize Eternal Values: Understand that true "glory" is found in a relationship with God and obedience to His will, not in transient material possessions or status. This aligns with Jesus' teaching to store up treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not corrupt.
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Cross-References

  • Hosea 9:7 (6 votes)

    ยถ The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know [it]: the prophet [is] a fool, the spiritual man [is] mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.

  • Luke 19:44 (6 votes)

    And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

  • Job 31:14 (5 votes)

    What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?

  • Zephaniah 1:18 (4 votes)

    Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

  • 1 Peter 2:12 (4 votes)

    Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by [your] good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

  • Proverbs 11:4 (4 votes)

    ยถ Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

  • Isaiah 20:6 (4 votes)

    And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such [is] our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?