And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.
He shall cut down the thickets of the forests with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one. This verse and Isaiah 10:33 describe the sudden arrest and overthrow of Sennacherib in the height of his success (Isaiah 10:18-19; Ezekiel 31:3-14, contains the same image. "Lebanon" and its forest are the Assyrian army; the "iron" axe that fells the forest refers to the stroke which destroyed the 185,000 Assyrians (2 Kings 19:35). The "Mighty one" is Yahweh (Isaiah 10:21; Isaiah 9:6).
Remarks: Sinners who set at nought right should consider seriously the solemn question of God by His prophet, "What will ye do in the day of visitation?" Men may evade this question now, but then they cannot. There shall be none to whom they can "flee," and no place "where" they can "leave" for safety their wealth, which is now their chief "glory." To be "without" the Lord, then, is to be numbered among those doomed to eternal vengeance. God uses ungodly men of might to be his "rod" for chastening his own people. But when the rod lifts itself against him who wields it, it is high time that it should be cast away dishonoured. Though sinners are employed to execute God's purposes, yet, inasmuch as this is not in all their thoughts, they shall get no credit for it. Nay, further, inasmuch as, like the Assyrian, they ascribe the glory of their successes to themselves, and make an idol of their skill and prowess, robbing Yahweh of His due honour, they shall, after having been used for a time to execute unconsciously God's purposes, be punished for their "stoutness" of heart and "high looks."