The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:
-CONFIRMATION OF THIS BY THE HERE-FORETOLD DESTRUCTION OF THE ASSYRIANS UNDER SENNACHERIB; a pledge to assure the captives in Babylon that He who, with such ease, overthrew the Assyrian, could likewise effect His purpose as to Babylon. The Babylonian king, the subject of this prediction, is Belshazzar, as representative of the kingdom, (Daniel 5:1-31.)
This would comfort the Jews when captives in Babylon, being a pledge that God, who had by that time fulfilled the promise concerning Sennacherib (though now still future), would also fulfill His promise as to destroying Babylon, Judah's enemy.
Verse 24. Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass. The Lord's thought (purpose) stands in antithesis to the Assyrian's thoughts Isaiah 10:7 "neither doth his heart think so (namely, to fulfill God's purposes); but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few" - namely, for his own self-glorification. See Isaiah 46:10-11, "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure ... I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it;" 1 Samuel 15:29; Malachi 3:6.
Verse 25. That - my purpose, namely, "that," etc.
I will break the Assyrian in my land - in Judea.
His yoke depart - (Isaiah 10:27 .) upon my mountains. Sennacherib's army was destroyed on the mountains near Jerusalem (Isaiah 10:33-34). God regarded Judah as peculiarly His.
Tread him under foot - even as he "trod" my people "down like the mire of the streets" (Isaiah 10:6).
Verse 26. This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth - a hint that the prophecy embraces the present world of all ages in its scope, of which the purpose concerning Babylon and Assyria, the then representatives of the world-power, is but a part.
This is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations - namely, in punishment (Isaiah 5:25).
Verse 27. His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? - "None can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest thou?" (Daniel 4:35.)
To comfort the Jews, lest they should fear that people; not in order to call the Philistines to repentance; since the prophecy was probably never circulated among them. They had been subdued by Uzziah or Azariah (2 Chronicles 26:6); but in the reign of Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:18) they took several towns in Southern Judah. Now Isaiah denounces their final subjugation by Hezekiah.