Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it?
As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up,
Or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood!" v.15
Read chapter 10.
I've shot a gun before but have never hit the bullseye or killed an elk with it. Yet the same rifle used by my friend has killed an elk every year and gets multiple bullseyes at our shooting range. It's not the gun but the user that makes it do might work (yeah there are some rifles that are fool proof but I bet I could still miss just like I still can get gutter balls when the guard rails are up in bowling). This verse 15 shows the ludicrousness of thinking that the nations or kings that were used by God to punish Israel was because of their power and plans as if the tool were to boast itself against the man who uses it. God was using Assyria as His rod of anger and indignation on the Israelites (v.5), but Assyria then becomes arrogant and haughty as if it was them and not God for destroying the nation Israel. "The man’s lust for power might be limitless, but there was the limit of the compassion and long-suffering of God" (Elliott Commentary). When have you been the "tool" that has boasted against the user? Or how do you see this today?
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