III. THE LORD OF HOSTS MANIFESTS HIS SOVEREIGNTY OVER ALL THE WORLD BY LAYING WASTE THE SINFUL AND DELIVERING THE RIGHTEOUS (24:1-27:13)
The prophet now looks beyond the individual nations to the coming universal judgment upon the entire heathen world and the among apostates of His own people. It will be a judgment against everything the world holds dear: power, lust, and vainglory. Out of this universal judgment will emerge universal salvation. While studying this section look for the following stark contrasts: the earth and Mt. Zion; the peoples (plural) and the people (singular); the nations and the nation; the world city and the city; lords and Lord; and death and life. It would be a mistake to try and make these cities and nations represent any specific cities and nations of any particular time or place (with the possible exception of Jerusalem, 27:10). Instead, they symbolize all that is profane in the world.
A. The Whole Earth Will Be Laid Waste Because Of Its Transgressions (24:1-23)
1. God's judgment is universal in its scope (24:1-6)
(1) The Behold of this verse focuses our attention on Jehovah and His power over the earth. He will turn the earth upside down and pour her out. In doing so He will scatter her inhabitants.
(2) All classes of people will be judged. Religious, social, household, and business distinctions will be blurred in this judgment.
(3,4) The ungodly will lose their dwelling place as it becomes listless, weary and finally lifeless. The great, mighty, elevated and haughty will suffer with the rest when the judgment comes.
(5) This is a universal judgment. The earth has been made unclean by its inhabitants (Gen. 3:17,18). God has given man an everlasting covenant which man has continually chosen to disregard and violate.
(6) Since it was God who made the covenant, it will be God who will judge those who do not keep it. Sin always brings forth death, by the fire of God's fierce anger (Deut. 32:22; 4:24; Ps. 97:3; Heb.12:29). Yet, many will kindle a fire and consume themselves ( see marginal reading of Isa. 26:11).
2. The bitterness of this judgment is described (24:7-23)
(7-9) The cursed land causes the vine to fail. With the failure of the vine, so the hearts of those who partake its fruit. Those who try to drown their sorrows in drink and song will be unsuccessful in their attempt. Sensuous pleasures will be brought to an end by Divine judgment.
(10) Isaiah turns his attention to the waste city. In this city lives a conglomeration of people given over to sin, but bound to together by their rejection of God and His laws and their love of the world. This city will eventually be broken down, defeated and destroyed (1 Jn. 2:15-17).
(11) This third mention of wine reminds us how much the world comes to depend on artificial stimulation for their happiness (Hailey). Without alcoholic beverages, sports, sensuous music, reveling, and various entertainment the shallow joy that they perpetuate disappears.
(12) All that is left of the world city is desolation, ruin, and gloom. The inhabitants have deserted it, and no one outside wishes to enter it.
(13) These judgments will surely come to pass - God guarantees it. When the judgment is completed, there will be few men left (v.6). To stand opposed to God and His standard of righteousness, is to seal one's own spiritual death warrant.
(14) The few men left will celebrate God's victory and their salvation. They will sing songs of praise to the Lord as they recognize God's majesty, mercy and grace.
(15) These shouts will echo from east to west, from the land to the sea to the islands of the sea. The remnant has come to realize that God's hand is in control of world affairs.
(16) Isaiah identifies himself with the remnant. It appears that this glory is offered up to the remnant, but the reading of the NASB suggests God. But now Isaiah begins a lament: the rejoicing has perhaps started too soon, there is more judgment to come. While the remnant has indeed seen the light, the world has not repented. The wicked will continue to do their wickedness against the good.
(17,18) Those who wish to escape the evil ones will not find a place of true refuge on this earth. However, God's judgment will follow the wicked.
(19,20) The world judgment that has progressed through this chapter reaches its climax in these verses. The wickedness of the peoples of this earth have become too great a weight for it to bear. The earth shall fall, and not rise again. Is Isaiah pointing to the end of the present order? Perhaps he has the final destruction of the pagan world powers, and the failure and destruction of the heathen world in general in mind? The following verses suggest this second line of thinking.
(21) It is Hailey's opinion that these verses point to Jesus' defeat of Satan and the beginning of the church. Those who have caused the spiritual upheavals will be brought down (Eph. 6:12; Gen. 3:1-15; Rev. 12:7-10; 17:14; 19:19-21) and Christ shall become predominant.
(22) The defeat of Satan at the hands of Jesus shook the world of the ungodly to the point where they could never rise again to their former power (Jn. 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; Rev. 12:7-10).
(23) The prophet points to the age of the Messiah (Heb. 12:22-24). Perhaps the ancients here are the seventy of elders of Israel (Ex. 24:1,9,10). [TOP OF THIS PAGE]
B. Four Songs Extol The Triumphant Lord (25:1-26:21)
1. A song of praise to the name of the Lord (25:1-5)
(1) With Satan defeated and the judgment finally complete the songs of praise now may begin in earnest. God's judgment had been executed in faithfulness and truth.
(2) The great palaces of the heathen world - Nineveh, Babylon and others - are all brought down at Jehovah's mighty judgment. A nation's first line of defense is righteousness (Prov. 14:34); where there is no righteousness, destruction is eminent.
(3) Even the wicked will be brought to a point where they will be impressed with Jehovah's power and control over creation, yet they will still not submit to His will.
(4,5) Jehovah is known and respected for His care of the poor and needy. The Lord will protect His people from storms of rain, heat, and noise. These kinds of attacks against the remnant will fail.
2. A song of jubilation for the feast God prepares on Mt. Zion (25:6-8)
(6) This song pictures the great spiritual feast that God will provide for Jew and Gentile alike. All the ingredients making up this feast are of the highest quality.
(7) The veil here is probably the veil of darkness (as in Isa. 60:2,3). Paul seems to confirm this idea (Eph. 4:18). Coming to the Lord will remove the veil of darkness (2 Cor. 3:14-16). The veil consists of ignorance and a heart hardened against God.
(8) In conjunction with the feast and the removal of the veil, the Lord has provided for death to be swallowed up through Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 1:9,10; 1 Cor. 15:54). Isaiah confirms his prophecy yet again, "for Jehovah hath spoken it."
3. A song of rejoicing for the salvation He assures (25:9-12)
(9) The object of the expectation of those who have waited for Jehovah is salvation. Those who have waited will have their expectation realized (Isa. 46:13; 61:3; Ps. 118:23,24).
(10) Jehovah will settle permanently in His holy mountain. He will rule there and judge there. Moab here stands as a symbol of pride and arrogance which God will not tolerate in His holy city. Even a people such as Moab would be given a chance to repent (Jer. 48:47), but their haughtiness against Jehovah would have to first be destroyed.
(11,12) Those of the spirit of Moab will attempt to tread water to keep from drowning (being destroyed). Jehovah will lay them low. Their cunning and skill will not let them escape judgment (Prov. 16:18). [TOP OF THIS CHAPTER]
4. A song of praise for the hope of deliverance (26:1-21)
a. Praise for the Strong City (vv. 1-6)
(1) The Strong City will have salvation as its fortification. Jehovah will stand as her protection and glory (Zech. 2:5).
(2) The city stands empty, but prepared to receive her righteous inhabitants. When the time comes to enter the city, those that have kept the faith will be given preference.
(3) This verse is similar to (Ps. 112:7) in thought. Perfect peace implies complete happiness and total well-being. Those who remain mindful of God will have this blessing.
(4) Trust includes: assured reliance on another's integrity and absolute confidence in his abilities (Hailey). The word translated Jehovah alludes to His strength as a rock (Deut. 32:4), fortress or refuge (2 Sam. 22:2,3; Ps. 31:2,3) or the "Rock of salvation" (2 Sam 22:47). Paul gives Christ this same designation (1 Cor. 10:4).
(5,6) Isaiah returns to the lofty people (24:4). The arrogant people, full of pride and self-exaltation will be brought low. This stands in contrast to the people of the strong city.
b. The effects of Jehovah's judgments (vv. 7-10)
(7) The Lord will make a level path for the righteous to follow (Prov. 5:21).
(8) It is through the judgment of the Lord that salvation and deliverance of the righteous comes. They will be led along Jehovah's true path.
(9) In the night, could refer to either the night of affliction (21:11) or the darkness of ignorance and sin (60:2). Isaiah looks forward to the day dawning, the world judgment coming, and God's righteousness being displayed for the world to acknowledge (Prov. 14:34).
(10) Prosperity tends to turn man's heart away from God. The successful among the wicked will always take advantage of the poor and good. These wicked will never see the majesty of God, because they have been blinded by their own wickedness.
c. The Lord Jehovah versus "other Lords" (vv. 11-15)
(11) Jehovah is, and has always been, zealous for His own people. In contrast, he has no respect for the proud and rebellious nations and will eventually cause their downfall. This downfall will begin within their own ranks. Even those who do not mean to serve the Lord may be used as His instruments of judgment from time to time (Assyria, Babylon, the Medes, etc.). In the end however, the worldly are always consumed by their own burning desires of ambition, pride, and conquest.
(12) Jehovah will provide peace for His people, even in the midst of the destruction of the adversaries. He will bring about their deliverance and preservation.
(13) Who are these other lords ? They might foreign kings that had ruled Israel at various times. It is more likely however that the prophet is referring to idol-gods (Amos 5:25,26). The Israelites had always had a problem with foreign gods even before taking possession of the land of Canaan.
(14) The idols had no life in them, they never did (Ps. 135:15-18). If the prophet is speaking of foreign kings, the same held true for them from a spiritual standpoint (Jer. 30:11; 46:28; Dan. 7:12,26; Rev. 17:16; 19:3,20).
(15) As the idolatrous nations decrease, the Lord's people will increase. As the idols themselves recede, Jehovah will come to the forefront. As the boundaries of idolatry shrink, the boundaries of God will expand.
d. From failure to victory (vv. 16-19)
(16) In time of trouble the heathen will "howl," as we have seen. But they will not turn to Jehovah and He will not hear their howling. A righteous follower of God needs only to whisper and God will respond (1 Sam. 1:13).
(17,18) The people have been like a pregnant woman waiting to deliver. They have been in pain. They are anxious to deliver, but so far have brought forth only wind (41:29; Hos. 8:7; 12:1). Without faith and trust in the Lord, they have been able to accomplish little. Israel has failed to destroy or convert the heathens - they have failed Jehovah.
(19) God will bring forth a work of His power, purpose, and grace. What resurrection is Isaiah alluding to here: (1) The figurative resurrection of the Jewish nation and their return to their land, (2) the final resurrection of the body at the end of time, or (3) a spiritual resurrection during the messianic age? The idea of a spiritual resurrection seems to be consistent with the context of the chapter, the section (chapters 24-27), and the entire book of Isaiah (See: Jn. 5:25; Eph. 2:1-6; Dan. 12:2; Mt. 24:12; Heb. 6:1-8; 10:26-31; Lk. 2:34). The spiritually dead will be brought to life (spiritual life and thus eternal life) by the preaching of the gospel.
e. Wait for Jehovah (vv. 20,21)
(20) The time to fulfill the promises of this chapter was not yet at hand. The Lord invites His children to enter His inner chamber for safety. They must remain there for a little time until the judgments of destruction that precede the spiritual nation appear.
(21) The language here is similar to (Gen. 11:5; 18:21) where His "coming down" refers to His judgment coming down from heaven. Crimes, under God's laws, have always demanded punishment. Since the time of the flood, God has imposed the death penalty for murder (Gen. 9:6). Only the blood of the murderer can expiate (pay the penalty for; atone for) the blood of the murdered (Num. 35:33). The Jewish nation signed their own death warrant when they called the blood of Jesus down upon their own heads (Mt. 27:25). The destruction alluded to in these three chapters will culminate in the fall of Jerusalem, 70 A.D. [TOP OF THIS CHAPTER]
C. The Overthrow Of World Power And The Ingathering Of Israel (27:1-13)
1. The new vineyard (27:1-6)
(1) This verse stands as a transition between the preceding and the following verses. It deals with the destruction of world power by Jehovah. His sword is described as hard, great, and strong. It will not wear out, but will be able to finish any job it starts. The creatures described here possibly symbolize all of the power that Satan is able to muster in his attempts to defeat God's purposes (compare to the sea monster in Revelation). In any case, the Sword of the Lord will prevail.
(2) A new vineyard will be planted. While the previous vineyard failed to produce and was destroyed (5:1-7), this one would flourish.
(3) Jehovah will be the keeper of this new vineyard. He will bring rain and dew upon it; He will watch and protect it night and day.
(4) As the protector of His people (vineyard), the Lord will not suffer any enemy (briars and thorns) to destroy them. Instead, he will destroy the enemies.
(5) The enemies' only escape will be through conversion and reconciliation. God stands ready to make peace with all his enemies - but only on His terms.
(6) In the distant future the whole of spiritual Israel (Jacob and Israel) will become firmly established and rooted in Jehovah. The fruits of the new vineyard will be felt throughout the whole world.
2. Expiation and desolation (27:7-11)
(7) In addition to the heathen world, National Israel must also be punished. While the judgment against the nation will be severe, it will not be as extensive as that against the heathens (Lev. 26:44). The people will not be utterly destroyed, but they will be scattered (Jer. 30:11; 46:28). A remnant will be spared and later returned to Jehovah.
(8) The punishment will fit the crime. Jehovah had made a serious attempt to bring Israel back into His fold, but when this failed He removed them with his rough blast in the day of the east wind. While this east wind would be severe, it would be temporary, not like the four winds that scattered Elam (Jer. 49:36) or the destroying winds against Babylon (Jer. 51:1).
(9) While the sin of Jacob will not be removed by the shedding of their own blood, the offense can be forgiven by God through their repentance. Part of this repentance would include the removal of the idols. After the captivity, idolatry never again appeared among the people.
(10) Even Jerusalem has become a city of idolatry. It, as well as the people, must be purged.
(11) The old vineyard must be completely destroyed, burned like deadwood. Rejection of Jehovah means the loss of His blessings, love, and favor. Disobedience to God is never without its consequences.
3. The Ingathering of the outcasts (27:12,13)
(12) There is always hope! These verses metaphorically describe the return of the remnant. The geography described represents the new kingdom. Each member of the remnant is promised to be gathered, resulting in their individual care and consideration.
(13) A trumpet will be used to announce the provision of perfect atonement and call all believers, from every corner of the earth, to the assembly (Heb. 12:22-24).