I. A SERIES OF SIX WOES AGAINST THOSE WHO DO NOT TRUST IN THE LORD (CONCLUDED)(28:1-33:24)
F. Woe To The "Spoiler" Who Is The Assyrian Destroyer (33:1-24) - Contrast this chapter with chapter 22. Fatalism and feasting has been replaced by prayer and solemnity. For the historical background of this chapter see (2 Ki. 18,18; Isa. 36,37). It is probable that Isaiah publicly declared the prophecies of this chapter when Sennacherib demanded the surrender of the city (2 Ki. 18:13-35). The details of that demand will be seen when we study chapters 36 and 37.
1. Condemnation and retribution shall come against Judah's foes (33:1-16) - Most conservative scholars feel this woe is against Assyria and we will treat it as such in the following comments.
a. Woe to the Destroyer (vv.1-6)
(1) Some suggest that Isaiah may have spoken these words from the wall of the city against the Assyrian ambassadors as they stood below demanding the surrender of the city. Sennacherib will eventually get the comeuppance his actions against God demands (Isa. 37:38).
(2) The prophet now prays for God's grace upon the city. The faithful have been waiting for deliverance and now join Isaiah in prayer. Patience is a virtue that God will reward. In time of calamity (then and now) "salvation is of Jehovah" (Jonah 2:9).
(3) The prophet can "see" the answer to his prayers. The heathens will be dispersed and the city will be spared.
(4) The plunder of the Assyrians will be harvested by others like locusts through a field. Greedily the spoilers will be spoiled until none of their gain remains.
(5) God is in a continuous position of exaltation, yet the people in their ignorance have just at this point in the narrative come to realize it. God's actions demonstrate His justice and righteousness (Ps. 89:14; 97:2).
(6) The Lord's abiding presence and the people abiding in His justice and righteousness will lead them into a state of stability and security. The treasure available to the people is salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. It is accessible to the people by a key - that key is the fear of God.
b. The broken covenant and the devouring fire (vv.7-16)
(7) Conditions of the people and the land of Judah were in a terrible state as these next three verses reveal. In this verse we see the brave ambassadors, sent to convey tribute to Sennacherib, return weeping.
(8) No one can travel the highways, the countryside is deserted and all who could, have taken refuge in the city. The enemy had broken the peace treaty, laid siege to the city, and violated the basic rights of the people of the city. This arrogant disregard for anything that stood in his way would eventually be Sennacherib's downfall.
(9) In addition to the weeping ambassadors and empty highways, the land mourned and wasted away. Four normally flourishing sections of the country are shown to be withering. The language is figurative but suggests that the land reflects the spirit of the people.
(10) Three verbs here emphasize that God is declaring that the time is right for action: now I will arise, now will I lift up myself, and now will I be exalted.
(11) The plans of Assyria for Jerusalem will fail - all these plans will amount to is chaff and stubble. They will be consumed by their own wrath and hatred.
(12) Lime is produced by heating calcium filled ore. The enemy nations will be turned into lime and they will be consumed as easily as dry grass.
(13) Jehovah's display of power against Assyria should stand as a warning to all the nations of the earth. His people should also be warned by His power, but assured by it as well.
(14) The sinners (those that miss the mark) in Zion are warned. The godless (those that do not esteem holy things) also stand in the way of a devouring fire. This verse is probably not alluding to eternal punishment, but to their end here on earth.
(15) The prophet answers the questions posed in verse 14. Who can withstand these things? One: 1, who walks righteously; 2, who speaks truth in his heart (Ps. 15:2); 3, who hold extortion in contempt; 4, who refuses a bribe; 5, who refuses to hear plots that involve bloodshed; and 6, who keeps his eyes straight ahead, not looking at evil. These characteristics cover the gamut of godlike conduct: speech, purity, honesty, and focusing on divine principles of righteousness.
(16) The righteous will have a dwelling place above the wickedness and fears of those that do not know Jehovah. Jehovah provides the righteous with a defense that includes sustenance and all necessities of life.
2. The Messiah will bring protection and peace (33:17-24)
(17) Hailey believes the King in view here is the Messiah, while other commentators opt for either Hezekiah, Jehovah, or the Messiah. A good case can be made for accepting Hailey's view if the phrase thine eyes shall behold a land that reacheth afar is tied in with (Zech. 9:10; Ps. 72:8), where the Messiah's land is shown to reach to all ends of the earth.
(18) Upon seeing the King and the land, the present suffering will be only a memory. But it will be a memory that remain as a lesson in the hearts and minds of the people. Those that were visible signs of the oppressors would be removed.
(19) The enemy will be completely taken out of the land. Those of Isaiah's generation would never see them again. However, the Assyrians would return once more to assist the Babylonians in the capture of Judah while Manasseh was king (2 Chron. 33:11).
(20) The people's attention is now directed to Jerusalem-Zion. While physical Jerusalem would eventually be destroyed at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, this new Zion would be a place for religious festivals; a quiet, permanent place where Jehovah can dwell among his people forever. Ultimately, this new Zion is the heavenly abode, which can only be entered via the Messiah as one of His saints (Heb. 12:22,27,28).
(21,22) In His permanent dwelling place Jehovah will preserve the righteous and repel the wicked. Isaiah pictures the new Zion as surrounded by the protection of rivers. But these waters will be such that no warships can penetrate their boundaries to attack and destroy the city. There will be safety there because Jehovah will be the lawgiver, King, and Savior. In the new Zion, Jesus is all of these things (Heb. 8:6; 12:24; Jn. 5:22; Rev. 17:14).
(23) In contrast to the permanent Zion, physical Jerusalem is in shambles. The city is as a helpless ship unable to raise its sails. Yet, even in this condition the people will be able to divide a great spoil among themselves. However, the spoil will come to them because of Jehovah's work, not anything that they did themselves.
(24) Beyond this time of weakness lies a time of power, where all sickness will be healed. That is, sins will be forgiven and the weak will be restored. Through whom could such as this be accomplished? Only the Messiah. To paraphrase Smith: for man to have a future, forgiveness of sins must bring to a close his past. [TOP OF THIS PAGE]
II. THE DESTINY OF THE WICKED IS CONTRASTED WITH THE EXALTATION FOR THOSE WHO TRUST IN THE LORD (34:1-35:10)
A. The Judgment Against Edom Stands As An Example To The World Powers Which Resist God (34:1-17) - Esau represents the impious mind showing its earthly character and its hatred of God, His people and all that is spiritual. This chapter pictures the day of Jehovah's vengeance against all that Esau represents (Hailey). Other prophets including Obadiah, Amos, Ezekiel, and Malachi have brought God's words of destruction upon Edom.
1. Judgments of the Nations (34:1-4)
(1) A universal call to the heathen nations to hearken unto the words of Jehovah.
(2) The heathen nations are guilty of trying to destroy Israel and knowledge of Jehovah. For this, all the heathen forces will bear the brunt of His judgment. The prophet speaks as if Jehovah has already accomplished this feat. By speaking in the past tense Isaiah strengthens his words.
(3) These next two verses paint a gruesome picture. The slain will not be buried, but be left out to rot. Their blood will flow with the intensity of a flash flood eroding a mountainside.
(4) The skies overhead will close and darken, their sacred hosts will crumble away. While this passage could allude to the end of the world in general, here it shows the wrath and indignation of God as it comes against His opponents and the end of their world.
2. Judgment against Edom - a sacrifice (34:5-7)
(5) Edom stands as a symbol of all the heathen nations. For Moses' view of God's feelings on this same subject see (Deut. 32:41,42).
(6) Jehovah is seen as offering sacrifices, His blood is full of the their blood. Bozrah is the chief city of Edom and was strongly fortified and considered unassailable - yet the people would be slaughtered.
(7) Now the prophet moves from the smaller sacrifices of verse 6 to the larger animals. Unicorn is actually a wild ox, now extinct, but then known for its fierceness. The domesticated ox will also fall before the Lord. The blood shed in anger and hatred by the Edomites will return upon their own heads (Eze. 35:6).
3. The Judgment - total desolation (34:8-15)
(8) Judgment will be carried out in defense of Jehovah's claim of righteousness.
(9) Edom will become a desolate, worthless, wasteland of tar and burning, a fitting description of hell itself.
(10) It is a perpetual fire of destruction. The flame, smoke, and destruction will never cease. While Edom claimed it would rise again, God said otherwise (Mal. 1:4; Ps. 127:1). The eternal lot of the godless is to attempt to build without God ­ and then to fail!
(11-15) Wild creatures of the desert will take over the land of Edom. God will use the very tools of building up (line and plumb-bob) to tear Edom down.With the destruction of the kingdom, there will be no place for nobles and princes.The cities with their palaces and courts will lie in ruins, a place fit only for the wild beasts to run. Untamed and unrestrained beasts shall run amok among the ruins. The serpents and the vultures will also find Edom a perfect place to live. These descriptions portray more than just a physical desolation of the land. Also, they show God's abandonment of a way of life contrary to His precepts. The animals listed here are unclean, ugly, loathsome, and represent the Edomites as an abomination to God and His righteous people.
4. The certainty of this desolation (34:16,17)
(16) The word of God assures punishment and destruction as surely as it does deliverance and blessings. The word here probably refers to Isaiah's writings, which he has claimed from the beginning to be the word of God. History has proven the words of Isaiah (God) to be true.
(17) For two thousand years the land of Edom has remained desolate and in possession of the wild creatures named in this prophecy. By the word of God, Edom will be theirs until the end of time. [TOP OF THIS CHAPTER][TOP OF THIS PAGE]
B. Those Redeemed By The Lord Will Find Gladness And Joy (35:1-10) - Isaiah's favorite method of teaching is contrast. Previously he has contrasted: the ideal Zion with the real Jerusalem (ch.s 2-4) and the terrible treatment of physical Israel at the hands of Assyria with the future glory and permanence of spiritual Israel (ch.s 9-11). Now he will contrast the desolation of the nations (e.g. Edom, ch. 34) with the future glory of Zion (ch. 35). This future glory was not to be seen in physical Israel between the times of Babylon and Rome, but only in a new spiritual Israel at the appearing of the Messiah.
1. The new song (35:1-4)
(1) The wilderness and desert seems to refer to the religious lives of the Jews and heathens alike. But this unsightly spiritual life will blossom into a desert flower with both beauty of character and spirit.
(2) What was desert now sings the praises of Him who restored it. The splendor is represented by the snow-capped peaks of Lebanon, the forests of Carmel and the green fields of Sharon. All of these were previously condemned to desolation (Isa. 33:9), but now are restored beyond there former majesty.
(3) Those that were in unbelief and defeat (weak hands and feeble knees) will be strengthened in Jehovah.
(4) The strong must encourage the weak-hearted. Fear is a sign of unbelief. Fears of spiritual failure, Satan's power, of economic collapse, and moral defeat must be overcome (Heb. 13:5; Phil. 4:5; 2 Thess. 1:6).
2. Cause for the rejoicing (35:5-7)
(5) The similarity between these verses and (Mt. 11:2-6) are unmistakable. While Jesus' words refer to His physical works, these words of Isaiah point ahead to some great spiritual work. Eyes and ears will be opened to Jehovah's spiritual appeal.
(6) The lame and the cast-off will become a remnant and a strong nation (Mic. 4:7). The speechless shall sing and their rejoicing will be heard far and wide. Lives will be changed and character transformed.
(7) Sand will become a pool of clear water. Mirages will disappear to be replaced by the real thing - brought forth by the Messiah (Jn. 4:14; 7:37,38).
3. The highway (35:8-10)
(8) The highway leads to the Zion of God, it is the way of holiness for the travelers (Isa. 11:16; 19:23,24). The highway will be limited to a select few - the redeemed. The fools being wise in the way of evil will not accidentally find themselves on the spiritual highway.
(9) No fierce destroyers will be found on the way. Only the transformed, the redeemed shall walk there.
(10) The redeemed will exchange the sorrow and sighing of the
moment for the gladness and joy which is everlasting. These blessings
are a foreshadowing of the messianic times (1 Pet. 1:10-12; Heb.
12:22; Rev. 14:1; Heb. 10:19,20). These blessings are spiritual,
not physical. Therefore, "let us not be deceived by a materialistic
mirage of a sensuous millennial period here on earth" (Hailey).
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