Woe—A Strong Warning and a Glorious Promise to the Whole World:
The Lord’s Day of Wrath and His Coming Kingdom, 34:1–35:10
God’s Warning of a Final Judgment on This Sinful,
Corrupt World:
His Day of Wrath Isaiah 34:1-17
Come here and
listen, O nations of the earth; let the world and everything in it hear my
words. 2For the Lord is enraged against the nations; his fury is
against their armies. He will utterly destroy them and deliver them to
slaughter. 3Their dead will be left unburied, and the stench of
rotting bodies will fill the land; the mountains will flow with their blood. 4At
that time the heavens above will melt away and disappear just like a rolled-up
scroll, and the stars will fall as leaves, as ripe fruit from the trees.
5And
when my sword has finished its work in the heavens, then watch, for it will
fall upon Edom, the people I have doomed. 6The sword of the Lord is
sated with blood; it is gorged with flesh as though used for slaying lambs and
goats for sacrifice. For the Lord will slay a great sacrifice in Edom and make
a mighty slaughter there. 7The strongest will perish, young boys and
veterans too. The land will be soaked with blood, and the soil made rich with
fat. 8For it is the day of vengeance, the year of recompense for
what Edom has done to Israel. 9The streams of Edom will be filled
with burning pitch, and the ground will be covered with fire.
10This
judgment on Edom will never end. Its smoke will rise up forever. The land will
lie deserted from generation to generation; no one will live there anymore. 11There
the hawks and porcupines will live, and owls and ravens. For God will observe
that land and find it worthy of destruction. He will test its nobles and find
them worthy of death. 12It will be called “The Land of Nothing,” and
its princes soon will all be gone. 13Thorns will overrun the
palaces, nettles will grow in its forts, and it will become the haunt of
jackals and a home for ostriches. 14The wild animals of the desert
will mingle there with wolves and hyenas. Their howls will fill the night.
There the night-monsters will scream at each other, and the demons will come
there to rest. 15There the owl will make her nest and lay her eggs;
she will hatch her young and nestle them beneath her wings, and the kites will
come, each one with its mate.
16Search the book of the Lord and see all that he will do; not one detail will he miss; not one kite will be there without a mate, for the Lord has said it, and his Spirit will make it all come true. 17He has surveyed and subdivided the land and deeded it to those doleful creatures; they shall possess it forever, from generation to generation.
God’s promise of a glorious future for this world:
His coming kingdom of perfection and joy. Isaiah 35:1-10
Even the
wilderness and desert will rejoice in those days; the desert will blossom with
flowers. 2Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and
joy! The deserts will become as green as the Lebanon mountains, as lovely as
Mount Carmel’s pastures and Sharon’s meadows; for the Lord will display his
glory there, the excellency of our God.
3With
this news bring cheer to all discouraged ones. 4Encourage those who
are afraid. Tell them, “Be strong, fear not, for your God is coming to destroy
your enemies. He is coming to save you.” 5And when he comes, he will
open the eyes of the blind and unstop the ears of the deaf. 6The lame
man will leap up like a deer, and those who could not speak will shout and
sing! Springs will burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. 7The
parched ground will become a pool, with springs of water in the thirsty land.
Where desert jackals lived, there will be reeds and rushes!
8And a main road will go through that once-deserted land; it will be named “The Holy Highway.” No evil-hearted men may walk upon it. God will walk there with you; even the most stupid cannot miss the way. 9No lion will lurk along its course, nor will there be any other dangers; only the redeemed will travel there. 10These, the ransomed of the Lord, will go home along that road to Zion, singing the songs of everlasting joy. For them all sorrow and all sighing will be gone forever; only joy and gladness will be there.[1]
Woe—A Strong Warning
and a Glorious Promise to the Whole World:
The Lord’s Day of Wrath and His Coming Kingdom, 34:1–35:10
(34:1–35:10) Introduction: warnings that notify us of some danger or evil are absolutely essential in life. Warnings can range all the way from minor cautions (Step Down Please) to notification of a life-threatening danger (Caution: Live Electrical Wires). To prevent catastrophic results, people have devised all kinds of warning signals. Fire alarms, house alarms, car alarms, S.O.S. signals, distress signals, and Mayday alerts have all been devised to protect us from imminent danger.
On the other hand, there are many encouraging signs in life. Picture the millions of travelers on the highways and byways across the nation. When we are running low on fuel and see a road sign for gas one mile away, we feel blessed. When we are thirsty or hungry and spot a listing of restaurants up ahead, we feel energized. When we are too weary to travel on and spot a hotel billboard, we are relieved. And when we finally arrive at our destination due to a good map and accurate road markers, we are excited and feel a sense of accomplishment. At that point, we consider that the journey was worthwhile.
In the present Scripture, the Lord issues a strong warning to the whole world (28:1–35:10). This warning is the climactic close to the woes, the strong warnings to the various nations of the earth. But it is also a glorious promise of the Lord’s coming kingdom, a promise to all who travel the highway of holiness. This is, Woe—A Strong Warning and a Glorious Promise to the Whole World: The Lord’s Day of Wrath and His Coming Kingdom, 34:1–35:10.
1. God’s warning of a final judgment on this sinful, corrupt world: His day of wrath (34:1–17).
God issued a stunning warning to all people and all nations of the earth: a day of final judgment is coming on this sinful, corrupt world. Due to people’s ungodliness and unrighteousness and the seed of corruption within nature, God’s wrath is to be poured out upon the earth. What follows is a shocking, graphic description of the last days of human history in this wicked and depraved world:
a. God summons the whole world to listen to His warning of the coming day of wrath (vv. 1–3). All nations and peoples of the earth are to hear the warning. Even the earth itself and everything in it is summoned to hear the warning of God. His wrath will fall not only upon people but also upon the world of animals and vegetation. The earth and the entire universe will be affected when the Lord’s day of wrath comes. Three shocking pictures are given that show the terror of that day.
1) On the day of God’s wrath, His anger will destroy all the unrighteous nations and armies of this world (v. 2). Through the ages, the Lord’s wrath has been building up against them. But one day in the future His wrath and fury will be filled to the full, reaching its full limit. No longer will He restrain His wrath. His judgment will explode against all the evil and ungodly nations and military forces. They will all be slaughtered, totally destroyed. This is a clear, vivid description of Armageddon, the final bloody, hellish war that will be fought in the last days of human history (see—Is. 63:1–6; Re. 19:11–21).
2) The day of God’s wrath will be a day of horrifying death (v. 3). So many soldiers will be killed, and there will not be enough men left to bury the dead. As the dead bodies lie openly on the ground unburied, they will decompose and a terrible smell will fill the air. It will be a gory, gruesome scene. So many soldiers will be slaughtered that the very ground itself will be soaked with blood. And when the rains come, it will appear as though the mountains themselves were flowing with blood.
3) The day of God’s wrath will be a day of cosmic, catastrophic events in the sky (v. 3). Shockingly, Isaiah predicted that the very stars of the sky will be burned up and dissolved. They will disappear just like a scroll that is rolled up and put away, completely out of sight. The stars will fall from their places like shriveled leaves or ripened fruit from a tree. Keep in mind that the destruction of the universe will take place to prepare for the new heavens and earth (Mt. 24:29; 2 Pe. 3:8–14; Re. 6:12–14; Re. 21:1; Joel 2:10, 30–31; 3:15; Zec. 14:6–7).
b. The coming day of God’s wrath is now pictured for the reader. The nation of Edom is chosen to show how God’s wrath will fall upon all the nations of the earth. Edom is an example, a representative, a symbolic picture of all the enemies of God’s people (vv. 5–17; 63:1–6). The Edomites were the descendants of Esau, and down through history, they had been the bitter enemies of Israel. A spirit of hatred, animosity, and hostility continually stirred the Edomites to oppose Israel. In the last days of human history, the Lord’s wrath will focus on the enemies of God’s people. Three facts are to be noted about the judgment that will fall upon Edom.
1) The people of Edom will be cursed, doomed—totally crushed (vv. 5–7). The Lord’s sword of judgment will be bathed in blood. As lambs and goats are sacrificed by the shedding of their blood, so the common citizens of the nation(s) will be slain. The “lambs and goats” probably refer to the common citizens of the world. Whatever the case, the lives of the Edomites will be sacrificed to the Lord in their capital Bozrah and throughout their nation. A great slaughter will take place throughout the entire land of Edom. God’s sword of wrath will execute His justice upon the nation. As wild oxen and bulls are slaughtered, so the strong and the leaders of the nation(s) will be slain. The land of Edom will be soaked with blood, and the dust of the ground will be covered with the fat oozing out from the carcasses (v. 7).
2) The Lord’s day of wrath has a very specific purpose: to execute justice on behalf of Zion, His people (v. 8). God will take vengeance against Edom and the other nations because of their mistreatment and persecution of His people. It will be the year for retribution, the year when Edom and the other nations of the world will be paid back for their defiance of the Lord and their mistreatment of true believers.
3) The land of Edom (and of the nations) will be utterly devastated—just like the land of Sodom and Gomorrah (see—Ge. 19:23–26). Its waters will be polluted; its ground will be set ablaze like burning sulfur and be ruined forever. Edom’s land will lie desolate, never again to be inhabited by people (v. 10). Only wild animals will inhabit the land (v. 10). God’s justice will be measured out over the land, and its chaos and emptiness will be sealed forever. Both its kingdom and leaders—the entire political structure with all its officials—will vanish away and be gone forever (v. 12). The nation’s palaces, fortresses, and cities, along with all its military defenses and forts, will be overgrown with thorns and overrun by wild animals (vv. 13–15).
c. The Lord’s day of wrath is sure to come. It cannot be stopped. The time is set, fixed once and for all by the Lord. The book of the Lord declares it (vv. 16–17). And every living person is commanded to read the warning of God in the book of the Lord. Not a single detail of His warning will be omitted in that day, not even one of the birds or animals mentioned in these verses will be missing or lack a mate on that day. The Lord Himself has spoken the Word concerning the coming day of wrath, and He will execute that day by His Spirit. God’s Spirit will carry out the orders, and make everything happen just as God has declared. God will judge Edom and give the land to wild animals forever (v. 17).
Thought 1. Remember, the warning about the Lord’s day of wrath was not given just to the people of Isaiah’s day. It was given to all people of all generations. The Lord’s day of wrath is coming to this world. It cannot be hindered or prevented. The day is fixed, set forever by the plan and Word of God Himself. All unbelievers—all who have defied, cursed, and rebelled against God; all who have mistreated God’s people; all the ungodly and unrighteous of this earth—will face the wrath of God. They will face the terrifying day of judgment. And there will be no escape.
(1) Listen to what God’s Holy Word says about the Lord’s day of wrath:
V “He that believeth on the Son hath
everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the
wrath of God abideth on him” (Jn.
3:36).
V “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven
against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in
unrighteousness” (Ro. 1:18).
V “But unto them that are contentious, and do
not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation, and wrath,
Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew
first, and also of the Gentile” (Ro.
2:8–9).
V “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or
covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither
filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but
rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean
person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the
kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for
because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of
disobedience” (Ep. 5:3–6).
V “For if we sin willfully after that we have
received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for
sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation,
which shall devour the adversaries” (He. 10:26–27).
V “And the third angel followed them, saying
with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his
hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out
without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with
fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the
Lamb” (Re. 14:9–10).
V “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye
perish from the way, when His wrath
is kindled but a little. Blessed are
all they that put their trust in Him” (Ps. 2:12).
V “Behold, the name of the Lord cometh from
far, burning with His anger, and the
burden thereof is heavy: His lips are
full of indignation, and His tongue as a devouring fire” (Is. 30:27).
V “But the Lord is the true God, He is the living God, and an everlasting king: at His wrath, the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide His indignation” (Je. 10:10).
(2) The coming of the Lord’s day of wrath is inevitable. There will be no escape for the unbelievers, the ungodly, and the unrighteous of the world.
V “When the Son of man shall come in his glory,
and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his
glory: And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them
one from another, as a shepherd divideth his
sheep from the goats: And He shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the
goats on the left.… Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart
from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his
angels:” (Mt. 25:31–33, 34).
V “Being filled with all unrighteousness,
fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder,
debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful,
proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without
understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable,
unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things
are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do
them. Therefore, thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest:
for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that
judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is
according to truth against those who commit such things. And thinkest thou
this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that
thou shalt escape the judgment of God?” (Ro. 1:29–2:3).
V “For when they shall say, Peace and safety;
then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child;
and they shall not escape” (1 Th.
5:3).
V “Therefore, we ought to give the more earnest
heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by
angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense
of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the
first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that
heard Him” (He. 2:1–3).
V “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh.
For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven” (He.
12:25).
V “Though
hand join in hand, the wicked shall
not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered” (Pr. 11:21).
V “Therefore, thus saith the Lord, Behold, I
will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though
they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them” (Je. 11:11).
V “Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord!
to what end is it for you? the day of
the Lord is darkness, and not light.
As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house,
and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Shall not the day of the Lord be
darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?” (Am. 5:18–20).
V “Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down” (Am. 9:2).[2]
But we have God’s promise of a glorious future for this world and His coming kingdom of perfection and joy.
[1] Taylor, Kenneth Nathaniel. 1997. The Living Bible,
Paraphrased. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.
[2] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 2005. Isaiah (Chapters 1–35). Vol. I. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
No comments:
Post a Comment