Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it.
For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.
Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.
And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.
For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.
The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the Lord hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea.
And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.
For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.
And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.
It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.
But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness.
They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing.
And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls.
The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest.
There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate.
Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.
And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein.
Isaiah 34 unveils a powerful and sobering vision of God's judgment upon the nations, particularly focusing on Edom as a representative example. This chapter transcends a specific historical event, pointing towards a future day of reckoning when God's justice will be fully realized. It serves as a crucial reminder of God's holiness and the consequences of opposing Him and His people.
The Scope of Divine Wrath (Isaiah 34:1-4)
The prophecy begins with a call for all nations to draw near and listen (Isaiah 34:1). This is not a localized warning, but a universal declaration of God's impending judgment. The LORD is angry with all the nations and furious with all their armies (Isaiah 34:2). This universal scope suggests a final judgment, a culmination of God's righteous wrath against persistent rebellion and ungodliness. This rebellion stems from their opposition to God and His chosen people, filling the cup of His righteous indignation.
The imagery in Isaiah 34:4 is striking: "All the stars in the sky will be dissolved and the heavens rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree." This could be interpreted literally, depicting the cataclysmic events accompanying the eternal state after the millennium, echoing Revelation 21:23, where the New Jerusalem has no need for sun or moon because of God's glory. Alternatively, Isaiah might be using metaphorical language to describe the downfall of worldly rulers and powers when Christ returns to establish His kingdom, stripping them of their authority.
Edom: A Case Study in Judgment (Isaiah 34:5-7)
Edom, the land of the Edomites, becomes a specific illustration of the fate awaiting the ungodly nations. The Edomites were descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother, making them relatives of Israel. Despite this familial connection, they were known for their hostility towards Israel. Isaiah uses Edom as an example of nations that forget God and act contrary to His will. The New Testament also uses Esau as a warning against irreverence, highlighting his choice to trade his birthright for immediate gratification (Hebrews 12:16).
Isaiah describes Edom's judgment as a sacrifice, a holy work of God (Isaiah 34:6). This emphasizes the solemn and righteous nature of God's judgment. It is not arbitrary vengeance, but a necessary act of divine justice.
Desolation and Perpetual Ruin (Isaiah 34:8-17)
The destruction of Edom is portrayed as a just recompense for their hostility toward Zion (Isaiah 34:8). The Edomites had refused to assist Israel during their journey from Egypt to Canaan (Numbers 20:14-21), choosing instead to obstruct their path. God remembers and will repay such acts of unkindness and opposition.
The land of Edom will be turned into a burning wasteland, a desolate and uninhabitable place (Isaiah 34:9-10). The smoke of its torment will ascend forever, a vivid image of perpetual ruin. This imagery resonates with the description of judgment on those who worship the Antichrist during the tribulation in Revelation 14:11, where the smoke of their torment also rises forever. This emphasizes the finality and severity of God's judgment on those who reject Him.
Edom's fate is complete desolation. Instead of people, wild animals will inhabit the land (Isaiah 34:11-17). This emphasizes the completeness of the judgment, leaving no room for restoration or recovery. The land will become a haven for creatures of the wild, a stark contrast to its former state. The "Book of the LORD" mentioned in Isaiah 34:16 may refer to a divine record of God's prophetic pronouncements, or simply a portion of the written prophecy, confirming the certainty of these events.
Isaiah 34 is a powerful reminder of the consequences of opposing God and His people. It serves as both a warning and a call to repentance, urging us to align ourselves with God's will and seek His mercy before the day of judgment arrives. It highlights the importance of remembering God, treating others with kindness, and remaining faithful in the face of adversity. This chapter, while seemingly focused on Edom, carries a universal message that resonates throughout history and points towards the ultimate triumph of God's justice and righteousness.
Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it.
For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.
Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.
And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.
For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.
The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the Lord hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea.
And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.
For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.
And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.
It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.
But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness.
They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing.
And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls.
The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest.
There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate.
Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.
And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein.
Isaiah 34 unveils a powerful and sobering vision of God's judgment upon the nations, particularly focusing on Edom as a representative example. This chapter transcends a specific historical event, pointing towards a future day of reckoning when God's justice will be fully realized. It serves as a crucial reminder of God's holiness and the consequences of opposing Him and His people.
The Scope of Divine Wrath (Isaiah 34:1-4)
The prophecy begins with a call for all nations to draw near and listen (Isaiah 34:1). This is not a localized warning, but a universal declaration of God's impending judgment. The LORD is angry with all the nations and furious with all their armies (Isaiah 34:2). This universal scope suggests a final judgment, a culmination of God's righteous wrath against persistent rebellion and ungodliness. This rebellion stems from their opposition to God and His chosen people, filling the cup of His righteous indignation.
The imagery in Isaiah 34:4 is striking: "All the stars in the sky will be dissolved and the heavens rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree." This could be interpreted literally, depicting the cataclysmic events accompanying the eternal state after the millennium, echoing Revelation 21:23, where the New Jerusalem has no need for sun or moon because of God's glory. Alternatively, Isaiah might be using metaphorical language to describe the downfall of worldly rulers and powers when Christ returns to establish His kingdom, stripping them of their authority.
Edom: A Case Study in Judgment (Isaiah 34:5-7)
Edom, the land of the Edomites, becomes a specific illustration of the fate awaiting the ungodly nations. The Edomites were descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother, making them relatives of Israel. Despite this familial connection, they were known for their hostility towards Israel. Isaiah uses Edom as an example of nations that forget God and act contrary to His will. The New Testament also uses Esau as a warning against irreverence, highlighting his choice to trade his birthright for immediate gratification (Hebrews 12:16).
Isaiah describes Edom's judgment as a sacrifice, a holy work of God (Isaiah 34:6). This emphasizes the solemn and righteous nature of God's judgment. It is not arbitrary vengeance, but a necessary act of divine justice.
Desolation and Perpetual Ruin (Isaiah 34:8-17)
The destruction of Edom is portrayed as a just recompense for their hostility toward Zion (Isaiah 34:8). The Edomites had refused to assist Israel during their journey from Egypt to Canaan (Numbers 20:14-21), choosing instead to obstruct their path. God remembers and will repay such acts of unkindness and opposition.
The land of Edom will be turned into a burning wasteland, a desolate and uninhabitable place (Isaiah 34:9-10). The smoke of its torment will ascend forever, a vivid image of perpetual ruin. This imagery resonates with the description of judgment on those who worship the Antichrist during the tribulation in Revelation 14:11, where the smoke of their torment also rises forever. This emphasizes the finality and severity of God's judgment on those who reject Him.
Edom's fate is complete desolation. Instead of people, wild animals will inhabit the land (Isaiah 34:11-17). This emphasizes the completeness of the judgment, leaving no room for restoration or recovery. The land will become a haven for creatures of the wild, a stark contrast to its former state. The "Book of the LORD" mentioned in Isaiah 34:16 may refer to a divine record of God's prophetic pronouncements, or simply a portion of the written prophecy, confirming the certainty of these events.
Isaiah 34 is a powerful reminder of the consequences of opposing God and His people. It serves as both a warning and a call to repentance, urging us to align ourselves with God's will and seek His mercy before the day of judgment arrives. It highlights the importance of remembering God, treating others with kindness, and remaining faithful in the face of adversity. This chapter, while seemingly focused on Edom, carries a universal message that resonates throughout history and points towards the ultimate triumph of God's justice and righteousness.