JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS
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CHAPTER 34
1-4
UNIVERSAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF JUDGEMENT - spoken as if it is has already happened
utter defeat of all hostiles
The judgment, which affects even the heavens, can be interpreted at least three
ways:
a. Victory of God over opposing worldly and spiritual enemies through the sinless life, death and resurrection of Christ (see notes on 24-27). The context favors this view.
b. The final judgment (Psa 102:25-27; Heb 1:10ff; 2 Pet 3:10,11).
c. The end of the world as the heathen sees it. “When God’s wrath and indignation come against the nations that oppose and fight Him, their world comes to an end” (Hailey).
5-15
Some examples of that hostility:
a. Refused Israel safe passage through Edom on her way to Canaan (Num 20).
b. David had to fight against them (2 Sam 8:13; 1 Chron 18:12).
c. Revolted against Judah’s rule in the days of Jehoram (2 Chron 21:8-10).
d. Joined with enemies of God to oppose Israel and Judah, and to rejoice in
their defeat (Jer 49:7-10, 12-18; Ezek 25:12-14; 35:3-15; Joel 3:19; Obad 2,3,8,10-12,17).
“In the final analysis, all of Edom’s envy, anger and hatred against his brother was against Jehovah, for it was He who had determined which nation would receive the birthright and bring forth the Messiah” (Hailey).
8-12. Permanent desolation of Edom.
This will be a day when God executes His vengeance upon His enemies and the
enemies of His people (cf. Deut 32:35; Prov 24:29; Rom 12:17-19; Heb 10:30).
Edom will become a vast wasteland; pitch...brimstone...smoke—language similar to
the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19:25-28; Jer 49:17,18). See Barnes
for a good description of this fulfillment. It will be suitable only for animals, and
there will be no nobles or princes left to rule.
13-15. Their capital city of the future.
THE CERTAINTY OF THIS DEVASTATION................................................... 34:16,17
Isaiah exhorts all to verify the accuracy of these predictions (search from the book of
the Lord and read—Jn 5:39; Acts 17:11). God has spoken these words and has
given this land over to the animals. It has been over 2,000 years and this is still
true! Edomites ceased to exist around A.D. 70 when Rome conquered Palestine
principle of judgement is constant and irrefutable
accountability to God is realized in final judgment
no one or no nation can escape
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.
“All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;
and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.
alll nations and peoples
complete and thorough
“These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,
THE NEW SONG ........................................................................................35:1-4
1,2. Transformation of Judah.
The age discussed in this chapter will be one of rejoicing, gladness and remarkable, dramatic changes.
The desert here represents the spiritual life of both Jews and Gentiles. This desert land will blossom and receive:
a. The glory of Lebanon. Its glory was its beautiful and majestic cedar trees and vegetation (10:34);
b. The excellence of Carmel—a mountain representing beauty;
c. ...and Sharon—representing beauty and fertility (1 Chron 5:16; 27:29).
Again, all this is symbolic of great changes in beauty and productivity, and in this remarkable age people will recognize the glory and excellence of God (cf. Lk 2:14; Jn 1:14).
3,4. Exhortation to trust in God.
On the basis of coming blessings, Isaiah exhorts the people to be strong and not to be afraid (Lk 12:32ff; 1 Cor 16:13; Phil 1:27,28), because God would come to save them —Jesus, God with us (Mt 1:21; Lk 19:10; Jn 3:17; 1 Jn 4:14). Verse 3 is referred to in Heb 12:12,13.
Fearful-hearted - “The heart is the workshop in which all of our deeds are wrought.
The heart must be bold and courageous, fearless and strong, if the hands are to be strengthened and the knees made firm...Fear is a sign of unbelief. Today’s fears of spiritual failure, of Satan’s power, of economic collapse, and of moral defeat must
be overcome” (Hailey). Cf. Heb 13:5; Phil 4:5; 2 Thess 1:6.
CAUSE FOR THE REJOICING........................................................................35:5-7
Relief from disabilities.
Then—at that time, the time of the Messiah.
A time of great healing, obviously referring to the miraculous powers of Christ and His apostles:
a. The blind (cf. Mt 9:27; 20:30; Mk 8:23; 10:46; Lk 7:21),
b. The deaf (cf. Mt 11:5; Mk 7:32,37; 9:25),
c. The lame (cf. Jn 5:9; Acts 3:2ff; 8:7; 14:10),
d. Those who could not speak (cf. Mt 9:32,33; 12:22; 15:30,31; Mk 11:17; Lk:1:20-22, 59-64).
THE HIGHWAY .........................................................................................35:8-10
A highway of safety.
In all of these descriptions, God is not saying...”that the way will be so simple that an inexperienced or unlearned person cannot miss it, but that the man who despises wisdom, being wise in evil instead, will not make the mistake of walking in it” (Hailey).
In this great day there will be a highway...a road (v. 8 cf. Mt:7:13,14; Jn 14:6; Acts 4:12; 9:2; 19:9,23; 24:22).
This highway is described as follows:
a. The Highway of Holiness. Christianity is the way of holiness (Eph 1:4; Col 1:22; 2 Tim 1:9; 1 Pet 1:15,16). The unclean (sinners) shall not pass over it.
b. The way will be clearly marked. The Christian way is clearly marked (Jn 14:6; Acts 4:12; Heb 5:9; 1 Pet 2:21).
c. It will be the safe way. Christianity is the safe way (Mt 11:28-30; Jn 11:25,26; Rom 8:37-39; 2 Pet 1:8-10; 1 Jn 1:7).
d. The redeemed and ransomed will walk there. Christians are the redeemed!
(Eph 1:7; Col 1:14; Titus 2:14: 1 Pet 1:18,19).
e. Those on that way come to Zion. Christians have come to Zion (Heb 12:22ff).
f. The redeemed come with singing, everlasting joy and gladness. These are blessings associated with the Christian way (Jn 15:11; 16:22-24; 17:13; Acts 8:39; Rom 14:17; Phil 3:1; 4:4; 1 Jn 1:4).
“The prophets knew that these glories were not for their day, but for ours (1 Pet 1:10-12). Under the Messiah we now come unto Zion (Heb 12:22; Rev 14:1) by this very way, a new and living way (Heb 10:19,20). And as we come, let us come in that spirit of rejoicing and thanksgiving so beautifully pictured by Isaiah; for we are heirs of all that to which the prophets pointed (Acts 3:24-26; Heb 1:2). Let us not be deceived by a materialistic mirage of a sensuous millennial period here on earth”
(Hailey).
Ch 36-39—