Isaías 34
John MacArthur · Citado em PreceptAustin
Isaías 34
MacArthur: Title, Author, Date, Background, Setting, Historical, Theological Themes, Interpretive Challenges, Outline by Chapter/Verse. Excellent overview same intro as in MacArthur Study Bible. Interpretive Challenges - Interpretive challenges in a long and significant book such as Isaiah are numerous. The most critical of them focuses on whether Isaiah’s prophecies will receive literal fulfillment or not, and on whether the Lord, in His program, has abandoned national Israel and permanently replaced the nation with the church, so that there is no future for national Israel. On the latter issue, numerous portions of Isaiah support the position that God has not replaced ethnic Israel with an alleged “new Israel.” Isaiah has too much to say about God’s faithfulness to Israel, that He would not reject the people whom He has created and chosen (Isaiah 43:1). The nation is on the palms of His hands, and Jerusalem’s walls are ever before His eyes (Isaiah 49:16). He is bound by His own Word to fulfill the promises He has made to bring them back to Himself and bless them in that future day (Isaiah 55:10–12). On the former issue, literal fulfillment of many of Isaiah’s prophecies has already occurred, as illustrated in Introduction: Historical and Theological Themes. To contend that those yet unfulfilled will see non-literal fulfillment is biblically groundless. This fact disqualifies the case for proposing that the church receives some of the promises made originally to Israel. The kingdom promised to David belongs to Israel, not the church. The future exaltation of Jerusalem will be on earth, not in heaven. Christ will reign personally on this earth as we know it, as well as in the new heavens and new earth (Rev. 22:1,3). (Isaiah - John MacArthur) Related Resources: Rise of Allegorical Interpretation Israel of God Replacement theology / supersessionism Replacement Theology - What we should know - part 1 - Gabe Morris (recommended) Replacement Theology - What we should know-part 2 - Gabe Morris (recommended) Replacement Theology - The Evils of - Dr David Reagan (recommended) Remnant Kingdom of Heaven or God God's Plan for Jerusalem: Five Prophetic Mountain Peaks Halley's Bible Handbook (see context) calls Isaiah 34 - Like Isaiah 24, this chapter seems to be a vision of the end time. Edom is used as a typical example of God's wrath. Once populous and fertile, it is now one of the most desolate regions on earth, inhabited mainly by wild beasts, birds, and reptiles (Isa 34:10-15; see under Obadiah 1:16-17+). Isaiah challenges future ages to note his words about Edom. Isaiah 34:1 Draw near, O nations, to hear; and listen, O peoples! Let the earth and all it contains hear, and the world and all that springs from it. KJV Isaiah 34:1 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. Draw near, O nations to hear; and listen, O peoples Isaiah 18:3; 33:13; 41:1; 43:9; 49:1; Judges 5:3,31; Ps 49:1,2; 50:1; 96:10; Mark 16:15,16; Revelation 2:7 Let the earth and all it contains hear Isa 1:2; Deuteronomy 4:26; 32:1; Jeremiah 22:29; Micah 6:1,2 and the world and all that springs from it Ps 24:1; 1 Corinthians 10:26 First read Isaiah 34:1-4 and observe against whom the judgment is prophesied. Then read Isaiah 34:5-8 and see if there is a shift in the recipient of God's judgment. ENTIRE EARTH SUMMONED As you read this next section keep in mind that Isaiah 34 and Isaiah 35 are a unit, the first chapter speaking of judgment against the enemies of Israel (represented by Edom) and the second chapter describing the glories of the restored nation of Israel in the Millennium. To help you put these chapters in context, notice from the charts above that Isaiah 34-35 ends the section which focuses primarily on judgment and is followed by the historical chapters, Isaiah 36-39, which in turn are followed by "comfort and redemption" chapters, Isaiah 40-66. W E Vine - This and the next chapter are an expansion of the two subjects of chapter thirty-three, namely, the judgments of the Day of the Lord, and the subsequent Millennial blessedness of Israel and their land. (Borrow Isaiah Commentary - Vine is relatively literal and conservative and worth checking for his thoughts on Isaiah). The Moody Bible Commentary helps place Isaiah 34-35 into proper context - "After beginning the book of Isaiah with an introduction itemizing the particulars of Israel’s disobedience (Isaiah 1–6), the first half of the book (Isaiah 7–35) emphasized judgment (although it does include promises of blessing as well). The first half began with the narrative found in the book of Immanuel (Isaiah 7–12), showing Ahaz’s rejection of the offer of a sign from God. As an outgrowth of that rejection of the sign, the sections that followed all emphasized that God would judge Israel and the nations (Isaiah 13–35). There are four sections emphasizing judgment: The oracles against the nations (Isaiah 13–23), the promise of end-time judgment and blessing (often called “The Little Apocalypse,” Isaiah 24–27), the book of Woes (Isaiah 28–33), and what follows now, the summary of end-time judgment and blessing (Isaiah 34–35). This section marks the end of the first half of the book, summarizing its overall message of judgment and blessing. The first part of this summary pertains to God’s judgment of the nations (Isaiah 34) and the second part highlights God future blessing of Israel (Isaiah 35). (Section on Isaiah written by Michael Rydelnik [Messianic Jew] and James Spencer) The Berean reader (Acts 17:11+) must realize that many other commentaries spiritualize or allegorize both chapters as God speaking about the church and not Israel.The definition of an allegory is... ...a story in which people, things or happenings have a symbolic meaning. ...a story that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning. ...a story in which the apparent meaning of the characters and events is used to symbolize a deeper moral or spiritual meaning. ...a symbolic story that serves as a disguised representation for meanings other than those indicated on the surface. Do you see the common thread of these definitions of allegory from multiple sources? The predominant idea is reading something and interpreting it as having a symbolic, hidden, deeper moral or spiritual meaning. Do you see the danger when one reads a prophecy like Isaiah with "allegorical glasses," so to speak, seeing virtually everything the prophet wrote as having a meaning other than that intended by God when He inspired the Jewish prophet's words to Jews? Recall how Isaiah opens his prophecies... The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz concerning Judah and Jerusalem, which he saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah (DESCRIBED IN THE FOLLOWING HISTORICAL SECTION - Isaiah 36-39), kings of Judah. (Isaiah 1:1+, cf Isaiah 2:1+) So from Isaiah's own words, to whom would you say Isaiah is writing his prophecy? To people in general? To the Church? If words mean anything, then clearly Isaiah is addressing his prophecy to Judah and Jerusalem. It is a Jewish prophet writing a Jewish Old Testament book to Jewish people! Could it be any clearer? And yet we come to Isaiah 34-35 and respected expositors such as Raymond Ortlund essentially disregard Isaiah's own words about who is his intended audience in the original historical setting. Some 15 times in Ortlund's introductory remarks he uses the word "US" (a "key word" in this section) and five times the word "OURSELVES", while using the word "ISRAEL" only five times. Ortlund's approach reminds me of a statement on Dr Michael Rydelnik's blog when he said "I once heard that every person is listening to the same radio station: WIIFM. That’s right, WIIFM. Those letters represent five words, What’s in it for me?" And so Dr Ortlund posits that in Isaiah 34-35 "Chapter 34 shows US what will become of everyone who buys into this world, and chapter 35 shows US what will become of everyone who banks everything on the promised salvation of God." While there is a ring of truth about what Ortlund says, it is clear from his introduction that he is skipping over the literal observation of the text and focusing primarily on application of the text to saints today. In so doing he completely misses the accurate interpretation of Isaiah's words, for as any good inductive Bible study student knows careful observation is critical to accurate interpretation. Beloved, there is only one valid interpretation of any text (and granted in a number of texts God's intended meaning can be very difficult to determine), but that same text can have many applications. Ortlund focuses on the latter, but does so without first gleaning an accurate interpretation. Paul instructed Timothy and all of us who handle God's Word to be "Be diligent to (aorist imperative - Command. Do this now! Don't delay! It is urgent so that you might) present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15-note). As someone has well said "Rightly dividing the Word multiplies our understanding!" Isaiah's radio station call letters instead of "WIIFM" are more accurately abbreviated "WIIFI," "What's In It For Israel?" To further support my premise that Ortlund essentially ignores that these words were written to Jews by a Jewish prophet, notice his very nice outline which has not one mention of the Jews! 1. Judgment: God, not this world, is the one to fear (34:1–17) A1 Listen to what God has planned! (34:1) B1 The resources of the Lord (34:2–10) B2 The unmaking of this world (34:11–15) A2 Read what God has determined! (34:16, 17) 2. Salvation: God, not this world, is the one to hope in (35:1–10) A1 The desert blossoms with joyful song (35:1, 2) B1 Encourage one another with this hope! (35:3, 4) C God’s people will sing for joy (35:5, 6a) B2 God can do the impossible! (35:6b, 7) A2 The way home leads to joyful song (35:8–10) Ortlund goes on to give an illustration from the life of Lance Armstrong "a great athlete...we all admire him," quoting him as saying " I believed I had a responsibility to be a good person, and that meant fair, honest, hardworking, and honorable. If I did that, if I was good to my family, true to my friends, if I gave back to my community or to some cause, if I wasn’t a liar, a cheat, or a thief, then I believed that should be enough. At the end of the day, if there was indeed some Body or presence standing there to judge me, I hope I would be judged on whether I had lived a true life, not on whether I believed in a certain book, or whether I’d been baptized. If there was indeed a God at the end of my days, I hoped he didn’t say, “But you were never a Christian, so you’re going the other way from heaven.” If so, I was going to reply, “You know what? You’re right. Fine.”" Clearly this was quoted before the truth came out that Armstrong was "a liar, a cheat...a thief." Ortlund then follows with his conclusion on Isaiah 34 - "Do we know who we are? Do we know who God is? Nobody will get the last word in on God.“The good life” turning into an eternally barren desert—that is where God-neglect takes us (Isaiah 34). But if you will put your trust in God, your desert will be transformed into a garden. That is what the grace of God can do (Isaiah 35). Each one of us is moving in one of these two directions, either into judgment or into salvation. What God wants is to save you." Beautifully written words, all true by way of application, but words that essentially jettison accurate interpretation! In sum, Ortlund's comments might be helpful to a preacher in applying Isaiah 34-35 to the real lives of his congregation. But beloved, if you miss Israel in the OT, you miss one of God's keys to interpreting all of Biblical prophecy, for as someone has said "Israel is 'God's Timepiece.'" Keep your eye on Israel in the Bible and God's Plan for the Ages will beautifully unfold from Genesis to Revelation. Replace Israel with the Church and Biblical prophecy becomes hopelessly mired in confusion and is virtually uninterpretable! And what is one result of this confusion? Many churches shy away from preaching prophetic passages (Excuses I have heard include - "There's too much disagreement," "Prophecy is not practical or applicable to real life," "Who knows which interpretation is correct?", etc) which is tragic since 25% of Scripture was recorded originally as prophecy and 80% has been perfectly fulfilled leaving 20% which will be perfectly fulfilled! It follows that sadly many saints in the modern church are virtually completely ignorant concerning the remaining 20%! I want to emphasize that I have nothing personal against Dr Ortlund whose writing style is very poetic and beautiful and is filled with application. But because it is so excellent, one can read a prophecy like Isaiah 34-35 and pay more attention to Ortlund than to Isaiah and go home after the sermon or reading a chapter of his book and not have a clue about what Isaiah was actually talking about or to whom he was originally speaking! I have given such a lengthy critique of Ortlund's discussion (from his highly rated Preaching the Word: Isaiah - God Saves Sinners - 4.5 stars - see the reviews!) because he is representative of many of the commentaries on the Book of Isaiah that fail to read and interpret the text literally, but instead choose to spiritualize or allegorize the text and in so doing in essence replace Israel with the Church (See replacement theology / supersessionism a "doctrine" which smacks of subtle Anti-Semitism). For more on how this genre of "interpretation" has become very popular in our time, read Dr Anthony Garland's discussion on the Rise of Allegorical Interpretation. In contrast to Ortlund's spiritualized interpretation, H A Ironside interprets Isaiah 34-35 literally and as a result gives a markedly different assessment of Isaiah's prophecies writing "This chapter, and that which follows, link very closely with what we have already considered, the one setting forth the judgment that is to fall upon the enemies of God and His chosen people, Israel, and the other telling of the blessing which this long-despised people shall enjoy under Messiah’s benevolent despotism. We cannot read chapter thirty-four without thinking of many other passages of Scripture which clearly tell us of the same stupendous events. This prophecy is in perfect harmony with Revelation 19:19–21+. In fact, these words of Isaiah might be looked upon as a commentary on, and explanation of, the vision found in the Apocalypse. It coincides also very closely with the first part of the 14th chapter of the book of Zechariah (Zech 14:1-5-commentary) which says When all nations shall be gathered together against Jerusalem, Jehovah will go forth and fight against them, we are told, as when He fought in the day of battle. In that day, the feet of our blessed Lord will stand upon the Mount of Olives when He returns to deliver His earthly people and to vindicate the promises of God made to them by all the prophets of old." (Isaiah 34 - The Day of Jehovah's Vengeance) Draw near, O nations, to hear; and listen, O peoples! - The nations of the world are called to "stand" before the bar of justice (so to speak) of the Judge of "the living and the dead" (2Ti 4:1+) and hear His verdict and the sentence they will receive in the verses that follow. This is a prophecy of a terrifying future event and God is calling all mankind to listen to this message. THOUGHT - You may say that this is future to me, so it does not apply to me. If you are not a believer in Messiah, than it applies to you. Yes, you may not be on earth when these terrifying events take place, but you will be judged by a far more terrifying event and that is the Great White Throne judgment (Rev 20:11-15+) and receive God's guilty verdict and incur His righteous indignation and wrath which will be meted out on you personally for all eternity in the Lake of fire (See discussion of eternal punishment). And so it is imperative that you draw near and that you listen to what Isaiah prophesies. David Thompson - When you look at Isaiah 34:1, it becomes very clear that God calls “all” the nations in the world to carefully listen to and understand the book of Isaiah. In this text, God transports the entire world into the future and gives them a glimpse of what will take place. There is a famous battle described in Revelation, called the battle (ED: BETTER = A CAMPAIGN) of Armageddon (Revelation 19:11-21+ = Second Coming, Rev 16:12-16+ = Gathering of nations at Har-Magedon), in which God totally demolishes all world powers who have dared come against Israel. That very battle is seen here by Isaiah. Isaiah 34:2 For the LORD'S indignation is against all the nations, and His wrath against all their armies; He has utterly destroyed them, He has given them over to slaughter. KJV Isaiah 34:2 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. For the LORD'S indignation is against all the nations Isaiah 24:1-23; Jeremiah 25:15-29; Joel 3:9-14; Amos 1:1-2; Zephaniah 3:8; Zechariah 14:3,12-16; Romans 1:18; Revelation 6:12-17; 14:15-20; 19:15-21; 20:9,15 And His wrath against all their armies Isaiah 30:27-30; Nahum 1:2-6 SUMMARY TIMELINE OF THE FAR FULFILLMENT OF THE DAY OF THE LORD GOD'S WRATH IS POURED OUR ON ALL THE GODLESS NATIONS For - This is a strategic term of explanation - Consider the "5P's" - Pause to Ponder the Passage then Practice it in the Power of the Spirit. Note that when you pause and ponder you are doing in effect what I like to call a "mini-meditation" and we all know the blessings promises to the wonderful discipline of meditation (cf Ps 1:2-3+, Joshua 1:8+)! What has Isaiah just commanded to proclaim and to whom in Isaiah 34:2? Isaiah is giving the reason for the previous call to draw near and listen. S. Lewis
Isaías 34
MacArthur comments that "The prophet, one final time, cycles back over the judgment that precedes the (ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MILLENNIAL) kingdom. God will strike the heathen forces gathered against Israel (Zech 14:1–3+) with a supernatural plague similar to His judgment of the Assyrian army (Isa 37:36), causing a panic so great that they begin to attack one another (cf. Jdg 7:22; 1Sa 14:15–20; 2Ch 20:23), aiding in the escape of the half (cf. Zech 14:2+, Zech 14:5+). God will enable His people to fight (cf. Isaiah 11:13, 14+). Then He will send a widespread plague that even extends to their animals, preventing their use for military endeavors or escape. This depicts the thwarting of their efforts as God ultimately destroys them by the Messiah (Rev 19:11–16+)." Isaiah 34:3 So their slain will be thrown out, And their corpses will give off their stench, And the mountains will be drenched with their blood. KJV Isaiah 34:3 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. So their slain will be thrown out Isaiah 14:19,20; 2 Kings 9:35-37; Jeremiah 8:1,2; 22:19; Ezekiel 39:4,11; Joel 2:20 And the mountains will be drenched with their blood Isaiah 34:7; Ezekiel 32:5,6; Revelation 14:20; 16:3,4 Related Passages: Revelation 14:20+ And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles. Isaiah 34:7 Wild oxen will also fall with them And young bulls with strong ones; Thus their land will be soaked with blood, And their dust become greasy with fat. STENCH FROM THE SLAUGHTER So their slain will be thrown out, And their corpses will give off their stench - This is the ultimate affront to their dignity and a cause of great humiliation. (cf Isaiah 14:19) So many corpses that they cannot be properly buried resulting in decay which produces a stench. (see related note on slaughter) Joel also mentions a stench in a passage that is considered by many to be not locusts but human bodies in the Day of the Lord and which would correlate well with the prophetic picture in Isaiah 34... “But I will remove the northern army far from you, And I will drive it into a parched and desolate land, And its vanguard into the eastern sea, And its rear guard into the western sea. And its stench will arise and its foul smell will come up, For it has done great things.” (Joel 2:20+) Keil and Delitzsch - The nations that are hostile to Jehovah are slaughtered, the bodies remain unburied, and the streams of blood loosen the firm masses of the mountains, so that they melt away. On the stench of the corpses, compare Ezek. 39:11-note. Oswalt - The sickening scene pictures death everywhere, the horrible stench of rotting flesh, and blood flowing like water all over the land. This is a ghastly picture of horror from the destruction of millions of people on the earth. (See Isaiah 1-39: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition ) Motyer - God does certainly hate the sin and love the sinner, but if the sinners refuse the ‘gospel call’ they suffer the penalty of their sin and the distinction between sin and sinner breaks down. And the mountains will be drenched with their blood - Literally the text reads ""hills will dissolve from their blood." This is a difficult phrase. NET = " the hills will soak up their blood" ESV (NLT) = " the mountains shall flow with their blood. " Moody Bible Commentary - The translation the mountains will be drenched with their blood (v. 3) is somewhat misleading. The term translated drenched is used in other contexts to denote melting or dissolution. There are several figurative references to “hearts melting” (Dt 20:8; Jos 2:11; 5:1; 7:5; 2 Sam 17:10; Ps 22:14; Is 13:7; 19:1; Ezek 21:12), as well as several uses in which the melting of material is in view (Ex 16:21; Jdg 15:14; Ps 68:3). The term is also used to describe the melting away of the mountains in Ps 97:5 and Mic 1:4. While there is no reference to blood in either Ps 97:5 or Mic 1:4, it is clear in both passages that the mountains are “melting away.” As such, the translation of Is 34:3 should likely be understood as “the mountains will melt with the blood.” Oswalt suggests that the image is drawing on the erosion that takes place as water dissolves soil (Oswalt, Isaiah 1-39: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition ). This understanding also fits well with the dissolution of the stars, or hosts, of heaven in Isaiah 34:4. In each case, it is clear that God is giving the nations an idea of His sovereign, cosmic reach. Motyer on mountains drenched with their blood, says "drenched" is "literally ‘melted’ by a new and dreadful soil erosion through the torrential blood of the slain." See preceding note on slaughter for John's description of this incredible end-time slaughter and blood-letting. Isaiah 34:4 And all the host of heaven will wear away, And the sky will be rolled up like a scroll; All their hosts will also wither away As a leaf withers from the vine, Or as one withers from the fig tree. KJV Isaiah 34:4 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. ESV Isaiah 34:4 All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree. LXE (Septuagint) Isaiah 34:4 And all the powers of the heavens shall melt, and the sky shall be rolled up like a scroll: and all the stars shall fall like leaves from a vine, and as leaves fall from a fig-tree. NLT Isaiah 34:4 The heavens above will melt away and disappear like a rolled-up scroll. The stars will fall from the sky like withered leaves from a grapevine, or shriveled figs from a fig tree. NIV Isaiah 34:4 All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved and the sky rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree. And all the host of heaven will wear awa Isaiah 13:10; 14:12; Ps 102:25,26; Jeremiah 4:23,24; Ezekiel 32:7,8; Joel 2:30,31; Joel 3:15; Matthew 24:29,35; Mark 13:24,25; Acts 2:19,20; 2 Peter 3:7-12; Revelation 6:13,14; 8:12; 20:11 CATASTROPHIC SIGNS IN THE COSMOS And all the host of heaven will wear away, And the sky will be rolled up like a scroll - Wear away is used of anything, even in the heavens, wearing down, falling apart. It is noteworthy that even the created heavens and heavenly bodies will be impacted by the indignation and wrath Jehovah pours out on earth for in a way we cannot now fully understand the whole cosmos has been infected with human sin. The time alluded to by the cosmic signs could be at the time of the breaking of the Sixth Seal (which occurs in the first half of the 7 year tribulation) but more likely is the cosmic disturbances that occur at the end of Daniel's Seventieth Week of 7 years ("The Tribulation," the Last 3.5 years specifically designated as the Great Tribulation.) (FIRST HALF OF 7 YEARS) Revelation 6:12-14+ I looked when He (THE LAMB) broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. 14 The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. (SECOND HALF OF 7 YEARS = SIGNS PRECEDING MESSIAH'S SECOND COMING) Matthew 24:29+ “But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. (SECOND HALF OF 7 YEARS) Zechariah 14:6-7+ In that day there will be no light; the luminaries will dwindle. 7For it will be a unique day which is known to the LORD, neither day nor night, but it will come about that at evening time there will be light. John Martin writes that "Catastrophic events in the sky will accompany the Messiah’s return to the earth to establish His millennial reign (cf. Joel 2:10, 30–31; Joel 3:15; Zech. 14:6–7; Matt. 24:29). However, Isaiah 34:4 may refer to the judgment of the sixth seal in the Tribulation (Rev. 6:12–13+) (ED: I THINK THAT IS LESS LIKELY AS THAT IS IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 7 YEARS) (Borrow Bible Knowledge Commentary - Old Testament) Whether these cosmic disturbances occur earlier with the breaking of the Sixth Seal or later associated with the pouring out of Sixth Bowl (Rev 16:12-16) (or after this bowl which is associated with the gathering of the nations at Armageddon), the chaos in the creation will alert every person on earth that the Creator is in total control and fully able to fulfill the outpouring of indignation and wrath described in Isaiah 34:2-3. Oswalt adds that "The collapse of the heavenly world involves a reversal of God’s creative establishment of the heavens. At creation he spread out the heavens like a tent cloth (Isa 40:22), but in the future just the opposite will happen when God rolls it up like a scroll. He will reverse the creation by rolling his cloth back up and dimming the bright objects of light in the heavens. Instead of being a vital part of the world, the stars of the sky will fall from the heavens like dead leaves falling from a tree. When the power of God’s destructive wrath brings the mighty heavens and its hosts down to the realm of a puny dead leaf falling from a tree, one begins to glimpse the enormity of what God will do. Such comparisons should produce awe and amazement in the hearts of mankind. When people think about the stark reality of the sovereign power of God actively establishing his just rule over all the heavens and the earth, people should be humbled and thoroughly convinced that they do not want to arouse the power of God’s wrath or experience the destruction that he will accomplish." (See Isaiah 1-39: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition) In the prophecy of Joel the main theme is the Day of the LORD and he gives several descriptions of cosmic (divinely orchestrated) chaos associated with the Second Coming... Joel 2:30; 31+ “I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, Blood, fire and columns of smoke. 31 “The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood Before the great and awesome Day of the LORD comes. Joel 3:15-17+ (see this note for similar cross references to cosmic chaos in the end times) The sun and moon grow dark And the stars lose their brightness. 16 The LORD roars from Zion (cf His Second Coming in Revelation 19:11-21-note) And utters His voice from Jerusalem, And the heavens and the earth tremble. But the LORD is a refuge for His people And a stronghold to the sons of Israel. 17 Then (WHEN? WHEN HE RETURNS AND SLAUGHTERS ISRAEL'S ENEMIES - cf Zech 14:3-note) you (ISRAEL - THE REDEEMED REMNANT WHOSE EYES HAVE BEEN OPENED BY THE SPIRIT [cf Zech 12:10-note, Zech 13:1-note, Zech 13:8-9-note] TO SEE BY FAITH AND TRUTH KNOW BY EXPERIENCE THEIR MESSIAH) will know that I am the LORD your God, Dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain. So Jerusalem will be holy (cf the "highway of holiness" = Isaiah 35:8-note, cf Zech 14:20-21-note) , and strangers will pass through it no more. All their hosts will also wither away (fade) As a leaf withers from the vine, Or as one withers from the fig tree. (ESV = All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree; NLT = The stars will fall from the sky like withered leaves from a grapevine, or shriveled figs from a fig tree; NIV = all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree. NET Note - the "host of the heaven" refers to the heavenly luminaries (stars and planets, see, among others, Deut 4:19; 17:3; 2 Kgs 17:16 ; 21:3, 5; 23:4–5; 2 Chr 33:3, 5) that populate the divine/heavenly assembly in mythological and prescientific Israelite thought (see Job 38:7; Isa 14:13). As in 24:21, they are viewed here as opposing God and being defeated in battle. Isaiah 34:5 For My sword is satiated in heaven, Behold it shall descend for judgment upon Edom And upon the people whom I have devoted to destruction. KJV Isaiah 34:5 For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment. For My sword is satiated in heaven Deuteronomy 32:14,42; Ps 17:13; Jeremiah 46:10; 47:6; Ezekiel 21:3-5,9-11; Zephaniah 2:12; Revelation 1:16 Behold it shall descend for judgment upon Edom Isaiah 63:1; Ps 137:7; Jeremiah 49:7-22; Ezekiel 25:12-14; Amos 1:11,12; Obadiah 1:1-9; Malachi 1:4 And upon the people whom I have devoted to destruction. Deuteronomy 27:15-26; 29:18-21; Matthew 25:41; 1 Corinthians 16:22; Galatians 3:10; 2 Pe 2:14 Related Passages: Obadiah 1:1-9+ The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom– We have heard a report from the LORD, And an envoy has been sent among the nations saying, “Arise and let us go against her for battle”– 2“Behold, I will make you small among the nations; You are greatly despised. 3“The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, You who live in the clefts of the rock, In the loftiness of your dwelling place, Who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to earth?’ 4“Though you build high like the eagle, Though you set your nest among the stars, From there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD. 5“If thieves came to you, If robbers by night– O how you will be ruined!– Would they not steal only until they had enough? If grape gatherers came to you, Would they not leave some gleanings? 6“O how Esau will be ransacked, And his hidden treasures searched out! 7“All the men allied with you Will send you forth to the border, And the men at peace with you Will deceive you and overpower you. They who eat your bread Will set an ambush for you. (There is no understanding in him.) 8“Will I not on that day,” declares the LORD, “Destroy wise men from Edom And understanding from the mountain of Esau? 9“Then your mighty men will be dismayed, O Teman, So that everyone may be cut off from the mountain of Esau by slaughter. EDOM REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL THE NATIONS For My sword is satiated in heaven - Satiated means saturated. NLT = when my sword has finished its work in the heavens; CSB = When My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens. Why might it be satiated (satisfied fully)? While we cannot be dogmatic, recall that at the midpoint of the 7 year Tribulation there is a war in heaven. (Rev 12:7-10+) God wins, Satan loses! Did the angelic war involve swords? The text does not tell us. But could this heavenly battle be when God's sword was satiated. John describes the sword coming from the mouth of Messiah (Revelation 1:16+) In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. (Revelation 19:15+) (THE CONTEXT IS HIS SECOND COMING TO BRING JUDGMENT ON HIS ENEMIES) From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the winepress of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. Oswalt on My sword is satiated in heaven - The idea of a sword that has “drunk its full” (Ed: The Lxx translates satiated with methusko = to cause to become intoxicated) is an image of an instrument of death saturated from killing its victims. After wielding its destructive power in the heavens, this sword will descend to earth on the representative nation of Edom. (See Isaiah 1-39: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition )
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MacArthur notes that "The prophet selects Edom as a representative of the rest of the nations (cf. Isaiah 63:1; Ge 25:23; Nu 20:14–21; Eze 35:1–15; Ob 1–14; Mal 1:2, 3; cf. Isa 25:10)" Ryrie helps understand why the judgment on the Edom writing that "The Edomites descendants of Esau, Jacob's twin, were in constant conflict with Israel, the descendants of Jacob. They rejected Moses' request to pass through their land (Nu 20:14-20), they opposed King Saul (1 Sa 14:47), they fought against David (1 Ki 11:14-17), opposed Solomon (1 Ki 11:14-25) and Jehoshaphat (2 Chr 20:22), and rebelled against Jehoram (2 Chr 21:8). From the thirteenth to the sixth centuries B.C. they settled in Mount Seir, a mountainous region S of the Dead Sea, of which Sela (Petra) was the capital. So rugged is the terrain that the valley in which Petra is located can be reached only through a narrow canyon guarded by towering mountain walls 200-250 ft (61-76 m) high (see Obad 1:3-4). During the fifth century B.C., the Nabataeans dislodged the Edomites from their territory, causing them to withdraw to Idumea in southern Palestine. Herod the Great was an Edomite. (BORROW Ryrie Study Bible Expanded Edition) Oswalt: The Sovereign of the universe has commanded this desolation and he will bring it to pass. Just as he sovereignly apportioned Canaan to his people Israel, so he has apportioned the Edoms of this world to the birds of the desert. No nation or people are able to choose their destiny without regard to their own behavior. Rather, by its behavior it earns a destiny in keeping with God’s immutable character. So again Isaiah asks, “Why trust the nations? They are not masters of their own destiny. Rather, they belong to God who, like the landowner, can use a string to divide them into plots of his own choosing” (cf. Ps. 16:6; Mic. 2:5). (See Isaiah 1-39: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition ) And upon the people whom I have devoted to destruction - (NET Note = I will annihilate in judgment."; NIV - the people I have totally destroyed; CSB = on the people I have set apart for destruction) So in this passage we see the judgment is on Edom but also upon the people who God has set apart to be totally destroyed. There will "Multitudes, Multitudes in the Valley of Decision," millions and millions of earth dwellers who gather to battle Jehovah. There will be so many bodies, they cannot even be buried and thus the stench from their rotting corpses which Isaiah described earlier (Isaiah 34:3-note). QUESTION - What did it mean to be devoted to destruction? ANSWER - In Exodus 22:20, God commands, “Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the Lord alone, shall be devoted to destruction” (ESV). The Hebrew word used here is charam, meaning “to curse, annihilate, or destroy.” The literal interpretation is that the Hebrew person who sacrificed to another god was to be put to death. Idolaters received capital punishment. The use of the phrase “devoted to destruction” elsewhere in the Old Testament confirms this understanding. In Numbers 21:3 we read, “And the Lord heeded the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites, and they devoted them and their cities to destruction” (ESV). The NIV translates it as, “They completely destroyed them and their towns.” The idea of being devoted to destruction included destroying these cities. In Deuteronomy 2:34 we read a review of Israel’s time in the wilderness. The narrative includes, “And we captured all his cities at that time and devoted to destruction every city, men, women, and children. We left no survivors” (ESV). In this case, “devoted to destruction” clearly indicates death. Deuteronomy 3:6 offers a similar use of this phrase: “And we devoted them to destruction, as we did to Sihon the king of Heshbon” (ESV); Sihon was a king they had previously put to death. In Joshua 6:17, Jericho was devoted to destruction. We read, “And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction” (ESV). In Joshua 10:28 the same fate befalls the city of Makkedah. Exodus 22:20 reveals that the punishment for Jews who sacrificed to any god other than Yahweh was that they be put to death under the Mosaic Law. However, in the time of the judges and the pre-captivity kingdom, idol worship among the Jews was a perennial problem. God had made it clear that idolatry was worthy of death. Yet many wicked people and leaders through Israel’s history resorted to open idol worship in ways that brought God’s judgment upon them from other nations. The enforcement of this command can be found in 1 Kings 18. In this account, Elijah challenged King Ahab’s 400 prophets of Baal to call down fire from heaven. The God who answered would be the true God. When the Lord God answered, Elijah commanded, “‘Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get away!’ They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there” (1 Kings 18:40). This command notes God’s displeasure with the worship of other gods. He presents Himself as the one God who calls every person to worship Him and to believe in His Son Jesus for eternal life (John 3:16). Isaiah 34:6 The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, It is sated with fat, with the blood of lambs and goats, With the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah And a great slaughter in the land of Edom. KJV Isaiah 34:6 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. The sword of the LORD is filled with blood Isaiah 63:3; Jeremiah 49:13; Ezekiel 21:4,5,10 the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah And a great slaughter in the land of Edom Isaiah 34:5; 63:1; Jeremiah 50:27; 51:40; Ezekiel 39:17-20; Zephaniah 1:7; Revelation 19:17,18 GOD'S JUDGMENT LIKENED TO A SACRIFICE
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MacArthur has an interesting interpretation - Since the nations had not repented and obeyed God’s way of sacrifice for sins, they became the sacrificial penalty for their own sins. Guzik on wild oxen (unicorns in KJV) - The King James Version translates wild oxen as unicorns. Bultema writes, “There used to be quite a difference of opinion regarding the word unicorns, but today the general opinion is that it does not mean rhinoceros but aurochs, or wild bison. According to Deuteronomy 33:17, this animal did not have one but two horns.” Gotquestions on wild oxen translated in KJV as Unicorns - Hebrew word re'em, signifies a horned animal similar to the aurochs, a now-extinct ancestor of today’s domestic cattle. For some unknown reason, the translators of the KJV chose to substitute “unicorn” for the name of this horned animal each time it occurred: e.g., Deuteronomy 33:17; Psalm 22:21; and Isaiah 34:7. The Bible, in its original languages, never actually mentions unicorns. Wild oxen will also fall with them And young bulls with strong ones - The meaning of this is not absolutely clear. Motyer observes that "Wild oxen were not used in the sacrifices. Possibly therefore Isaiah is using animal metaphors for the important people and leaders of Edom.” Thus their land will be soaked with blood, And their dust become greasy with fat. Isaiah 34:8 For the LORD has a day of vengeance, A year of recompense for the cause of Zion. KJV Isaiah 34:8 For it is the day of the LORD'S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. BGT Isaiah 34:8 ἡμέρα γὰρ κρίσεως κυρίου καὶ ἐνιαυτὸς ἀνταποδόσεως κρίσεως Σιων LXE Isaiah 34:8 For it is the day of judgement of the Lord, and the year of the recompence of Sion in judgement. NET Isaiah 34:8 For the LORD has planned a day of revenge, a time when he will repay Edom for her hostility toward Zion. CSB Isaiah 34:8 For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a time of paying back Edom for its hostility against Zion. ESV Isaiah 34:8 For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion. NIV Isaiah 34:8 For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of retribution, to uphold Zion's cause. NLT Isaiah 34:8 For it is the day of the LORD's revenge, the year when Edom will be paid back for all it did to Israel. NRS Isaiah 34:8 For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of vindication by Zion's cause. NJB Isaiah 34:8 For this will be Yahweh's day of vengeance, the year of retribution in Zion's lawsuit. NAB Isaiah 34:8 For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of requital by Zion's defender. YLT Isaiah 34:8 (For a day of vengeance is to Jehovah, A year of recompences for Zion's strife,) Isaiah 26:21; 35:4; 49:26; 59:17,18; Isaiah 61:1-2; 63:4; Deuteronomy 32:35,41-43; Ps 94:1; Jeremiah 46:10; Micah 6:1; Luke 18:7; Romans 2:5,8,9; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; Revelation 6:10,11; Revelation 18:20; 19:2 Related Passages: Isaiah 61:1-2+ The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; 2 To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, JEHOVAH'S DAY OF JUDGMENT AND RECOMPENSE For - term of explanation. What is Isaiah explaining? The LORD has a day of vengeance (naqam; Lxx = krisis = judgment, justice, sentence) - Jehovah has a day on His calendar and it is the day of Jehovah's revenge. Vengeance means the act of taking revenge or inflicting harm on someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done. In a parallel passage Jehovah says “For the day of vengeance (naqam) was in My heart (THIS IS THE MESSIAH SPEAKING), and My year of redemption has come. (Isaiah 63:4+) Comment - The first clause (day of vengeance) parallels Isaiah 34, while the second clause (year of redemption) parallels the truths in Isaiah 35. Vengeance (05359)(naqam from the verb form naqam = to avenge or take vengeance) is the act of taking revenge (harming someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done). It refers to punishment inflicted or retribution exacted for an injury or wrong and can refer to punishment beyond what is physical. God says "Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, In due time their foot will slip; For the day of their calamity is near, And the impending things are hastening upon them.’(Deut. 32:35+) MacArthur - God’s day of vengeance on Edom (Isa 63:4+) will be the same as on the rest of the nations (Isa 59:17, 18; 61:2).
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MacArthur adds that "The presence of unclean birds was a sign of desolation and wilderness. Similar symbolism portrays the final state of Babylon in the future (Rev 18:2; cf. 13:21; Jer 50:39; Zep 2:13, 14)." Matthew
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MacArthur - God had partitioned off Edom just as He once did Canaan (Nu 26:55, 56; Jos 18:4–6) and allotted it to the wild animals listed in Isa 34:11–15. Jamieson - As conquerors apportion lands by lot, so Jehovah has appointed and marked out (“divided”) Edom for the wild beasts (Nu 26:55, 56; Jos 18:4–6). Rich Cathers - Lesson Read your Bible! Everything written in it is true. It will all come to pass. A week ago, in U.S. News and World Report (dated 10-27-99), there was an article called, "Is the Bible True?" Here’s Chuck Colson’s comments about the article … BreakPoint Commentary #91027 - 10/27/1999 Written In Stone: Archeology & The Bible by Charles Colson "Walking past a newsstand this week, your eye may be caught by a dramatic painting of Adam and Eve on the cover of U.S. News and World Report (10/27/99). Alongside the two figures, the title of the cover story asks, "Is the Bible True?" Flip open the magazine and you’ll find that the answer is a confident "yes!" U.S. News has summarized exciting new archeological evidence that confirms the historicity of the Bible. For example, a few years ago, a group of archeologists found an Assyrian stone tablet in Northern Israel dating from the ninth century B.C. The Aramaic inscription listed Assyria’s foes. Included in the list were the words "king of Israel" and "house of David." The significance of these findings is that they toppled years of archeological skepticism. Many archeologists have long questioned the historical accuracy of the Bible, maintaining that there was no such person as King David. They pointed to the lack of any reference outside the Bible to David in the archeological remains from Assyria, Egypt, or Babylon. They argued that David’s name, a Semitic word meaning "beloved," was evidence that biblical writers created a legendary king to create a glorious past for Israel. But now archeology has given proof that King David was an historical figure after all—exactly as the Bible teaches…" Mr. Colson then goes on to talk about other archaeological discoveries, then concludes with … "…Why are secular scholars constantly being refuted? The answer is that they approach scripture from a naturalistic perspective that discounts any document that speaks of the SUPERnatural. Since the Bible records miracles as though they really happened, the Bible is simply discounted out of hand. Scripture is reduced to stories that merely illustrate theological points, while containing little that is historically accurate. But, as the U.S. News article illustrates, this distinction is crumbling under the weight of empirical evidence. The latest archeological news is an exciting reminder that Christians have nothing to fear from scientific inquiry. In fact, we welcome it. The next time you hear Christianity characterized as an ancient legend, be prepared to describe the exciting evidence unearthed by archaeology. To answer the question on the cover of U.S. News—yes, the Bible is really true. Copyright (c) 1999 Prison Fellowship Ministries If you want to know more about God’s purpose for your life, it’s a good idea to read the "Owner’s Manual", the Bible.