Isaiah 34:1-17 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Isaiah 34:1-17. Let’s go!
Isaiah 34:1-17 (NIV)
1 Come near, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all that comes out of it!
2 The LORD is angry with all nations; his wrath is upon all their armies. He will totally destroy them, he will give them over to slaughter.
3 Their slain will be thrown out, their dead bodies will send up a stench; the mountains will be soaked with their blood.
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.
5 My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; see, it descends in judgment on Edom, the people I have totally destroyed.
6 The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood, it is covered with fat– the blood of lambs and goats, fat from the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah and a great slaughter in Edom.
7 And the wild oxen will fall with them, the bull calves and the great bulls. Their land will be drenched with blood, and the dust will be soaked with fat.
8 For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of retribution, to uphold Zion’s cause.
9 Edom’s streams will be turned into pitch, her dust into burning sulfur; her land will become blazing pitch!
10 It will not be quenched night and day; its smoke will rise forever. From generation to generation it will lie desolate; no one will ever pass through it again.
11 The desert owl and screech owl will possess it; the great owl and the raven will nest there. God will stretch out over Edom the measuring line of chaos and the plumb line of desolation.
12 Her nobles will have nothing there to be called a kingdom, all her princes will vanish away.
13 Thorns will overrun her citadels, nettles and brambles her strongholds. She will become a haunt for jackals, a home for owls.
14 Desert creatures will meet with hyenas, and wild goats will bleat to each other; there the night creatures will also repose and find for themselves places of rest.
15 The owl will nest there and lay eggs, she will hatch them, and care for her young under the shadow of her wings; there also the falcons will gather, each with its mate.
16 Look in the scroll of the LORD and read: None of these will be missing, not one will lack her mate. For it is his mouth that has given the order, and his Spirit will gather them together.
17 He allots their portions; his hand distributes them by measure. They will possess it forever and dwell there from generation to generation.
On verses 1-17: Isaiah 34 is the wrath of God speaking. Because God is a just and holy God who cannot tolerate sin and wickedness, and because people in all the nations around the world are guilty of sin and wickedness, Isaiah 34 describes the wrath of God toward all nations around the world because of their sin. That is why Romans 3:23 says that “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” while Romans 6:23 says that “the wages of sin is death”. In Isaiah 34 we see God’s justice and wrath being expressed.
Not only is humanity corrupted by sin, but the physical earth as well (see Isaiah 25:5-6). That is why in this chapter not only does God’s justice result in the destruction of people, but much of creation as well (see verse 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.”) Isaiah paints the picture of humanity being wiped out because of sin, while wild creatures like owls, ravens, falcons, hyenas and desert animals are left behind to live in relative peace (v11-17). This suggests that God holds human beings to a much higher standard than animals, since human beings are made in the image of God. (See Genesis 1:26-27.)
When will all this destruction happen? This is where two events are especially important. Both events would happen long after Isaiah’s time and the first has already happened. The first is Jesus’ death on the cross. When Jesus died on the cross, God placed all of His wrath against the world for its sin on His Son Jesus Christ. By punishing His own Son Jesus in our place, God satisfied the requirements of His wrath while at the same time showing us the most incredible mercy.
The second important event is when Jesus returns to earth to establish His kingdom. At that time, Jesus will stamp out sin, injustice and wickedness once and for all.
Finally, what exactly does God have against Edom (v5, 6, 9, 11)? Many scholars believe that here God is not referring specifically to the political nation of Edom but is using “Edom” as a nickname to describe everyone around the world and throughout history who has rejected God. (This is similar to how Isaiah 25 speaks of “Moab”.)
What can we learn from this?
1. God does not turn a blind eye to sin around the world. Rather, God has unrelenting wrath toward sin. God’s justice demands that all sin be paid for.
2. At the cross Jesus died in our place to spare us from God’s wrath. As Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were sinners, Christ died for us.”
3. One day when Jesus returns, He will stamp out all sin, wickedness and injustice for good.
Thank You Jesus. Without You we would not stand a chance against God’s wrath. But with You there is forgiveness and safety from God’s wrath. What would we do without You? In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
