Isaiah 28-35

==Isaiah 28 ==
*TO: Judah and Jerusalem
*ABOUT: Judah and Jerusalem
*CONTEXT: Jerusalem’s pride before the fall.
28:1 Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!28:3 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:28:5 In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,
The two crowns are contrasted. The crown of pride of the Jews vs. the crown of glory for the church. This is not the individual crown given to people who die as faithful martyrs, but the crown of the church, the royal diadem of the bride of Jesus who-is-God.
28:2 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.
The plagues against Jerusalem (6 Rev. 6; 22 22:18) end in a flood (12 Rev. 12:15-16), which is representative of an army as we have seen in past verses. (Dan. 9:26; 11:22; Jer. 46:7-8; 47:2)
28:14Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
Explicit judgment against Jerusalem for pride and for profaning the priesthood.
28:16Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Christ, the foundation of the church (not Peter).
NT References:Isa. 28:2 – Rev. 6; 12:15-16; 22:18Isa. 28:16 – Rom. 9:33; 10:11; 1 Pet. 2:6
==Isaiah 29 ==
*TO: Judah and Jerusalem
*ABOUT: Judah and Jerusalem
*CONTEXT: Concerning the destruction of Ariel (another name for Jerusalem).
Most of this chapter speaks for itself, but there are a few verses I’d like to highlight because of the specific imagery.
29:6Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.
These symbols, thunder, earthquake, great noise, storm, and fire we see in the Olivet discourse and in Revelation talking about the destruction of Jerusalem.
29:7And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision.
The multitude of nations is Rome, made up of all its tributary nations.
29:10For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
Explicitly stated by Paul as a prophecy of the Jews of his day. (Rom. 11:8)
29:11And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:
I wonder if this is an allusion to 12 Daniel 12:4,9?
The interconnectedness of the Bible amazes me and it is one of the proofs of its Divine origin. Those that deny it, remove a pillar of proof of the Bible’s origin and the existence of God.
29:13Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Matthew 15:8; Mark 7:6. Explicitly stated by Christ as a prophecy of the Jews of His day.
29:14Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
Again Paul explicitly states this prophecy is fulfilled in his day (1 Cor. 1:19).
29:17Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
Identification of the Jews-turned-Christians as Lebananon, specifically the trees from there are associated with them as we have seen before.
29:22Therefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale. 23But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel. 24They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.
Whereas the Jews for the most part would reject Christ and the New Covenant, the church would fear God and keep His commandments.
NT References:Isa. 29:10 – Romans 11:8Isa. 29:13 – Matt. 15:8-9; Mark. 7:6-7Isa. 29:14 – 1 Cor. 1:19Isa. 29:16 – Rom. 9:20
==Isaiah 30-31 ==
*TO: Judah and Jerusalem
*ABOUT: Judah and Jerusalem
*CONTEXT: Judah trusting in other nations for salvation instead of God. The false prophets and those that hear them in the last days.
30:1Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: 2That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! 3Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. 4For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes. 5They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach. 6The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them. 7For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.
Judah fears destruction from Assyria and instead of trusting in God, they go seek assistance from Egypt. This is an example of “whoring” after other nations (Isa. 1:21) that is not related to idol worship. God was the provider and protector of Judah, just as the husband is the provider and protector of the wife, yet instead of trusting in God, Judah went to another earthly nation.
The rest of the chapter is about destruction intermingled with salvation for Israel, specifically in the context of facing Assyrian conquest, but as a warning of seeking safety in other nations rather than trusting in God.
NT References:Isa. 31:1-7 – Rev. 17-19Isa. 30:10 – 2 Tim. 4:3-4Isa. 30:19 – Rev. 6:10; 19:2; 21:4
==Isaiah 32 ==
*TO: Judah and Jerusalem
*ABOUT: Judah and Jerusalem
*CONTEXT: The rising of a righteous king and his kingdom and the fall of an evil one.
32:1Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.
The king is Christ and the princes are those of His royal priesthood, His holy nation which shall judge the world (1 Cor. 6:2).
32:13Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city: 14Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;
More symbols of desolation pronounced against Jerusalem.
32:15Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.
Acts 2 anyone? :)
NT References:Isa. 32:1 – Matt. 2:2; 21:5; 1 Cor. 6:2; 1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6; 5:10Isa. 32:15 – Acts 2; Acts 10-11
==Isaiah 33 ==
*TO: Judah and Jerusalem
*ABOUT: Judah and Jerusalem
*CONTEXT: And end to the Old Testament and everlasting destruction of Zion.
33:8The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.
God breaks the Old Covenant, not by being unfaithful to it, but by taking away its authority, by making it null and void. He does this by fulfilling it. (Matt. 5:18; Col. 2:14; Eph. 2:15). More to the point, the fulfilling spoken of here is more akin to Matt. 5:18, the promised destruction of physical Israel.
33:9The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.
These are all terms for Judah, God’s once beloved people (e.g. Sng. 2:1).
33:14The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
This is an absolute destruction, not just a temporary captivity. The fire is devouring, everlasting.
33:17Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.
They would see Christ come in the lifetime of those who would be destroyed. They would see the new earth to come but not be a part of it.
33:20Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.
33:24And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.
The tabernacle that shall not be taken down is the temple which is the church. The inhabitants of this land that the Jews would behold from afar is the church, the new earth, the New Zion, the New Jerusalem, and the people who dwell in it have their sins forgiven.
NT References:Isa. 33:8 - Matt. 5:18; Col. 2:14; Eph. 2:15Isa. 33:20 – Heb. 8:1-2; 9:11; Rev. 21:3
==Isaiah 34 ==
*TO: Judah and Jerusalem
*ABOUT: Judah and Jerusalem
*CONTEXT: Prophecy of the destruction of Zion.
34:1Come 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.
This judgment would not only affect Judah (the earth) but all nations (the world). In Matt. 25:32, wherein is a judgment against all nations (but not Judgment Day at the end of time, it is not a judgment against individuals), we see this verse reflected.
34:4And 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.
Familiar imagery to us. We see the heavens dissolved in 2 Pet. 3:12. They are rolled together as a scroll in 6 Rev. 6:13-14. The withering fig tree is also attached to the fall of Jerusalem in 6 Rev. 6:13-14 as well as by Christ himself in Matt. 24:32 (and parallels) and in Matt. 21:19-21 (and parallels).
34:8For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. 9And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. 10It 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.
Specifically let us look at the image of the smoke. On Pentecost Peter speaks of the prophecy of endless smoke along with the symbols of blood, fire, sun, moon, and stars (Acts 2:18-20). We see it again in Rev. 9:2-3. In Rev. 9:17-18 the source of this smoke and brimstone is the army envisioned. In the context of “Babylon is fallen, is fallen” which we read in Isa. 21:9, this smoke of Judah is said to go up for ever and ever in Rev. 14:8-11. This ever rising smoke is then attached to the great whore in Rev. 18:9,18 and 19:3.
34:14The 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.
The beasts of the desert can meet with the beasts of the islands because “there is no more sea” (Rev. 21:1). The islands are no longer separated from the land (earth), i.e. the Gentiles are no longer prevented from becoming children of God.
NT References:Isa. 34:1 – Matt. 25:32Isa. 34:4 – Matt. 21:19-21 (and parallels); Matt. 24:32 (and parallels); 2 Pet. 3:12; Rev. 6:13-14Isa. 34:8-10 – Acts 2:18-20; Rev. 9:2-3, 17-18; 14:8-11; 18:9,18; 19:3
==Isaiah 35 ==
*TO: Judah and Jerusalem
*ABOUT: Judah and Jerusalem
*CONTEXT: The glory of the old is given to the new.
35:1The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 2It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
The desert here is the church in its period of wilderness (40 years from Pentecost to AD 73). The church would now be given all that was Judah’s.
35:4Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
The whole chapter speaks of God’s vengeance and recompense to those who betrayed Him, who killed His Son and now wreak havoc on the church (the desert). The rest of the chapter speaks of blossoming, water-filled desert that produces fruit forever. This is the new earth, the unconquerable kingdom of God.
NT References:Isa. 35:2 – Matt. 21:33-45Isa. 35:3 – Heb. 12:12
In Truth and Love.
==Navigation - Isaiah==
*Introduction - Chapters 1-6
*Assyria and Samaria - Chapters 7-12
*Babylon - Chapters 13-14
*Moab and Damascus - Chapters 15-18
*Egypt, Tyre, and Sidon - Chapters 19-23
*Desolation and songs of Praise - Chapters 24-26
*Main Premise Explicitly Stated - Chapter 27
*Out With the Old, In With the New - Chapters 27-35
*Historical Events and the Coming of John and the Messiah - Chapters 36-43
*The Coming Messiah - Chapters 44-59
*The Last Days - Chapters 60-66
Category:Apocalyptic