These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
- The outline…
- Isaiah 1-12 – the Judgment and Hope for Judah
- Isaiah 13-23 – the TEN burdens of the Nations
- Isaiah 24-27 – the Apocalypse [Judgment of the whole world]
- Isaiah 28-35 – the SIX woes – and the coming King
- Six Woes…
- Isaiah 28 – Woe to the drunkards of Ephraim [Northern Israel]
- Isaiah 29 – Woe to Ariel [Lion of God] – the Southern Kingdom…
- Isaiah 29 – Woe to those who HIDE from the LORD…
- Isaiah 30 – Woe to the REBELLIOUS children [do NOT look to God]
- Isaiah 31 – Woe to those who go down to EGYPT…
- Isaiah 33 – Woe to Destroyer – the Kingdom of Assyria!
- The King Rises…
- But just when it seemed all was LOST – the Lord would STAND up…
- The SPIRIT [רוּחַ] of the LORD – His FIRE – would consume them like chaff and stubble…
- And when the people of ZION [Jerusalem] saw what God did to Assyria…
- The SINNERS would FEAR – but the UPRIGHT would dwell in the safety of the ROCKS [מְצָד]
- Then hearts of the people would PONDER on what happened to the TERROR [Assyria]
- They no longer saw them – because they were GONE…
- He would give Judah VICTORY – He would FORGIVE their sins!
- 1st – Day of the Lord… vs. 1-8
- 1st – Wrath of God… vs. 1-3
- All nations… vs. 1-2
- Come near you nations to hear – and heed you people!
- Let the earth hear and all that is in it. The world and all things that come forth from it.
- For the indignation of the LORD is against all nations and His fury against all their armies!
- The NATIONS [גוֹיִם] must listen [imperative] – people need to pay ATTENTION [imperative]
- Let ALL [כֹּל] of the earth – everyone in it – all who come from it LISTEN…
- Because [כִּי] the WRATH of God is against ALL [כֹּל] the NATIONS [הַגּוֹיִם] and their ARMIES!
- For SIX chapters Isaiah had warned His people about Assyria…
- Of the JUDGMENT He brought against the Northern Kingdom [722 B.C.] – II Kings 17:18
- And warning to Judah [Southern Kingdom] – they were NEXT…
- But He moves BEYOND Israel – to address the WHOLE world!
- The Bible is NOT written to just ONE people [Jews] – it addresses EVERY nation…
- The WARNINGS given might address a specific time in history…
- But the LESSONS learned apply to EVERY generation!
- Slaughter… vs. 2-3
- He has utterly destroyed them. He has given them over to the slaughter.
- Also their slain shall be thrown out. Their stench shall rise from their corpses.
- And the mountains shall be melted with their blood!
- The LORD has [perfect] wiped out [hiphil] the ARMIES of men [צְבָאָם]
- Given them over [perfect] to the SLAUGHTER…
- Their BODIES will be cast out – rotting where they fall [stink]
- The mountains will be COVERED [niphal] in their BLOOD!
- Revelation 16:16 – “They gathered together to the place called in Hebrew Armageddon!”
- God gathered THEM [all of the nations of the world] – to ARMAGEDDON…
- [Ἁρμαγεδδών] – the HILL [הַר] of MEGIDDO [מְגִדּוֹן]
- The Hill [city] of Megiddo sits in a long valley in the central portion of Israel [300km long]
- It is part of the Via Maris [way of the sea] – connecting Asia – to Europe – and Africa…
- It is literally at the crossroads of the World!
- This will be the place where the Antichrist – and ALL the NATIONS he has deceived…
- Will gather together in a FUTILE attempt to go to war with Jesus [God]
- It will NOT be much of a battle – Jesus will just say ONE word – II Thessalonians 2:8
- The BLOOD will flow TWO meters deep – for THREE hundred kilometers – Revelation 14:20
- 2nd – Return of the King… vs. 4-7
- Heavens Shaken… vs. 4
- All the host of heaven shall be dissolved – and the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll.
- All their host shall fall down as the leaf falls from the vine – and as fruit falling from a fig tree!
- The HEAVENS [visible universe] will be ROLLED [niphal] up like [כַ] a SCROLL…
- Then ALL [כֹּל] of the HOST of heaven will WASTE [niphal] away…
- The HOSTS of heaven will FALL – like [כַ] the leaf FALLS from the vine or tree…
- This is NOT speaking of END – because the JUDGMENT continues – II Peter 3:10
- It is the WRATH of God in the Day of the LORD – Matthew 24:29
- The HOSTS [צָבָא] – likely refer to an army [or the spiritual powers behind them]!
- Revelation 12:7-9 – “War broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought with the dragon – and the dragon and his angels fought but they did not prevail – nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out!”
- This is WAR has yet to occur – it will take place at the MID point of the TRIBULATION…
- While Antichrist stands in the Holiest proclaiming to be God – Revelation 13:4
- Behind the scenes there is a SPIRITUAL battle taking place…
- MICHAEL [מִיכָאֵל] – who is like God – the ARCHANGEL [chief] – Jude 1:9
- He and his angels – will go to WAR with the DRAGON [satan] and his angels…
- But the DRAGON will lose – and there was no longer a place for them in HEAVEN!
- Come down… vs. 5
- For My sword shall be bathed in heaven.
- Indeed it shall come down on Edom – and on the people of My curse for judgment!
- Once the SWORD of the LORD has had its fill [piel] in Heaven [victory]
- Then the SWORD will come down to EDOM [אֱדוֹם]
- Upon the PEOPLE who are CURSED – to be JUDGED!
- Revelation 12:13 – “Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth. He persecuted the woman [Israel] who gave birth to the male Child [Jesus]!”
- After the Abomination of Desolation – Matthew 24:15
- Israel will be RUSHED away quickly to the safety of PETRA [in Edom]
- And remain there for a TIME + TIMES [two] + half a TIME [three and a half years]
- An ARMY [flood] will be sent by the COMMAND of the Antichrist…
- Hoping [subjunctive] he can destroy the people of Israel – Revelation 12:16
- But God will save His people – by causing the EARTH to open and swallow up the ARMY!
- Refuge in Bozrah… vs. 6-7
- The sword of the LORD is filled with blood – it is made overflowing with fatness.
- 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.
- The wild oxen shall come down with them – and the young bulls with the mighty bulls.
- Their land shall be soaked with blood – and their dust saturated with fatness!
- The SWORD of the LORD will be FILLED [perfect] with BLOOD…
- A great SACRIFICE in BOZRAH [fortress in Edom – geographically associated with PETRA]
- Men who are as strong as AUROCHS [רְאֵם] will come down and die…
- AUROCH [רְאֵם] – extinct cow that could weigh 1500kg – stand almost TWO meters high…
- The land will be SOAKED [piel] with BLOOD – the dust SATURATED [pual] by them!
- PETRA [the rock] – is in the modern-day country of Jordan…
- The city of PETRA [Greek] – is called in the Hebrew SELA [סֶלַע]
- The city is in the MOUNTAINS to the EAST of Israel – Matthew 24:16
- And when Jesus returns – He will come from BOZRAH [Jordan] – Isaiah 63:1
- Psalm 18:2 – “The LORD is my rock [סֶלַע] and my fortress and my deliverer.”
- Cause of Zion… vs. 8
- For it is the day of the LORD’s vengeance. The year of recompense for the cause of Zion!
- Because [כִּי] – this is the DAY [יוֹם] of the VENGEANCE of the LORD…
- The YEAR when God will REPAY [שִׁלּוּם] the enemies of ZION [Jerusalem]!
- God will PROVIDE and PROTECT Israel in PETRA for THREE and half years [1260 days]
- LAST half of the TRIBULATION – culminating in the RETURN of Jesus – Revelation 19:16
- Only a THIRD of the JEWISH nation will make it to SAFETY – Zechariah 13:8
- Then all the Jews who REMAIN – will look up and see Jesus – Zechariah 12:10
- At which time all of them will put their FAITH in Jesus – and be SAVED – Romans 11:26
- They will be the SHEEP who get to enter into the Millennial Kingdom – Matthew 25:34
- 1st – Wrath of God… vs. 1-3
- 2nd – Judgment of the Lord… vs. 9-17
- 1st – Destruction… vs. 9-10
- Brimstone… vs. 9
- Its streams shall be turned into pitch and its dust into brimstone.
- Its land shall become burning pitch!
- The STREAM will be turned [niphal] into burning TAR [pitch]
- And the DUST shall become BRIMSTONE [גָּפְרִית]
- Edom becomes a prophetic picture of the final judgment – the Lake of Fire…
- Those who REJECT the Gospel of Jesus Christ – end up there!
- Revelation 14:10-11 – “He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone… and the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever.”
- Forever… vs. 10
- It shall not be quenched night or day. Its smoke shall ascend forever.
- From generation to generation it shall lie waste no one shall pass through it forever and ever!
- The FIRE there will NEVER go out – the SMOKE comes up FOREVER…
- From generation to generation [without end] – it will be DESOLATE [חָרַב]
- And NONE [אֵין] will EVER be able to PASS through there!
- Revelation 20:15 – “This is the second death. Anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire!”
- There is a common teaching today that says that HELL does not exist…
- The TERROR of being eternally separated with NO hope of escape – is too much to accept…
- The common view is either that BAD people just cease to exist – annihilationism…
- Or that there is some sort of penance [purgatory] that gives them a SECOND chance…
- But HELL is very real – referenced at least FORTY times with various New Testament terms!
- The SECOND [spiritual] death – is eternal separation from God…
- It is SAD for those who have rejected Jesus – because this is the END…
- They will be ETERNALLY separated from God – NO hope of redemption!
- 2nd – Desolate… vs. 11-15
- Without form… vs. 11
- But the pelican and the [heron] shall possess it. Also the owl and the raven shall dwell in it.
- And He shall stretch out over it – the line of confusion and the stones of emptiness!
- In the aftermath the Day of the Lord – the return of Jesus Christ…
- Edom will become a WILDERNESS – devoid of any people…
- PELICANS [waterfowl] – HERON – OWLS – and RAVENS will live there [four UNCLEAN birds]
- HERON [קִפֹּד] – is a more likely translation than PORCUPINE – Zephaniah 2:14
- And in this UNCLEAN place – God will make it without FORM [תֹּהוּ] and VOID [בֹּהוּ]
- It will be the REVERSE of what God did in the BEGINNING – Genesis 1:2
- No leaders… vs. 12-13
- They shall call its nobles to the kingdom.
- But none shall be there and all its princes shall be nothing.
- And thorns shall come up in its palaces. Nettles and brambles in its fortresses.
- It shall be a habitation of [dragons] – a courtyard for ostriches!
- There will [imperfect] NOT [אִין] be any NOBLES to call to…
- Because ALL [כֹּל] of the PRINCES will be GONE [אֶפֶס]
- Their PALACES will become overgrown with WEEDS and THORNS…
- A place where DRAGONS [תַנִּים] and OSTRICHES can be found [no people around]!
- The Day of the LORD marks the END of human leadership…
- Rather than a world that is governed by FLAWED men…
- The world will become a place where Jesus is ultimate authority [Millennial Kingdom]
- Gathering… vs. 14-15
- The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the jackals.
- And the wild goat shall bleat to its companion – also the night creature shall rest there.
- And find for herself a place of rest. There the arrow snake shall make her nest and lay eggs.
- And hatch – and gather them under her shadow. There also shall the [vultures] be gathered.
- Everyone with her mate!
- Having given us a description of an EMPTY land – and LEADERLESS land…
- Isaiah goes on to describe FIVE wild BEASTS of the desert who will meet there…
- JACKAL [אִי] – 3x in OT – a howling creature [jackal]
- Wild GOAT [שָׂעִיר] – in this context it can refer to a goat-demon – Leviticus 17:7
- Night CREATURE [לִילִית] – only here – later associated in Jewish tradition with night demon…
- Darting SNAKE [קִפּוֹז] – only here – thought to be a venomous snake [jumps out]
- VULTURE [דַּיָּה] – 2x in OT – birds of prey that feed on DEAD animals…
- These are very challenging verses to interpret…
- Some scholars take the angle that they refer to supernatural creatures…
- While others just hold they are ordinary animals that speak of a DESOLATE place…
- In light of them having MATES – and OFFSPRING – I would lean towards the LATER!
- The common thread between all FIVE creatures [whatever they might be]
- They speak of a place with DANGER – DARKNESS – and DEATH…
- A place that is DEVOID of any human habitation!
- 3rd – Book of the Lord… vs. 16-17
- The Command… vs. 16
- Search from the book of the LORD and read:
- Not one of these shall fail. Not one shall lack her mate.
- For My mouth has commanded it – and His Spirit has gathered them!
- In light of this statement of DEVASTATION – the JUDGMENT of the DAY of the LORD…
- God commands [imperative] for us to SEARCH His Book [scroll]
- We must CALL out [imperative] and see if ANY of these statements have FAILED…
- The answer is NO – because the LORD has commanded them…
- The answer is NO – because the His Spirit is the one who has gathered them!
- God does NOT give us His word for us to IGNORE…
- He does NOT tell us what is going to happen in the FUTURE so we can be IGNORANT…
- He wants us to SEARCH it – He wants us to see that it is TRUE…
- God is trying to tell us what is COMING – so we can be READY!
- Forever… vs. 17
- He has cast the lot for them and His hand has divided it among them with a measuring line.
- They shall possess it forever. From generation to generation they shall dwell in it!
- Why do we want to be READY – because of our LOT [גּוֹרָל]
- God will divide our LOT – where we will dwell for ETERNITY [forever]!
- We want to make sure our LOT is in HEAVEN with the LORD…
- We know what is coming – the Bible tells us the Day of the LORD is close…
- What we need to do is be READY – the END is coming soon!
- Matthew 24:44 – “Therefore you also be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
- 1st – Destruction… vs. 9-10
- 3rd – Highway of the Lord… vs. 1-10
- 1st – Rebirth… vs. 1-2
- Blosom… vs. 1
- The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them.
- And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose!
- In the AFTERMATH of the Day of the Lord – the JUDGMENT of God…
- The WILDERNESS – the DESERT – will blossom [imperfect] like [כַּ] a ROSE!
- This was fulfilled after the FALL of the Assyrian army [701 B.C.]
- But it will ultimately be fulfilled in the Millennial Kingdom!
- Romans 8:21 – “The creation looks forward to the day when it will join… in glorious freedom from death and decay.” [NLT]
- See the Lord… vs. 2
- It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice even with joy and singing.
- The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it. The excellence of Carmel and Sharon.
- They shall see the glory of the LORD – the excellency of our God!
- In that day the LAND will BLOSSOM – and the people will rejoice with JOY and SINGING [piel]
- As Israel becomes as GLORIOUS as [the] Lebanon – [the] Carmel – and [the] Sharon…
- All three very LUSH and FERTILE regions of the Middle east…
- A place that had become a DESERT – would see the LORD their God transform it!
- Rewind HUNDRED years and Israel was a wasteland…
- Mark Twain: Of all the lands there are for dismal scenery – Palestine must be the prince.
- Hills are barren – a hopeless – dreary – heart broken land… [that] sits in sackcloth and ashes…
- Israel today has BLOSSOMED – they have planted 250 million trees…
- They are an exporter of FLOWERS – and other produce to the world…
- The desert has BLOOMED – and even Israel knows it has to be because of the LORD!
- Even though we may have allowed SIN to devastate…
- This is what our God does – He takes RUINED lives and makes them BLOSSOM…
- He takes BEAUTY from ASHES – and JOY from MOURNING – Isaiah 61:3
- 2nd – Restoration… vs. 3-7
- Do not Fear… vs. 3-4
- Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees.
- Say to those who are fearful-hearted: Be strong – do not fear!
- Behold your God will come with vengeance – with the recompense of God.
- He will come and save you!
- We must say [imperative] to those with a racing [niphal] heart [fearful]
- Be STRONG [imperative] – and do NOT [jussive] choose to FEAR…
- The Lord will give STRENGTH [piel] to limp hands – weak knees – Hebrews 12:12
- Your God of VENGEANCE will come to REPAY [גְּמוּל] your enemies…
- He will come [imperfect] to SAVE [יָשַׁע] you!
- Fear is NOT a response – it is a CHOICE – we CHOSE based on who we are looking at…
- If we are looking at our circumstances – then we choose to be AFRAID…
- If we look to the Lord – then we will be STRONG – and have nothing to FEAR!
- Romans 8:31 – “If God is for us – who can be against us?”
- Healing… vs. 5-6
- Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened – and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
- Then the lame shall leap like a deer and the tongue of the dumb sing.
- THEN [אָז] – after CHOOSING to come to the LORD rather than giving into FEAR…
- The EYES of the blind and the EARS of the deaf – will open [niphal]
- The lame shall LEAP [piel] and the TONGUE of the mute will sing!
- This reminds us of the ministry of Jesus Christ…
- He opened BLIND eyes – DEAF ears – the LAME leapt – and the MUTE spoke – Matthew 11:5
- But the point was NOT the healing – it was WHO healed them!
- When we STOP looking at CIRCUMSTANCES – stop living in FEAR…
- Our EYES opened to see Jesus – our EARS to hear His Word…
- We are able to LEAP over any obstacle – as we SING praises to Him!
- New Life… vs. 6-7
- For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness – and streams in the desert.
- The parched ground shall become a pool and the thirsty land springs of water.
- In the habitation of jackals where each lay – there shall be grass with reeds and rushes!
- Because [כִּי] the SPLIT [niphal] rock in the WILDERNESS…
- Formed [perfect] WATERS and STREAMS in the DESERT…
- DRY ground became [perfect] pools of WATER…
- Where DRAGONS [תַּנִּין] used to lie [desolate] – it was filled with GRASS and REEDS!
- When God brough Israel out of Egypt into the Wilderness of Sin – they had NO water…
- Moses STRUCK the ROCK of Horeb and WATER flowed out – Exodus 17:6
- I Corinthian 10:4 – “They drank of the spiritual Rock that followed them – that Rock was Christ.”
- Because the ONLY way to be SATISFIED in life – is by coming to Jesus…
- He is the ONE who gives us LIVING water in the DESERT of this life!
- John 7:38 – “He who believes in Me… out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
- 3rd – The Road… vs. 8-10
- Holiness… vs. 8
- A highway shall be there and a road – and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.
- The unclean shall not pass over it – but it shall be for others.
- Whoever walks the road – although a fool – shall not go astray!
- The Lord will make a HIGHWAY [lifted up] – only here in OT…
- It will be called [niphal] the WAY [דֶּרֶךְ] of HOLINESS…
- Those who are UNCLEAN will NOT be able to walk down it…
- But to those who want to GO [הָלַךְ] – even FOOLS – they will NOT go astray!
- Highways are incredible feats of ENGINEERING…
- Raised roads that lead over RIVERS [bridge] – through MOUNTAINS [tunnels]
- They allow a STRAIGHT path to get from one place to another!
- Matthew 7:14 – “Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life.”
- Jesus has provided the Holy HIGHWAY to get to HEAVEN…
- It is the ONE and ONLY way that we can be SAVED!
- Redeemed… vs. 9
- No lion shall be there. Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it.
- It shall not be found there – but the redeemed shall walk there!
- There will NOT be any LION [singular] there – or danger [thief] is there…
- Instead this is where the REDEEMED [גָּאַל] will walk!
- I Peter 5:8 – “Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion.”
- When we are walking on the HIGHWAY of Holiness…
- The THIEF [פָּרִיץ] who wants to STEAL our Joy – our lives – John 10:10
- He cannot touch us – we are SAFE – because we have been REDEEMED!
- Ransomed… vs. 10
- And the ransomed of the LORD shall return – and come to Zion with singing.
- With everlasting joy on their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness.
- And sorrow and sighing shall flee away!
- Then those who are RANSOMED by the LORD will come back to ZION…
- They will come SINGING [praise] – having [hiphil] JOY and GLADNESS…
- Their SORROW and GROANING will be gone!
- 1st – Rebirth… vs. 1-2