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Listen "Isaiah 34-35"
Episode Synopsis
Summary
God judges the nations, beginning first with the heavens - a quick way of referring to the spiritual enemies that are behind the different nations waging war on God's people. Isaiah longs to see them removed completely. Edom is a nation focused on. They are a neighbouring nation to Israel that often waged war on them, even helping Babylon when they come to destroy Jerusalem 150 years after Isaiah's time. Such contentious and constant hatred of God is not forgotten. The destruction is total, describing the judgment using language from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah - cities who were defiant against God.
God
What God does here is confronting to us as Australians. He is devoting Edom to judgment. Total removal. However, we are not talking about nice, honest individuals. We are talking about armies that are dedicated to totally wiping out other nations themselves. Isaiah is watching a gruesome enemy like the Assyrians wipe out entire nations. The Edomites are equally committed to this bloodshed. God responds, not in the way the Assyrians and their gods demand. I think of the king of Assyria who declared: "I will leave a terror behind that the world will never forget." So God responds against such evil.
God is not a torturer like the kings of Assyria. He is swift and final. Once judgment happens on the gods, his work is to destroy the destroyer. We see that God's judgment is not eternal torment, but instant and final judgment. "The judgment that will never end" is a common phrased used from Genesis to Revelation to show the final and complete, irreversible judgment.
Earlier in Isaiah, God's judgment is described as a strange and unusual deed. Why? God is not willing that any should perish. Torture doesn't even cross his mind. His goal is simply to restore balance and return the world back to its original glory.
References to God using a book also imply not a vengeful and maniacal tendency in God, but one who is measured, he investigated and surveyed the land, and now he makes his move. Only coming in judgment because evil has become too much. God in doing this is careful and like the surgeon cutting out the disease - he is removing evil for the good of all creation.
Gospel
The end is of a land that has been restored to a time before humanity was in the picture. Only animals remain in the land. Why? They are not prone to the utter destruction humanity is. God takes charge and gives back the land to the innocent creatures.
The images of Isaiah 35 take us to the point of judgment - to bring new life. From start to finish, God wants us to be free of suffering and pain. It is good news that the end of the story will be filled with joy and gladness. We are jumping ahead to the best part of any story - when the good guys win. The parched ground will become springs of water. "Be strong and do not fear. God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you." (35:4)
God judges the nations, beginning first with the heavens - a quick way of referring to the spiritual enemies that are behind the different nations waging war on God's people. Isaiah longs to see them removed completely. Edom is a nation focused on. They are a neighbouring nation to Israel that often waged war on them, even helping Babylon when they come to destroy Jerusalem 150 years after Isaiah's time. Such contentious and constant hatred of God is not forgotten. The destruction is total, describing the judgment using language from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah - cities who were defiant against God.
God
What God does here is confronting to us as Australians. He is devoting Edom to judgment. Total removal. However, we are not talking about nice, honest individuals. We are talking about armies that are dedicated to totally wiping out other nations themselves. Isaiah is watching a gruesome enemy like the Assyrians wipe out entire nations. The Edomites are equally committed to this bloodshed. God responds, not in the way the Assyrians and their gods demand. I think of the king of Assyria who declared: "I will leave a terror behind that the world will never forget." So God responds against such evil.
God is not a torturer like the kings of Assyria. He is swift and final. Once judgment happens on the gods, his work is to destroy the destroyer. We see that God's judgment is not eternal torment, but instant and final judgment. "The judgment that will never end" is a common phrased used from Genesis to Revelation to show the final and complete, irreversible judgment.
Earlier in Isaiah, God's judgment is described as a strange and unusual deed. Why? God is not willing that any should perish. Torture doesn't even cross his mind. His goal is simply to restore balance and return the world back to its original glory.
References to God using a book also imply not a vengeful and maniacal tendency in God, but one who is measured, he investigated and surveyed the land, and now he makes his move. Only coming in judgment because evil has become too much. God in doing this is careful and like the surgeon cutting out the disease - he is removing evil for the good of all creation.
Gospel
The end is of a land that has been restored to a time before humanity was in the picture. Only animals remain in the land. Why? They are not prone to the utter destruction humanity is. God takes charge and gives back the land to the innocent creatures.
The images of Isaiah 35 take us to the point of judgment - to bring new life. From start to finish, God wants us to be free of suffering and pain. It is good news that the end of the story will be filled with joy and gladness. We are jumping ahead to the best part of any story - when the good guys win. The parched ground will become springs of water. "Be strong and do not fear. God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you." (35:4)
In God we trust