Isaiah 34 Devotional
by Pastor Mark Hudson
In chapters 34-35, Isaiah is still focused on who to trust: the nations or God? In chapters 34-35, the result of that choice will be either a desert (34) or a garden (35). Once again in this book there is a close relationship with God’s judgment or blessing and the natural world. We find God’s judgment reflected in a desert in this chapter. As Oswalt writes, “To align oneself with the nations of the earth is to choose a desert; to trust in God is to choose a garden” p. 607.
God is not merely the God of Israel but the Lord of all nations. Every knee will bow to our Lord Jesus whether voluntarily or involuntarily. God has the right to speak to every nation in the world. So, we begin in v. 1 with God calling the nations to draw near, to gather together and pay attention to God. He expects everyone to hear Him and to listen carefully. Notice how God is described in verse 2. “For the Lord is enraged against all the nations, and furious against all their host. . .” My guess is that most modern people are uncomfortable with that language about God. The Bible is not. We see this language over and over again when God is angry over sin.
His anger is not capricious: He has devoted them to destruction, given them over for slaughter in v. 2. There is no hesitancy or apologies on God’s behalf for His anger. In fact the authors of the Bible think we should praise and glorify God because judges sin.
Verse 3 is a rather gruesome description of the effects of God’s judgement. No human likes the idea the stench of dead bodies in the streets or mountains flowing with blood. While the main idea is destruction, we should not look for a literal fulfillment of these words. In v. 4, all the hosts of heaven shall rot away – which may refer to the pantheon of gods the pagans believed in. God is Lord of the heavens, the nations, and all that fills the earth and all that comes from the world v. 1.
While Babylon represents an evil nation that is far away from Israel, Edom represents the same but one who is close. In vs. 5-7, these verses the judgment in the heavens now drops down to earth. God’s judgment is called a sacrifice in v. 6. This may point to the fact that either you will pay for your sins or someone else will. All sin requires judgment and punishment, so sacrifice is not a word out of context.
In vs. 8-12, words like “pitch,” “sulfur,” “burning pitch,” and “smoke,” evokes Sodom and Gomorrah. To look for a literal fulfillment (again) may not be the point. But there must be some way of expressing how terrible and unrelenting God’s wrath is. These may be expressions that are understand. When we say, “I love you to the moon and back” we mean I love you deeply. Words, phrases, expressions have a referent point but we can still say the sun set is 7:50 PM even in this modern era and not mean it literally sets.
Edom will be uninhabited. We may not relate to this as easily as ancient people. We can live almost anywhere but living in a city provided protection, security, and the help of neighbors. Living in the wilderness was not suitable for humans but ostriches, owls, hyenas, and other wild animals inhabited that area. It was not fit for people though.
Living for myself is against God’s intention for me. I add no value to the Kingdom of God, do not help my community, and it ends in barrenness. A barren soul, a barren city, and emptiness. We need not be literal that all sin leads to a desert, but a desert is something we can all understand. Living for myself, attending to my needs is a recipe for a lack of vision and robs us of our purpose.
Living for God is life, joy, purpose, meaning, and fulfillment. Living for God is what we are made for, so we reap a garden, not a whirlwind (Hosea 8:7). As a believer, we may not have worldly prestige, wealth, or outward achievement. But we possess the “surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
How precious this gift of grace is to us. If the gospel is true, what do you have? You have forgiveness of all your sins. The power of the Holy Spirit living inside you. Honest and genuine fellowship with the Triune God. You are part of a body of believers that become your spiritual family. And then you enjoy unending joy in the presence of God forever and ever and ever.
Father help me to keep choosing what is right and good. Help me not to yearn for the world but to disdain the emptiness and vanity the world offers. Keep me active in growing spiritually, reaching out to Christ and spreading the good news. Thank you for your love and for your justice which rightly causes You to discipline Your people for their good. Fill me with Your joy. In Christ’s name. Amen