Isaiah 34 – 39
Isaiah starts in these chapters with describing the judgment of all the nations of the lands. Verse 34:2 opens this dialog:
For the LORD is enraged against all the nations,
and furious against all their host;
he has devoted them to destruction, has given them over for slaughter.
The key here is “all” since no one seems to get away with this one. I often wonder if we are living in these times today. You watch the news and we are in a world of hurt economically and politically. Nations are rioting, famine is rampant, spending is out of control, disease is spread rapidly and wars can be fought in seconds. Are “all nations” described in this verse describing our world today?
See prophetic writings can drive one batty if they try to apply them to your world today. The prophecy is ugly throughout this chapter and can either be looked at as today or one can try to parse history to find the match before, either way it’s not pretty.
The next chapter talks about the aftermath and how reason returns. I often wonder if that will ever happen with mankind! Verses 35:5 & 6 describe something that started with Jesus:
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
What Jesus started is how the world is described in the future. Where Jesus made a few see and walk, Isaiah’s vision promises that for everyone. Again I feel we are trying to apply human attributes to the “afterlife.” We do this with God so He can fit into a picture that we can understand, but we miss the glory of it all by doing this. Our spirits will be free to see and roam because we will no longer be bound by frail bodies! Is Isaiah really describing life after death and not the demise of the world?
Hezekiah had a great prayer later in verses 37:16 & 17:
“O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. 17 Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God.
We often forget the glory and power of God. How often do you consider him your “friend” more than the creator of everything? I know I take prayer casual way too often. I pray like I am whining to my mother and not presenting my petition to the Highest of Highs! I think we all need a rest like this from time to time and realize God is not our “bro” that will fix things when we need Him, but rather the King of ages and creator of all. Give Him glory first, then get into the mundane details of your day, which God loves to talk about! How cool is that!
Later in this reading Isaiah tells Hezekiah that his life will be extended. Later Hezekiah shows everything to an envoy from Babylon and Isaiah tells him this was an error. Isaiah continued and told him they would strip his kingdom of everything! In an odd twist Hezekiah’s response in 39:8 was unexpected:
Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my days.”
If you were told you would lose it all, would this be your response? It should be! Really you think about it, all Hezekiah has lost is stuff … and maybe a son or two! The key here is to praise God in the good and the bad; we cannot control the outcome here on earth, only the outcome after death! Keeping your eye on the prize and not on the stuff is the key to remaining content in God’s creation.