Isaiah 34:9

Isaiah 34:9 says, And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.  This is a bleak picture of the future.  God can dry up the streams that we depend on and turn the land that was once productive to dust.  We sometimes forget that God can control everything that He created and assume that since we have lived in a prosperous land that we always will, but if we don’t give God the glory, He can easily change all this, and one day He will.   

Verse ten adds, It 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.  Isaiah said this land would become desolate and smoke would rise up from it forever.  This is a reference to the coming judgment of those who don’t accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord, who will be sent away to the fires of hell which will never be quenched.  This is why it is so important that we reach out to people with the gospel today.   Though they should already know there is a God by the witness of the universe itself, we need to share the truth of the gospel with them.  

Verse eleven continues. But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness.  Isaiah said that the land would be the home of scavenger birds that often feed on dead animals.  There would be no people to disturb them. This would not be a reference referring to hell, since there will be people there and not birds, so I believe it would refer to the desolation of the land of Israel itself.  The land would become one of confusion and emptiness.  This was a fair judgment because of the sins of the people and not just an arbitrary act of God.  When people are judged by God, His judgment will always be just.

Verse twelve states, They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing.  Isaiah said the people would call for their nobles and princes, but there would be none to answer.  People may still look to the leaders of their country for answers in times of trouble, but they will never be able to overturn God’s judgment.  When God’s final judgment comes, there will be no one for the unrepentant sinners who have rejected Jesus Christ to call on for help. 

Verse thirteen adds, And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls.  Isaiah said when this judgment came that the palaces would be overgrown with nettles and brambles and become a home for wild animals.  Whatever we put our faith in other than God will one day be reduced to nothing, no matter how glorious it may seem now. 

Verse fourteen continues, The 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.  Wild beasts and birds from different areas would make the palaces their home.  God’s judgment wasn’t on the wild animals but on people.  Since people are the only ones with a soul, we are the only ones who will face God one day when He pronounces His final judgment. 

Verse fifteen says, There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate.  This verse just continues to speak about the fact that the birds would flourish there. 

Verse sixteen adds, Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.  Isaiah said when this destruction came to look to God’s book and see if it did not match what had been prophesied.  When Jesus Christ returns to claim His followers, everything will be in accordance with what God’s word, the Bible, states.  We just need to read it and put our faith in His word before that happens.

Verse seventeen continues, And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein.  Isaiah said God had assigned each animal a place and a role and they would obey it.  They would not be killing each other.  We are told that when God’s kingdom comes that the lamb will lay down with the lion.  There will no longer be fear on the part of one or viciousness on the part of the other. When God’s kingdom comes, everything will work in the order it was created for before man brought sin and destruction into the world by disobeying God.