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.

Isaiah 34:1

Isaiah 34:1 says, Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it.  Isaiah extends God’s call for all nations to come and hear what He has to say.  This was going to affect them, and whatever God was going to do would be just.  We are to carry the gospel to all nations, and they need to hear it because it affects their everlasting status with God.  If people refuse to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord once they hear the gospel, then their everlasting punishment will be just.  God has provided a way for every person to escape the penalty of sin, which is spiritual death, so if they do not accept this gift of salvation, they are the ones responsible if they are sent away to everlasting punishment. 

Verse two adds, For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.  Isaiah said that God’s fury was on all nations and that He would destroy all their armies.  Israel, and later Judah after the kingdom split, was the nation that God chose to work through to call all people to Him, but He was not limiting His call to them.  God’s plan has always been to redeem the people of the whole world, and He will always have indignation at those who chose to continue to reject and His gift of salvation.  

Verse three continues, Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.  This destruction from God was going to be devastating.  Those who stood against Him would be killed and their bodies left unburied.  Some nations today take pride in their strength even as they deny God, but one day, these nations will be left in devastation, because Jesus Christ is going to return one day to claim His church, and everyone who has not accepted Him will be sent away to everlasting punishment.  

Verse four states, And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.  Isaiah said when this day of judgement from God came, even the heavens would be affected.  This will happen when Jesus Christ returns in victory.  God is the Creator and Sustainer not just of the earth but of the universe, and He will always have control of it. 

Verse five adds, For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.  Isaiah said that God’s sword was going to come down on those who refused to acknowledge Him.  I don’t believe that God needs a literal sword to bring about His judgment, but this is just a figurative term to help the people understand that God was going to destroy everyone who didn’t put their faith in Him.  I believe that just as God spoke the world into existence, He can speak it out of existence. 

Verse six continues, The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the Lord hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea.  Isaiah said God’s sword was going to be full of the blood of sacrifice.  Matthew Henry says that Bozrah was the place where the great Redeemer had His garments dyed in blood.  I do know that there is only one sacrifice that can bring redemption from sin, and that is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.  It is by His blood alone that we can be saved. 

Verse seven says, And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.  Not only people, but animals as well, will be affected when God’s judgment comes.  People were supposed to have dominion over the things of the earth under the leadership of God, but we have often failed to live up to our responsibility, but everything is still under God’s control.  We need to do our best to care for His creation under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. 

Verse eight adds, For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.  Isaiah said that there was a coming day when all those who have defied God will encounter His vengeance against them for their unwillingness to accept His forgiveness.  Since He is a just God, unrepentant sin cannot be ignored but must be judged.  If we one day find ourselves under the judgment of God, it will because we have chosen to reject His gift of salvation.  Isaiah also said that those who had tried to destroy Zion, God’s holy city, would feel His vengeance.  I believe this would also apply to those who mistreat Christians. 

Isaiah 33: 17

Isaiah 33:17 says, Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.  Isaiah said Hezekiah would put off his sack cloth and appear again in his royal attire.  This would bring joy to the people of Judah once more.  When Jesus Christ returns to claim His people, He will be seen in all His glory and those who have put their faith in Him will be filled with joy. 

Verse eighteen adds, Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers? The people of Judah would remember the days when they were in terror and called the people to arms, but now there would be no need for them to be on guard.  As Christians, we may remember the days when we were under the power of sin, but now we are set free from its penalty and need not be afraid anymore.  Still, we need to be alert to the power of sin and vigilant to not allow it back into our lives. 

Verse nineteen continues, Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand.  Isaiah said they would no longer be under the power of a strange people, the Assyrians, whose language they did not understand.  As followers of Christ, we will never be spiritually under the power of those that we do not understand.  We will be under the power of God, Whose words will be very clear to us. 

Verse twenty states, Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.  Isaiah told the people of Judah to look to Zion, the city where they had celebrated their solemn feasts.  It would be restored, and they could once again worship there.  Jerusalem would be a place of peace. When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we should be at peace in the world, no matter what may be going on around us.  Isaiah said that the peace of Jerusalem would not be shaken, and neither should our faith in God. 

Verse twenty-one adds, But there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.  Isaiah said this peace would be because of God providing it when the people were faithful to Him.  Since God was to provide their security, they could live without fear of the world.  Since Jesus Christ provides everlasting security for those who put their faith in Him, as His followers, we can live in spiritual peace in the world. 

Verse twenty-two continues, For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.  Isaiah said that this peace was because God was their judge, lawgiver, and King Who would save them.  This is Who He should still be to Christians today, even if He has judged us to be free from the penalty of sin thorough our faith in Jesus Christ. We are still to live under His authority and by His commandments. 

Verse twenty-three states, Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.  Isaiah said that their enemies would be as ineffective as a ship at sea without the ability to deploy its sails.  Our victory in the world today is assured because there is no power that will ever be effective in defeating God.  All the strength and plans of the world will fail against those who put their faith in God, spiritually if not physically.   

Verse twenty-four adds, And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.  Isaiah said the people of Jerusalem would no longer say they were sick, because their sins had been forgiven.  As Christians, we are no longer spiritually sick, because our sins have been forgiven.  Still, we must be careful that we don’t let the sickness of sin back into our lives, and if we do, we must repent and ask God to forgive us, even if we have everlasting forgiveness through our relationship with Jesus Christ.  We should be living joyful lives as His followers.

Isaiah 33:10

Isaiah 33:10 says, Now will I rise, saith the Lord; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.  God said that He was now going to be lifted up and exalted, but He always should be.  Even if our world seems to be coming apart, as followers of Jesus Christ, we should always lift up and exalt God.  We may at times wonder where God is if life is going terribly wrong, but He is always with us as Christians.  We need to always remember that. 

Verse eleven adds, Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you.  God said that the Assyrian army, who felt unbeatable, would be as no more than chaff against Him and would be blown away.  No matter how big and powerful our enemies may seem today, they are no more than chaff before God.  He is our spiritual protector, and we should never stop praising Him no matter what is going on in life. 

Verse twelve continues, And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.  God said the Assyrian army would be like chaff burned up in the fire or totally destroyed in other words.  As Christians, our enemies may seem too powerful for us to defeat, but God will one day send them away to everlasting destruction, so we just need to continue to put our faith in Him. 

Verse thirteen concludes, Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might.  God called on those near and far to hear what He had done.  Everyone will one day acknowledge the power of God.  Those who are far off spiritually will even one day acknowledge the power and authority of God.  As followers of Christ, we are spiritually close to God, and we should already acknowledge His power and authority.   I realize this verse may have been referring just to how near to or far away from Judah people were physically, but I believe we can apply a spiritual understanding to it.  

Verse fourteen states, The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?  This message was to the people of Zion, those who were called God’s people, but who were hypocritical in their actions. They had looked to Egypt for protection instead of looking to God, and that had failed.  Now that the Assyrian army was closing in on them, they asked who could save them from the fires of destruction that the Assyrians had suffered.  Just as there was no one who could save the people of Judah other than God, there is no one who can save us from the fires of hell but Jesus Christ.  A hypocritical faith will never be enough. 

Verse fifteen adds, He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;  Isaiah then begins to list the actions of those who are faithful to God.  They refuse to act like those around them.  They walk righteously and speak the truth, not benefitting from the oppression of others, taking bribes, hearing about benefitting from the death of others, and not looking on evil as something that is acceptable.  As followers of Christ, we should be guided by these same actions today. 

Verse sixteen continues, He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.  Isaiah said that those who did live by faith in God could be defended by Him and have their needs met.  We have this same assurance spiritually today, even if we suffer loss in the world.  We are protected by God and have an everlasting victory through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.  All we need to do is remain faithful to Him no matter what.  

Isaiah 33:1

 Isaiah 33:1 says, Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.  This chapter relates to the same events as foretold in the previous chapters.  This would be the distress of Judah and Jerusalem by the invasion of Sennacherib’s army and the destruction of the Assyrian army.  The Assyrians had been proud of defeating Israel and having them under their power, thinking they would always be the destroyers.  Isaiah said they were about to feel the woe of being the ones who were destroyed.  People of the world may take pride in defeating Christians today and believe that they are too powerful to be destroyed, but woe is coming to them when Jesus Christ returns in victory if not before. 

Verse two adds, O Lord, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.  Isaiah called on God to be gracious to or merciful on those who had waited for Him to bring them victory over their enemies.  This prayer would be from the remnant that remained true to God.  When we feel that the world is overpowering us as followers of Christ, we need to be patient and never lose our faith in God.  We should also go to Him in prayer and ask for His protection.  We will never be defeated spiritually if we do. 

Verse three continues, At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered.  Isaiah said when the Assyrian army encountered the angel of the Lord, that those who heard the sounds of war that were not killed fled.  When God’s judgment comes, those who have rejected Jesus Christ will hear the coming destruction, but there will be nowhere that they can flee to. 

Verse four concludes, And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.  The spoils that the people of Assyria had gathered would be scattered and gathered up by the people of Jerusalem.  Instead of destroying the people of Jerusalem, the Assyrians were going to provide them with goods.  The things that people gather in the war against God will always be taken from them.  This will happen when Jesus Christ returns if it doesn’t happen before. 

Verse five states, The Lord is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.  Isaiah said that the Lord Who lived on high was exalted and He had filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.  If we are to have fair judgment and righteousness in the world today, it must be because we acknowledge God Who lives high above us and Who alone can bring fair judgment and righteousness.   Our judgment of others can neither save nor condemn them, nor will our righteousness ever be enough to save us.  We must accept God’s gift of salvation by putting our faith in Jesus Christ and must give Him all the glory. 

Verse six adds, And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure.  Isaiah said faith in God’s judgment and righteousness would bring about stability in the lives of His people and would be the strength of their salvation.  He also said the fear of the Lord was His treasure, but I believe that fear for the Christian means an overpowering awe for God and not a cowering before Him because we are afraid He is going to zap us. 

Verse seven continues, Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.  This refers to the ambassadors sent by Hezekiah who were disappointed in the haughty attitude of those they were looking to for help.  Isaiah said that all those who put their faith in anyone or anything other than God would weep bitterly.  Those who considered themselves to be ambassadors of peace would be included in this time of weeping.  If we are looking to people of the world to bring peace, we are going to be left weeping bitterly when God’s judgment comes.  There can never be spiritual peace outside of God’s will, much less worldly peace. 

Verse eight says, The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.  During this time, people would be afraid to travel the highways because the ones who the people of Israel thought would help them had no regard for the covenant they made with them.  If we are looking to someone other than God for direction and strength, we may find ourselves afraid to venture out into the world.  Anyone or anything else that we are looking to for assurance of peace will ultimately fail us.

Verse nine continues, The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.  The earth itself was affected by this situation.  There was nothing good coming out of the land itself.  When we turn away from God, we should not expect Him to continue to bless the land. 

Isaiah 32:13

Isaiah 32:13 says, Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city:  Isaiah said that God was about to allow the land of Judah, the part of His chosen people that remained free, to filled with thorns and briers.  God had brought them to a land flowing with milk and honey, but they forgot their relationship with Him, and now He was going to remove His protection and blessing from them.  They had become corrupted by having plenty, so God was going to remove that plenty from them.  If we are truly to be a Christian nation, we cannot begin to live simply for our own pleasure when God blesses us materially.  If we do, He may remove His protective had from us.  Of course, this applies to individual Christians as well. 

Verse fourteen adds, Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;  Isaiah said that their cities, instead of being places of safety where they lived for pleasure and at ease, would become places where the wild animals lived.  The people would never return to these places.  If we are looking to things of this world to bring us peace and safety instead of looking to God, they will fail us, and when God’s judgment comes, we will never return to them.  Nothing that we look to for pleasure and peace in life that is not in accordance with God’s word is going to last. 

Verse fifteen continues, Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.  This sad state of Judah would continue until God poured out His Spirit on them.  I believe this occurred when God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to die for our sins and then sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us if we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  Once this happened, Judah would be a fruitful field once again.  Once we accept God’s gift of salvation, we should become spiritually productive people by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Verse sixteen states, Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.  Isaiah said that once God poured out His Spirit on the people, which could only happen if they were obedient to Him, that fair judgment and righteous would return along with the fruitful fields.  If we are followers of Christ, we need to judge the actions of others fairly and righteously.  Matthew Henry says that the wilderness refers to the Gentiles, who had been a wilderness to the will of God but would become a fruitful field once Jesus Christ died for all mankind.  We are part of that fruitful field if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and until we do, we are lost in the wilderness of sin. 

Verse seventeen adds, And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.  Just as Isaiah told the people then, the work of righteousness brings quietness and assurance in life.  Even if the world is a terrible mess, we as Christians should live our lives in quietness and assurance. Matthew Henry says this refers to an inward peace in life and an outward peace where we live, but I still believe that it refers to the inward peace with God even though the outward peace in the world may be missing. 

Verse eighteen continues, And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;  Once more, I believe this refers to our home in heaven more than to our time here on earth.  We may live in a place where we don’t have to fear for our lives and safety, but there will always be some degree of threat in this lifetime, but once we go to our heavenly home, there will no longer be any threat to our peace and security.

Verse nineteen says, When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place.  Isaiah said that if the storms came with hail raining down on the forests that Jerusalem would be in a low place, or protected from the destruction.  We as followers of Christ are spiritually protected from the storms of life, even if the storms rage around us physically. 

Verse twenty adds, Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.  Isaiah said that those who sowed beside the waters would be blessed with good crops.  We, as followers of Christ, need to sow beside the Living Water to have productive lives spiritually.   

Isaiah 32:9

Isaiah 32:9 says, Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech.  Isaiah then speaks to the women, who were at ease but were also ignoring the poor who may have be suffering so they could have the luxuries they had. They were called on to listen to Isaiah and to rise up in defense of the poor.  Women today need to be more concerned with helping the poor than with just enjoying luxuries in life.  God has always told His people to help the poor, and I don’t think that will ever change.

Verse ten adds, Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come.  Isaiah warned that these women would not always have the luxuries that they now enjoyed.  Soon, they would lose them. Matthew Henry says this likely referred to when Sennacherib defeated them.  I do know that one day, everything we value above doing God’s will in life will be destroyed, but those things that we do for God will last.  We need to be more concerned about doing what God expects us to do than we are about living a luxurious life. 

Verse eleven continues, Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins.  Isaiah continues to warn the women that they need to change how they live, and strip away all their vanity.  If we are living at ease in the world while others are starving as we look down on them, we need to change our attitude. 

Verse twelve concludes, They shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.  Isaiah said if they didn’t change their ways that they would one day lament for all that they had lost.  A lot of people today, and not just women, seem to live for pleasure and think that their wealth will always keep them happy, so they see no need to look to God for guidance, but one day they will find out how wrong they are.  The material or physical pleasures of the world will always be fleeting, and only our relationship with Jesus Christ or a lack of one will be what determines our everlasting future.  Of course, women who put their faith in Jesus Christ should never be guided by the principles of the world anyway.  They should always seek to glorify God with their lifestyle.