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Isaiah 34-35. This is a long reading for me today! I actually initially read just Isaiah 34:5-7, which says that God's sword has drunk its fill in the heavens and now descends for judgment upon Edom, "upon the people I have doomed." The land shall be soaked with blood, the oxen, steer, and bulls will fall along with the people. When I read this, I wanted more context, and I was also intrigued by the first line: "For my sword has drunk its fill in the heavens," so I read all of chapter 34 and chapter 35.

 

Chapter 34 starts with Isaiah calling all nations to hear and listen - the entire earth and all that fills it - "For the Lord is enraged against all the nations, and furious against all their host." So he has doomed them, they have been given over for slaughter, the mountains shall flow with their blood. "All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine." Chapter 34 goes on to describe the great destruction of the land. Isaiah seems to be referring to Edom, but remember the opening - God is telling the whole world to listen, he is angry at all the nations of the world. So while this might be what is about to happen to Edom soon, it is also what is about to happen to the whole world at some point. God has a day of vengeance and a year of recompense for the cause of Zion. The water will be will turn to pitch and the land to brimstone. The fire will not be quenched, its smoke will go up forever. None shall pass through it forever and ever. Thorns will grow over its strongholds and wild animals will possess it.

 

Then chapter 35 begins with the fact that the "wilderness and dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom." The crocus will bloom abundantly there and rejoice. These places will be given the glory of the former strongholds - Lebanon, Carmel, and Sharon. It is they that will see the glory of the Lord and his Majesty. Then we are to strengthen the hands of the week, and the knees of the feeble. We are to say to those who have a fearful heart "Be strong, fear not! Behold your God will come with vengeance.. He will come and save you." Then the blind will see and the deaf will hear. Waters will break forth in the desert and wilderness, burning sand will become pools of water, and a highway leading to Zion will be opened. It will be called the Holy Way. The unclean will not pass on it and fools will not err on it. No ravenous beast will be there, only the redeemed shall walk there. They will walk to Zion, singing, and everlasting joy will be upon them. All sighs and sorrow will flee away.

 

Hallelujah! Thank you Lord! This oppression that we are all feeling, this almost despair at the horrors and injustice we are seeing around us and the worse ones we feel are coming, is real and it is justified - God's sword is getting ready to descend for judgment. In many ways, it already has. Isaiah's words were prophetic for the Israelites, but they are also prophetic for us, he is prophesying what will happen to the whole world and speaking of what is beginning to happen now. Note, too, that he is prophetic of the past, as well (the "past" to us at least, there is no time with God). The fall of the angels, and the creation of hell are spoken of here ("the host of heaven shall rot away"; "my sword has drunk its fill in the heavens"; the soil of the accursed place shall become brimstone, the waters pitch, and smoke shall rise from the unquenchable fire forever and ever). This is the battle, and Isaiah describes the result for those who do not accept salvation, be they angels or humanity.

 

But there is hope - while the strongholds of men are deserted and overgrown with thorns, out in the desert glorious things are happening. In the places the mighty ignore and overlook, God begins his greatest work. Pools of water spring up out of nowhere, the desert rejoices and blooms, the weak are strengthened, the fearful are given reassurance, the sick are healed, and all of the redeemed are called to the Holy Way - the highway to Heaven, where all sorrow is gone and only everlasting joy remains.

 

This, also, is prophetic of the past - the fallen angels were given over to hell, but God created this beautiful earth at the same "time"; the Jews went into exile and the Temple was destroyed, but God eventually led them back home rejoicing, and, much later, the promised Savior came, healing the blind, giving courage and hope to all of humanity, and defeating death itself, opening the Holy Way.

 

These chapters of Isaiah are really like a mini-version of Revelation. Now, today, we are preparing for the time when "the skies will roll up like a scroll." We are approaching that day, and we are all being called back to the Holy Way before this happens. I am so excited! God is so amazing and we are so blessed!