Isaiah 34 - Bible Study in 5 Minutes
Isaiah 34 Short Summary:
Isaiah prophesied that the day of the Lord’s vengeance was in store, when He would judge all evil nations of the earth and throw their haughty men down from the pedestals of pride. Edom specifically is called out in this chapter. God promised to humble them to nothing, to leave their land filled with the corpses of their warriors, and to empty their cities until they were homes for wild animals.
Isaiah 34 Bible Study
TIMELINE:
The prophetic ministry of Isaiah spanned the reigns of King Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.
We do not know the exact date Isaiah spoke/recorded this prophecy.
KEY CHARACTERS:
Isaiah – The son of Amoz (1:1). God commissioned Isaiah as His prophet to Judah.
The Nations of the Earth – God was going to judge any nation that persisted in evil.
Edom – Edom is called out specifically in Isaiah 34 for their evil. They were neighbors and relatives of the people of Judah, but they had long been adversaries.
DEFINITIONS:
Sated (34:6) – Satisfied.
Recompense (34:8) – To make amends for wrongs done in the past.
Plumb Line (34:11) - A string with a weight on the end, used to measure vertical distance or the straightness of a vertical structure.
OUTLINE:
GOD’S SWORD OF JUDGEMENT AGAINST ALL NATIONS (34:1-8):
God was enraged by the evil nations of the world, and He had “devoted them to destruction” (34:2).
Many of these nations were discussed in previous chapters (Egypt, Assyria, Moab, etc).
God is pictured having a sword that was thirsty for the blood of the wicked nations.
The nation of Edom is specifically called out in chapter 34.
God said Edom’s land would drink blood to the full and be gorged with the fat of its dead.
God would have His day of vengeance on them for the sake of Zion and His people.
THE ANIMALS MOVE INTO EDOM (34:9-17):
These final verses describe the utter desolation of Edom. A once great nation, it would be forgotten when God was through with it.
Animals would inhabit the streets citizens once filled.
Isaiah mentions hawks, porcupines, owls, goats, hyenas, and ravens coming to make their home in Edom.
Isaiah concluded by reminding his listeners that these were the words of the Lord and all of them would come to pass, no matter how unbelievable they may have seemed at the time.
APPLICATION:
It’s really hard not to take vengeance on people who wrong us.
It seems like we’re letting them get away with their wrongs when we don’t pursue justice.
But God tells us not to seek vengeance for ourselves.
Paul told the Romans, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord” (Rom 12:19).
Paul wrote that Jesus would return in “flaming fire” to inflict vengeance on God’s enemies (2 Thes 1:8).
This chapter speaks of God’s sword of vengeance in an almost shocking way.
You do not need to fear that justice won’t be done. Defer to God to see wrongs made right.
If you’re a follower of God, rest in vengeance of God. If you aren’t a follower of God, you need to seriously fear the vengeance of God, and take advantage of Jesus’ sacrifice which will save you from that vengeance.
