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Section Introduction
This section is often called 'The Apocalypse of Isaiah' because of its heavy emphasis on eschatology, its cosmic viewpoint and use of symbolic language. These are some of the characteristics of apocalyptic literature which would not be developed to its fullest extent until the inter-testamental period. However, it does not have the some of the other characteristic apocalyptic features, like animals representing nations, with their horns representing kings, angelic guides or continual deep pessimism. However it does show strong eschatological dualism: a sharp contrast between the present evil age, and the age to come, when God’s kingdom will be established, and all sin and evil is removed by a sovereign act of God on the 'day of the Lord'. It also shows a vivid portrayal of universal cataclysm through which God’s elect will be preserved and saved.
This section directly follows the prophecies to the nations (chapters 13-23). The day of the Lord
against individual nations now changes to the day of the lord against the nations as a whole. The
individual judgements become universal.
The tone changes from the prophetic oracles found in chapters 13-23, to a series of songs and
poems. There are four songs of praise and victory contained in this section: The song of the redeemed (24:14-16), Isaiah’s song of praise, and communal song (25:1-5,9), Judah’s song of victory (26:1-6), and the Lord’s song about his vineyard (27:2-6). Judgement on the whole world on the day of the Lord, whether in history, or at the end, is bad news for those being judged, but it brings hope and victory to the faithful remnant of Israel.
Many of the themes in this 'apocalypse' have been used again in the Book of Revelation, including the plagues of judgement, the waiting period for God’s people before judgement comes, the victory songs of the redeemed, the destruction of the great dragon, the messianic banquet, the abolition of death, the resurrection of the dead, and God’s trumpet calling people to worship in his holy city.
Section outline
1. Universal judgement - terrible and glorious (24:1-23)
2. Banquet - joy following judgement (25:1-12)
3. Judah’s song of hope and trust (26:1-21)
4. Future exile and restoration (27:1-13)
1. Universal judgement - terrible and glorious (24:1-23)
The judgement is a reversal of creation. The world will be laid waste and made desolate (v1), just as the world was without form and void (Gen 1:2). Through the judgment, the city of chaos and rebellion against God will be subdued, and in its place the kingdom of God will be established on Zion, his holy mountain.
Outline
1a. Curse devours the earth (24:1-13)
1b. Song of joy to glorify the Lord from east to west (24:14-16)
1c. Terror with no escape, foundations of earth tremble (24:17-20)
1d. Host of heaven and kings of earth punished (24:21-23)
1a. Curse devours the earth (24:1-13)
Isaiah announces that God is about devastate the whole earth (v1) with a judgement which is
certain and imminent, which will affect all people from the least to the greatest, from all areas of society. The theme of total destruction returns later in the chapter (v19-20). There are several allusions to the flood, which was the greatest and most extensive act of judgment in history. He is predicting a similar worldwide devastation when God finally deals with human sin and rebellion. The everlasting covenant (v6) could refer to the rainbow and God’s promise never to flood the world again (Gen 9:8-17). He also refers to opening the windows of heaven (v18), as they were at the start of the flood (Gen 7:11), as well as the curse on the earth (v6), and the vine, reminding us of the story of Noah (Gen 9:20). Just as with the flood, this judgement will affect all groups of people of all social classes, and all aspects of life, whether religious, domestic, economic (v2).
The earth is under a divine curse, suffering drought, being polluted and defiled by the sins of
men who have broken God’s laws and covenant (v4-6) and suffer the curses of Deuteronomy. Only a few
will survive the judgement, forming the remnant (v6). All sounds of festivity will cease (v7-9), a
characteristic prophetic description of judgement.
The city of human civilisation, named as the “city of chaos” will lie ruined (v10-13). This is the same word used to describe the earth as formless (Gen 1:2). It is not just a particular historical city, but represents all of humanity. It reminds us of Babel (Gen 11) and the desire to build a city to create security without God. So Isaiah sees the world as a global city trying to achieve its own salvation without God, and resulting in chaos. The end is desolation, like after a field is harvested.
1b. Sing for joy to glorify the Lord from east to west (24:14-16)
In the midst of the judgement, voices from the uttermost west call those to the east to join the
righteous remnant in giving glory to Yahweh in the first of the four songs. Just as the judgment is
universal, there is worldwide rejoicing by the righteous, a preview of people from all nations
worshipping the One True God. Yahweh is majestic, and from the ends of the earth they glorify his name
as the God of Israel, the Righteous One.
1c. Terror with no escape, foundations of earth tremble (24:17-20)
Judgement is horrible, so terror reigns, and there is no escape. Isaiah feels the hopelessness of
those under judgement. Using strong apocalyptic language, he describes the heavens raining as the
windows of heaven are opened, as in the flood (Gen 7:11), and the earth breaking apart (as v1-3),
because its transgression lies heavily upon it.
1d. Host of heaven and kings of earth punished (24:21-23)
During the judgement 'on that day' God will also punish the host of heaven. These are the invisible powers of evil, as well as the earthly kings who defy God, who will be punished by being imprisoned in the pit. This is very similar language to Revelation (Rev 20). The sun and moon will also be shamed (frequent objects of worship) when the Lord will reign on Mt Zion and manifest his glory. The brightness of God’s glory will outshine the sun and moon.
2. Banquet - joy following judgement (25:1-12)
Following the judgement, the faithful remnant who survive will sing a song of praise to God.
There is a great celebratory banquet on Zion, the holy mountain of God.
Outline
2a. Song: God’s wonderful plans (25:1-5)
2b. Rich feast on this mountain for all peoples (25:6-7)
2c. Song: waited for his salvation, Moab trodden down (25:8-12)
2 a. Song: God’s wonderful plans (25:1-5)
The second song is more personal, in the first person by Isaiah himself. In the midst of judgement and overthrow there is praise. The unnamed human city of the previous chapter is made a ruin, and strong peoples will fear the Lord (v2). Israel’s oppressors now have to admit their weakness before the greater strength of the Lord. The poor, who were previously oppressed, will find refuge from their distress (v4). The hard situation for God’s people will be reversed when the power of the ruthless nations is broken.
2b. Rich feast on this mountain for all peoples (25:6-7)
On God’s holy mountain, Mt. Zion, a great banquet of celebration will be held for all nations. Death (the shroud) will be lifted and destroyed forever when the curse is removed. The Book of Isaiah shows strong understanding of what can be called holy mountain theology. Both Yahweh and the pagan gods have their holy mountains, the place of their dwelling. For Yahweh, his holy mountain was Sinai, where the covenant was originally made. By the time of Isaiah, it was Jerusalem, Mt Zion, where the temple was located, the place of God’s dwelling. Through the Book of Isaiah, Zion gains increasing significance, coming to a climax in the final chapters.
2c. Song: waited for his salvation, Moab trodden down (25:8-12)
A communal song follows, when the people rejoice that their disgrace will be taken away, and
they respond in praise for his salvation (v9) because the time of waiting for God is over. The hand of the Lord, which was previously raised in discipline (eg. 5:25), now rests on Zion in blessing (v10).
By contrast, Moab will be made helpless like straw when their pride and attempts of self-salvation are laid low (v10b-12). In several places, Moab or another specific nation is used an example of a nation which rejects God, remains in their pride, and comes under judgement, thus making universal judgement real.
This chapter is frequently alluded to in the NT and applied to the final judgement and coming of
Jesus. The banquet of the nations becomes the wedding feast in Jesus’ parables, and the marriage supper
of the lamb in Revelation (Rev 19:9). Paul quotes from here (v7) when he says death will be swallowed
up in victory (1 Cor 15:54). In Revelation, John speaks of God wiping away tears from their eyes (Rev
7:17, 21:4), alluding to (v8).
3. Judah’s song of hope and trust (26:1-21)
This is the third of the four songs, a song of hope and trust, expressing a strong theme of waiting
for the Lord in faith and earnestly seeking him. On that day, the day of judgement and of redemption,
Judah will also join in the song of celebration.
Outline
3a. God, the everlasting rock, sets up victory (26:1-6)
3b. The righteous wait for the Lord (26:7-15)
3c. Gave birth to wind - no victories (26:16-19)
3d. Hide until wrath is past (26:20-21)
3a. God the everlasting rock, sets up victory (26:1-6)
In contrast to the human city which is destroyed (ch 24), the holy city of Jerusalem is a strong
city which will be saved as they trust in the Lord. Only the righteous who have faith may enter in,
showing that this city represents more than earthly Jerusalem. God is the one who gives victory over
their enemies. They should trust him, rather than in political alliances.
The Lord is the everlasting rock (v4) as Deut 32:4. He is secure and strong, the one who can be
trusted, in contrast to the nations. God as the rock is a strong theme of Isaiah, found in a number of
passages (17:10, 30:29, 44:8, 51:1), as well as in the 'stone' passages (eg. ch 28).
3b. The righteous wait for the Lord (26:7-15)
This is a prayer to God from the righteous. Before the ultimate victory, God’s people have to
wait for the Lord (v8), waiting through a dark time, trusting in God’s future salvation and judgement.
During the time of waiting, God’s faithful remnant continue to serve him, and acknowledge his name
alone, even though enemies oppose them (v12f). The wicked do not see God’s majesty, and do not see
his hand of discipline lifted up (v11). These evil forces will come under God’s judgement (v14) when
God’s purposes will be fulfilled in enlarging the nation of the elect (v15).
3c. Gave birth to wind - no victories (26:16-19)
As they face God’s discipline in their distress, the wicked will call out to the Lord. However,
they will be like a woman trying to give birth, but being unable to. Instead of being a blessing to the
nations, giving birth to the blessing of salvation, they are only able to break wind. By contrast, salvation will come from God, as he raises his children from the dead. This is one of the few predictions of a resurrection in the OT.
3d. Hide until wrath is past (26:20-21)
Meanwhile God’s faithful remnant must wait patiently until God’s judgements have been poured
out on the nations because of their oppression and bloodshed. They enter the chamber and shut the door
behind them, a similar picture of God shutting the door of the ark (Gen 7:16), to save his people from
judgement.
4. Future exile and restoration (27:1-13)
This section contains the final of the four songs, the second song of the vineyard. The fruitless
vineyard is now fruitful. The guilt of the people has been expiated through the exile, their idols
destroyed, and the people return to the land to worship the Lord.
Outline
4a. Song: fruitful vineyard of Israel’s fruit (27:1-6)
4b. Exile - guilt of Jacob expiated (27:7-11)
4c. Gathered to land of Israel to worship Lord (27:12-13)
4a. Song: fruitful vineyard of Israel’s fruit (27:1-6)
Again, on the 'day of the Lord', God will finally use his sword to kill the serpent Leviathan, the
dragon, the monster of the sea (v1). This is probably a reference to the ultimate defeat of Satan, the
serpent (Rev 12:9), representing the evil spiritual forces opposed to God.
Also 'on that day', the vineyard, which had previously only produced wild grapes (ch 5), will be
protected and cultivated by God. God sings about what he wants to make of his vineyard, in contrast to
what the people made of it. In the first vineyard song (ch 5), there was no fruit, no rain and the garden
was abandoned to thorns and briers. Now in the second vineyard song, there is fruit and rain, and the
garden is guarded, so no thorns and briers grow. The thorns and briers (Israel’s enemies) will be offered
peace from the Lord. Israel will fulfil her destiny to be a blessing to the nations (Gen 12:1-3), when the whole world will be filled with fruit (v6).
4b. Exile - guilt of Jacob expiated (27:7-11)
However, before the blessing, judgement must come. The exile is God’s discipline to remove sin
and idolatry from Israel and deal with their guilt (v7-9), and through this, the land will be devastated
(v10f).
4c. Gathered to land of Israel to worship Lord (27:12-13)
Also 'on that day', after the judgement, God will blow the trumpet to summon his people from
exile in Assyria and Egypt to bring them back to Zion, where they can worship on God’s holy mountain.
In the NT, the trumpet call will summon God’s elect (Mt 24), together with those who have died (1
Thess 4) to the heavenly city Jerusalem.
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