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Isaiah VIII - The Choice: A Desert or a Garden (34:1 - 35:10)

Trusting the nations or God

Julian Spriggs M.A.

Related articles

Interpreting OT Prophets How prophets see their future
Syria / Aram The Assyrian empire
The Babylonian empire Syro-Ephraimite war
Assyrian invasion - 701 BC Dates of kings of Judah and Israel
The fall of Satan? Introduction to Isaiah

Commentary

I: Corruption of Judah (1:1-31) II: Sins of Judah (2:1 - 5:30)
III: Isaiah's Vision and Call (6:1-13) IV: Book of Immanuel (7:1 - 12:6)
V: Prophecies to the Nations (13:1 - 23:18) VI: The Day of the Lord (24:1 - 27:13)
VII: Folly of Trusting Egypt (28:1 - 33:24) VIII: The Choice: Desert or Garden (34:1 - 35:10)
IX: Historical Section - Assyria/Babylon (36:1 - 39:8) X: Book of Comfort - Introduction (40:1 - 66:24)
XI: Deliverance from Babylon by Cyrus (40:1 - 48:22) XII: Salvation through God's Servant (49:1 - 55:13)
XIII: Glorious Restoration of Zion (56:1 - 66:24)

Prev - Isaiah VII Next - Isaiah IX

Section Introduction

This is sometimes called the 'little apocalypse', compared with 'Isaiah’s apocalypse' (chapters 24-27). Thus there are two 'apocalyptic' sections in the book: The first (chapters 24-27) follows the prophecies against the pride of individual nations, and the second (chapters 34-35) follows the prophecies set during the struggle with Assyria in 701, showing the folly of trusting the nations.

Through the lengthy section from chapter 13 to 35, the basic question is asked: “Who shall we trust? - Yahweh or the nations?”. Chapters 13 to 23 show that the nations will be judged by Yahweh, who is sovereign over them. There is therefore no point trusting in the nations. Chapters 24 to 27 show that on the day of the Lord all nations will come under his judgement, and salvation will be for those who trust him. Chapters 28 to 33 show that it is folly to trust in Egypt during the threat from Assyria. Only Yahweh can deliver his people. The climax comes in chapters 34 to 35 where there is universal judgement on all God’s enemies, with a focus on Edom, followed by a wonderful restoration. The choice is given: Trust God or the nations? If they trust the nations, the land will become a desert (ch 34), but if they trust God, the land will become a fruitful garden (ch 35).

Again, as in ch 24-27, the images of judgement and restoration point to the final judgement and restoration portrayed in the Book of Revelation: the graphic images of judgement (34:3, Rev 14:20), the universal cosmic upheaval (34:4, Rev 6:13), the new Zion (35:10, Rev 14:1), and the new Jerusalem (35:8-10, Rev 22:14).

Section outline

1. Edom, an example of judgement (desert) (34:1-17)
2. Promise of restoration (garden) (35:1-10)

1. Edom, an example of judgement (desert) (34:1-17)

In this oracle of judgement, Edom stands as the representative of the nations, who are called before God in his divine courtroom. God is enraged against the nation of Edom so it will be turned into a desert and be inhabited by wild beasts.

Outline

1a. Lord enraged against the nations (34:1-4)
1b. Day of vengeance against Edom (34:5-17)

1a. Lord enraged against the nations (34:1-4)

God summons all the nations to stand accused in his divine court (v1). The Lord is enraged against the nations, and condemns them to slaughter (v2). The whole of the universe will be dissolved, a dramatic description of the day of the Lord.

1b. Day of vengeance against Edom (34:5-17)

God’s sword of execution is the sword of sacrifice (v5), falling on Edom and its capital city of Bozrah on God’s day of vengeance (v6-7), when Zion will be vindicated (v8). There is a graphic description of judgment, with the streams of Edom being turned into pitch, and her soil into sulphur burning forever, leaving it a wasteland inhabited by wild animals (v11-15).

Edom stands for all nations that have stood defiantly before the Lord through history (like Babylon). The focus on Edom in this chapter continues the theme of continuing conflict between Judah and Edom, which started with the conflict between Jacob and Esau. As the Lord said to Rebekah, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples born of you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall server the younger” (Gen 25:23). However, God will defend Mt Zion and vindicate his people.

2. Promise of restoration (garden) (35:1-10)

God will come to judge the proud, but will also come to save his people. For them the situation will be reversed, so the wilderness will become a garden, and a place of rejoicing when God comes to save his people. On the day of the Lord, God comes with vengeance on the wicked, but comes to save his people.

The ransomed will return with joy on the Holy Way. When God comes in his glory, the desert will burst into flower (v1-2). However God’s people must take courage, strengthen themselves in God, and have confidence that God will come both in vengeance against their enemies, and to save his people (v3-4). The restoration will be of both humans and the land (v5-7). The blindness and deafness of ch 6 will be reversed, and the desert will bloom. When God brings restoration, God’s redeemed people will travel on the Holy Way back to Zion, and fill the city with joyful songs (v8-10).

Prev - Isaiah VII Next - Isaiah IX

Related articles

Interpreting OT Prophets How prophets see their future
Syria / Aram The Assyrian empire
The Babylonian empire Syro-Ephraimite war
Assyrian invasion - 701 BC Dates of kings of Judah and Israel
The fall of Satan? Introduction to Isaiah

Commentary

I: Corruption of Judah (1:1-31) II: Sins of Judah (2:1 - 5:30)
III: Isaiah's Vision and Call (6:1-13) IV: Book of Immanuel (7:1 - 12:6)
V: Prophecies to the Nations (13:1 - 23:18) VI: The Day of the Lord (24:1 - 27:13)
VII: Folly of Trusting Egypt (28:1 - 33:24) VIII: The Choice: Desert or Garden (34:1 - 35:10)
IX: Historical Section - Assyria/Babylon (36:1 - 39:8) X: Book of Comfort - Introduction (40:1 - 66:24)
XI: Deliverance from Babylon by Cyrus (40:1 - 48:22) XII: Salvation through God's Servant (49:1 - 55:13)
XIII: Glorious Restoration of Zion (56:1 - 66:24)

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Twelve Books of the Apocrypha
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Information about the different nations surrounding Israel, and other articles concerning Old Testament history and the inter-testamental period.

Canaanite Religion
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The 400 Silent Years
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Antiochus IV - Epiphanes

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OT People Confirmed by Archaeology
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The Importance of Paradox
Talent Converter (weights)
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OT People Search
Ephah Converter (volumes)
Holy War in the Ancient World
The Holy Spirit in the OT
Types of Jesus in the OT

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Chronology of the Flood
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Table of the Nations (Gen 10)
Tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9)

Authorship of the Pentateuch
Chronology of the Wilderness Years
Names of God in the OT
Covenants in the OT
The Ten Commandments
The Tabernacle and its Theology
Sacrifices and Offerings
The Jewish Festivals
Balaam and Balak
Tithing
Highlights from Deuteronomy
Overview of Deuteronomy

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Dates of the Kings of Judah and Israel
King Solomon
The Kings of Israel
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The Syro-Ephraimite War (735 BC)
Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah (701 BC)
King Josiah of Judah
Differences Between Kings and Chronicles
Chronology of the post-exilic period

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Isaiah (13 pages) and Daniel (10 pages).

Prophets and the Future
The Call of Jeremiah (Jer 1)
The Fall of Satan? (Is 14, Ezek 28)
Daniel Commentary (10 pages)
Isaiah Commentary (13 pages)
Formation of the Book of Jeremiah


Daniel's Seventy Weeks (Dan 9:24-27)

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More theological topics include the Kingdom of God and the Coming of Christ.

NT People Confirmed by Archaeology
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Parousia (Coming of Christ)
The Importance of Paradox

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Unique Passages in the Synoptic Gospels
The SynopticProblem
Genealogy of Jesus (Matt 1)
Birth Narratives of Jesus
Understanding the Parables
Peter's Confession and the Transfiguration
Was John the Baptist Elijah?
The Triumphal Entry
The Olivet Discourse (Mark 13)
Important themes in John's Gospel
John's Gospel Prologue (John 1)
Jesus Fulfilling Jewish Festivals
Reclining at Table at the Last Supper
The Holy Spirit as the Paraclete

Studies in the Book of Acts and the New Testament Letters

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There are a series of pages giving a commentary through the text of five of the books:
Romans (7 pages), 1 Corinthians (7 pages), Galatians (3 pages), Philemon (1 page) and Hebrews (7 pages)

Apostolic Messages in the Book of Acts
Paul and His Apostleship
Collection for the Saints
The Church Described as a Temple
Church as the Body of Christ
Jesus as the Last Adam
Food Offered to Idols
Paul's Teaching on Headcoverings
Who are the Fallen Angels
The Meaning of Redemption
What is the Church?
Paul and the Greek Games

Romans Commentary (7 pages)

1 Corinthians Commentary (7 pages)

Galatians Commentary (3 pages)

Philemon Commentary (1 page)

Hebrews Commentary (7 pages)

Studies in the Book of Revelation

Articles containing studies and helpful information for the study of the Book of Revelation and topics concerning Eschatology (the study of end-times).

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There is a page studying the important theme of Jesus as the Lamb, which forms the central theological truth of the book. There are pages looking at the major views of the Millennium, as well as the rapture and tribulation, as well as a list of dates of the second coming that have been mistakenly predicted through history.

There is also a series of ten pages giving a detailed commentry through the text of the Book of Revelation.

Introduction to the Book of Revelation
Characters Introduced in the Book
Structure of Revelation
List of Allusions to OT
The Description of Jesus as the Lamb
Virtual Seven Churches of Revelation
The Nero Redivius Myth
The Millennium (1000 years)
The Rapture and the Tribulation
Different Approaches to Revelation
Predicted Dates of the Second Coming

Revelation Commentary (10 pages)

How to do Inductive Bible Study

These are a series of pages giving practical help showing how to study the Bible inductively, by asking a series of simple questions. There are lists of observation and interpretation questions, as well as information about the structure and historical background of biblical books, as well as a list of the different types of figures of speech used in the Bible. There is also a page giving helpful tips on how to apply the Scriptures personally.

How to Study the Bible Inductively
I. The Inductive Study Method
II. Observation Questions
III. Interpretation Questions
IV. Structure of Books
V. Determining the Historical background
VI. Identifying Figures of Speech
VII. Personal Application
VIII. Text Layout

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It is most important that when reading the Bible we are taking note of the type of literature we are reading. Each type needs to be considered and interpreted differently as they have different purposes.

How to Understand OT Narratives
How to Understand OT Law
Hebrew Poetry
OT Wisdom Literature
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The Four Gospels
The Parables of Jesus
The Book of Acts
How to Understand the NT Letters
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There are also pages with photographs from Ephesus and Corinth.

Search for Geographical Locations
Major Archaeological Sites in Israel
Archaeological Sites in Assyria, Babylon and Persia
Virtual Paul's Missionary Journeys
Virtual Seven Churches of Revelation
Photos of the City of Corinth
Photos of the City of Ephesus

Biblical Archaeology in Museums around the world

A page with a facility to search for artifacts held in museums around the world which have a connection with the Bible. These give information about each artifact, as well as links to the museum's collection website where available showing high resolution photographs of the artifact.

There is also page of photographs from the Israel Museum in Jerusalem of important artifacts.

Search Museums for Biblical Archaeology
Israel Museum Photos

Difficult Theological and Ethical Questions

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Christian Ethics
Never Heard the Gospel
Is there Ever a Just War?
Why Does God Allow Suffering
Handling Disappointment

How to Preach

These are a series of pages giving a practical step-by-step explanation of the process of preparing a message for preaching, and how to lead a small group Bible study.

What is Preaching?
I. Two Approaches to Preaching
II. Study a Passage for Preaching
III. Creating a Message Outline
IV. Making Preaching Relevant
V. Presentation and Public Speaking
VI. Preaching Feedback and Critique
Leading a Small Group Bible Study

Information for SBS staff members

Two pages particularly relevant for people serving as staff on the School of Biblical Studies (SBS) in YWAM. One gives helpful instruction about how to prepare to teach on a book in the SBS. The other gives a list of recommended topics which can be taught about for each book of the Bible.

Teaching on SBS Book Topics for SBS