Major Prophets Isaiah

The Ransom Returned To Zion

Discover Jesus as: Immanuel Isaiah 34-36 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 589 of 730
Downloads

Lesson

Watch on YouTube

Audio Only

Teaching Notes

INTRO

The 66 chapters of Isaiah have a similar breakdown as the Old and New Testaments. The first 39 chapters are about judgment. The remaining 27 chapters have a theme of comfort and deliverance. Chapters 28—33 begin to wrap up the judgments against Samaria, Jerusalem, and Assyria.

There are two parts to Isaiah’s message in this lesson. According to Nelson’s Commentary, “Two prophecies form an appendix to the sixth woe (chapter 33); (1) the fertile land of the plundering nations will be transformed into a desert (chapter 34) and (2) the desert will be transformed into fertile land (chapter 35).”1

TEACHING

Isaiah 34: In verse 1, Isaiah starts his prophecy by saying all should listen because God is angry with all the nations. Nelson’s Commentary explains that this prophecy in chapter 34 “consists of two parts: (1) judgment on all the nations (vv. 1-4) and then the judgment on Edom representatively (vv. 6-15).”2 Chapter 34 addresses judgment, and chapter 35 speaks of deliverance. Chapter 34 is primarily about death. In verse 4 of Isaiah 34, the entire universe will be involved in this judgment. This includes all the heavens.

God will have a day of vengeance that is for the whole earth. Constable explains, “The Lord will take vengeance on those who have trodden down Zion. He will act for His people against those who have cursed them (Genesis 12:3). Even though we do not know when this will happen, God had a timetable for his judgment and will keep it.”3 Constable further states, “The prophet described Edom’s overthrow in terms reminiscent of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24-28; Deuteronomy 29:23; Psalm 11:6; Jeremiah 49:18; Revelation 14:10-11), which lay in the same general direction as Edom from Jerusalem. Edom’s actions brought on this destruction. The world’s end will be total, and its territory will be uninhabitable from then on (Leviticus 6:13; Isaiah 66:24; Revelation 19:3).”4

Constable explains that in Isaiah 34:11-13, Isaiah’s message was, “Human leaders will be no more, and only wild animals and weeds will occupy the land (Isaiah 13:21; 14:23).”5 What Isaiah prophesied was what the earth may be like at the end of the tribulation just before the return of Christ.

According to Nelson’s Commentary, “The pelican, porcupine, owl, and raven are all unclean creatures of remote, uninhabited places (Deuteronomy 14:14–17). In the day of God’s judgment, Edom would become a wasteland. The Hebrew words translated ‘confusion’ and ‘emptiness’ are translated ‘without form and void’ in Genesis 1:2. Edom will be returned to chaos.”6

Constable explains, “According to Revelation 6:8 and 9:18, half of the population of the earth will have perished by the end of the sixth trumpet judgment. Many more devastating judgments will fall on earth-dwellers after the sixth trumpet judgment, specifically the seven bowl judgments, the worst ones of all in the Tribulation.”7

Isaiah 34 was prophesying about the end times, which we can read about in the book of Revelation. We should understand this language of chapter 34 ultimately as prophesying that judgment is coming to all the earth. If this Scripture is relevant today then all should get ready for what is to come.

Isaiah 35: In chapter 34 the land is a wasteland, but chapter 35 offers hope and light and fruitfulness. John MacArthur explains, “Dramatic changes in the land are to come during the Messianic age (Isaiah 30:23-25; 32:15-20). ‘Lebanon . . . Carmel and Sharon.’ Areas near the sea noted for their agricultural fertility. ‘They shall see.’ Israel is to recognize the earth’s newfound fruitfulness as coming from the Lord and attribute to Him the appropriate credit.”8

The application of Isaiah’s prophecy was current for the Israelites as well as futuristic in its predictions of what would take place. In verse 3 “the future change in Israel’s international role is designed to encourage the discouraged among the people.”9

The message to the remnant is that God will save you. MacArthur states, “The vengeance of God (Isaiah 34:8) is to furnish the means to redeem His long-oppressed people of Israel.”10 Revelation 13 and 14 have similar wording.

The message in chapter 35 of Isaiah is that even if the remnant became weak, it was important to endure and keep their faith because God was going to save them. God’s plan is not to change the situation but to change us in the situation because things will get better. Even in the message of hope in chapter 35 the change would be positive but not easy. This required the people to continue to look to God through the process of change.

Verses 5 through 7 indicate a reversal of the spiritual condition. Water will flow freely in the new millennium. Out of captivity, Israel will be set free. A holy highway will lead the people to the holy city.

CLOSING

If chapter 34 is really talking about the tribulation, then the road referred to leads to a new Jerusalem. As the remnant that was set free walks the road, gladness will overtake sadness. Joy will be present in the day of Israel’s restoration. Isaiah 35 is a picture for everyone of what was to come. Chapter 34 indicates why the people needed the message of hope found in chapter 35. Isaiah 36 serves as a bridge to chapters 40 through 66, as well as it being a picture of who King Hezekiah really was.

  1. Earl Radmacher, Ronald B. Allen, and H. Wayne House, eds., Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999), p. 841.

  2. Nelson’s Commentary, p. 841.

  3. Thomas Constable, Dr. Constable’s Expository Bible Study Notes: Isaiah, pg. 222; available at https://planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/pdf/isaiah.pdf.

  4. Constable, p. 222.

  5. Constable, p. 222.

  6. Nelson’s Commentary, p. 841.

  7. Constable, pp. 223.

  8. John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2005), p. 799.

  9. MacArthur, p. 799.

  10. MacArthur, p. 799.

Questions

  1. As you read Isaiah 34:3-4, also read Matthew 24:29 and Revelation 16:1-2. What are some similarities? Differences? In your opinion, are these verses referencing the same thing?
  2. Isaiah 35 is about hope for restoration. Where else in Scripture do we see hope that coincides with verses 3 and 4? (Deuteronomy 31:6; 2 Timothy 4:18; Hebrews 13:6)
  3. Read and compare Isaiah 35:9-10 with Revelation 21:4 and 8. Do you think these are speaking the same thing(s)? Why or why not? How do these verses make you feel?
  4. In Isaiah 36:4-15, the chief of staff for the king of Assyria threatened and taunted the people in Jerusalem. But beginning in verse 16, he switched to promises of great lands and freedom. Can you see the similarities to our enemy and the lies he speaks to us? Have you listened and been drawn in by the enemy and his lies? What was the outcome?
  5. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in Isaiah 34—36 through the reading or the teaching?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin Isaiah 35:9b–10

“But the redeemed will walk on it, and the redeemed of the LORD will return and come to Zion with singing, crowned with unending joy. Joy and gladness will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.”

Through the prophet Isaiah, God declared He would save, transform, and redeem His people from ungodliness. God is a turnaround God. He redeems all things. He will turn the desert into a blossoming garden. He will turn dry land into flowing rivers. He strengthens weak hands and steadies shaking knees. He gives courage to the cowardly and sight to the blind. He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry. He is the God of redemption for those who trust in His name.

From the east to the west, from the north to the south, the Lord loves you, and He desires to bring redemption to your life. Right now you may be going through hardship after hardship. Suffering, grief, temptation, and unknowns spin around you. Yet God is with you even in that place. He may not change the situation immediately, but He will change and redeem you. Turn to Him. Ask Him for eyes to see how He sees. Ask Him to steady your knees and strengthen your hands. He will answer you when you call upon Him. The Lord will equip you as a mighty warrior. Trust in His name above all other names. Trust in God alone.

“But the redeemed will walk on it, and the redeemed of the Lord will return and come to Zion with singing, crowned with unending joy. Joy and gladness will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.”

— Isaiah 35:9b–10

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • Psalm 107:2-3, 8–9 — “Let the redeemed of the Lord proclaim that He has redeemed them from the hand of the foe and has gathered them from the lands—from the east and the west, from the north and the south . . . Let them give thanks to the Lord for His faithful love and His wonderful works for all humanity. For He has satisfied the thirsty and filled the hungry with good things.”
  • Isaiah 35:1–4 — “The wilderness and the dry land will be glad; the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose. It will blossom abundantly and will also rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the weak hands,

steady the shaking knees! Say to the cowardly: ‘Be strong; do not fear! Here is your God; vengeance is coming. God’s retribution is coming; He will save you.’”

Ephesians 1:7–8 — “We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”