Isaiah 34-39

Judgment Against the Nations

 

The first half of the book of Isaiah (chapters 1-39) is sometimes referred to as the Book of Judgment.  Isaiah wrote during the stormy period marking the expansion of the Assyrian empire and the decline of Israel. Under King Tiglath-Pileser III (745-727 b.c.) the Assyrians swept westward into Aram (Syria) and Canaan. About 733 the kings of Aram and Israel tried to pressure Ahaz king of Judah into joining a coalition against Assyria. Ahaz chose instead to ask Tiglath-Pileser for help, a decision condemned by Isaiah. Assyria did assist Judah and conquered the northern kingdom in 722-721. This made Judah even more vulnerable, and in 701 King Sennacherib of Assyria threatened Jerusalem itself (see 36:1 and note). The godly King Hezekiah prayed earnestly, and Isaiah predicted that God would force the Assyrians to withdraw from the city (37:6-7).  Nevertheless Isaiah warned Judah that her sin would bring captivity at the hands of Babylon. The visit of the Babylonian king's envoys to Hezekiah set the stage for this prediction.   Although the fall of Jerusalem would not take place until 586 b.c., Isaiah assumes the destruction of Judah and proceeds to predict the restoration of the people from captivity. – Coffman’s Commentary on the Bible

 

Chapters 34-39 tie up the portion of the book of Isaiah prophesying of the judgment of Israel.  The beauty of this book is that it is not the end of the story.  There is a promise of redemption for God’s people.  A theme woven throughout the scripture- choosing a path contrary to God will bring judgment, but there is always a path of redemption- a rescue work, completed by Christ on the cross.

 

Isaiah 34-39

Ch 34-35 More prophesy of judgment and promise

Ch 36-37 Jerusalem preserved from Assyrian threat

Ch 38 God’s work in Hezekiah’s life detailed

Ch 39 Babylonian Exile predicted