Isaiah 31-35
These chapters continue the good news/bad news mix of the previous chapters. Prophecy is like that. Throughout this stretch, Isaiah describes the devastation and deportation coming to the people of Israel. But at the same time, he includes reminders of God faithful plan to redeem and restore his people. Sometimes, the very same chapter can slip back and forth between present judgment and future hope. It can be a bit dizzying.
Isaiah 31 contains a very contemporary warning to God’s people: When the armies lay siege on Jerusalem, don’t go looking to Egypt for help! Instead, they should look to the Lord who protects!
Isaiah 32 seems to slip into the future to tell us of a righteous King, who sounds like Jesus. But then Isaiah warns “complacent women” about trouble brewing, but interrupts himself with the promised outpouring of the Spirit (v. 15).
Isaiah 33 teaches us what a revived Israel will look like: Salvation arrives in the nick of time (v. 2), justice and righteousness fill Zion (v. 5), the sick are healed, sinners are forgiven (v. 24), and all eyes will behold the King (v. 17)!
Isaiah 34 describes God’s judgment against the nations.
And Isaiah 35 continues the happy thoughts of Isaiah 33: The desert will bloom (v. 1), the anxious need not fear (v. 4), the blind see, the deaf hear (v. 5), the lame leap, the mute sing (v. 6), and the ransomed of the Lord will return to Zion with singing (v. 10)!
Tomorrow, we shift from prophecy to history. We’ll read about God’s amazing down-payment on some of these prophecies.
Your fellow traveler through the Word,
Pastor Gary
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