In this series, we have been seeing that trust is the posture of God’s people. A trust in God shows itself in evaluating the rise and fall of nations, and also evaluates hopes and dreams in light of this trust.
Tonight, even in this Advent season, we are going to look at the idea of judgment. This may not be what we expect in this season, but it is what God’s word says!
“There is one very serious defect to my mind in Christ’s moral character, and that is that He believed in hell. I do not myself feel that any person who is really profoundly humane can believe in everlasting punishment. Christ certainly as depicted in the Gospels did believe in everlasting punishment… I really do not think that a person with a proper degree of kindliness in his nature would have put fears and terrors of that sort into the world.”
The above quote is by Bertrand Russell and he is making at least 2 claims. Firstly, if God judges and judges eternally, He cannot be good. And secondly, if people believe in God’s judgment, they will not be good but cruel.
God through Isaiah addresses these 2 claims in this text.
(A) Terrible Judgment: God’s claims His wrath in full on earth and heaven (Isa 34:1-7)
Notice the repetition. Who is being addressed, what are they to do, and what is the tone? (v1) What happened the last time something similar occurred? (c.f. Is 33:13-14, 24)
As we open this chapter, there is a sense of urgency in his words (Isa 34:1). His words come with a sense of authority and this repeated directive to “draw near” is not a casual one. They are to come and pay attention. This is a divine summons to the world and all the earth. In the chapter before, God had revealed Himself in temporary judgment — in a moment of time against Israel’s enemies (c.f. Isa 33:13-14, 24). He calls the people to hear and behold His holiness, which has been revealed in the moment of judgment.
What is the cause of this divine summons? Isaiah 34:2a writes, “for the LORD is enraged and furious”. This is directed against all the nations (Isa 34:2a) and all the host of heaven will be destroyed (Isa 34:4). We see how even that which seems to be out of human reach — the skies — will see the effect of God’s judgment. Ephesians 6:12 picks up on a similar idea, when it states that we war not against flesh and blood, but at this heavenly realm.
He has “devoted them to destruction, has given them over for slaughter”, and the land will be filled with their dead (Isa 34:2b-3). This is similar to Joshua 6:18, with the idea of being forbidden and set apart for destruction. The pictures of judgement in the Old Testament are meant to point to the larger, final judgment (c.f. Rev 6:12-14).
What characterises the recipients of God’s wrath? Isaiah 34:5 shows us that Edom is judged (Isa 34:5). Edom was a nation that existed in the time of Israel and originated from Esau. They were Israel’s enemies and continually opposed them. In Jeremiah 49:12-16, we learn of certain characteristics of this nation. They were deceived by their power and pride. They live in the clefts of the rock and in the hills, but God says that He will bring them down.
These images help us to understand God’s judgment. The people on whom God’s sword swings is the prideful people who persist in their wilful rebellion. God has already revealed Himself in holiness and mercy prior to this. And even in judgment in the final day, as Revelation 6:15-17 show us, the proud still do not repent and hide themselves in the car and among the rocks.
Friends, put to death sin, today. DO not wait. Put to death this Edenic lie that to cover ourselves with created things is better than to turn to the Creator. We are always tempted to distract, hide, cover up when we sin. There will come a day when sinner and sin will never be separated. Sin will be the final choice and there will be consequences. Today is not that day, and we still have the call from God to turn from our sins and to turn to Him. While we still struggle with sin, Sin is not our identity and we can still turn to Him. How are you living today? Resolve today in your heart, to put sin to death. Take steps to deal with it.
Judgment in this way is befitting of God and His holiness. Bozrah is the capital of Edom and the idea here is that these things rightfully belong to God in the Levitical system. We can read about it in Leviticus 3:14-17. The sacrificial system exists to remind them that sin demands God’s judgment. The Lord lays claim to what is rightfully His.
Do we assume that God’s goodness means that He is nice and cosy? These verses show us that God’s goodness and holiness means that He has to deal with sin and judge sin. He needs to judge in order to be good.
How are we to relate to this? In the hymn “It is well” there is this verse, “And Lord, haste the day/When my faith shall be sight/The clouds be rolled back as a scroll/The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend/Even so, it is well with my soul”. We all desire justice but struggle to find the best, final solution. We swing between the extremes of more law and more therapy. Christians know a better, and final way. We know that sinners and sin will be finally dealt with on the day of judgment. Sin will not be left unpunished. Sin that sticks to us so closely will be dealt with.
Tremble, but also anticipate the day of judgment, because, for the Christian, it means perfect righteousness will be ours.
(B) Personal Judgment: God’s vindicates His people forever (ISa 34:8-15)
Why else does God venture forth in judgment? In Isaiah 34:8, we are told that the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion. The subsequent verses detail the impact on various parts of the land. The land will be destroyed and uninhabitable as it will be turned into pitch and sulphur (Isa 34:9, c.f. Rev 14:11). The land also returns to formlessness, and in Isaiah 34:11b, we read of how the plumb line returns everything to this formlessness and emptiness that we saw in Genesis 1:2. Thorns and thistles also cover the ground (Isa 34:13a). This is similar to the language in Genesis 3:17-18. The curse of sin comes to full maturity. Those who persist in their wilful rebellion will get the natural outworking of their sin — they will get a world without God and His sustaining power. What is forever? Final judgment here is forever.
We also see how judgment affects the inhabitants of the land. We see that no one is left in the land the description indicates an end to civilisation and kingdoms (Isa 34:12). Humans no longer dwell and rejoice in the pomp that they once knew. Nature also overruns the land and the animals mentioned here are the unclean ones mentioned in Deuteronomy 14:11-19 (Isa 34: 11a,13b-15). Though metaphors are being mixed here, Isaiah is trying to say that this land is unfit for habitation.
How long will it be for? Isaiah tells us that it will be forever, night and day, from generation to generation (Isa 34:10).
What do you think of when you hear about God vindicating His people? Perhaps you think about the global church and Christians who are being persecuted as a result of their faith. But we often think about them only from time to time. Yes, we can’t think about them all the time, and sometimes, it’s also a result of our own slothfulness. But the good news from these verses is that God knows, always. One day, we will stand shoulder to shoulder with these brothers and sisters.
And here in Singapore, we too, will have to stand for Christ and suffer for righteousness’ sake. The comfort here is that He will vindicate, but, we need to relinquish our control and claim to vengeance.
(C) Forbearing Judgment: Turn in the year of favour, fear the day of vengeance (ISa 34:16-17)
Isaiah wrote these so that his listeners will know with absolute certainty about what God will do (Isa 34:16-17). Alec Motyer, in his commentary on Isaiah writes, “We read of horrific coming judgment and, with our blurred understanding of holiness and diminished capacity for moral outrage, we inclined to say, ‘Surely not!’ Just as much as Isaiah’s hearers, we need this word of stern reminder that it will indeed be so…Isaiah is calling us to a searching acquaintance with God’s written word, on the grounds that every smallest detail — down to the birds and beasts — comes from His mouth, will be implemented by His Spirit and applied by His hand.”
These things were recorded for God’s people, and we are told, “seek and read from the book of the LORD” (Isa 34:16b). We gather weekly to study God’s word because His word is true and will come to pass. We are to seek and read from His book because He will bring it to pass.
Later, in His ministry, Jesus read from the scroll of Isaiah and paused before the day of vengeance (c.f. Luke 4:16-21). He knew that all that’s written will be possible because He experienced the Hell that we deserved. Bertrand Russell was therefore wrong, because Jesus didn't just believe in Hell, He experienced it.
This Christmas, know that yes, this is the year of the Lord’s favour, but there’s also a day of vengeance. We don’t enter haughtily or with our own might, but as captives freed by His mercy. Have you known the good news? Do you know the liberty that Christ gives? Have your eyes been opened and ears attuned to the truth and glory of Christ? If so, let this permeate your life and bring it to those around you.
Do you anticipate God’s final judgment? How does His coming ‘day of vengeance’ lead you to think of sinners and sin? What would it mean for you to trust in God’s vindication today? Who can you pray for this Christmas season, that they might turn in the year of favour?