Exposition by Max A Forsythe
Today we begin a four chapter summation of all the enemies of God described in the previous eleven chapters. But the judgment here prophesied is universal instead of local. It is far distant rather than within the measure of Isaiah's own time. It is general rather than specific. The whole earth will then be judged. After this judgment those who are elected for salvation will be gathered from the four corners of the earth to praise the glory and majesty of God. Because of this content, this whole section has long been known as the "Isaiah Apocalypse". Although these prophecies are set in Isaiah's world, the chapters cover the overthrow of the supernatural and death, and they give the promise of bodily resurrection. Now there are deep things here as always in Isaiah, there are things that I understand, even one that I wish I did not understand. There are also areas that I will have to pass over in ignorance. There is also the promise of an insight in verse sixteen which will one day make all of our experiences more bearable. Before we begin with the first twelve verses which describes the devastation to which the earth is coming, let us set the stage for these events.
Dr Young gathers together several strands of images to describe the final age of judgment found throughout this section. There are mentioned cities with high towers, which will be cast down, and powerful rulers whose downfall is celebrated. What does this scattering of inhabitants in verse one indicate? Is it like the holocaust in Cambodia where the communists drove almost all of the inhabitants from the capital city? There in the scattered villages, the persecuted suburbanites were shot, overworked and starved. Almost a quarter of all Cambodians died in the last twenty years.
Or does the image indicate that the facade of civilization erected by the worldly will be ruined instead? Of course God's judgments come in many forms. The one described in verse two and interpreted by Dr Young is one of the most frightening in my mind. Just as these chapters in whole speak of a leveling down of towers and kingdoms, so does verse two speak of a leveling in humanity. Dr Young observes that "as a result of this judgment, all distinctions in class will be obliterated and a complete reversal of the regular order of daily life will be effected." He goes further in describing a form of socialism which is a punishment upon the earth as a result of God's judgment. But even further the social order is even further disturbed and socialism breaks down into anarchy where no one respects any authority. This week I had a hint of the debilitating effects of socialism. In the course of reinventing education we teachers are being asked to write educational packets so that the students can teach themselves at their own speed. If we comply we are to be rewarded with the knowledge that the product of our work will then belong to the school! Heaven forbid that we be allowed to profit from the value of our own work.
Ten years ago when the computer age first began, an educational network sought to publish the work of any hacker who would give them the right to sell their work without recompense. One school district purchased several thousand dollars of this free labor where everyone gave according to their skill and accepted the programs according to their need! Hardly any of the programs were worthwhile, and very many of them barely worked. Those of us who objected were informed that we didn't have the right attitude and should feel challenged to submit better programs.
When I was told about the "new" program for excellence, I tried to explain that my imagination and knowledge did not belong to our institution. That run in with the socialist philosophy, where the state's needs must be met from exploiting another person's ability, was further dampened with this passage where Isaiah sees mankind plagued with a socialist system designed in hell. Of course this is small potatoes in comparison with the socialist means of enslaving medicine to the needs of government which will soon be debated. Sadly, that debate will not be over whether to turn the remaining seventy-five per cent of free medicine over to government or not. Instead, the debate will only be over the means of doing so. What will happen as socialism spreads? Look at verse three: "the earth will be completely laid waste and totally plundered." When reporters, visitors and tourists were finally let behind the iron curtain widespread despoliation of the environment was reported. Yes, there was Chernobyl and a dozen other similar radioactive accidents. There was the former farming area where carbon wastes in the air colored all of the sheep black. But the worst report that I have read involves the Aral Sea. Look it up in an atlas this afternoon. It was one of the "ABC" seas just north and east of the Middle East. Do you remember from geography? The Aral, the Black and the Caspian seas mostly located in the former Soviet Union. Well, if initial reports are accurate, the whole of the Aral sea may be virtually dried up because of Russian diversion of the entire water supply.
This gives a whole new meaning to verse four and an accurate accusation in verse five. And because of man's wickedness the earth itself is consumed. Mankind will indeed suffer; the worldly will lack new wine to celebrate their wild lifestyles. Their gaiety and reveling will cease. The worldly city will be left in ruins, its gate battered to pieces. However, there will be refugees, and a remnant which is promised in verse thirteen. These elect will raise their voices as they shout for joy, acclaim the Lord's majesty and give Him the glory due His Name. Even from the ends of the earth there will be singing "Glory to the Righteous One."
Well may we ask, how will this be? As I ponder the increasing socialization in our country, how can I look forward to a new dark age which is descending upon history? Perhaps you have wondered as we all draw nearer to the grand and final coming of the Lord, how we can rejoice when the worldly go their own way straight to hell? Perhaps you have even worried about loved ones who have made no noticeable commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ? This really challenges our Christian maturity at the deepest level. Well may we ask, how Isaiah can move from the horrors of the first twelve verses here to the obvious joy in the middle of this chapter!
Derek Thomas in his fine commentary observes that "those who walk closely with God develop a mind-set that is akin to His." Thus, in God's time we will be able to rejoice in the destruction of Satan and all his seed . Robert Murray M"Cheyne described the proper attitude like this: "As sure as there is a God in heaven, and as there is a hell for the wicked, so surely will the redeemed rejoice over the eternal damnation of the wicked. And this is the reason: we will enter into the same mind with God." "Glory to the Righteous One." This will be the eternal song of the saints.
Now, just because we will one day be in that mind does not mean we do not share the sorrow of Isaiah. Look at the end of verse sixteen. Someday, but not yet. Today we can still bewail the case of the unsaved. In the words of verse seventeen we can also warn them that "terror and pit and snare await ..." Shall the worldly wait until the trumpet sounds, it will be too late.
When the final judgment comes, the destruction of the earth is vividly pictured by Isaiah in these last few verses. The spiritual powers and material powers in verse twenty-one will both fall and be gathered for imprisonment and punishment. Then the Lord in all His glory will reign forever and ever. Well may we learn in this chapter that the Lord is indeed coming. History is indeed HisStory and is moving towards its inevitable goal: the day of the Lord. For those who are in fellowship with God, this is a matter of great joy. For all of those who are not, it will be a day of destruction and darkness.
So, with this view in mind, we may look forward even if our times turn out worse than we would want. If increasing socialism is to be part of our experience may we take comfort in the life of Joseph who presided over the complete socialization of Egyptian property and life. While he served his Pharaoh, perhaps he did not realize that he was preparing for the Exodus several hundred years later.
If socialism is indeed in our future, we may take some comfort in the observation that those who are likely to institute it are incompetent enough that it will not hold for long. In the resulting chaos, just like we see in the former Soviet Union, there will either be an opportunity to rebuild according to God's grace, or perhaps even His final coming in glory. As we await that final act, let us do so in the full knowledge that all things lead to that great day, and any present predicaments not to our liking may prepare us for glory. So may His will be done, accomplished and our hearts prepared to welcome Him.
Resources Used:
Ellis, Charles..
The Wells of Salvation.
Thomas, Derek..
Welwyn Commentary Series: God Delivers.
Young, Edward J.
The Book of Isaiah.
The Holy Bible.
New International Version (1984 Edition)
NOTE: I am not able to automatically
recommend any future editions.
Christ Covenant Reformed (Presbyterian Church in America) -
Box 13926 - Columbus, OH 43213
(c) 2001
27 March 1994
Permission granted to redistribute unedited versions with this notice.