The Joy of Salvation

Isaiah 34 – 35

What matters more to you than anything else?

JUDGEMENT JOY

JUDGEMENT IS COMING

Come near, you nations, and listen;pay attention, you peoples!

Let the earth hear, and all that is in it,the world, and all that comes out of it!

Isaiah 34:1

Hear me, you heavens!Listen, earth!For the Lord has spoken . . .

Isaiah 1:2

Hezekiah

after 716 BCbefore 701 BC

looking further

Come near, you nations, and listen;pay attention, you peoples!

Let the earth hear, and all that is in it,the world, and all that comes out of it!

Isaiah 34:1

summons for sentencing

four explanations

for the LORD is angry . . .

34:2

for my sword has drunk its fill . . .

34:5

for the LORD has a sacrifice . . .

34:6

for the LORD has a day of vengeance . . .

34:8

angry with all nations

34:2

. . . wrath is on all their armies

34:2

sentence: total destruction

why?

All the host of heaven shall rot away,and the skies roll up like a scroll.All their host shall fall,as leaves fall from the vine,like leaves falling from the fig tree.

Isaiah 34:4 ESV

judgement on stars?

stars = heavensstars = heavens = gods

3 main Babylonian gods represented by sky not stars

final judgement on other gods

judgement on Edom

Map

hostility between Israel and Edom

Numbers 20:14–21; 1 Samuel 14:47; 2 Samuel 8:11–14; 1 Kings 11:17–25; 2 Kings 8:20; 14:7

Bozrah ⇒ rebellious, evil city

Jerusalem ⇒ God’s righteous city

Edom = final enemy

sacrifice ⇒ payment for sin

why?

judgement on opposition to God

result of God’s holiness

result of human sinfulness

We think that idols are bad things, but that is almost never the case. The greater the good, the more likely we are to expect that it can satisfy our deepest needs and hopes. Anything can serve as a counterfeit god, especially the very best things in life.

Tim Keller

36

We love idols. We trust idols. We obey idols. We look to idols to love us and provide value, beauty, sense of significance and worth.

Tim Keller

37

cataclysmic judgement

utter desolation

34:10–12

inhabited only by wild animals and demons

34:10–17

everlasting judgement

measured judgement

Hell is just a freely chosen identity, based on something else besides God, going on for ever.

Tim Keller

It’s not a question of God ‘sending’ us to Hell. In each of us there is something growing up which will of itself be Hell unless it is nipped in the bud. The matter is serious: let us put ourselves in His hands at once – this very day, this hour.

C.S. Lewis, God in the Dock

JOY IS COMING

joy for the wilderness

transformed world

end of decay = end of sin

joy for the weak

encouragement to be strong

why?

Behold your God . . .

Behold your God . . .will come with vengeance

Behold your God . . .will come to save you

In that day they will say, ‘Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us.This is the Lord, we trusted in him;let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.’

Isaiah 29:5

joy for the suffering

opening of eyes and ears

renewal of nature

joy for God’s people

highway = way of holiness

highway for people who trust God

everlasting joy

They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Isaiah 35:10

A CHOICE TO BE MADE