Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 34

Verse 1

CONTENTS

In this chapter we have the Lord's judgments declared, which shall finally and fully take place on all out of Christ. Explained and illustrated by the gospel standard, it becomes the same, as all the sacred writers of the New Testament declare, concerning the final judgment of God.

Verses 1-4

The manner in which the Lord, by his servant the Prophet, opens this chapter, is very striking, and not unsimilar to other places on the same subject. When the Lord speaks, well may man hear; Ezekiel 9:1 ; Micah 6:2 . It is only for the Reader to turn to those scriptures, to discover, how both prophets and apostles agree in this same thing; 2 Peter 3:10 ; Matthew 24:29-30 ; Revelation 6:12-14 .

Verses 5-8

I pass over the several particulars in these verses, which mean one and the same thing, of God's judgments, differently set forth, to call the Reader's attention to that striking one folded up in them of the Lord's sacrifice in Bozrah. Is there not in this an allusion to the same person and sacrifice, as the prophet in a vision relates to us in the sixty third chapter? I beg the Reader to turn to it, and pause over the subject. Who but Christ, is the sacrifice of

Jehovah? Who but Christ was seen coming from Bozrah, in his dyed garments of blood? And was not this the day of vengeance, and the year of the Lord's redeemed?

Verses 9-15

If we read these scriptures through the medium of the gospel, and drop the similitudes in the realities, we shall find an exact description of the human heart, void of grace; and the dreadful condition of all such as live and die in an unregenerate state.

Verses 16-17

Here the Lord seems to refer to the prediction, when the fulfillment arrives. As if the Lord had said, "Let such as behold the desolations here spoken of look back, and mark how I predicted them, and how faithfully my word is accomplished." It is a solemn truth, though but seldom regarded as it ought, that, the very name of Jehovah Aloheim, (God in covenant) implies, that the Lord is, and will be, equally true to his threatenings, as to his promises: for all shall prove him the faithful God; Deuteronomy 7:9-10 .

Verse 17

REFLECTIONS

READER! here is a very solemn chapter, full of awful threatenings: from beginning to end. And, as we read what is here said, may we not, though from the mouth of one, who while professing a knowledge of God, in works denied him, take up the same language, and say as he did, God is not a man, that he should lie, neither the Son of man that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall be not make it good?

Almighty Lord! may my soul lie low in the dust before thy divine majesty. And although looking up with humble hopes of acceptance in, and through the person, blood, and righteousness of thy dear Son; yet, Lord, my very flesh trembleth when I think of thy judgments. Thou hast said, and sure it must be accomplished, thou wilt be a swift witness. And oh! how exact, how unanswerably true, must be thy testimony! Not one action can be unknown to thee; not a thought escape thy notice. Oh! ye sons of men! think, ere it be too late, how tremendous will be the judgment of all that slight or despise the only possible means of escaping the wrath to come. What everlasting paleness, dread, and horror, will be upon all faces who have rejected Christ, the one only ordinance of Jehovah for salvation! Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.