Isaiah 30:18-33
Q.1. To whom will God be gracious? What was the reason for Judah’s demise? Would Judah’s punishment be forever? How would the nation change? Could they be certain of God’s leading? – (Isa.30:18-22)
There is a pattern in Isaiah’s preaching that is balanced. (i) He was commissioned to proclaim God’s judgment on the sins of the present generation. However, if that was all that he had preached, it would have crushed his hearers. (ii) Instead, his message was balanced out with hope for the future. After announcing that a time of blessing would come after a time of discipline, Isaiah returned to denouncing the sins of Judah (Isa.29:17-23 > Isa.30:1-17). Then, like a breath of fresh air, the prophet returned to share the heart of God for His people – Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him (Isa.30:18). This is still a precious promise to all who long for Him (2 Pet.1:2-4; 1 Jn.3:2-3). Throughout Judah’s privation and oppression, Isaiah portrayed God as the Teacher, teaching his children. (Isa.30:20). He promised that when they returned and cried out to the Lord, He would answer their cries (Isa.30:19). More than that – Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left (Isa.30:21). There is nothing better than to know that the Lord is leading you through the maze. Isaiah saw a day when Judah would abandon its idolatry (Isa.30:22). God would restore them and lead them once more.
Q.2. What future changes will take place in Judah? How will this dramatic turnabout occur? How will it be for Assyria? What events were being described? – (Isa.30:23-33)
Though Judah’s leaders at the time were deaf to God’s denunciations, some of these prophecies must have been stunning. The promises of agricultural productivity had been unheard of, with – plentiful rain, abundant harvests, well-fed livestock, all sun-drenched to make the vegetation grow (Isa.30:23-26). This had rarely occurred in Israel but will take place – … on the day the Lord binds up the fracture of His people and heals the bruise He has inflicted (Isa.30:26). This will be preceded by God’s judgment on the world, which will shake up the nations, including Assyria (Isa.30:27-33 c.f. Isa.63:1-4; 66:15-17). This prophecy will be ultimately fulfilled during the time of the Great Tribulation, and finally during the battle of Gog and Magog (Rev.14:14-20; 16:13-21; 20:7-10). This climax of the ages will usher in a time of gladness for Israel and the nations – You will have songs as in the night when you keep the festival, and gladness of heart as when one marches to the sound of the flute, to go to the mountain of the Lord, to the Rock of Israel (Isa.30:29).