United Commentaries

Isa.24.1-27.13

This section is often referred to as the “Little Apocalypse” because of its similarities to the book of Revelation. In these chapters Isaiah takes readers out of the present into a vision of the future world. The universal imagery of the Little Apocalypse makes it difficult to assign the events described to any precise historical situation. That means that these chapters cannot be used to outline a sequence of events or create a historical blueprint for the future. Instead, the imagery is intended to create an impressionistic drama of an unfolding world that is both like and unlike the present. The combination of aspects of the old era with aspects of the new era (for instance, people of Zion will all be righteous [new], but still long for their redemption [old]) is consistent with the New Testament concept of the future age breaking into and overlapping with the present evil age (2 Cor 4:4; Gal 1:4). Peter, for example, wrote of believers as living in the last days (1 Pet 1:12; 2 Pet 3:3) even though the last day remains yet future (2 Pet 3:10).

Isa.27.1

Israel adapted the imagery of Leviathan to refer to evil powers that oppose God. Leviathan’s death symbolizes the end of evil, Satan, the demonic, and the dominion of forces hostile to God (see 51:9; Pss 74:14; 104:7-9, 26; see also the serpent in Gen 3; Rev 12; 13; 16:13; 20:2, 10).

Isa.27.2-6

The Song of the Fruitful Vineyard, in which the vineyard represents God’s people (cp. 5:1-7).

Isa.27.3

God identifies himself as the Lord of the covenant to assure his people that what he says and does is reliable (see Exod 6:2-3). The phrase is used many times throughout Isaiah.

watch . . . watering . . . watch: The Lord will provide even greater care and protection for his ultimate vineyard than he did for Israel, his first vineyard (see Isa 5:1-2).

Isa.27.5

God expects all his people to turn to him and to trust him for help.

Let them make peace with me is God’s offer of reconciliation for his people.

Isa.27.6

Jacob’s descendants will take root and the remnant will increase (37:31; cp. 5:24; 14:30; for application to the Messiah, see 11:1, 10).

fill the whole earth: The fulfillment of this prophecy extends beyond the restoration of Israel from exile to the second coming of the Lord Jesus. It includes all the righteous children of God—Jews and Gentiles—who suffer but remain obedient as they wait for the fullness of redemption (see 26:18; John 15:1-8).

Isa.27.7-11

Isaiah reminded readers of the reasons for the Exile and judgment: Israel’s sinfulness, God’s righteous judgment, and the absence of divine compassion.

Isa.27.7

Despite being God’s covenant people, Israel was struck and punished like any other wicked nation. However, Israel was not completely destroyed; a remnant remained.

Isa.27.8

The Assyrians exiled large numbers of citizens from the northern kingdom of Israel when Samaria fell in 722 BC. The Babylonians exiled many from Judah from 605 to 586 BC.

Storms from the east were known for their destructive effects (see Job 27:21; 38:24; Jer 4:11).

Isa.27.9

God’s justice requires him to punish sin. That punishment is designed to correct behavior and to purify. Being conquered and exiled wasThe Exile occurred so that to purge Israel’s wickedness and to take away all her sin (see Rom 11:27).

This was to be the end of all the pagan worship in Israel, including the incense altars and the poles that were used in worshiping the goddess Asherah.

Isa.27.10

Places previously associated with human power and accomplishment would be ruined to the extent that animals would graze in them.

Isa.27.11

The people were outside of God’s covenantal care; they foolishly turned away from him.

Isa.27.12

Yet: God’s withholding of mercy from Israel (27:11) will be temporary.

from the Euphrates River . . . to the Brook of Egypt: God’s remnant will return from Assyria and Egypt to the territory that God promised to Abraham (Gen 15:18; see 1 Kgs 4:21).

Isa.27.13

The great trumpet was used to gather the people (see Matt 24:31).