Isa 30:27 | KingComments | STEP | After the promises of the redemption of Judah we find in a prediction of the judgment of God on the alliance of enemies. Not Egypt, but God Himself will destroy Assyria. While as in so many other places Assyria is the direct enemy, the prophet points forward to Assyria in the future. It is remarkable that often, after the judgment on Assyria has been discussed, the blessing of the realm of peace follows. The LORD, that is, His Name – that is all He is in His connection with Israel – comes to judge ( ). The fact that His Name comes “from a remote place” means that He is far away from the nations who want to wipe out His people from the face of the earth. This concerns both Assyria in the days of Isaiah, and Assyria, the king of the North, in the future. His coming to judge is connected with fire. We read that “His anger” is burning and “His tongue is like a consuming fire” (cf. ). Fire frightens and consumes (cf. ). God is also to us “a consuming fire” ( ). In , Isaiah changes the picture of judgment by fire into the picture of judgment by water, and replaces “His tongue” with “His breath”. The LORD will judge the gathered nations with “His breath” (cf. ), which will be like “an overflowing torrent” (cf. ). An overflowing torrent is a dry wadi, a dry river bed in the wilderness. Normally it is dry, but in the event of a downpour in the mountains it can become an all-destroying, flooding brook in a matter of minutes. Likewise, God’s judgment will be sudden and devastating. When the LORD comes in the night to judge the enemies of His people, the remnant of God’s people will sing songs ( ). It is reminiscent of the night of the exodus from Egypt when the judgment comes on the oppressors of God’s people ( ) and the song of salvation they sing after their deliverance ( ). They sing songs in view of the coming day. It is a song that sings the ascent to Jerusalem even before the advance there has begun. If “the Rock of Israel”, which is the LORD in His unshakeable stability, stands before their attention, this song can be sung in faith. We see a similar thing with Jehoshaphat, who during his war placed the choir at the front ( ). We also see it in Paul and Silas singing songs of praise before the earthquake and deliverance happen ( ). In Isaiah continues his description of the coming of the LORD. In an impressive way he describes the majesty of His coming. It will frighten Assyria ( ; cf. ). Assyria, once used by God as a rod to discipline His people ( ), while Assyria himself used a rod and staff for it ( ), will now be struck by the LORD with the rod. Every blow with God’s rod will be a hit. The striking will happen as it were to the beat of the songs of deliverance that the remnant will sing accompanied by musical instruments ( ).

‏ Isaiah 30:27

Judgment and Festival

After the promises of the redemption of Judah we find in Isa 30:27-33 a prediction of the judgment of God on the alliance of enemies. Not Egypt, but God Himself will destroy Assyria. While as in so many other places Assyria is the direct enemy, the prophet points forward to Assyria in the future. It is remarkable that often, after the judgment on Assyria has been discussed, the blessing of the realm of peace follows.

The LORD, that is, His Name – that is all He is in His connection with Israel – comes to judge (Isa 30:27). The fact that His Name comes “from a remote place” means that He is far away from the nations who want to wipe out His people from the face of the earth. This concerns both Assyria in the days of Isaiah, and Assyria, the king of the North, in the future.

His coming to judge is connected with fire. We read that “His anger” is burning and “His tongue is like a consuming fire” (cf. Mal 3:2-3). Fire frightens and consumes (cf. 2Thes 1:7-8). God is also to us “a consuming fire” (Heb 12:29). In Isa 30:28, Isaiah changes the picture of judgment by fire into the picture of judgment by water, and replaces “His tongue” with “His breath”. The LORD will judge the gathered nations with “His breath” (cf. 2Thes 2:8), which will be like “an overflowing torrent” (cf. Isa 8:7-8). An overflowing torrent is a dry wadi, a dry river bed in the wilderness. Normally it is dry, but in the event of a downpour in the mountains it can become an all-destroying, flooding brook in a matter of minutes. Likewise, God’s judgment will be sudden and devastating.

When the LORD comes in the night to judge the enemies of His people, the remnant of God’s people will sing songs (Isa 30:29). It is reminiscent of the night of the exodus from Egypt when the judgment comes on the oppressors of God’s people (Exo 12:42) and the song of salvation they sing after their deliverance (Exo 15:1). They sing songs in view of the coming day. It is a song that sings the ascent to Jerusalem even before the advance there has begun.

If “the Rock of Israel”, which is the LORD in His unshakeable stability, stands before their attention, this song can be sung in faith. We see a similar thing with Jehoshaphat, who during his war placed the choir at the front (2Chr 20:21). We also see it in Paul and Silas singing songs of praise before the earthquake and deliverance happen (Acts 16:25-26).

In Isa 30:30 Isaiah continues his description of the coming of the LORD. In an impressive way he describes the majesty of His coming. It will frighten Assyria (Isa 30:31; cf. 1Sam 7:10). Assyria, once used by God as a rod to discipline His people (Isa 10:5), while Assyria himself used a rod and staff for it (Isa 10:24), will now be struck by the LORD with the rod. Every blow with God’s rod will be a hit. The striking will happen as it were to the beat of the songs of deliverance that the remnant will sing accompanied by musical instruments (Isa 30:32).