Isaiah 34-36

Summary

34 - God has a day of vengeance coming against the nations who have hurt Israel.

35 - God will make rivers in the desert and His ransomed will return home on a highway of holiness.

36 - Assyria besieges Jerusalem and its commander intimidates the delegation and spectators on the wall, telling them not to trust God to deliver them.

How this is about Jesus

34 - He will subdue the nations to His rule (Revelation 19:15-16).

35 - He healed people, fulfilling this chapter (Matthew 11:4-6).

36 - The Rabshakeh is an anti-Christ, attacking God's people and drawing them away from relying on God.  Jesus protects and fights for God's people, drawing them to the Lord.

Application

God has joy waiting for us, in the same place where we had such trials before.  We are walking roads of captivity or desert or sorrow now, but God will turn it into a highway of holiness to joy and laughter.

Isaiah 1-35 tell this story in poetry form.  Chapters 36-39 tell historically the travail and sorrow stage of this, and chapters 40-66 tell the restoration and end of the story in poetry again.

Isaiah 35:10

"And the ransomed of the Lord shall return
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain gladness and joy,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."