The Lord Defeats Leviathan
Study note
Leviathan was a mythical sea creature that ancient peoples used as a symbol for chaos and evil. In the Bible, it represents the great powers that oppose God and oppress his people. Some scholars see it as pointing to specific enemies like Assyria, Babylon, and Egypt. God promises to destroy this monster with his powerful sword.
1 When that day comes, the Lord will take his powerful, great, razor-sharp sword and bring judgment on Leviathan, the quick-moving serpent, Leviathan, the twisting serpent. He will slay the sea monster. In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.
God's Vineyard Restored
Study note
In Isaiah chapter 5, God sang a sad song about his vineyard (Israel) that produced only bad fruit. Now the tone changes. God promises to care for his vineyard day and night. He is no longer angry. If anyone comes against it like thorns and briers, he will burn them up. Or they can make peace with God. One day, Israel will blossom and fill the whole world with fruit.
2 When that day comes, sing about a productive vineyard: In that day sing ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine.
3 'I, the Lord, watch over it constantly. I water it all the time. I stand guard over it day and night so nothing can harm it.' I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.
4 'I am not angry. But if thorns and briers came against me in battle, I would march out and burn them all up.' Fury is not in me: who would set the briers and thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together.
5 'Or better yet, let them come to me for shelter. Let them make peace with me. Yes, let them choose peace with me.' Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.
6 In the days ahead, Jacob will put down deep roots. Israel will blossom and bloom and fill the entire world with fruit. He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.
Israel's Discipline and the Unrepentant City
Study note
God has not punished Israel as harshly as he punished Israel's enemies. His discipline has been measured and purposeful, like a farmer who carefully manages his crops. Israel's sin will be removed when they destroy their pagan altars and worship sites. But the fortified city that refused to repent will be left empty and deserted, with animals grazing among its ruins.
7 Has the Lord punished Israel as harshly as he punished the nations that attacked them? Has he killed Israel the way he killed their enemies? Hath he smitten him, as he smote those that smote him? or is he slain according to the slaughter of them that are slain by him?
8 God disciplined Israel carefully, measured out right. He blew them away with a blast like a rough desert wind. In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it: he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind.
9 This is how Jacob's guilt will be dealt with. This is the full cost of removing his sin: when all the altar stones are ground to chalk dust and no carved poles or incense altars to false gods are left standing. By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.
10 The fortified city stands empty — abandoned and deserted like a wilderness. Calves wander in to graze and lie down, chewing on whatever branches they find. Yet the defenced city shall be desolate, and the habitation forsaken, and left like a wilderness: there shall the calf feed, and there shall he lie down, and consume the branches thereof.
11 When the branches dry out and snap off, women gather them for firewood. These are people with no understanding, so the God who created them will not take pity on them. The one who formed them will show them no kindness. When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, and set them on fire: for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour.
The Gathering of God's People
Study note
God will carefully gather his people one by one, like a farmer beating olive trees to collect every last olive. From the Euphrates River to the border of Egypt, from Assyria to Egypt, the scattered Israelites will be brought home. A great trumpet will sound, calling them to worship the Lord on his holy mountain in Jerusalem.
12 When that day comes, the Lord will gather his people one by one. He will work like someone beating olives from a tree. He will go from the Euphrates River down to the border of Egypt. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel.
13 When that day comes, a great trumpet will blast. Those who were lost in the land of Assyria and those who were scattered across Egypt will come and worship the Lord on his holy mountain in Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.