715_The vengeance and salvation of God (Isaiah 34-35)
Isaiah 35:1-4 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;
2 it shall blossom abundantly
and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
the majesty of our God.
3 Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who have an anxious heart,
“Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you.”
A missionary was visiting a village that had been oppressed for years by a corrupt ruler. The people had been living through decades of broken promises, exploitation, and injustice. An elderly man told him, “What keeps me going is knowing that one day there will be a Judge who cannot be bribed.”
Those words capture the universal human desire for justice. We long for wrongs to be made right. We long for evil to be confronted and goodness to triumph. Yet in this world, the wicked prosper, the righteous suffer, and many wonder whether God sees what is happening.
Isaiah 34 and 35 answer that question with a resounding yes. These two chapters bring the first major section of Isaiah to a powerful conclusion. They stand side by side like two mountains. One is dark with judgment; the other shines with redemption. One reveals the vengeance of God upon His enemies; the other reveals the joy of God’s redeemed people. Together they remind us that God’s judgment and God’s salvation are inseparably connected.
Isaiah begins chapter 34 with a summons that reaches far beyond Israel: “Draw near, O nations, to hear, and give attention, O peoples!” (Isaiah 34:1). God is addressing the entire world. He is the Judge of all the earth, and all nations are accountable to Him.
The language Isaiah uses is striking. The heavens are shaken, the stars seem to fall, and creation itself trembles under the weight of divine judgment. Isaiah is describing“the Day of the Lord”—that day when God settles accounts with his enemies and does justice to his people.
Among all the nations, Isaiah singles out Edom. Edom was descended from Esau, the brother of Jacob. Despite their common ancestry, the two nations shared a troubled history. This culminated in Edom’s hostile behavior towards Judah when it was finally conquered and destroyed by Babylon. When Jerusalem fell and her people fled for their lives, Edom rejoiced, looted, and turned the refugees over to their enemies. Psalm 137:7 recalls their cruel words: “Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!”
Edom was not merely a rival, but displayed a deep-seated hatred and envy of Israel, simply because they were God’s chosen people. Throughout the prophets, Edom becomes a symbol of all those who stand against God and persecute His people. The judgment pronounced against Edom becomes a picture of God’s verdict upon every kingdom, power, and system that opposes His rule.
The Edomites eventually faded from the pages of history, through waves of judgment. Yet Isaiah’s vision stretches beyond Edom, as shown by the sweeping, comprehensive language. Like many prophecies, it unfolds in stages. There were historical fulfillments, but there remains a final future fulfillment.
The New Testament sheds light on that day, when Jesus Christ will return. The King who came first in humility will come again in glory. The One who was rejected will return as Judge.
This truth is revealed, not to satisfy our curiosity about the future, but to strengthen our hearts in the present. One of the great struggles of faith is learning to trust God when evil appears to be winning, amid widespread corruption, violence, persecution, and injustice.
Scripture repeatedly assures us that God is not indifferent. Paul echoes Isaiah’s message in 2 Thessalonians 1:6-7: “Since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted.”
God repays those who oppress, and He relieves those who suffer. His vengeance is not uncontrolled anger or emotional retaliation. It is righteous recompense, where the wicked are paid back by the very evil they sowed.
This truth frees believers from the exhausting burden of hatred and vengeance. Romans 12:19 says, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God.” Because God’s judgment is sure and perfect, we do not need to carry the weight of settling every score. We are called to be patient, to love, forgive, pray, and bless our enemies. We can leave justice in the hands of the One who never makes a mistake.
Isaiah 35 changes the scene from the darkness of judgment to the brilliant sunlight of God’s restoration. “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus” (Isaiah 35:1).
In those days, the weak are strengthened. The fearful are encouraged. The sorrowful find hope. Suddenly we discover that the God who comes in vengeance is also the God who comes in salvation.
The chapter continues, “Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you’” (Isaiah 35:4).
The justice of God involves his vengeance, and that is good news for His people. Evil must be dealt with before peace can reign. Divine judgment is essential to root out injustice. God’s vengeance is the fruit of His love, an expression of His righteousness.
In the days of vengeance, the eyes of the blind will be opened. The deaf ears will hear, the lame leap like deer, and the mute sing for joy. These signs began to appear during the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. When John the Baptist questioned whether Jesus was truly the Messiah, the Lord pointed to these very works as evidence of His identity.
Yet Isaiah’s vision reaches even further. He sees the day when all creation will be renewed. The curse will be lifted. The deserts will bloom, streams will flow in dry places, and brokenness give way to the beauty of God’s kingdom.
“And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness” (Isaiah 35:8).
This is the road home for God’s redeemed people. God Himself watches over it. No enemy threatens, no danger prevails. It is the way of holiness, where his people walk under the care of their King.
Isaiah concludes not with judgment, but with singing: “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” (Isaiah 35:10).
Through the shadows, through judgment, the wicked are purged away. Those upon the highway of holiness are those who have been redeemed. God ransomed them through the life of His Son, Jesus Christ. Through the great love of the Cross, God revealed the way of holiness.
In the name of Christ, the people of God journey home under his watchful care. He loved them and put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. He is the Risen One who daily makes intercession for them. His Spirit leads them in holiness. They are surrounded by the immeasurable love of God. This is the secret of the everlasting joy of the redeemed.
Chapter 34 ends with complete desolation, smoke rising from judgment, yet directed by the Spirit of God. Chapter 35 ends with celebration, songs rising from redeemed hearts, in the joy of walking in the light of his holiness.
The apparent triumph of evil is only temporary. The day of righteous recompense is coming. And that day is not merely a time of judgment, but a day of salvation, when the King comes to set things right. The desert will bloom. The journey will end. The tears will cease. The redeemed will sing.
This is God’s word to the weary: “Be strong; fear not.” Your God has not forgotten you. The Judge of all the earth will do right. Suffering will end at the coming of the King, and everlasting joy will rest upon the heads of the redeemed. God bless.
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