Isaiah 27
WITH this chapter we are brought to the close of the important section of Isaiah’s prophecy which began at chapter 13. Principally occupied with God’s purposes in the judgment of the Gentiles, especially those nations which were much in relationship with Israel, this series of prophetic outlines has shown also the position of Israel and the nations in the last days (chapter 18); the judgment of the whole world (chapter 24), and the full blessing to be made good to Israel in the Millennium (chapters 25:27).
Before that blessing can be enjoyed, “the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan” (Rev. 20:22And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, (Revelation 20:2)) must be dealt with on earth; Isa. 24:2121And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. (Isaiah 24:21) and 12:9 show him driven out from the heavens above.
Verse 1 of our chapter, with Rev. 20:1-31And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. (Revelation 20:1‑3) and 10 gives us to know that man’s great enemy will, in God’s own time, be dealt with finally and eternally never more to deceive nor to work craftily through men as now. “In that day” (verse 1) we understand to refer to the period called the day of the Lord, which includes the Millennium and a little more,
Blessing, not judgment, is God’s delight He turns in verse 2 to consider His earthly people, the objects of His love and tender care, though because of their sins He had had to punish them. Had he smitten Israel as He smote those that smote them (verse 7)? No; they were enemies; these are His own, and the character and purpose of their punishment is explained in verses 9 and 10: “In measure, when sending her away didst ‘Thou contend (or debate) with her? He hath removed her with His rough wind in the day of the east wind. By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit of taking away his sin,” etc. (N. Tr.)
As for the Gentile powers, which had opposed God and His Son to the last, their fortified cities are seen to be solitary, desolate, forsaken as a wilderness (verses 10, 11), unsparing judgment having fallen upon these enemies of God and His people.
The Israelites will be gathered one by one (verses 12, 13). (See Matt. 24:3131And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:31)). Wherever they may be, over the face of the whole earth, angelic power will be used to bring them together to the land God gave their forefathers, and there, in the holy mountain at Jerusalem, they shall worship Jehovah.
It will be noticed that while chapter 26 begins with Judah, the Jews, chapter 27 looks at the whole reunited nation of Israel, —all the twelve tribes gathered back in the land.
ML 09/10/1933