Apocalypse of Isaiah, Part B: Lament, Hope, and the Great Gathering
Exploring the Book of Isaiah
In our previous look at the “Apocalypse of Isaiah” (chapters 24–27), we explored the cosmic scope of God’s judgment and the promise of a victory banquet that swallows up death forever. While chapter 24 focuses on the devastation of the earth due to the broken Noahic covenant, chapters 26 and 27 shift toward the internal heart-cry of God’s people.
In this second part, we explore the rhythmic movement between lament—the honest cry of the suffering—and hope—the assurance of God’s final restoration.
1. God Hears the Lament of His People (Isaiah 26)
Isaiah 26 begins with a “Song of Trust,” reminding us that God is our Everlasting Rock. In a world where cities crumble and “unassailable” fortresses are leveled to the dust, God provides a “strong city” for the righteous (v. 1–5).
The Power of Perfect Peace
One of the most beloved verses in Scripture is found here:
“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3).
This peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of God’s protection in the midst of it. While the proud are humbled and cast to the dust (v. 5), the righteous find God to be a “hiding place” and a “refuge from the storm,” much like the promises found in Psalm 91.
The Community Lament
Following the song of trust, the tone shifts into what scholars call a “community lament” (vv. 7–19). A lament is not just complaining; it is a liturgical crying out of grief and a petition for God’s intervention. Isaiah’s lament includes:
- Eager Waiting: Seeking God’s name and remembrance as the “desire of our souls” (v. 8).
- Observation of the Wicked: Recognizing that even when shown compassion, the wicked often refuse to learn righteousness (v. 10).
- The Pain of Labor: Describing the people’s struggle as a woman in labor who “gives birth only to wind” (v. 18). They realize that human effort alone cannot accomplish deliverance for the earth.
The Divine Response: God hears these groans. Just as He heard the groaning of Israel in Egypt (Exodus 2:24) and marked those who sighed over the abominations in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 9:4), He hears the whispers of His people today.
2. A Message of Hope: The Defeat of Leviathan (Isaiah 26:20–27:1)
As the lament concludes, God gives a directive: “Come, my people, enter your rooms… hide for a little while until indignation runs its course” (26:20). This foreshadows the Great Day of the Lord, where God’s people are protected while His judgment falls on the true source of evil.
Isaiah 27:1 introduces a mythic, powerful image: Leviathan.
“On that day the Lord will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent… and He will kill the dragon who lives in the sea.”
Leviathan represents the chaotic, satanic forces behind the world’s evil. This “unveiling” tells us that God’s victory isn’t just over human kingdoms, but over the ancient serpent himself. This mirrors the New Testament promise of Satan being cast into the lake of fire.
3. The New Song of the Vineyard (Isaiah 27:2–6)
Earlier in Isaiah (chapter 5), the prophet sang a “Song of the Vineyard” that ended in tragedy—the vineyard produced only “worthless grapes” and was laid waste. But here in the Apocalypse, we find a New Song.
| The Old Vineyard (Isaiah 5) | The New Vineyard (Isaiah 27) |
| Produced worthless grapes/bloodshed | A “vineyard of beauty” |
| Hedge removed and trampled | The Lord is its keeper, guarding it night and day |
| Command for clouds not to rain | The Lord waters it every moment |
| Result: Devastation | Result: Israel fills the whole world with fruit |
The key difference? In the “last days,” the fruitfulness of God’s people is not the result of their own labor, but the direct work and protection of God.
4. The Final Gathering (Isaiah 27:12–13)
The apocalypse concludes with a powerful image of a harvest and a trumpet. The Lord will “thresh” from the Euphrates to the brook of Egypt, gathering His children “one by one.”
A “great trumpet” will be blown—a signal of a holy convocation. This is the same imagery Jesus uses in Matthew 24:31: “He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet blast, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds.” This isn’t just a political return to a piece of land; it is a spiritual gathering of a holy people to worship on the “holy mountain.”
Conclusion: The Sovereignty of God
The “Apocalypse of Isaiah” teaches us one central truth: The last days belong to God. They do not belong to the devil, they do not belong to the rise of AI, and they do not belong to the whims of human dictators. God is in total control of the timeline of history.
While Isaiah saw these things through a “glass darkly,” we have the benefit of the full Gospel. We know, as Paul writes in Ephesians 1:9–10, that God’s plan for the “fullness of times” is to bring all things together in Christ. Through the blood of His cross, Jesus has already secured the victory that Isaiah could only see from afar.
Reflect: In times of global or personal “indignation,” are you hiding in the “Everlasting Rock,” or are you trying to build your own walls? Are you listening for the sound of the trumpet?
