temple themes in isaiah 24-27
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/8/2019 Temple themes in Isaiah 24-27
1/5
Chapters 24-27 are often called the
Apocalypse of Isaiah. Like much of Isaiah,
it alternates between prophecies of tribulation
and promises of salvation.The section begins with chapter
twenty-five describing the devastation of the
whole earth, both elites and commoners. In
this, a contrast is made between the elite
priests and the ordinary people (24:2), priests
being viewed as an elite social class. The
theme for Isaiahs entire book is found in the
explanation for Yahwehs anger (24:5, ESV):The earth lies defiled under its inhabitants;
for they have transgressed the laws,
violated the statutes,
broken the everlasting covenant.
The everlasting covenant (MDlwo tyrV;b = bert
lm) is an important concept. It is most
generally associated with Israel, but an
everlasting covenant was also established
with all Mankind through Noah (Gen 9:16).
The essential element of Noahs everlasting
covenant is that Whoever sheds the blood of
man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God
made man in his own image (Gen 9:6).
Temple Themes in Isaiah 24-27 1 Oct 5, 2010
Hamblin of Jerusalem http://hamblinofjerusalem.blogspot.com/
OUTLINE:
The Apocalypse of Isaiah
ISAIAH 24Devastation on the whole
earth (24:1-13); Rejoicing
in Yahweh (24:14-16);
Condemnation to the Pit
(24:17-20); Gathering to Mt
Zion (24:21-23)
ISAIAH 25
The Great Banquet ofYahweh (25:1-12)
ISAIAH 26
The apocalyptic final
victory of Yahweh
(26:1-27:1)
ISAIAH 27
Vineyard and restoration(27:2-6); condemnation of
idolatry (27:7-13)
Temple Themes in Isaiah 24-27
William J. Hamblin
http://hamblinofjerusalem.blogspot.com/http://hamblinofjerusalem.blogspot.com/http://hamblinofjerusalem.blogspot.com/ -
8/8/2019 Temple themes in Isaiah 24-27
2/5
Thus, war and murder among the nations
violates this universal everlasting covenant,
resulting in the Yahwehs curse on all
Mankind, devouring the whole earth (24:6).
The link to Israels own, more detailed
everlasting covenant to the temple is reflected
in Jer 50:5 and Ezek 16:60, where after the
destruction of the temple of Jerusalem, a new
everlasting covenant needs to be
established, since obeying the sacrificial laws
and statues of the covenant requires a temple.
Thus, for the new everlasting covenant to be
established, a new temple will be established
so God can
make a covenant of peace with them. It shall
be an everlasting covenantwith them. And I
will set them in their land and multiply them,
and willset my sanctuary in their midst
forevermore. (24:5)
Likewise, in Isaiah the violation of
this everlasting covenant of peace results in
devastating wars, while the renewal of the
everlasting covenant will occur at the temple.
for Yahweh of the armies will reign on
Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before his
elders he will manifest his glory [at the
temple] (Isa 24:23), a probable allusion to
the elders who accompanied Moses up Mount
Sinai and saw the glory of Yahweh (Ex 24);
Temple Themes in Isaiah 24-27 2 Oct 5, 2010
Hamblin of Jerusalem http://hamblinofjerusalem.blogspot.com/
http://hamblinofjerusalem.blogspot.com/http://hamblinofjerusalem.blogspot.com/http://hamblinofjerusalem.blogspot.com/ -
8/8/2019 Temple themes in Isaiah 24-27
3/5
with the new everlasting covenant, the elders
see the glory of Yahweh on his new holy
mountain (27:13), the Temple Mount. These
elders who see the glory of God are probably
to be equated with the 24 elders of
Revelation.1
Chapter 25 begins with a psalm in
praise of Yahweh, culminating in the
prophecy of the great pilgrimage and temple
banquet of Yahweh on the temple mount.
Isaiah describes a great feast that Yahweh will
make for all peoples (25:6), not just Israel.
This is consistent with numerous statements
in Isaiah that all the nations will one day
come on the Great Pilgrimage to the temple
with Israel, where all nations will be Gods
people.2 There, God will swallow up death
forever ... [and] wipe away tears from all
faces (25:8), a sentiment reflected in Rev
7:17, 21:4, and seen by Christians as fulfilled
by the coming of the glory of Yahweh in the
form of Christ, who won victory over death.3
This passage in Isaiah becomes a major theme
for Christians in the great wedding supper of
the Lamb.4
Chapter 26 is a series of hymns
associated with Mount Zion. The context is
probably an ascent to the Temple Mount
(26:2), where the people would go in
Temple Themes in Isaiah 24-27 3 Oct 5, 2010
Hamblin of Jerusalem http://hamblinofjerusalem.blogspot.com/
1 Rev 4:4, 10, 5:8, 11:16, 19:4.
2 Isa 2:2-4, 4:2-6, 6:13, 11:2-12, 12:6, 19:18-25, 23:18.
3 Another temple metaphor is the hand of Yahweh will rest on this mountain (25:10), referring
to the presence of the awesome power of God at the temple.
4 Mt 22:1-14 = Lk 14:15-24; Lk 13:26-29 = Mt 8:11-12; Lk 22:18, 28-30; Rev 19:6-10; DC
58:7-12.
http://hamblinofjerusalem.blogspot.com/http://hamblinofjerusalem.blogspot.com/http://hamblinofjerusalem.blogspot.com/ -
8/8/2019 Temple themes in Isaiah 24-27
4/5
procession through the gates of the temple
singing hymns to Yahweh.5
In preparation for the ascent to the
temple, Yahweh prepares a road:
The path of the Righteous One is level
The way of righteousness is clear (26:7).
This Way of Yahweh is the way the pilgrim
follows to the temple, and the Way John the
Baptist prepared for the coming of Jesus as
king to the temple.6 This Way of Yahweh
to the temple is the background for
Christianitys original name, the Way.7 An
essential element of this metaphor is that the
Way of Yahweh leads to the temple. In the
end, Yahweh comes out of his place (mwqV;m
maqm) (26:21)--that is the temple--to
punish iniquity and restore righteousness.
The last chapter, twenty-eight, again
uses the counter-point of desolation and
salvation. This passage describes
paradoxically how Israel will receive its
atonement (27:9):
Therefore by this the guilt of Jacob will be
atoned for:
and this will be the full fruit of the removal
of his sin:
when he makes all the stones of the altars
like chalk stones crushed to pieces,
no Asherim8 or incense altars will remain
standing.
Notice here that apostate Israel sought
salvation by worshipping at the altars of the
false gods, but real atonement can only come
when they cease worship at altars of the gods
of the nations, and return to the authentic
worship of Yahweh alone at the temple.
When this occurs, scattered Israel will
be gathered from Egypt and Assyria (27:12),
on the great pilgrimage to the feast of Yahweh
mentioned in 25:6-10.
And in that day a great trumpet will be blown,
and those who were lost in the land of Assyria
and those who were driven out to the land of
Egypt will come and worship Yahweh on the
holy mountain at Jerusalem (27:13).
The metaphor here is clearly an Israelite
pilgrimage festival to the temple ofJerusalem, perhaps the Feast of the Trumpets
(Lev 23:24; Num 29:1). The Second Temple
has a platform on the southwest corner where
a priest stood to blow the sacral trump,
indicating its importance in worship. Part of
Temple Themes in Isaiah 24-27 4 Oct 5, 2010
Hamblin of Jerusalem http://hamblinofjerusalem.blogspot.com/
5 Ps 24:7-10, 100:4, 118:19-20.
6 Isa 40:3, Mal 3:1, Mt 3:3, Mk 1:3, Lk 3:4.
7 Acts 9.2, Way of the Lord 18.25, Way of God 18.26, 19.9,23, 22.4, 24.14, 22; Christ as
the Way, Jn 14.6.
8 Asherim at the wooden images, poles, or trees venerated by devotees of Asherah, the fertility
goddess of the Canaanites. W. Dever,Did God Have a Wife?, (2008).
http://hamblinofjerusalem.blogspot.com/http://hamblinofjerusalem.blogspot.com/http://hamblinofjerusalem.blogspot.com/ -
8/8/2019 Temple themes in Isaiah 24-27
5/5
this platform survives (see photo). Note also,
the Temple Mount is the holy
mountain (vdO;qAh rAh = har ha-qode); thus
not just the temple itself but the entire Temple
Mount is made holy by the presence of
Yahweh.
This sounding of the great trump in
preparation for the millennial return of the
glorified Christ to his temple is an important
New Testament theme as well.9
Temple Themes in Isaiah 24-27 5 Oct 5, 2010
Hamblin of Jerusalem http://hamblinofjerusalem.blogspot.com/
9 Rev 9:14; 1 Cor 15:52; Mt 24:31.
http://hamblinofjerusalem.blogspot.com/http://hamblinofjerusalem.blogspot.com/http://hamblinofjerusalem.blogspot.com/