30:29
On that day God’s people will sing and rejoice. Why? Because justice will be brought to the world, righteousness will be brought. Consider the rejoicing that happens in the world when evil regimes or rulers are overthrown. Think about the collapse of communism in the late eighties, or the rejoicing when Mugabe went, or the dismantling of apardheid in South Africa. There is gladness that evil rulers have been deposed, but we are also keenly aware that it might end up being a case of “meet the new boss, same as the old boss”. When God comes He will bring true justice and righteousness, and it will be everlasting.
30:30
Then there is another vivid description of the awesomeness and anger of the Lord. Note that He is referred to as a consuming fire, a phrase that is used in the book of Hebrews (Heb 12:29), this is a reference to the Lord coming in judgement. Any concept of God that does not account for His coming in judgement is seriously deficient.
30:31-33
This judgement is then put in concrete terms with reference to Assyria, and this is what happened. The judgement is also looked on as a cause for rejoicing. Topheth was a region outside Jerusalem where children were sacrificed to Molech. This may be where Jesus’ fire imagery of hell derives from. Assyria would be judged for evil.
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