34:3,4
The description of God’s judgement against the nations continues, and it isn’t pretty! It affects mankind, in that bodies are piled up, decaying and stinking, with much blood shed. We might find this objectionable, but if we look at history we find that this sort of thing has happened often enough. There are also cosmic effects as well. In New Testament apocalyptic passages and Revelation we can find similar descriptions. It is rightly pointed out that the New Testament writers are using Old Testament imagery. It is then deduced that since the Old Testament was referring to real historical and normal judgements (eg the fall of Assyria), then the New Testament use must be interpreted in the same way, and no cosmic events should be expected. This reasoning is OK up to a point, but only up to a point. The Old Testament prophecies often had an immediate fulfilment, but also pointed forward to a greater fulfilment. This is especially true of the Messianic prophecies, finding their real fulfilment in Christ. So we cannot rule out the judgement prophecies actually having a cosmic fulfilment as well as a more down-to-earth fulfilment.
34:5-7
This is not the prettiest of sections, giving a very bloodthirsty picture of what was happening. The judgement is against Edom. Why is there such a judgement against Edom? It may be because there were blood ties between Edom and Israel, Edom descending from Esau, yet Edom was a constant thorn in the side of Israel. This reached its climax in Edom’s part in the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon.
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