“And In That Day” (27:1-13)
Neal Pollard
There seems to be an unfortunate chapter break here. Most agree that verse one belongs with the content of chapter 26, and it more naturally connects to the thought of 26:20 (“For behold, the Lord is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain”). Notice the parallels of punishment and slaying and killing of a fearsome enemy (1). No doubt, Isaiah shifts gears beginning in verse 2. This short chapter speaks of a future hope, signified once again with the phrase “in that day” (2,6,12,13). God is pointing them to a better time when punishment gives way to pardon and prosperity.
It will be a day of productivity (2-6). Some see this section as a day of heavenly blessing (James Smith, 83), grace (Johnson, From Chaos To Restoration, 85-86), or hope (Gary Smith, NAC, 457). All of these are reasonable assessments of the paragraph, but the imagery points out a fruitfulness brought by God benefiting God’s people. Certainly, the language supports this interpretation. The Lord is the keeper (3), waterer (3), and guard (3), and through His efforts Judah will take root, blossom and sprout, and fill the world with fruit (7). In between the images of this metaphor, God shows His mercy on His people, His wrath on His enemies, and His protection and peace for His “vineyard” (5-6). Jesus will utilize the vineyard metaphor to describe discipleship (John 15:1ff) and the fruitfulness of the kingdom (Luke 8:1ff). That hope certainly would be felt by those who returned from exile in Babylon, but it would be fully felt only after the triumphant work of the Messiah (Heb. 2:14-15).
It will be a day of pardon (7-11). It was conditional pardon (9). God says that when “Jacob” (a frequent appellative for Israel or God’s people) put away his idols, through this his iniquity would be forgiven and his sins would be pardoned (9). There seems to be two groups under consideration here: God’s people (7-8) and God’s enemies (heathen nations)(10-11). Notice the difference in the judgment between the two groups–the first were banished and driven away, struck and slain but not annihilated while the second were not given divine compassion or grace. Why? The heathen are not discerning of God’s thoughts and ways (11a).
It will be a day of praise (12-13). God’s people would be “gathered up one by one” (12). Returning from exile and punishment, they would answer the summon from a foreign land to “come and worship the Lord in the holy mountain at Jerusalem” (13). Deliverance from captivity and pardon from sin should elicit and provoke praise from our hearts and our lips! To know what we have been rescued from and what we have been delivered to should prompt gratitude that is freely expressed in personal and corporate worship to God!
Isaiah has interspersed judgment and blessing, warning and comfort, throughout this section of Isaiah. His enemies do not have the hope promised to His obedient children. So it is today (Heb. 6:18-19; 1 Th. 4:13ff).
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