The Book of Isaiah

The Everlasting Covenant

Many Biblical scholars have analyzed the cosmic flavor of the book of Isaiah. Chapter 24 identifies and defines the “everlasting covenant” as the agreement made between God and his people after creation. This covenant is similar to the agreement between humankind and God during the time of Noah¹. According to the chapter, God shall empty and loot the whole universe. Every person including priests, servants, masters, maids, and mistresses will experience this Biblical devastation (Isaiah 24: 2-3). Verse five goes further to describe why people on earth continue to disobey God’s laws and commandments. God will defile every person “who has violated the statuses and broken the everlasting covenant” (Isaiah 24: 5).

This covenant is also described in details in the book of Deuteronomy. According to this Biblical book, God will destroy the people of Israel because of their disobedience (Deuteronomy 4: 26-27). The book of Numbers (35: 30-34) also describes how the Lord shall destroy all murderers and sinners Numbers. The book of Genesis describes how God made his covenant with the Jews. He “promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations” (Genesis 17: 2-13). Abraham’s people would eventually own and live in Canaan. God will scatter every population that fails to honor his name. Chapters 24-27 offer powerful ideas that can guide many believers in the world. God shall destroy and judge every nation that does not worship him. This kind of judgment will reduce the whole world into chaos². The final judgment will eventually result in the establishment of Jehovah’s kingdom on Mount Zion³.

That being the case, the “everlasting covenant” is a meaningful agreement between mankind and God. This covenant encourages more people to focus on God’s teachings. The Book of Isaiah shows clearly that God shall punish all sinners. God shall destroy the wicked and all those who fail to honor the everlasting covenant. Human beings can learn many things from these verses. For instance, people should repent and go back to their God. They should also promote the best religious values. Priests, maids, and masters should always worship God. This practice is relevant because God will judge every person. The covenant presented in the book of Isaiah should encourage more people to obey God’s laws. People should also promote the best religious practices in order to honor the “everlasting covenant”. People should therefore be prepared because God is ready to destroy the entire world⁴.

Many nations today should embrace the above teachings. God will destroy the whole world. Nations and communities should gain more lessons from the city of Babylon⁵. God is capable of destroying every community or city that goes against his wishes. The above covenant presents powerful lessons to many nations today. Church leaders and politicians should bring their people closer to God. They should also encourage their followers to repent their sins and focus on their God. This practice will address most of the troubles, pains, and challenges affecting many nations across the world. The important thing is for every modern nation to get closer to God. Christians should read these verses frequently in order to continue honoring the covenant with God.

Two Cities in Isaiah 24-27

The book of Isaiah describes how God will destroy the world after the Day of Judgment. The book goes further to explain why judgment will not be the last event. Isaiah 24-27 describes the kind of destruction awaiting many nations. Chapters 24-27 focus on two different cities. The first city represents the territories and nations formed by the fallen descendants of Cain⁶. Most of the individuals in these cities achieve their goals and desires without God’s guidance. The book of Isaiah gives a detailed analysis of several cities that had been destroyed by God. Such cities were found in Egypt, Philistia, Syria, and Judea. The Bible shows that different fortified cities shall perish. The city of Jerusalem will also fall. On the other hand, the book of Isaiah describes a new city of the Lord. This city will be characterized by faithfulness and righteousness. According to the Bible, the city of Jerusalem shall be restored.

From a personal perspective, these two cities present something meaningful to God’s followers. The above human cities represent different sins committed by mankind. God will destroy such cities for failing to honor God. Such cities can also be used to describe the kind of punishment awaiting every sinner. God’s city symbolizes the kingdom of heaven. This city will be characterized by happiness and righteousness⁷. Believers should therefore focus on the best practices and God’s commandments in order to be saved from destruction. In Isaiah 1: 7-8, the Bible describes how God burned different Judean cities. This description explains how God will destroy every evildoer.

The Holy Bible indicates that righteousness and holiness shall dwell in the city of Zion. The faithful shall live with God forever in this sacred city (Hebrews 11: 10). My understanding of the two cities can support the spiritual needs of many believers. These cities summarize the overall message of the book of Isaiah. Believers should study different Biblical passages carefully in order to understand God’s wishes and expectations. These symbolic cities encourage more believers to focus on the best religious practices. This practice will make it easier for them to see God’s kingdom. These two cities describe how God will establish his kingdom after the Day of Judgment. The book of Isaiah offers a detailed analysis of the judgment⁸. This judgment will be accompanied by different sorrows and pains. Christians should therefore ignore the desires of their hearts in order to see God’s kingdom. The meanings of these two cities should be interpreted correctly in order to support the religious needs of many believers.

Significance of the Leviathan Imagery

John’s “God and Leviathan in Isaiah 27:1” offers powerful ideas to the reader. The book of Isaiah (27:1) embraces the use of Leviathan imagery. Different imageries have been embraced because they display the transcendence and sovereignty of God. Imagery was used to portray God’s superiority over every earthly creature or contender. The Book of Isaiah borrows the imagery of Canaanite theology. This Leviathan is used in the book of Isaiah to depict God’s victory over the power of chaos⁹. That being the case, Isaiah (27:1) uses the Leviathan imagery to portray God’s victory over the devil. This imagery is associated with the analogy that as the beginning, so also the end¹⁰. The imagery also describes the targeted new creation.

This eschatological defeat of God’s enemies is described using the above Leviathan imagery. This approach shows God’s power over his enemies. The use of this imagery shows that God is the Alpha and the Omega. He will ensure all last things are similar to the first ones. This analogy encourages more people to focus on God’s teachings and commandments. God is victorious. He has always defeated the devil. Some other passages use similar imagery in the Bible. For example, the book of Revelation (12: 3, 9) describes Satan as the biggest dragon. The book goes further to explain how a new heaven will be formed after the death of the dragon. This kind of imagery shows clearly that God is powerful and victorious¹¹.

Similar imageries are used in the Holy Bible to portray the eschatology of God’s enemies. This approach makes it easier for many readers to embrace God’s teachings. The presentations show how God is able to defeat his enemies. These depictions encourage more Christians to focus on their religious. They should also worship God only in order to inherit his kingdom. Different Canaanite imageries have been used in the Bible to describe how God will defeat the devil. Such imageries are observed in the apocalypses of John and Isaiah. These imageries explain why God will always be the ruler of the universe¹².

Christians and believers should therefore worship God. This is the case because God shall rescue his people from the devil. God will also create a new earth for every believer. God will defeat the devil and make the world a good place for every believer. The use of imagery is a common practice aimed at supporting God’s sovereignty over the devil¹³. Those who worship the devil shall perish in eternal fire. The above discussions encourage more Christians to focus on their religious goals. This approach will make it possible for them to see God’s kingdom.

Bibliography

Chrisholm, Robert. “The “Everlasting Covenant” and the “City of Chaos”: Intentional Ambiguity and Irony in Isaiah 24.” Criswell Theological Review 6, no. 2 (1993): 237-253.

Day, John. “God and Leviathan in Isaiah 27:1.” Bibliotheca Sacra 155, no. 1 (1998): 423-436.

Sandy, Brent. Plowshares and Pruning Hooks: Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalyptic. Dowers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002.

Webb, Barry. The Message of Isaiah. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997.

Footnotes

1. Barry Webb. The Message of Isaiah, (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997), 28.
2. Brent Sandy. Plowshares and Pruning Hooks: Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalyptic, (Dowers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002), 64.
3. John Day. “God and Leviathan in Isaiah 27:1,” Bibliotheca Sacra 155, no. 1 (1998): 426.
4. Brent Sandy. Plowshares and Pruning Hooks: Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalyptic, (Dowers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002), 69.
5. Robert Chrisholm. “The “Everlasting Covenant” and the “City of Chaos”: Intentional Ambiguity and Irony in Isaiah 24,” Criswell Theological Review 6, no. 2 (1993): 243.
6. Barry Webb. The Message of Isaiah, (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997), 43.
7. Robert Chrisholm. “The “Everlasting Covenant” and the “City of Chaos”: Intentional Ambiguity and Irony in Isaiah 24,” Criswell Theological Review 6, no. 2 (1993): 247.
8. Brent Sandy. Plowshares and Pruning Hooks: Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalyptic, (Dowers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002), 75.
9. John Day. “God and Leviathan in Isaiah 27:1,” Bibliotheca Sacra 155, no. 1 (1998): 436.
10. Day, 436.
11. Barry Webb. The Message of Isaiah, (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997), 126.
12. John Day. “God and Leviathan in Isaiah 27:1,” Bibliotheca Sacra 155, no. 1 (1998): 435.
13. Brent Sandy. Plowshares and Pruning Hooks: Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalyptic, (Dowers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002), 64.