Isa 27.1-13 continues with the themes of the two previous chapters. Historically, there are references to the three main powers confronting Judah, like Assyria, Babylon and Egypt. But there is also very eschatological meanings here as well. All these forces are hostile to Yehovah and Israel, and none will be more hostile than the False Messiah, symbolized by Leviathan in this chapter. As a result, we will be dealing with the prophetic and the eschatological implications in this chapter and how it relates to the birth-pains and the coming of the Messiah in the Day of the Lord. Remember, Isa 26 and 27 has themes related to Rosh Ha Shanah and Yom Kippur, both of which are called a Yom Ha Din, or “day of judgment. These themes are very clear in these chapters.
v 1…In that day (the day of the Lord when Messiah comes) Yehovah will punish Leviathan (Hebrew “Levyitan” and it has the same root as “Levi” which means to “twist or join.” Leviathan is seen in Jewish literature as a seven-headed beast who rises from the sea and it is another name for the False Messiah-Rev 13.1; Ezek 29.1-7, 32.1-8; Rev 19.19-21; Psa 74.13-14, 104.26; Job 26.12-13, 41.1-34; Isa 51.9; Rev 12.1-3, 17.1-3. He is the same as the Azazel goat on Yom Kippur as seen in the Book of Enoch) the fleeing serpent (nachash) with his fierce and great and mighty sword (the word of God-Eph 6.17; Rev 19.15), even Leviathan the twisted serpent; and he will kill the dragon (Hebrew “tannin”) who lives in the sea (Hebrew “Yam” and it alludes to the domain of Ha Satan, or unconverted humanity-Job 26.12-13; Isa 57.20).
v 2…In that day (the day of the Lord when Messiah comes) a vineyard of wine (Israel-Isa 5.1) sing of it!
v 3…”I, Yehovah, am its keeper; I water it every moment (watches it) lest anyone damage it (like an enemy), I guard it night and day (Song 8.12).
v 4…I have no wrath (against Israel) should someone give me briars and thorns in battle (if false teachers rise up in the vineyard). Then I would step on them (as he carefully steps into his vineyard as to not hurt the true vines), I would burn them (the briars and thorns) completely (he will gather them out-Matt 13.24-30, 49; 2 Sam 23.6).
v 5…Or let him rely on my protection (through the Messiah), let him make peace with me, let him make peace with me (spoken two times for emphasis and certainty).”
v 6…In the days to come Jacob will take root (the kahal of God is established-Eph 3.17), Israel will blossom and sprout (the fig tree blossoms-Mark 13.28; Song 7.12), and they will fill the whole world with fruit (the whole work of God; true doctrine-Isa 4.2, 37.31).
v 7…Like the striking of him who has struck them (he strikes Israel’s enemies after the manner they struck Israel according to the concept called “midah kneged midah” or measure for measure)? Or like the slaughter of his slain, have they been slain?
v 8…Thou didst contend with them by banishing them, by driving them away (in exile). With his fierce wind he has expelled them (like a divorce-Isa 50.1) on the day of the east wind (he strove against it, and punished it-Isa 49.25, but not to destroy Israel. This term also alludes to the birth-pains).
v 9…Therefore, through this (the exile) Jacob’s iniquity will be forgiven (purified, he will come to his senses); and this will be the full price of the pardoning of his sin (the punishment if effective will have the following result); when he makes all the altar stones (of their idolatrous altars) like pulverized chalk stones; when Asherim and incense altars will not stand (that’s the evidence that Yehovah demands).
v 10…For the fortified city (Jerusalem) is isolated, a homestead forlorn and forsaken like the desert (no inhabitants); there the calf will graze, and there it will lie down and feed on its branches (which have overgrown, covering the ruins of the city).
v 11…When its limbs are dry, they are broken off (a picture of the unrighteous-Ezek 15.1-8; John 15.1-6; Rom 11.17-24); women come and a make a fire of them (for fuel). For they are not a people of discernment (of the Torah and the will of Yehovah-Hos 4.6; 2 Thes 2.10), therefore their maker will not have compassion on them. And their creator will not be gracious to them (because the wrath of God has been poured out on them).
v 12…And it will come about in that day (the day of the Lord when Messiah comes) that Yehovah will start his threshing from the flowing stream of the Euphrates to the brook of Egypt; and you will be gathered up one by one, O sons of Israel (the survivors of the birth-pains will be brought to the Lord-Ezra 9.15; Joel 3.1; Isa 66.19-21; Zech 13.8; Isa 4.1-6; Isa 2.2, 10.20; Jer 31.1-40; Matt 24.29-31).
v 13…I will come about also that in that day (the day of the Lord when Messiah comes) that a great trumpet (shofar) will be blown (this shofar is called the Shofar Ha Gadol which is blown on Yom Kippur, the day Yeshua arrives in Jerusalem-Matt 24.29-31) and those who were perishing in the land of Assyria (symbolic of the world where the Jewish people went) and who were scattered in the land of Egypt (those who fled there from Babylon, symbolic of Europe) will come and worship Yehovah in the holy mountain at Jerusalem (Mount Moriah; united at last after the exile-Isa 66.23; Isa 4.2, 11.10-12; Mic 4.1-5; Zech 14.16-21; Ezek 40 through 48) at Sukkot, a picture of the kingdom (Zech 14.16-21).
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