A warning to Israel (v 6-7)

In this passage, the Lord speaks in the first person. (1) The judgment on the nations spoken of in chapter 2 appears again in a summarized form. The reason is to warn Israel and lead them to repentance. “I have eliminated nations; their corner towers are deserted. I have laid waste their streets, with no one passing by…” The verbs used here are in the prophetic perfect tense. That is, the desolation of the nations is, in the Lord’s eyes, already an accomplished fact. (2) The Lord said to Israel, “ I said ‘You will certainly revere Me, you will accept discipline.’ So her dwelling will not be eliminated in accordance with everything that I have stipulated for her. Instead, they were eager to corrupt all their deeds.” Israel needed to fear God and receive His corrective discipline. That was God’s expectation for Israel. However, Israel did not listen to the Lord’s warning. On the contrary, they turned their backs on God and became even more corrupt.

The Second Coming (v 8)

Verse 8 is a summary of the battle of Armageddon. This verse is also a prophecy of Israel’s restoration. (1) At the end of the Great Tribulation, the battle of Armageddon will be fought. In this battle, the armies of the nations will gather together to destroy Israel. (2) At that time, the Messiah will return to earth. ASV translates verse 8 as, “Therefore wait ye for me, saith Jehovah, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.” Even for apostate Israel, hope remains. The command “Wait for the Lord” is a truth that applies to believers in every age. “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). Let us also wait for the Lord.