8 For the Lord has a day of vengeance, a year of retribution, to uphold Zion's cause.
8 For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.
8 For the Lord has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.
8 It's God's scheduled time for vengeance, the year all Zion's accounts are settled.
8 For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, The year of recompense for the cause of Zion.
8 For it is the day of the Lord 's revenge, the year when Edom will be paid back for all it did to Israel.
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;
2 God sent me to announce the year of his grace - a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies - and to comfort all who mourn,
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,
2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord 's favor has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies.
(Read Isaiah 61:1-3)
The prophets had the Holy Spirit of God at times, teaching them what to say, and causing them to say it; but Christ had the Spirit always, without measure, to qualify him, as man, for the work to which he was appointed. The poor are commonly best disposed to receive the gospel, James 2:5; and it is only likely to profit us when received with meekness. To such as are poor in spirit, Christ preached good tidings when he said, Blessed are the meek. Christ's satisfaction is accepted. By the dominion of sin in us, we are bound under the power of Satan; but the Son is ready, by his Spirit, to make us free; and then we shall be free indeed. Sin and Satan were to be destroyed; and Christ triumphed over them on his cross. But the children of men, who stand out against these offers, shall be dealt with as enemies. Christ was to be a Comforter, and so he is; he is sent to comfort all who mourn, and who seek to him, and not to the world, for comfort. He will do all this for his people, that they may abound in the fruits of righteousness, as the branches of God's planting. Neither the mercy of God, the atonement of Christ, nor the gospel of grace, profit the self-sufficient and proud. They must be humbled, and led to know their own character and wants, by the Holy Spirit, that they may see and feel their need of the sinner's Friend and Saviour. His doctrine contains glad tidings indeed to those who are humbled before God.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 34:8
Commentary on Isaiah 34:1-8
(Read Isaiah 34:1-8)
Here is a prophecy of the wars of the Lord, all which are both righteous and successful. All nations are concerned. And as they have all had the benefit of his patience, so all must expect to feel his resentment. The description of bloodshed suggests tremendous ideas of the Divine judgments. Idumea here denotes the nations at enmity with the church; also the kingdom of antichrist. Our thoughts cannot reach the horrors of that awful season, to those found opposing the church of Christ. There is a time fixed in the Divine counsels for the deliverance of the church, and the destruction of her enemies. We must patiently wait till then, and judge nothing before the time. Through Christ, mercy is exercised to every believer, consistently with justice, and his name is glorified.