Yes, Israel would be destroyed and there would be judgment. But there was hope. Out of Bethlehem would come a ruler who was of ancient of times. As we know from the New Testament this was fulfilled in Jesus. More interesting is that we actually have a fragment of this Scripture from the time before Christ.
Then there’s the statements a couple of times over that yes, Israel would be abandoned and go to judgment, but the LORD would bring them back to the land. He would also trounce on the enemies of God as easily as a lion with a baby lamb. It would be no battle.
But make no mistake. He would bring judgment for their many sins, their hypocrisies, their worship of the foreign gods. He would decimate Israel as he had told them not to do this and they did. And he gave them so many chances to repent and they wouldn’t.
And once more though in the back and forth he ends with he will do the same for the nations that likewise have no obeyed him.
This chapter is like a tennis game. Back and forth the whole chapter. Judgment upon Israel, but reverse judgment on the nations. Judgment on Israel and it will also come back on the nations.
Truly there is no one who escapes God’s righteous justice when evil persists unchecked. But as Scripture says in the New Testament,
“Judgment begins with the house of the LORD” 1 Pet 4:17.
In saying this he means that God holds his people first and foremost responsible. But in the end all peoples will have to face the consequence of their sin.
