FRAMEWORKS:
Isaiah 24: The
Lord's devastation of the earth
Context:
1.3
God's Outworking of the End Judgment Ch.24-27
Ch.24
– The
Lord's devastation of the earth
Ch.25
– Subsequent
Praise to the Lord
Ch.26
– An
extension of the song of praise
Ch.27
– Deliverance
by Discipline of Israel
This
Chapter:
v.1-4
A mighty world-wide devastation
v.5-9
Caused by the people, destruction of life and crops
v.10-13
City & the earth beaten down
v.14-16
Yet the peoples carry on their festivities as if nothing was
happening
v.16b-18
But Isaiah is in total anguish over what he sees is coming
v.19-23
He sees its full effects on the earth
[Introductory
Comment: This
chapter, sometimes referred to as ‘Isaiah's Apocalypse', encompassing
the whole earth, fits with other ‘end-time' prophecies in the
Bible indicating massive destructions on the earth [v.1,3,4] from
which no one will be exempt [v.2]. Verse 5 gives a devastating
assessment of the cause of it which, from the beginning of the
third decade of the twenty-first century, some would suggest is
the environmental crisis caused by humanity's careless use of
the planet [but see below]. Verses 6 to 9 show the practical outworkings
of this, perhaps yet to be seen later in this century. Whether
verse 10 is Jerusalem or simply symptomatic of what will happen
to cities as these things develop [v.11-13], is unclear. Rather
like the days of Noah [see Mt 24:37,38, Lk 17:26-30] people will
be ignoring what is happening [v.14-16]. But the prophet ‘sees'
the awfulness of what will happen and is in anguish [v.16-18].
In graphic detail he spells out how bad it will be [v.19-23].
See additional note at end of chapter.]
v.1-4
A mighty world-wide devastation
v.1
(A mighty worldwide cataclysmic
destruction) See, the Lord is going
to lay waste the earth
and devastate it;
he will ruin its face
and scatter its inhabitants –
v.2 (No
one will escape it) it will be the
same
for priest as for people,
for the master as for his servant,
for the mistress as for her servant,
for seller as for buyer,
for borrower as for lender,
for debtor as for creditor.
v.3 (The
whole earth will be ravished) The
earth will be completely laid waste
and totally plundered.
The Lord has spoken this word.
v.4
(Heaven & earth suffer)
The earth dries up and withers,
the world languishes and withers,
the heavens languish with the earth.
v.5-9
Caused by the people, destruction of life and crops
v.5
(The people of the earth
have abused it) The earth is defiled
by its people;
they have disobeyed the laws,
violated the statutes
and broken the everlasting covenant.
v.6 (Therefore
they must bear the consequences) Therefore
a curse consumes the earth;
its people must bear their guilt.
Therefore earth's inhabitants are burned up,
and very few are left.
v.7 (Harvests
will be destroyed) The new wine dries
up and the vine withers;
all the merrymakers groan.
v.8 (Joy
will depart) The joyful tambourines
are stilled,
the noise of the revellers has stopped,
the joyful harp is silent.
v.9 No
longer do they drink wine with a song;
the beer is bitter to its drinkers.
v.10-13
City & the earth beaten down
v.10
(The city [Jerusalem?] will fall)
The ruined city lies desolate;
the entrance to every house is barred.
v.11
(Happiness will go) In the
streets they cry out for wine;
all joy turns to gloom,
all joyful sounds are banished from the
earth.
v.12
(It will be in ruins) The
city is left in ruins,
its gate is battered to pieces.
v.13
(An illustration of what
happens worldwide) So will it be
on the earth
and among the nations,
as when an olive tree is beaten,
or as when gleanings are left after the
grape harvest.
v.14-16a
Yet the peoples carry on their festivities as if nothing was happening
v.14
(There is still rejoicing, even from
the people of God) They raise their
voices, they shout for joy;
from the west they acclaim the Lord's
majesty.
v.15 Therefore
in the east give glory to the Lord;
exalt the name of the Lord, the God of
Israel,
in the islands of the sea.
v.16 From
the ends of the earth we hear singing:
‘Glory to the Righteous One.'
v.16b-18
But Isaiah is in total anguish over what he sees is coming
(Isaiah
feels otherwise) But I said, ‘I waste
away, I waste away!
Woe to me!
The treacherous betray!
With treachery the treacherous betray!'
v.17 Terror
and pit and snare await you,
people of the earth.
v.18 Whoever
flees at the sound of terror
will fall into a pit;
whoever climbs out of the pit
will be caught in a snare.
The
floodgates of the heavens are opened,
the foundations of the earth shake.
v.19-23
He sees its full effects on the earth
v.19
(The effect on the earth
is cataclysmic) The earth is broken
up,
the earth is split asunder,
the earth is violently shaken.
v.20 The
earth reels like a drunkard,
it sways like a hut in the wind;
so heavy upon it is the guilt of its rebellion
that it falls – never to rise again.
v.21
(All ungodly rule will be
punished) In that day the Lord will
punish
the powers in the heavens above
and the kings on the earth below.
v.22 They
will be herded together
like prisoners bound in a dungeon;
they will be shut up in prison
and be punished after many days.
v.23 (The
sky may be hidden but not God's glory) The
moon will be dismayed,
the sun ashamed;
for the Lord Almighty will reign
on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem,
and before its elders – with great
glory.
[Additional
Comment: Seeking to suggest applications of such a prophecy
as found in this chapter is an uncertain exercise. At the beginning
of the chapter we referred to the environmental crisis becoming
more and more obvious as the twenty-first century develops, yet
the same descriptions found in the chapter could be equally applied
to extreme out-of-control biological warfare, or even partial
nuclear warfare.
Perhaps
the most important thing to note is that the outworkings of this
destruction has human origins and the Scriptures are clear that
very often the judgment that God brings is simply brought about
as He lifts off His hands of restraint and sinful mankind is allowed
to wreak havoc by the consequences of their foolish, sinful actions.
All three of the causes mentioned above fit this description.]
CONTINUE
TO CHAPTER 25