June 17
Reading: Isaiah 24
1 Behold, the LORD will empty the earth and make it desolate, and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants. 2 And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the slave, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the creditor, so with the debtor. 3 The earth shall be utterly empty and utterly plundered; for the LORD has spoken this word. 4 The earth mourns and withers; the world languishes and withers; the highest people of the earth languish. 5 The earth lies defiled under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched, and few men are left.
7 The wine mourns,
the vine languishes,
all the merry-hearted sigh.
8 The mirth of the tambourines is stilled,
the noise of the jubilant has ceased,
the mirth of the lyre is stilled.
9 No more do they drink wine with singing;
strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.
10 The wasted city is broken down;
every house is shut up so that none can enter.
11 There is an outcry in the streets for lack of wine;
all joy has grown dark;
the gladness of the earth is banished.
12 Desolation is left in the city;
the gates are battered into ruins.
13 For thus it shall be in the midst of the earth among the nations,
as when an olive tree is beaten,
as at the gleaning when the grape harvest is done.
14 They lift up their voices, they sing for joy;
over the majesty of the LORD they shout from the west.
15 Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD;
in the coastlands of the sea,
give glory to the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
16 From the ends of the earth we hear songs of praise,
of glory to the Righteous One.
But I say, “I waste away, I waste away. Woe is me!
For the traitors have betrayed,
with betrayal the traitors have betrayed.”
17 Terror and the pit and the snare
are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth!
18 He who flees at the sound of the terror shall fall into the pit,
and he who climbs out of the pit shall be caught in the snare.
For the windows of heaven are opened,
and the foundations of the earth tremble.
19 The earth is utterly broken,
the earth is split apart,
the earth is violently shaken.
20 The earth staggers like a drunken man;
it sways like a hut;
its transgression lies heavy upon it,
and it falls, and will not rise again.
21 On that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven, in heaven,
and the kings of the earth, on the earth.
22 They will be gathered together as prisoners in a pit;
they will be shut up in a prison,
and after many days they will be punished.
23 Then the moon will be confounded and the sun ashamed,
for the LORD of hosts reigns on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem,
and his glory will be before his elders.
Isaiah 24 begins the conclusion of the display of God’s sovereignty over all the nations that began in chapter 13.
Isaiah 24 God’s judgment on the entire earth
Isaiah 25 The faith of the faithful and the feast in that day
Isaiah 26 In that day, the song of the righteous
Isaiah 27 In that day, the salvation of God’s people
Isaiah 24:1 is a summary statement covering all of Isaiah 13-23. Verses 2-6 serve to make clear just what this means. There will ultimately come a day when God will level the world, socially, economically, and physically. The Assyrian invasion is a small demonstration of this, as is the Babylonian conquest. The Greeks will follow. But the ultimate Day of the Lord is still yet to come.
The arrival of Jesus 2,000 years ago began the final age of this world prior to the final Day of the Lord. On that day, the city of this world (earthly Jerusalem) will be broken down. (vs. 12) All the entertainment and drinking and partying of this world will be over, done. If will not be fun for those who have placed their hope in this world.
But God’s people, those who’s hope is in heaven, will rejoice. (vs. 14) Those who are not looking for the Lord will despair. (vss. 16-20) The “host of heaven” (vs. 21) refers to the demonic false gods and the “kings of the earth” are those who have worldly power and riches. All will be punished, and the earth will be remade.
Are you ready? Is your hope in heaven or on earth? Are you looking for joy to entertainment, alcohol, fun, music, money, politics, health, or anything else that this world offers? It will all be gone in that coming day. Look for the Lord to return and find your joy in Him.