Isaiah 24:1-23
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 16 viewsNotes
Transcript
The chapter’s structure includes:
God’s Final Curse on the Earth (24:1–13)
The destruction caused by the curse (vv. 1–3)
The reasons for the curse (vv. 4–13)
Joy and Sorrow Over God’s Judgment (24:14–18a)
Future joy and praise (vv. 14–16a)
The prophet’s sorrow over the present state (vv. 16b–18a)
After Destruction, God Will Reign (24:18b–23)
Key Themes for the Chapter
God’s Universal Judgment – The judgment is not just on Israel but on the whole earth.
The Reversal of Joy – A once-thriving world becomes desolate due to sin.
The Sovereignty of God – Despite destruction, God remains in control.
A Remnant Will Rejoice – Even in judgment, the faithful will glorify God.
The Ultimate Rule of God – The Lord will reign in glory after judgment.
1. The Earth Is Devastated (vs. 1-6)
1. The Earth Is Devastated (vs. 1-6)
Passage Themes:
This passage introduces the theme of global judgment.
It emphasizes that God's judgment affects everyone—priests, servants, masters, buyers, sellers, lenders, and borrowers (v. 2).
The earth suffers because of human sin: “The earth lies defiled under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed the laws” (v. 5).
A major theme here is the breaking of God’s covenant, leading to destruction (v. 6).
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.
Reasons for God’s Judgment:
The Earth is Defiled – Evil actions have polluted the land, making it incapable of sustaining life. This mirrors the moral corruption before the flood (Gen 6:11), where violence defiled the earth.
Disobedience to God's Instructions – People have ignored God's teachings.
Violation of God's Statutes – The breaking of divine laws further condemns humanity.
Breaking the "Eternal Covenant" – Scholars debate whether this refers to the Mosaic Covenant (which was conditional and could be broken) or the Noahic Covenant (which was eternal but not breakable by humans). Some suggest that Isaiah blends elements of both covenants, emphasizing worldwide sin and judgment.
Moral Breakdown – A fundamental disregard for God’s order has led to this catastrophe.
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.
The verse highlights two key results of God’s judgment:
A Curse Will Consume the Earth – This mirrors the covenant curses in Deuteronomy (Deut 27–28).
Few People Will Remain – A vast reduction in population due to catastrophic events, possibly wiping out billions.
2. The End of Earthly Joy (vs. 7-13)
2. The End of Earthly Joy (vs. 7-13)
Passage Themes:
The prosperity and joy of life are stripped away.
Music, festivals, and drinking turn into sorrow (vv. 8-9).
The cities become deserted, and the land is left in ruins (vv. 10-12).
A small remnant remains, symbolized by a few olives left after the harvest (v. 13).
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.
3. A Remnant Praises God (vs. 14-16a)
3. A Remnant Praises God (vs. 14-16a)
Passage Themes:
Amid judgment, a faithful remnant still praises God.
They glorify the Lord "from the ends of the earth" (v. 16), showing that God's kingdom is global.
However, even Isaiah laments, saying, "Woe to me! Woe to me!" because of the treachery of the wicked (v. 16).
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.
Interpretations of Passage:
Conflicting Views – Many believe the rejoicing in Isaiah 24:14–16a is inappropriate, as the prophet laments the impending destruction. Isaiah does not see a reason for hope, given the coming judgment.
Premature Celebration – Some argue the joy is legitimate, akin to praise in Isaiah 12:1–6 or 42:10–12, but mistimed since God’s final victory has not yet occurred.
Identity of the Rejoicing Group – The "they" in 24:14 could refer to the righteous remnant after judgment or Isaiah’s present audience. If the latter, they may have misinterpreted the destruction in 24:1–13 as a message of hope against their enemies. However, historical context suggests Judah did not heed Isaiah’s warnings until the Assyrian siege in 701 BC, making it more likely that the rejoicing refers to a future remnant.
3. The Terror of Judgment (vs. 16b-23)
3. The Terror of Judgment (vs. 16b-23)
Passage Themes:
Judgment is inescapable—those who flee from one disaster fall into another (v. 18).
The earth shakes violently, staggering like a drunkard (vv. 19-20).
The final verses depict God’s victory over both earthly and heavenly powers (vv. 21-22).
The Lord will reign gloriously in Zion (v. 23), a foreshadowing of Christ's eternal kingdom.
16 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.
19 as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him, or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall, and a serpent bit him.
2 “If they dig into Sheol, from there shall my hand take them; if they climb up to heaven, from there I will bring them down.
3 If they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, from there I will search them out and take them; and if they hide from my sight at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent, and it shall bite them.
4 And if they go into captivity before their enemies, there I will command the sword, and it shall kill them; and I will fix my eyes upon them for evil and not for good.”
18 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.
11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened.
2 The fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained,
12 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood,
13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale.
14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains,
1 Hear this word that I take up over you in lamentation, O house of Israel:
2 “Fallen, no more to rise, is the virgin Israel; forsaken on her land, with none to raise her up.”
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.
15 But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.
1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain.
2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,
3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.
4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;
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.
7 And there shall be a unique day, which is known to the Lord, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light.
23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
Theological Implications
Theological Implications
Key Lessons and Application
Sin Has Consequences
Humanity's disobedience and rejection of God lead to devastation.
We should take sin seriously and live in obedience to God.
God is Sovereign Over All Nations
Isaiah’s prophecy extends beyond Israel to the entire world.
God's judgment and reign are universal.
True Joy is Found in the Lord
The world's pleasures are temporary and can be taken away.
The remnant that praises God finds lasting joy in Him.
God’s Judgment is Not the End
The final verses hint at hope—God reigns and will restore His people.
This points to the future reign of Christ.
Discussion Questions
How does this chapter challenge our understanding of God’s justice?
What similarities do you see between Isaiah 24 and the book of Revelation?
How can we ensure we are part of the remnant that remains faithful to God?
What does this passage teach about where we place our joy and security?
