The Lord’s devastation of the Earth. Isaiah 24
Prophet ISAIAH lived around 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. He prophesied to the Kingdom of Judah who had turned a deaf ear to the LORD. God was trying to bring His people back to true faith and obedience through His servant Isaiah.
Chapter 24 speaks about God’s devastation of the earth.
A. The Lord is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; he will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants. Isa.24:1. A metaphor of God’s judgement on the earth in physical term
It will be the same for everyone. Isa.24:2 shows that all social distinctions are removed. Everyone will be judged. No class of people will be immune from the general judgement of the Lord.
The earth will be completely laid waste and totally plundered. Isa.24:3.
The earth will be terribly afflicted by the judgement of the Lord.
B.The reason for the judgment. 24:4-6.
The earth is defiled by its people, they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statues, and broken the everlasting covenant. 24:5.
Because men disobeyed God, a curse consumes the earth, its people must bear their guilt. 24:6.
C.The scene of judgement. Isa.24:7-13.
The new wine dries up v7.
The noise of the revelers has stopped v8.
The ruined city lies desolate;the entrance to every house barred 24:10.
All joy turns to gloom, all gaiety in banished from the earth. 24:11.
The city is left in ruins,.. 24:12.
The glory of God and the woe of man. Isa.24:14-16.
A praise unit referring to those who trust God. A few shall be preserved.
D.The character of God’s judgement.
a. The judgement of the Lord will always be completed. 24:17-18. Fear- pit- snare. The judgement of the Lord is inescapable. The only way to escape the judgement is to satisfy it and the only place God’s judgement was ever satisfied was on the cross.✝
b. The intensity of the judgement of the Lord touches everything. 24:19,20.
c. The judgement of the Lord will touch everyone. 24:21-23.
Kings of the earth – under God’s final judgement, one’s status on the earth will buy them nothing. No degree of earthly greatness will help man on that day.
Around one year back, a deadly virus was reported. Now already more than 7 crores of people have been affected by it and around 16 lakhs of people died and it is spreading across the globe. When I read Isa.24, keeping that in mind – this disease can devastate the earth,v1, nobody can escape from infection if exposed, v2, spreads due to coming in contact with the virus, v5 those who die, their bodies are burning, V6, hotels closed in many cities, merrymaking ,clubs, parties, vv7,8, entrance to many cities and buildings were closed. v10
Scientists already developed some medicines and more research is still going. All those who take the right medicine can escape death.
Friends,
Bible says, There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22,23.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom.6:23.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John.1:9.
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John.1:12
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8,9
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord”, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12
Bible says Salvation is only through faith in Jesus Christ and it is available to all those who believe in Him, irrespective of your background. Believe in Jesus Christ, confess your sins and invite Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, now itself. Then we can become a true child of God and Jesus will transform our life. 2 Corinthians 5:17. Let us continue to study God’s word to grow in Him.
Rev.C.V.Abraham
The Book Of Isaiah And The New Testament
“The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, Because they have transgressed the laws, Changed the Ordinance, Broken the everlasting covenant”.(24: 5)
Man was given the most unfortunate, the gravest and the worst assessment he can ever get from God.
After making the earth in the most beautiful way, God created man and entrusted with him its upkeep. How much God wished to see the earth prosper with man living in tandem with Nature ; a life complementary to each other! And the remark (that the inhabitants of the earth have defiled it) comes from God, about the same man whom He kept so far at the pinnacle of expectation! Expectation turning into despair. It is indeed a tragedy for man.
May be man did not know how to live or take care of the earth in the beginning. But, God gave him specific commandments and covenants about these things, all written down subsequently. And yet, man defied God, defiled the earth and ignored His commandments nonchalantly.
“Therefore the curse had devoured the earth, and those who dwell in it are desolate…”(24:6)
Because of man the earth (land, sea, sky, animals , vegetation..) is perished.
I think the prophecy of Isaiah is more relevant for our times than for his time.
Man is damaging the earth at a faster rate and in a graver way than during those times . God’s commandments are being broken with wild abandon. And man is getting punished also for it .But, if we do not pay heed to Isaiah’s prophecy, we will have to pay a much heavier price.
Therefore, let us read and meditate on Isaiah’s prophecy with same importance we give to the New Testament.
George Joseph
Trivandrum