Isaiah 24
-The four chapters from 24-27 can
be called “Isaiah’s Apocalypse” as he prophecies the coming destruction of the
earth and its evil. The earth is laid waste by the sins of its people against
their Creator. God distorts the surface of it and scatters the people of the
earth. Things are turned upside down and twisted into a new order. At God’s
word, the world is completely despoiled (to spoil, plunder, prey upon, seize).
The earth mourns and withers, it fades along with all its exalted people who
went against the way of the Almighty. These are the ones who pollute God’s
creation by going their own way transgressing His laws, violating His perfect
statutes, and breaking the everlasting covenant in disobedience (Isaiah 24:1-6,
Revelation 9:20-21; 11:18).
-In poetic form the descriptions
of the cursed world is portrayed in the remainder of the chapter proceeding on
into the next three chapters. The joy of the civilization ceases as terror,
pit, and snare are unavoidable (Isaiah 24:17-18). The earth is described as
broken asunder, split through, shaken violently, reeling to and fro like a drunkard,
and tottering like a weak shack because of its heavy transgression. God wants
glory from the east to the west and eventually punishes those who resist His
goodness. “The LORD of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and His
glory will be before His elders (Isaiah 24:23).” *Application* We are at enmity
with God and under His wrath unless we come to Him on His terms. His terms that
He has chosen are on the basis of faith. There is no way we could ever pay for
all of our sins and transgressions against Him in our own-limited strength.
This is the beauty of the gospel. Jesus made a way back to the Father and His
grace by His sacrificial atonement. Receive Him by faith and have God’s
merciful-eternal pardon from the destruction that is on the way. You own way
has no chance of winning in the end.
Verse to Memorize: Isaiah 24:4
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