Isaiah 24BSB

In This Chapter 3 people 9 places 50 terms

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God’s Judgment on the Earth

Here the judgments described in chs 13–23 are...

Here the judgments described in chs 13–23 are extended to the creation at large.

This section is often referred to as the...

This section is often referred to as the “Little Apocalypse” because of its similarities to the book of Revelation. In these chapters Isaiah takes readers out of the present into a vision of the future world. The universal imagery of the Little Apocalypse makes it difficult to assign the events described to any precise historical situation. That means that these chapters cannot be used to outline a sequence of events or create a historical blueprint for the future. Instead, the imagery is intended to create an impressionistic drama of an unfolding world that is both like and unlike the present. The combination of aspects of the old era with aspects of the new era (for instance, people of Zion will all be righteous [new], but still long for their redemption [old]) is consistent with the New Testament concept of the future age breaking into and overlapping with the present evil age (2 Cor 4:4; Gal 1:4). Peter, for example, wrote of believers as living in the last days (1 Pet 1:12; 2 Pet 3:3) even though the last day remains yet future (2 Pet 3:10).

1Behold, the LORD lays waste the earthand leaves it in ruins.He will twist its surfaceand scatter its inhabitants—2people and priest alike, servant and master,maid and mistress, buyer and seller,lender and borrower, creditor and debtor.3The earth will be utterly laid wasteand thoroughly plundered.For the LORD has spoken this word.
All humanity is guilty (Rom 3:23) and under...

All humanity is guilty (Rom 3:23) and under condemnation (see Isa 59:1–15). Judgment is likened to a failed grape harvest that brings drinking and feasting to a halt.

4The earth mourns and withers;the world languishes and fades;the exalted of the earth waste away.5The earth is defiled by its people;they have transgressed the laws;they have overstepped the decreesand broken the everlasting covenant.6Therefore a curse has consumed the earth,and its inhabitants must bear the guilt;the earth’s dwellers have been burned,and only a few survive.
7The new wine dries up, the vine withers.All the merrymakers now groan.8The joyful tambourines have ceased;the noise of revelers has stopped;the joyful harp is silent.9They no longer sing and drink wine;strong drink is bitter to those who consume it.
10The city of chaos is shattered;every house is closed to entry.11In the streets they cry out for wine.All joy turns to gloom;rejoicing is exiled from the land.12The city is left in ruins;its gate is reduced to rubble.13So will it be on the earthand among the nations,like a harvested olive tree,like a gleaning after a grape harvest.
In spite of wailing and ruin, the sound...

In spite of wailing and ruin, the sound of praise is heard from all directions. Even while still experiencing the pain of the devastation of the old world, the godly will respond with joyous expectation for the new world.

14They raise their voices, they shout for joy;from the west they proclaim the majesty of the LORD.15Therefore glorify the LORD in the east.Extol the name of the LORD, the God of Israelin the islands of the sea.16From the ends of the earth we hear singing:“Glory to the Righteous One.”
But I said, “I am wasting away! I am wasting away!Woe is me.”The treacherous betray;the treacherous deal in treachery.17Terror and pit and snare await you,O dweller of the earth.18Whoever flees the sound of panicwill fall into the pit,and whoever climbs from the pitwill be caught in the snare.
For the windows of heaven are open,and the foundations of the earth are shaken.19The earth is utterly broken apart,the earth is split open,the earth is shaken violently.20The earth staggers like a drunkardand sways like a shack.Earth’s rebellion weighs it down,and it falls, never to rise again.
21In that day the LORD will punishthe host of heaven aboveand the kings of the earth below.22They will be gathered togetherlike prisoners in a pit.They will be confined to a dungeonand punished after many days.23The moon will be confoundedand the sun will be ashamed;for the LORD of Hosts will reignon Mount Zion and in Jerusalem,and before His elders with great glory.