Isaiah 24 UNIVERSAL JUDGMENT FOR UNIVERSAL SIN
From Isaiah twenty-four through twenty-seven there are general rebukes and promises that include all of humanity, both in judgments and assurances. Because divine judgment doesn’t happen immediately as far as human time is concerned, that does not mean God overlooks sin and open evil in people and nations. Isaiah can see ahead through prophetic vision as the Holy Spirit inspires him to write about God’s righteous dealing with nations. The whole world scene comes under the judgment of God at the end of the age.
The nations of whom Isaiah wrote and warned of just judgments, are Babylon, as a reminder of judgment on corruption and oppression. Then there was Assyria noted for antagonism against the Lord’s chosen people. Philistia was in a state of constant opposition and hostility toward Israel that was right next to them. Moab’s pride was the cause of the demise of that tribal nation and Dumah was a self-reliant, self-centered tribe of people. Judgment came on Jerusalem and will again because of the counterfeit profession of being followers of God and instead copying the world around them. Tyre was judged, and all nations of similar characteristics of worldly glory and self-exaltation.
Isaiah saw in his prophecy the judgments of the last days on the nations of the whole world when evil is dealt with in justice and righteous judgment by the Supreme Sovereign. Governments, the people and even the land itself will suffer the effects of evil, lawlessness, pollution, crime and poverty. Sin affects every part of human life to the extent that even those who know and love the Lord will suffer. Human sin has brought human suffering. Believers must be separate from the world. They must openly reject sin and stand against immorality and the lawlessness of the world system. When we read and submit to the word of God, we will make a difference, even though it may seem like a very small and insignificant difference.
In this chapter the “earth” is the inhabited world of people that is composed of two classes of people: the wicked and corrupt, and the faithful people of God. Even though just judgment will be world-wide, there will be a remnant that will survive the destruction that will come. All the people of earth, no matter what their station in life is, will face divine judgment without any discrimination. Divine fairness and holiness will be seen in judgment and in grace also. That grace is extended to every single person in the world today without partiality who will turn by faith to the Lord in repentance and unreserved trust. “God is no respecter of persons.” That just judgment because of human sin, will have an effect on the earth itself that has been cursed by human sin; on nations and on the whole human race.
Believers will rejoice at the righteous judgment of God even though wickedness will seem to prevail, and they will be adversely affected to the extent that only those who endure to the end will be saved. Israel will turn away from God to the antichrist, and the antichrist will turn away from Israel with the objective of annihilating them completely. Everything the unbelieving people of Israel trust in will be broken up as the results of sin bringing catastrophic ruin to the world. Justice and judgment that is righteously carried out, will bring misery to those who reject the Lord.
The present hopes of the Israelis will be only dreams because they consider only themselves and their history, not the blessings of the covenant made with God so long ago. Not until they actually see the Lord and will wonder “who is this that cometh from Edom,” and will ask “What are those wounds in Thy hands?” will they be able to avoid the terrible opposition against them by the nations that surround them. They have ignored the law of God, and their own efforts have taken the place of the blessings which the Lord wanted to bestow on them. They broke the terms of the covenant and have openly rejected the Lord Jesus Christ. Israel, like all the other nations, refuses to be subject to the Sovereign God. Consequently, the tribulation will turn the whole world into a place of disaster, and unless the Lord would “shorten the days,” no human being would survive.
A few were left in the land when the Lord judged Judah, and a few are still left on the earth who have faith, and can sing in such times of trouble, “Glory to the Righteous One.” Justice and righteous judgment bring misery to those who reject the Lord, and songs of praise to the Lord in the midst of suffering by those who read and believe the prophetic words of the Bible. A few people will be found enduring, and finding reason to praise the Lord as they live in the fulfillment of God’s infallible word. No one escapes the consequences of just judgment that comes from divine authority with absolute, untainted divine power and justice. Evil authorities will be in hell waiting for the judgment of the great white throne.
Then the Lord Jesus Christ returns! Isaiah saw the glory ahead, but he also saw the terrible “leanness” (misery) sin would bring when everything that was considered stable will be shaken – even the physical earth. God is at work in current events which Bible prophets like Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and Zechariah wrote about long ago. Bible prophecy is not given to us as a time-table of events, but to stimulate the people of God to sincere open obedience to our Lord. Those who have faith in God and read His word, see all the terrible things that are happening and will yet happen, and recognize, “The coming of the Lord draws near.”
The final words of this chapter reveal the glory that will follow as the promises of God are fulfilled and the Lord of hosts reigns in His glory. The light of the sun and moon will seem insignificant to the splendor of our Lord when He reigns. When He appears, He will govern in righteousness, and human pride will be as nothing when every knee will bow to the Lord Jesus Christ. Even though we may find ourselves occasionally depressed because of the evil all around now, we can read of God’s promises for the future, and find our faith real, and our joy in the Lord real as well.
Isaiah 24:14-16a. “They shall raise up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, they shall cry aloud from the sea. Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles of the sea. From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous…” THE SOUND I HEAR. There’s music coming from somewhere to my ears. There are voices raised from far away with praise and the sound of excitement of the heart. They are talking of the wonders of the Lord Himself. They have learned or heard of One they never knew. It is those from the western sea who acclaim the majesty of the Lord!
The name of the Lord is given glory. The name of the Lord, the God of Israel is being exalted where it never was before. From the “fires”, the valleys of the east, comes the sound of glory to my ears. From the isles, those places of obscurity, comes His name wafting across the distances. It is those from the eastern sea who exalt the name of the Lord!
From the far and distant points of earth, those places so exotic. From the ends of far and distant roads that end in narrow paths so steep and rocky. From the deserts; roadless sands that have no real beginning or end. From the leafy islands, where sounds so unfamiliar to my ears, come the sound of singing voices; It is from those distant ends of earth, we hear, “Glory to the Righteous One.”
So, what is this I hear amidst the noise of commerce going on so loudly? So, what is this I can almost feel when the noise of transport and of money is so loud? So, what is this that sets my feet to tapping and my fingers moving to its time midst all the fuss? So, what is this that turns my head, my heart, my mind towards this place so insignificant? It is from here I hear clear voices singing, honoring, acclaiming, exalting – praising right here – the Lord!
“I would praise Thee here, my Father and God; I would honor and extol Thy name in this place. I would lift up before Thee the glory of Thy Son and allow the warmth of this praising people to fill my heart with joy, my eyes with tears both shed and unshed. It is in this hallowed spot with saints so precious, I bow in humility and adoration; and sing with voice subdued, “My richest gains, I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.” Even so, I do this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”