Praising Him in the Rubble - Isaiah 24

In Isaiah 13–23, Yahweh uses Isaiah to warn the nations that He is sovereign over all of them. In these chapters, He constantly warns nations about their pride, idolatry, and lawlessness. Now in Isaiah 24, Yahweh describes the period when He will take back from the world’s leaders the power He had delegated to them. To do this, He devastates the earth and its inhabitants before setting up His kingdom.

Isaiah begins this chapter by inviting us to use our imaginations: “Behold”. The first six verses paint the picture we must view in our minds: the destruction of the earth’s surface (verse 1), social structure (2), reserves (3), and vitality (4). These are all eliminated, leaving people only with their sin (5) and God’s wrath (6). God specifically faults them not just for their sin, but for violating “the everlasting covenant”. The everlasting covenant God makes with the entire world, Jew and Gentile, believers and unbelievers, is in Genesis 9. After Noah and his family disembark from the ark, God makes a covenant with them, promising never to flood the earth again, requiring them to be fruitful and multiply, allowing meat, and requiring murderers to be put to death.

The next six verses (7–12) focus on the breakdown of the world’s social structure. We see the average city of the earth during this devastation. Repeatedly, we notice the scarcity of alcoholic beverages. Due to the scarcity of wine, people’s joy ceases (7). All forms of festivity and celebration cease (8). Even those who can find “strong drink” do not enjoy it (9). Rather than repent, people construct their own solution. Some lock themselves indoors, perhaps because the world around them is unsafe (10, 12). Others go out in the streets to mourn their loss of wine (11).

But one part of society is rejoicing: a remnant who endure this period like “gleanings when the grape harvest is over” (13). They cry out with joy “from the west” or “from the sea” (14), meaning there are believers throughout the world who rejoice in the conquest of Yahweh. Isaiah responds to this by telling all those left in the east to glorify Him as well (15). The whole globe should praise Yahweh together.

In verses 14–16, this remnant directs its praise to Yahweh for being righteous; He’s doing what He always said He would do. Even though they’ve lived through the most harrowing part of human history, their hearts rejoice because He is trustworthy.

Their assessment that He is righteous shows that they know God’s character in the Bible and the biblical promises He has kept. During this period of tribulation, they haven’t allowed the social unrest or the dangers around them to alter the truths from Scripture in which they have trusted. Thus Yahweh’s coming to earth is like a dream come true after a long nightmare.

At this point, in verse 16, Isaiah interrupts the normal flow of the chapter to decry his own suffering: “I waste away! I waste away! Woe is me! The treacherous deal treacherously, and the treacherous deal very treacherously.” It’s as if the glory of Yahweh’s return causes him to see how bad the world around him is. 

The rest of the book of Isaiah bears out this remark about treachery. Early in his ministry, Isaiah understood that Judah’s rulers were betraying their duty to care for the poor (1:21–23; 3:14–15). Isaiah also witnessed the northern kingdom turning against its Judahite family (1 Kings 12:21–24; 2 Chronicles 28:5–15; Isaiah 7:1). In response, King Ahaz betrayed Yahweh for the support of Assyria (Isaiah 7:10–17). Later, Judah betrayed Yahweh again for Babylon (Isaiah 39). Prophetically, he also saw Babylon change from a friend to a foe (Isaiah 39:1–7).

Isaiah snaps back to the vision in verses 17–20. He sees many flee Yahweh, fall into pits, climb out of them, and fall again (17–18). This happens because earthquakes break up the ground worldwide (18) due to the weight of humanity’s sin (19–20). 

Finally, we see Yahweh cast the wicked human and demonic rulers into a pit for punishment (21–22) while He reigns from Jerusalem with His elders (23). In Exodus 24, God delegated His authority to Moses and other elders to rule Israel. In His kingdom, God likewise will share His authority over the earth with trustworthy believers.

As we see the harrowing effect of sin on the earth in this chapter, we’re reminded of Genesis 3 and Romans 8, where Scripture describes sin’s corrupting effect on creation. But as the creation itself unwinds under the massive weight of sin in the end times, humans won’t come clean to God: some lock themselves up in their homes, some look for an intoxicant to pacify their fear, and others simply try to flee, despite having nowhere to go. None of them escapes His judgment. 

But unlike the rest, God’s remnant knows that Yahweh is the Righteous One. They magnify Him with joy and gladly anticipate His kingdom.

Pastor David