Isaiah 24
COMMENTARY:
: 1 Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty, and makes it waste, and turns it upside down, and scatters abroad the inhabitants thereof. (1238 “empty” [baqaq] means to pour out, to depopulate, make void, or lay waste.)
DEVOTION: The earth is judge. The people of the earth are judged. Isaiah is foretelling of a day when the people of the earth will be judged because of transgression of God’s law. They have changed the ordinances of God. They have broken the everlasting covenant that the LORD established with HIS people.
This is a judgment of the children of Israel in the future. Men are going to be burned with few left. There is going to be confusion. People are going to run. Desolation is going to be judgment of the day.
However, there is going to be a remnant, which is going to sing to the majesty of God. This remnant is a group of people that are singing are going to glorify the LORD. This group is righteous.
Those outside this group are going to be taken to the pit. The earth is going to be broken down. The earth is going to be moved. The earth is going to reel to and fro like a drunkard.
When this judgment is happening, the LORD is going to judge the “high ones.” The LORD is going to judge the “kings of the earth.” They are going to be prisoners for a time period. While they are prisoners, the LORD is going to reign on the earth.
This chapter has just described the Tribulation period or the time of Jacob’s trouble or the seventieth week of Daniel. The people of God are going to be judged. They had the covenant and broke it.
At the end of the seven years of Tribulation, the LORD is going to reign in Jerusalem for a thousand years or millennium. After the reign of a thousand years, the people in prison will be visited again to appear before the Great White Throne Judgment where all those without Christ will stand before the LORD for their final judgment to the lake of fire for eternity.
Our God is in control of our world and can do anything HE wants to with it. HE has a plan for the future of this world. HE is going to judge the world in a time period called the TRIBULATION.
Isaiah is giving a prophecy regarding this time period that will hit this earth after the time of the Gentiles. We are presently living in the time of the Gentiles. Then seventieth week of Daniel will be fulfilled. HE has twisted it or turned it upside down to fit into HIS mold.
Sometimes HE turns our personal world upside down to show us that HE wants our attention. Has HE got our attention? Christ is coming again, are we ready?
Prophecy is important. There are areas of disagreement regarding the future but most believe that there is a time of judgment coming and a reign of Christ. You need to study to show yourself approved of God. Once you know what you believe you have a message to share about avoiding eternity in the lake of fire. Warn those you love that a day is coming when judgment will come.
CHALLENGE: The birth pangs of judgment seem to be coming quick. Prepare your family and friends for that time period. Many who think they are believers are not because their fruit is not evident.
: 5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. (2610 “defiled” [chaneph] means polluted, profane, godless, apostasy, desecrated, or corrupt.)
DEVOTION: Some people seem to think that God acts with no reasons. They think that HE just does things that make HIM happy. They think that HE doesn’t care about some people. These are wrong beliefs.
God cares about every human being. HE has given the world two plans to work with regarding HIMSELF. Both plans center around the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
The first plan was for the children of Israel to be HIS chosen people who would worship HIM in spirit and in truth according to the guidelines HE set down before them in the Old Testament. The children of Israel even went to foreign nations to tell of HIS plan. They could become followers of the LORD if they made that choice.
The second plan was given to the church. The individuals who become followers of Christ through their personal repentance of sin and turn toward the LORD were given the status of being part of the chosen people of God in the New Testament.
Both Testaments give instructions as to what God expects of those who live on this earth. They can either follow the instructions or disobey the instructions and pay the consequences.
Here we find that the LORD is going to judge the world. HE gives HIS reasons for the judgment. HE has been longsuffering to all those who are alive. HE has given them plenty of time to repent. They have chosen to life their lives without giving honor to the LORD. As a result of their actions they have to pay the consequences.
The first consequence is a judgment on the whole world. This is still in the future and will be a time when only a remnant will be praising the LORD. The majority will “transgress” HIS laws without even caring. They will change all HIS rules to their own rules for personal pleasure. They will not care about HIS covenant with the human race. They will laugh at HIM.
However, when judgment comes they will want the rocks to fall on them because of the judgment. They will try to hide from God but it will not happen.
God is going to judge the world in HIS time. HE has warned our world enough times for them to get the message but they just don’t care. The problem is that many believers don’t care to warn their families and friends of this coming judgment in a loving manner. We need to be speaking the truth in love to all those around us.
CHALLENGE: Give those you care about the reasons why God is coming in judgment. Help them to realize that you are telling them in love.
: 23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before HIS ancients gloriously. (2204 “ancients” [zaqen] means old, aged, elders, dignitary, or advanced in years.)
DEVOTION: When judgment finally comes to our world there will be a remnant of individuals who will be entering into the time of the reign of Jesus Christ. The others will be waiting for judgment before they enter into the lake of fire for eternity.
This verse states that sun and the moon will not be needed during the reign of Christ because HE will provide the light necessary to conduct all that is necessary during that time period.
HE is going to reign in Jerusalem for the thousand years as was promised and planned before the foundation of the world. There is going to be a time of judgment before HIS reign and it looks like we are getting closer and closer to that time period. We don’t know the date and we can’t predict a date because that would be sin.
We are to be prepared whether it happens in our lifetime or after we are in heaven waiting for that day. What is necessary is that it could happen at any moment and we need to be actively serving the LORD while we are still alive and waiting. This is not a time to rest but to be actively seeking to win those who will listen to a saving knowledge of the LORD. We are not to produce religious people but genuine believers. There is a difference and on the day of judgment who think they are on their way to heaven will be surprised to hear from the LORD “I never knew you!”
CHALLENGE: The question all of us have to answer is “Am I a genuine believer?” If so, does my life show it!!
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