1 See, the LORD is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; he will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants— 2 it will be the same for priest as for people, for the master as for his servant, for the mistress as for her servant,for seller as for buyer,for borrower as for lender,for debtor as for creditor. 3 The earth will be completely laid waste and totally plundered. The LORD has spoken this word. 4 The earth dries up and withers,the world languishes and withers,the heavens languish with the earth. 5 The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore earth’s inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left. 7 The new wine dries up and the vine withers; all the merrymakers groan. 8 The joyful timbrels are stilled,the noise of the revelers has stopped,the joyful harp is silent. 9 No longer do they drink wine with a song; the beer is bitter to its drinkers. 10 The ruined city lies desolate; the entrance to every house is barred. 11 In the streets they cry out for wine; all joy turns to gloom, all joyful sounds are banished from the earth. 12 The city is left in ruins, its gate is battered to pieces. 13 So will it be on the earth and among the nations, as when an olive tree is beaten, or as when gleanings are left after the grape harvest. 14 They raise their voices, they shout for joy; from the west they acclaim the LORD’s majesty. 15 Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD; exalt the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea. 16 From the ends of the earth we hear singing:“Glory to the Righteous One.” But I said, “I waste away, I waste away! Woe to me! The treacherous betray! With treachery the treacherous betray!” 17 Terror and pit and snare await you, people of the earth. 18 Whoever flees at the sound of terror will fall into a pit; whoever climbs out of the pit will be caught in a snare. The floodgates of the heavens are opened, the foundations of the earth shake. 19 The earth is broken up, the earth is split asunder, the earth is violently shaken. 20 The earth reels like a drunkard, it sways like a hut in the wind; so heavy upon it is the guilt of its rebellion that it falls—never to rise again. 21 In that day the LORD will punish the powers in the heavens above and the kings on the earth below.
22 They will be herded together like prisoners bound in a dungeon; they will be shut up in prison and be punished[a] after many days. 23 The moon will be dismayed,the sun ashamed; for the LORD Almighty will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before its elders—with great glory.
This chapter tells us that in the last days, the Lord will punish the wicked and bring justice to the righteous.
1. The Earth Will Be Judged (24:1–13)
• V1 The word “to lay waste the earth and devastate it”, showing the serious result of turning away from God.
• V 2 says God will judge everyone fairly, no matter their status, wealth, or position—no one can escape.
• V3-4 shows a picture of destruction, reminding us of the chaos before God created the world (Genesis 1). This shows that a life without God becomes empty and chaotic.
• V5 says people have broken God’s laws and the everlasting covenant. Their sins have badly damaged the relationship between God and humans.
Discussion 1: God gave Israel many chances, but they kept breaking the covenant. What can we learn from their actions and consequences?
2. We Need True Revival (24:14–16)
At first, V14–16 look like a song praising God. But actually, it shows people were careless in honoring Him.
V14: People seemed to praise God, but their hearts were far from Him.
V15–16a : They said they would glorify God “in the east,”( but this can be translated into“in the fire”) represents God’s judgment. They did not truly repent but used fake religious words and actions to cover their sins.
V16b : The prophet Isaiah says, “The treacherous betray!” This means their faith was not sincere.
Discussion 2:
Are we focusing only on outward religious actions, while our hearts are not right with God? Are we taking God’s glory lightly? Let us truly repent, even if it costs us something.
3. Judgment and Salvation (24:17–23)
Isaiah not only talks about judgment (like Israel being taken captive), but also about God’s salvation (they will return home).
V17–20 use images like earthquakes and the sky opening to describe how God will judge the earth.
V21–22 say “In That Day,” God will punish the kings of the earth. This points to the fall of Babylon and the return of Israel
“In That Day” is both a day of judgment and a day of salvation.
This teaches us:
• Don’t ignore your sins and still expect God to save you.
• Don’t think you are beyond hope — God’s grace is greater than your guilt.
Reflection:
As Christians, we are moving toward the final day of judgment and salvation. Let us live each day with faith, hope, and love, so that we are ready when that day comes.
Closing: Give thanks to God:
“The Lord Almighty will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and will be glorified among His elders.” (Isaiah 24:23)
In the end, God’s glory will fill the earth. Today, we are living in a turning point in human history. We must first be revived by God—fearing Him, focusing on Him, and obeying His Word. Then His glory will be with us.
Let us lift up His name among the nations and lead people back to God, walking with Him until the end.
