Isa 24 | MHM | STEP | General Desolation Announced This prophecy shows a very sad and dark picture of what will happen to the world and its people. It describes great destruction and sorrow everywhere. The passage explains that God is the one who brings these judgments because of people’s sins. It also teaches that everyone will suffer, from the highest to the lowest, and that pride and vain happiness will be destroyed. The land, the cities, and the people will all feel God’s anger, and the main reason is that the earth is defiled by sin. v. 1 : God will make the earth empty and wasted . It will become like it was at the very beginning—confused and without any form, like Tohu and Bohu (Genesis 1:2 ). Sin has turned the world upside down and scattered its people. It will look as if the earth has lost its beauty and strength.

‏ Isaiah 24

General Desolation Announced

This prophecy shows a very sad and dark picture of what will happen to the world and its people. It describes great destruction and sorrow everywhere. The passage explains that God is the one who brings these judgments because of people’s sins. It also teaches that everyone will suffer, from the highest to the lowest, and that pride and vain happiness will be destroyed. The land, the cities, and the people will all feel God’s anger, and the main reason is that the earth is defiled by sin.

v. 1: God will make the earth empty and wasted . It will become like it was at the very beginning—confused and without any form, like Tohu and Bohu (Genesis 1:2 ^a). Sin has turned the world upside down and scattered its people. It will look as if the earth has lost its beauty and strength.

v. 2: Everyone will suffer the same, no matter who they are—priest or people, master or servant, rich or poor. No one’s position will protect them from God’s judgment . This shows that in times of God’s punishment, all are equal, and the proud or wealthy cannot escape. It reminds us that like people, like priest (Hosea 4:9 ^b).

v. 3: The earth will be completely emptied and spoiled, because God has spoken this word and He will make it happen . God, who made the earth beautiful, will now judge it. His curse can destroy everything, and when He curses, no one can stop Him.

v. 4: The earth will mourn and fade away; even the proud people will become weak and sad . Everything in the world will grow old and lose its beauty. People who put their hope in the world will be disappointed, like a flower that quickly withers away. Pride will not help anyone, because God can easily humble those who think highly of themselves.

v. 5: The earth is ruined because its people have defiled it with their sins . They have broken natural laws, changed God’s commands, and ignored His everlasting covenant. The land becomes unpleasant in God’s eyes because of sin, especially because of violence (Numbers 35:33 ^c). People have forgotten God’s kindness and have not kept their promises to Him.

v. 6: Because of this, God’s curse has destroyed the earth, and many people are burned or consumed by different troubles. Only a few people will be left . This shows that the world is full of disappointment and suffering, and people’s lives are short and difficult.

v. 7-9: All joy will disappear. The new wine will be wasted, and those who love to celebrate will be sad (Isaiah 24:7-9 ^d). There will be no more music or happy songs at parties. Even strong drink will taste bitter because people are too sad to enjoy it. God will take away the false happiness from those who only live for pleasure. All the merry-hearted do sigh, and the joy of the land is gone.

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v. 10-12: The cities will suffer especially. The city that was once full of order will become confused and broken down (Isaiah 24:10 ^e). Houses will be shut up, either because of disease or because people have left them. There will be cries for wine, but none will be found, and only ruin will remain. Even Jerusalem will be empty and destroyed; grass will grow in the streets, and the city gates will be smashed (Isaiah 24:12 ^f). This is a warning of how quickly God can turn a busy city into a deserted place.

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Hope in the End

This section shows that even when God’s judgment brings destruction, He still remembers mercy. There will be a small group of faithful people who survive, even when most are ruined. These people trust God and find their joy in Him, not in the things of this world. Their faith and worship become stronger because they have been saved from disaster. They also encourage others to praise God, even in hard times or faraway places.

v. 13: When everything is destroyed, only a few people will be left, like the last olives on a tree or the few grapes left after harvest . These survivors are scattered and hidden, but God knows who they are. They are like Noah and his family during the flood. Even when all their earthly comforts are gone, they can still rejoice in the ORD (Habakkuk 3:16-18 ^g). When others are afraid, they can lift up their heads with hope (Luke 21:26, 28 ^h).

v. 14: This small group will praise God with loud voices. They will sing for joy because God has saved them . While others are sad, these people rejoice because God’s promises never fail. Their songs are serious and respectful, praising God’s greatness and majesty. Even when they are far away, their praise will spread the knowledge of God to distant lands. Their joy in God is strong, even in the darkest times (Psalm 101:1 ⁱ).

v. 15: These faithful people will encourage others to praise God too . Whether they are suffering in the fire of trouble or hiding on distant islands, they will still glorify the ORD as the God of Israel. Even when they go through hard times, like passing through fire and water (Psalm 66:12 ^j), they will keep trusting and praising God. Their faith is strong, just like the three men in the fiery furnace or the martyrs who sang while suffering.

Encouraging Prospects; Degeneracy Predicted

This section shows both hope and warning. The prophet hears songs of praise coming from far away, even in hard times. This brings comfort to believers, showing that God’s people can worship Him anywhere. But the prophet also feels deep sadness because of the sin and trouble in the world. There is a warning that evil, judgment, and suffering will come on everyone because people have turned away from God. Even the highest rulers will be brought low. In the end, God will be shown as the true King, shining brighter than all others.

v. 16: Even when believers are scattered to the farthest lands, they still sing to God. Their song is, glory to the righteous . This might mean praise to the righteous God, who is just in everything He does. These songs bring honor to God, even in the middle of suffering and judgment. The prophet is comforted to know that worship of God will reach the ends of the earth, just as God promised (Deuteronomy 30:4 ^k). But he also feels pain inside, crying out, My leanness! my leanness! woe unto me! because of the sins and troubles he sees.

The prophet sees that sin is everywhere. People are dishonest, and treachery is common. They cannot trust each other or keep faith with God. This is a great evil in the world (Jeremiah 9:1-2 ^l), and it brings even more judgment.

v. 17-18: Judgment will come upon everyone. Fear, and the pit, and the snare will trap people wherever they go (Isaiah 24:17-18 ^m). When someone escapes one danger, another will catch them. This shows that trouble will keep following sinners (Ecclesiastes 9:12; Proverbs 13:21 ⁿ). God’s curse will chase those who disobey (Deuteronomy 28:15 ^o). The earth itself will be shaken and broken as God pours out His anger from above, just as He did in the flood (Psalm 11:6 ^p).

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v. 19-20: The earth will be completely broken down and shaken. The earth is utterly broken down; it is clean dissolved; it is moved exceedingly (Isaiah 24:19 ^q). It will reel like a drunk person and fall, never to rise again. Sin is the heavy weight that causes the earth to shake and collapse. This shows that all the things people trust in on earth will one day be destroyed. Only righteousness will last in the new world God will make (Haggai 2:6; Zechariah 5:7-8 ^r).

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v. 21: God will judge the proud rulers and great people of the earth . Even the strongest kings and armies cannot stand against the ORD of hosts. God will humble those who are proud and punish them for their cruelty and pride.

v. 22: These rulers will be gathered like prisoners and locked up in a pit. After many days, they will be visited—either for final punishment or, for some, possible mercy . Sometimes God delays judgment, but it will surely come (Jude 6; Job 21:30 ^s). There can also be a change in fortunes, as some prisoners may find relief after suffering, as happened to Jehoiachin (Jeremiah 52:32 ^t). This reminds us that no one should feel secure in high places, and those suffering should not lose hope.

v. 23: When God brings down the proud and shows His power, everyone will know that the ORD reigns (Isaiah 24:23 ^u). He will rule in Zion and Jerusalem, in His church and among His people. God’s glory will be so bright that the moon shall be confounded and the sun ashamed. Even the greatest rulers will be humbled before God’s shining majesty. In the end, God alone will be honored above all (Joel 2:31 ^v).