Isaiah 24:1-9

The LORD’s Devastation of the Earth

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.

Isaiah 24:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 24

This chapter contains a prophecy of calamities that should come upon the whole world, and the inhabitants of it, for their sins; of the preservation of a remnant; of the visitation of the kings of the earth; and of the appearance of Christ in his glory and majesty. The miserable condition of the world, and its inhabitants, especially all within the Romish jurisdiction, is set forth by various phrases, Isa 24:1-4 the causes of which are the transgression and mutation of the laws and ordinances of Christ, Isa 24:5 the effects of which are the cursing and burning of the inhabitants, Isa 24:6 cessation of all joy among them, Isa 24:7-9 and the destruction of their chief city, Rome, Isa 24:10-12 then follows a prophecy of a remnant that shall escape, and be brought into a very comfortable condition, and sing for joy, and glorify God in the midst of the earth, and in the uttermost parts of it, Isa 24:13-16 but it is intimated it shall go ill with others for their perfidy and treachery; fear and danger shall attend them everywhere, Isa 24:16-18 yea, in the issue, the world shall be shaken, and moved and removed, and be utterly dissolved, fall and not rise more, Isa 24:19,20 when the kings and great ones of the earth shall be taken prisoners, and punished by the Lord, Isa 24:21,22 and then Christ shall take to himself his great power, and reign with his people gloriously in the New Jerusalem state, Isa 24:23.

Cross References 28

  • 1. ver 20; Isaiah 2:19-21; Isaiah 33:9; Jeremiah 25:29
  • 2. S Joshua 6:17; S Isaiah 13:5
  • 3. S Genesis 11:9
  • 4. Hosea 4:9
  • 5. Ezekiel 7:12; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
  • 6. S Leviticus 25:35-37; Deuteronomy 23:19-20; Isaiah 3:1-7
  • 7. S Genesis 6:13
  • 8. Isaiah 6:11-12; Isaiah 10:6
  • 9. S Isaiah 7:7
  • 10. Jeremiah 12:11; Jeremiah 14:4; Joel 1:10
  • 11. S Isaiah 15:6
  • 12. S Isaiah 2:12
  • 13. S Isaiah 3:26
  • 14. S Genesis 3:17; Numbers 35:33
  • 15. S Isaiah 1:2; Isaiah 9:17; Isaiah 10:6; Isaiah 59:12; Jeremiah 7:28
  • 16. S Genesis 9:11; S Jeremiah 11:10
  • 17. S Joshua 23:15
  • 18. S Isaiah 1:31
  • 19. Jeremiah 48:33; Joel 1:5
  • 20. Isaiah 7:23; S Isaiah 15:6; Isaiah 32:10; Joel 1:10-12
  • 21. S Isaiah 3:26; Isaiah 16:8-10
  • 22. S Genesis 31:27; S Isaiah 5:12
  • 23. Jeremiah 7:34; Jeremiah 16:9; Jeremiah 25:10; Jeremiah 33:11; Hosea 2:11
  • 24. S Isaiah 5:14; S Isaiah 21:5
  • 25. S Psalms 137:2; Revelation 18:22
  • 26. Lamentations 5:14; Ezekiel 26:13
  • 27. Isaiah 5:11,22
  • 28. Isaiah 5:20
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