Isaiah 24:8-18

8 The happy music of the tambourines will end. The happy sounds of wild parties will stop. The joyful music from the harps will end.

9 People will no longer sing while they drink their wine. The beer will taste bitter to those who drink it.

10 The ruined city will be empty, and people will hide behind closed doors.

11 People in the streets will ask for wine, but joy will have turned to sadness; all the happiness will have left.

12 The city will be left in ruins, and its gates will be smashed to pieces.

13 This is what will happen all over the earth and to all the nations. The earth will be like an olive tree after the harvest or like the few grapes left on a vine after harvest.

14 The people shout for joy. From the west they praise the greatness of the Lord.

15 People in the east, praise the Lord. People in the islands of the sea, praise the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.

16 We hear songs from every part of the earth praising God, the Righteous One. But I said, "I am dying! I am dying! How terrible it will be for me! Traitors turn against people; with their dishonesty, they turn against people."

17 There are terrors, holes, and traps for the people of the earth.

18 Anyone who tries to escape from the sound of terror will fall into a hole. Anyone who climbs out of the hole will be caught in a trap. The clouds in the sky will pour out rain, and the foundations of the earth will shake.

Isaiah 24:8-18 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.