Scripture reading – Isaiah 24; Isaiah 25
Recent Scripture readings (Isaiah 13-23) have been concerned with God’s judgment against the nations that were the enemies of His people. Isaiah foretold that the LORD would use Assyria to destroy neighboring nations for their wickedness, including the fall and captivity of the northern ten tribes of Israel. Yet, God intervened for Judah (the southern kingdom whose capital was Jerusalem) and spared that nation for a brief season.
Our focus on the prophecies of Isaiah continued with today’s Scripture reading. Isaiah 24 is a prophetic statement of God’s final judgment of the earth. Isaiah 25 transitions from God’s judgment (Isaiah 23-24) to His people rejoicing in anticipation that their captivity would be for a season.
Isaiah 24 – The Coming Judgment
In an immediate sense, Isaiah 24 portrayed the path of destruction Babylon would inflict upon Judah. However, the opening verses of Isaiah 24 may also imply God’s universal judgment during the Tribulation that will conclude with Christ’s reign over the earth at His Second Coming. The imminent application of Isaiah 24 was a revelation of Babylon’s overthrow of Jerusalem and the seventy-year exile of Judah.
God’s Judgment of the Earth (Isaiah 24:1-4)
Isaiah 24 describes how the earth would experience God’s wrath and His universal judgment (Isaiah 24:1). Unlike man, God’s judgment will be impartial. No man or woman will escape His justice (Isaiah 24:2). The physical earth will bear the wrath of God’s judgment and dry up and whither (the same is prophesied in Revelation 6-9, 15-16). People, animals, and the earth’s plant life will not escape the judgment of the LORD (Isaiah 24:3-4). Why would God judge the earth?
Five Causes for God’s Judgment (Isaiah 24:5-6)
The prophet Isaiah identified five reasons for God’s wrath: 1) The earth is defiled by man’s sin (Isaiah 24:5a); 2) The people have disobeyed God’s law (Isaiah 24:5b); 3) Mankind has instituted its laws and interpretations (Isaiah 24:5c); 4) The Jews have broken their covenant with the LORD (Isaiah 24:5d); and 5) God is just and holy and His nature demands that He judge the earth and its inhabitants (Isaiah 24:6).
Evidence of God’s Judgment (Isaiah 24:7-13)
Isaiah prophesied that only a remnant of the people in his day would survive God’s judgment. Therefore, there will be none to tend the vineyards (Isaiah 24:7). Cities would fall empty and silent (for there would be no one to sing, play musical instruments, or be merry, Isaiah 24:8-9). The cities would be wasted, the houses empty, and commerce and trade would cease (Isaiah 24:10-13). Men would be unable to flee God’s judgment (Isaiah 24:17; Revelation 6:15-17), and the earth would be rocked with natural disasters (i.e., earthquakes, Isaiah 24:18-19a).
Summary Thoughts for Isaiah 24
Considering Isaiah 24 as a prophetic picture that is yet to be fulfilled, the nations of the earth will be unstable (like a drunkard reeling to and fro, Isaiah 24:20). The LORD will punish the fallen angels, and they and the leaders of the earth will be cast into the pit where they will suffer God’s final judgment (Isaiah 24:21-22; Ephesians 6:11; Jude 6; Revelation 12:7-9; 20:1-3, 7-10).
Christ’s portrayal of the state of the world upon His return reflects Isaiah’s prophecy: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken” (Matthew 24:29).
When the Tribulation is ended, and Christ sits on His throne, the brightness of His glory will be so great it will outshine the moon and the sun (Isaiah 24:23).
Do you see the signs that Christ’s coming is imminent?
An Invitation to the Great Feast (Isaiah 25)
As noted in earlier devotionals, the prophecies of the Old Testament present Bible students with an imminent implication and a far-reaching application. Isaiah 25 is no exception to that rule. Knowing the prophetic vision of mighty Babylon’s fall, the prophet Isaiah rejoiced that the LORD is a refuge for His people and gives strength and rest to the poor and needy (Isaiah 25:1-12).
A Song of Praise for Deliverance (Isaiah 25:1-5)
Worshipping the LORD in song, Isaiah declared regarding Babylon, “Thou [LORD] hast made of a city [Babylon] an heap [a pile of rubble]; Of a defenced [walled] city a ruin: A palace of strangers to be no city; It shall never be built” (Isaiah 25:2).
Powerful rulers have aspired to rebuild ancient Babylon. Still, its ruins remain today as a testament to Isaiah’s prophecy that the city would “never be built” (Isaiah 25:2). The prophet prophesied the fall of Babylon would be sudden (Isaiah 13:19-22). When the nations witnessed that city’s destruction, they would testify to the sovereign hand of God and glorify and fear Him (Isaiah 25:3).
As a people, the Jews miraculously and providentially survived the Babylonian captivity, and their return to their homeland was a testimony of God’s care. The poor and needy of Judah found the LORD was a “refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, When the blast of the terrible ones [enemies of Judah] is as a storm [i.e., nothing more than a thunderstorm] against the wall [of the city]” (Isaiah 25:4).
Though the sounds of battle might rage [“noise of strangers”] (Isaiah 25:5a) and the heat of battle might afflict, the prophet foresaw that the LORD’s presence would be like “the shadow of a cloud” (Isaiah 25:5b).
The Millennial Kingdom: Rejoicing in the Bounty of God’s Care (Isaiah 25:6-8)
Isaiah prophesied of a day when His people would be gathered together “in this mountain” [Mount Zion, upon which Jerusalem was built] for a “feast of fat things” (Isaiah 25:6). He foretold this feast would bring the nations of the world together, as they would gather at Jerusalem to worship the LORD.
The feast described here has not been fulfilled (Isaiah 25:6), but I believe it will be fulfilled at Christ’s Second Coming. The LORD will call believers from all nations and people and invite them to gather with Him at a Great Feast (Matthew 22:1-14; Luke 14:15-24). When Christ reigns, there will be peace on the earth like humanity has never known, for the “vail” of sorrow that had been “spread over all nations” will be lifted (Isaiah25:7).
On that day, the LORD “will swallow up death in victory; And the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; And the rebuke [shame] of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: For the Lord hath spoken it” (Isaiah 25:8). Notice that those promises are repeated in Revelation 7:14; Revelation 21:4.
A Confession of Faith in the LORD (Isaiah 25:9)
Isaiah predicted that “in that day” (when Christ reigns in Jerusalem), believers will confess, “Lo, this is our God; We have waited for him, and he will save us: This is the Lord; we have waited for him, We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation” (Isaiah 25:9).
Why Trust the LORD? (25:10-12)
The Jews will witness the sovereign hand of the LORD upon Jerusalem (Isaiah 25:10). They will confess on that day how the LORD crushed Moab and “trodden [trampled Moab] down for the dunghill [hill of manure]” (Isaiah 25:10b). Though the Moabites will attempt to flee [swim away] from God’s judgment, the LORD “shall bring down their pride” [humbling, and humiliating them, Isaiah 25:11]. The fortress and high walls of Israel’s enemies will afford them no safety, for the LORD will bring their walls “to the ground, even to the dust” (Isaiah 25:12).
Closing thoughts –
The Moabite nation was a type that represented the heathen nations of the world, their pride, and false religions. Like Moab in Isaiah’s day, there will be a day when the world’s armies will be crushed and humiliated (Isaiah 25:10-11). When that day comes, and Christ reigns on the earth, His enemies will be defeated, and there will be no death, sorrows, or tears (Revelation 21:1-4).
Friend, only believers who are saved from their sins and clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ will be invited to the Great Feast of the LORD.
Have you accepted your invitation? “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 24:14).
Copyright © 2024 – Travis D. Smith
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Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith
* You can subscribe to the Heart of a Shepherd daily devotionals by entering your name and email address at the bottom of today’s devotion.
The Internal Revenue Service recognizes Heart of A Shepherd Inc as a 501c3 public charitable organization. Your donation is welcome and supports the worldwide ministry outreach of www.HeartofAShepherd.com.