Sneak Preview (Isaiah 24:1-23)

Introduction

Have you ever watched a movie preview or a movie trailer and think it's going to be a great movie only to find out that all the good elements of the movie were found in the trailer? That everything else was just filler in order to make it last 90-120 minutes?

Trailer: 3. (Movies) A short film consisting primarily of one or more short portions of a film, used in promotions or advertisements shortly before initial release of a film.

God's prophecies are not at all like that. In fact, the details of the actual events depicted in the prophecies are far more graphic and detailed than the previews ever could be.

A Recurring Theme (Isaiah 24:1-13)

Chapter Summary: The Earth Laid Waste; Peoples Scattered; No Distinction of Rank (1-3)

In chapters 13-23, Isaiah has prophesied about every conceivable nation in the vicinity of Judah. All were going to see devastation and destruction.

Even Judah would be exiled for 70 years and their land utterly devastated.

But even these events were mere shadows of what was to come.

They were brought about by the same principal – the Lord Almighty. But they pale in comparison to something yet to come.

In fact, there is a pattern that we see from history, don't we. We see that nations, even those that have God-honoring beginnings, but who reject God and His commands, eventually come under judgment by God and are no longer powerful forces in the world.

And we saw that cyclically with Israel. From our vantage point, the final blow came when Rome stepped in and sacked Jerusalem in 70 AD.

But all this to say that these were mere previews with common elements.

Man in rebellion to God and His laws becomes steeped in sin and turning to every form of self-gratifying acts corrupts the land that God has graciously given to live. The result is a continual furthering from the things of God until God brings about the natural consequences through His judgment.

And the pattern goes on until the end of time. The players are often different and most times think that their ideas are somehow novel.

But as Solomon said, “...there is nothing new under the sun.”

Sin is still sin and man still falls prey to the deceitfulness of his own sin and corrupts all that he comes in contact with.

So whether this chapter has one or more fulfillment in history, there are varied opinions on that. The point is that ultimately this cycle of rebellion, corruption, retribution, and renewal will eventually come to an end.

And only God knows the time. It may be this year or it may be in 1000's of years. It is not for us to know the time, we are just here to heed the warnings.

We have the privilege of learning (hopefully) from the disasters of others.

And so in this beginning 3 verses, Isaiah lays out a summary of the remainder of the passage.

1. The earth will be devastated and ruined.

2. People of all rank in life will be affected.

3. And it is the Lord's utterance so it is a sure thing.

The reasons behind all this become evident as the chapter unfolds.

The preceding chapters were a whirlwind of calamitous events but shadows of a final calamitous event. They were localized to the nations, but there is coming an event that is broad and all-inclusive.

The previews match the pattern but only on a smaller scale.

So, unlike a movie preview that leaves you guessing, God has spelled out the events and throughout He has been clear in pointing out what He was judging and why it was such an offense.

In verses 4-6, the prophet moves into some language that begins to explain, in descriptive terms, the apocalypse to come.

Earth Dries Up; Exalted Languish; Earth Defiled By Disobedient People; Earth Cursed; People Bear Guilt (4-6)

[Read 4-6]

The drying up of the earth gives the idea that it is wilting and wasting away.

Genesis 1:11-13:

11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

What had once been created to produce all types of vegetation is now beginning to shrivel.

Whether global warming is real or political at this point, in the future the condition of the earth will be decidedly less conducive to yielding crops.

In fact, the end of this created order will be “a burning up by fire” and then a recreation of this creation, but without the curse that exists.

And so he uses this word languish for both the earth as well as the exalted of the earth.

Languish means to wilt, become weak, to lose strength or animation, become dull, feeble or spiritless.

In other words, it loses the vibrancy it was created with.

The same will be true with the “exalted of the earth”, those who were of high rank. Or the great things of the earth will become as nothing.

One might ask, why is this? What is the root cause? Is there anything that can be done to prevent this from happening?

Those responsible for these calamities and the condition of the earth are the people of the earth.

Ah ha, one might say, exploitation of natural resources. Over mining. Clear-cutting. Reduction in the rain forests. Etc., etc., etc.

I am not going to excuse the misuse of what God has created. But that is not the concern here.

It was never God's intention that man mistreat His creation or use it in any way he desires. We were given the task of tending the land and caring for it.

And Christians should be the best stewards of what God has created.

But the issue is not exploitation but sin.

Disobeyed The Laws, Statutes, Everlasting Covenant

And more specifically it is disobedience to God's laws, violation of statutes, and breaking the everlasting covenant.

Certainly Judah was sent into exile due to their disregard for God's laws and statutes. They had broken the covenant God had made with them. One in which He said if you fail to keep everything written in the law, the land will spew you out.

Leviticus 18:24-28:

24 “‘Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled. 25 Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. 26 But you must keep my decrees and my laws. The native-born and the foreigners residing among you must not do any of these detestable things, 27 for all these things were done by the people who lived in the land before you, and the land became defiled. 28 And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you.

But not just Israel. All humanity, whether they were under the Old Covenant or not, are subject to God's law.

The laws may well depict what Paul talks about in Romans 2:14-15:

14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.
15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them

So whether Jew or Gentile, all people are responsible for the defilement of the land in this passage.

All the coming destruction was due to a disregard of God.

As verse 6 points out, the people of the earth are consumed and burned up. They must bear their guilt.

We as humans are moral creatures. We are the only creatures on the face of this earth capable of sinning.

And we bear the responsibility for the corruption of the created order by disregarding God and His law.

And so, like there were in 586 BC, so there will be at the end of time – very few left. Very few survivors.

This theme at the end of verse 6 is reiterated in verse 13. In that verse he points out that like shaken olive trees or gleanings after a harvest, so will the remaining peoples be.

It's as if the coming calamity was to shake the tree or harvest the grapes and put them into the winepress of God's wrath as Revelation 14:19 says:

So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

Who's to blame? The moral agents of this created order, humanity.

Not only is the earth going to be devastated, but the things that man found pleasure in will all come to a halt.

Wine Dries Up; No Merrymaking or Joyous Singing (7-9)

He goes back to this theme that showed up back in chapter 5, “The song of the Vineyard”. The idea that man's pleasure and enjoyment was wrapped up in hedonistic pursuits. And if that is where happiness is found, there will be no happiness or joy in that day.

In Jeremiah 7:34, he is prophesying about the coming exile to Babylon and he writes these words:

And I will silence in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, and the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, for the land shall become a waste.

How can joy exist apart from God? Lasting joy cannot. Those who find their happiness in what this world offers will be sorely disappointed. If not now, one day.

Where is your happiness found? Is it bound up in things that will eventually decay, dry up, and blow away?

City Ruined; Houses Barred; No Joy Only Gloom; Gates Battered (10-12)

The city is in question. There are those who believe this refers to Jerusalem and that this pictures the destruction under Babylonian captivity.

Some believe it is also a picture of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Others believe this is a depiction of just some generic city representative of the state of rebellious human civilization.

It may be a bit of all these. As I mentioned at the beginning of this lecture, the themes in this chapter are repeated over and over throughout history.

The idea is that either all houses are empty or they are barred due to fear.

Whatever the case is, there is a lack of normality. What used to be a city that thrived and was filled with throngs of jubilant people is now like a ghost town.

There is no joy to be found. Their is gloom in its place.

The end of verse 11 says that gaiety is banished from the earth. All reason to celebrate and party no longer exists. And even the ability is no longer there.

The city is in ruins and there are no gates. The very fortresses that made this a secure place to live and enjoy life are not present anymore.

Few Olives Few Gleaning – So the Earth (13)

He wraps up this section with a synopsis restating that this applies to the earth and the nations.

Principle: Everything corrupted by sin is subject to God's devastation.

Illustration:

Common cold. Caused by a number of different viruses, rhinovirus being the most common. Not a bacteria so anti-bacterial soaps are not better than normal soap. Best prevention, don't come in contact with the virus.

There are seasons and places where the virus is more common. Enclosed in places where others have the virus raises the likelihood of exposure.

Frequent hand washing reduces the likelihood of contamination by 20%.

Applications:

1. How are you exposing yourself to things that lead you into sin?

2. What do you need to do in order to “keep you hands clean” from the contaminants that are so pervasive in our culture?

   
   

A Fitting Intermission (Isaiah 24:14-16a)

True to form, this chapter has a section that glimmers hope. In the midst of all the destruction, corruption, and devastation, there is rejoicing.

Like most of the preceding 23 chapters, Isaiah brings out this elevated theme of the Lord and His salvation. He is the exalted and there is no other.

Singing and Rejoicing to the Lord – Widespread (14-16a)

This joy is coming from the voices of those referred to as “they”. The they is not pointed out specifically, but it certainly is not the ones destroyed by the previous destruction.

The subject of their joy is not of the same type depicted earlier. This is not induced by wine or beer.

This is rejoicing to acclaim the Lord's majesty (v 14), to give glory to the Lord (v 15), to exalt the Lord God of Israel (v 15) and to sing “Glory to the Righteous One.” (v 16).

Smack in the middle of this chapter filled with defilement and sin and corruption, God emerges exalted, glorious, and righteous.

This is a celebration, not of the glory of man or just the enjoyment of life, it is a celebration of the Lord.

It is giving acclaim to the one due acclaim. This is the enthusiastic approval of people who truly revere the Lord.

The motive is to exalt God who is by definition the exalted One. This is truth being spoken in the truest sense.

This is fulfillment of what Jesus said, “A time is coming and is now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth”.

Worship is giving God his due for who He is.

As is the usual custom, the previous section talked about the exalted of the earth languishing. Withering and fading.

But here is the One who is truly exalted. Not because of man's acclaim, but because of the reality of things.

Glory will be given to the Righteous One.

Who are the 'they' being referred to?

Well certainly this could be the remnant of Israel after the exile. They would fall into this general category of they. They certainly had a different view of the Lord than those idolatrous people prior to the exile.

They rejoiced in the Lord when they returned to Zion to rebuild the temple and later the wall.

But it could be those who have experienced new life in Christ. It most certainly includes them (and those of us who are in Christ). Who are a new creation.

Those who have entered through the narrow gate as Jesus said. For he is the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father but through Him.

He is the door through which all must enter in order to draw near to the Father.

Only in him can anyone truly rejoice in the Father and give glory to the Righteous One.

And one day, when Christ returns in all his glory. The heavens will melt away. The elements will be burned up by fire. Then the redeemed of God will forever rejoice in the salvation wrought by the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Will you be in that number, exalting the Righteous One? Giving glory to God alone?

Are you giving glory where glory is due now? Has anyone heard you acclaim God lately?

How are you leading your family to see God as high and exalted?

Principle: True and lasting joy can only be found in the Lord.

An Action-packed Conclusion (Isaiah 24:16b-23)

It almost seems as though Isaiah is taking these deep breaths. As he proclaims the judgment, he is exhaling for a long period of time and then suddenly he inhales and their are these glimmers of hope. People are actually responding to God in a proper way. Giving Him what is rightfully His – praise and adoration.

But then, as we come to the end of verse 16, it seems that he is faced with the scene around him. He comes back to the present and begins to live out what the message previously had been portraying. He is wasting away.

Terror, Pit, and Snare Await the Treacherous of the Earth (16b-18a)

The reality for Isaiah, as it is for all generations, the wickedness of man continues on.

The treacherous betray. That is what they do. But so is the natural consequence of that sin.

He uses this idea that there is a payment coming and he uses the word, terror, pit and snare.

As if it was just a matter of time and they would be just like a hunted animal. First terrified by something. Essentially scared into a pit.

And just when they think they are safely out of danger because they got out of the pit, they are ensnared.

In other words, it is only a matter of time before the wicked will meet their end. They will face judgment.

Floodgates Opened; Earth Split, Shaken From Guilt of Rebellion (18b-20)

In verses 18b-20, Isaiah uses apocalyptic language that sounds similar to what happened when God judged the wickedness of man with a flood.

When he wiped out the human race – all but 8 – Noah and his family.

At the end of verse 20 he talks about it falling never to rise again. It will be utterly destroyed.

And why? Due to the guilt that is upon it. The rebellion of man against God is so great that God will destroy the earth and everything in it.

And it will never rise again. It is not a temporary thing.

Jesus says, in Matthew 24:37, “As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

He goes on to talk about man's attitudes will be the same. He will think he is okay. The increase in wickedness will begin to crescendo toward the end of the age.

But it will certainly not go unaccounted for.

You know, it's amazing to me that God puts up with things as long as He does. It is hard to conceive of One so long suffering as He is.

But that long suffering, patience of God should not be misconstrued as indifference toward the happenings in this world. Nothing goes unnoticed and all will taken into account eventually.

Listen to the words of the Apostle Peter from 2 Peter 3:2-7:

2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

Heavenly and Earthly Powers Punished (21-22)

Not only will human wickedness come to an end, but God will judge the “prince of the power of the air”.

The one Paul describes in Ephesians 6:10-12:

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

The day of the Lord will bring judgment both to humanity as well as to Satan and his demons. When Christ returns, they will be cast into the place that God prepared for them, “the lake of fire”.

And there they will be bound for eternity, never to deceive mankind again.

For when God recreates the heaven and earth, nothing will exist that is corruptible. And there will be no defilement or anything to defile or deceive every again.

No temptation or remembrance of evil will exist.

Which leads to the last verse.

Sun and Moon Ashamed; The Lord Reigns on Mount Zion (23)

The sun and moon will be ashamed.

In other words, their light will be no comparison to the light of life.

They will not be needed when the Lord Almighty reigns gloriously.

Revelation 22:1-5 puts it like this:

1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

This anthropomorphism is befitting. The One who created these “great lights” is now the light. And they are ashamed of their light in his presence.

This will be a time of endless rejoicing. A time of continual fulfillment and satisfaction. A time when true completeness is realized. The way we were created will be realized when we are in the new heaven and new earth. When we are clothed in incorruptibility. And our human nature is no longer influenced by our fallen Adamic nature.

Principle: Where the Lord reigns, there is no room for sin or corruption.

Illustration:

How ought we to live?

2 Peter 3:10-13:

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.[b] That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

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We must spur each other on, love and good works; don't forsake gathering together – no “Lone Ranger” Christians. We need to put "feet" on the gifts that the Holy Spirit gives those who belong to Christ.

Hebrews 10:19-24:

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Our Lord could return at any moment. Are you ready for His return?

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:

13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11:

1 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Applications:

1. In light of God's soon return, how are you living? For whom are you living?

2. How are you encouraging other believers to live as you fellowship with them in your Church?

3. Are you involved in a local church? If not why not? We all need accountability, godly leadership, feeding, fellowship, etc.

Conclusion

We don't know the day or hour of our Lord's return. But we have a preview of the events.

We know history and it's fulfillment, showing God to be true to His word.

The end will come. Are you ready?

How can anyone be ready for such destruction?