Prophecy against the Earth: Isaiah 24 (7)

Pray Psalm 81.1, 2.
Sing aloud to God our strength;
Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.
Raise a song and strike the timbrel,
The pleasant harp with the lute.

Review Isaiah chapter 24.

Reflect.
1. As you review this chapter, what seems crystal clear to you? What remains a little murky?

2. Would you say the overall thrust of this chapter is negative or positive? Why?

Meditate.
The judgment which came upon Judah and Jerusalem demonstrates the sovereignty of God over the nations, and His faithfulness to His Word of promise.

In Deuteronomy 14, God promised His people blessings for obedience, but troubles and discipline if they transgressed against His covenant and Law. They had fair warning, but they chose the route of rebellion nonetheless.

Now God had no choice but to keep His Word and remove His people from the land of promise. In the process, He would judge all the nations that had troubled His people and scorned His ways. When all this came to pass, the people would know that God ruled all the nations, and that His covenant remained intact.

Then chapter 24 begins to look down the corridors of history, all the way past the judgment of God “in that day” to the judgment of God at the end of time. The message is clear for the generations that read this book: God is unchanging. What He has promised in the past, He will fulfill. What He has done in the past, He will do again.

The chapter ends on a note of hope, with God reigning in the midst of His people in glory. Faithful believers cling to that hope, and live faithfully within the guidelines of God’s covenant and Law, trusting Him to be faithful and to bring them through all their trials to a place of rest with Him.

The followers of Christ today continue to cling to that hope, and to walk the path of obedience God has marked out for His in His Law and all His Word.

Prepare.
1. What is the “everyday” lesson of Isaiah 24 for you?

2. How do you expect to see God’s reign (v. 23) advancing through you today? 

3. The message of the Gospel is one of judgment and hope. Explain.

He shews how great will be the splendor and glory of God, when the kingdom of Christ shall be established, because all that is brilliant must be obscured, and the glory of Christ alone must hold a high and prominent place. Hence it follows, that then only does God receive his just rights, and the honor due to him, when all creatures are placed in subjection, and he alone shines before our eyes. John Calvin (1509-1564 AD), Commentary on Isaiah 24

Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You have borne God’s wrath against me, and fulfilled all righteousness for me, so that now I…

Pray Psalm 81.
God calls us to hear and heed His Word. Claim the promises He holds out in this psalm for those who are willing and obedient, then commit the day ahead to realizing those promises as fully as possible.

Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 81 (St. Petersburg: My Hope is Built on Nothing Less)
O sing for joy to Jesus our strength; to Jacob’s great God shout joyfully at length! 
And strike the drum, and offer a song; all instruments, your glad music prolong. 
“O Israel, hear, admonished now be; My people, repent, return to Me!” 

Let every kind of instrument play to celebrate God’s deliverance today. 
It is His statute and His command to worship and praise all over the land. 
“O Israel, hear, admonished now be; My people, repent, return to Me!”

Declare His mercy, tell of His grace; our enemies flee the look of His face. 
In mighty deeds strong witness He gave, and powerf’ly did His chosen ones save.
“O Israel, hear, admonished now be; My people, repent, return to Me!” 

God set us free from bondage to sin and graciously brought us near Him again; 
He rescued us whenever we cried and often our falt’ring confidence tried: 
“O Israel, hear, admonished now be; My people, repent, return to Me!” 

“Let no false gods among you be found; but scatter their altars over the ground. 
Pursue not wealth, nor leisure nor fame, but worship the Savior’s glorious Name: 
O Israel, hear, admonished now be; My people, repent, return to Me!” 

For You are God, Your Name is the Lord, who faithfully keeps His covenant  Word, 
Who rescued us from bondage and pride; our mouths He would fill, we open them wide. 
“O Israel, hear, admonished now be; My people, repent, return to Me!” 

“My people would not listen to Me, but hardened their hearts most hideously; 
I cursed them for their hard-hearted ways to wander in darkness all of their days: 
O Israel, hear, admonished now be; My people, repent, return to Me!”

Now let us all abandon our ways and listen to God, and offer Him praise! 
Our foes He will so quickly subdue, extending His hand to save and renew. 
“O Israel, hear, admonished now be; My people, repent, return to Me!” 

Then even those despising the Lord would falsely obey and follow His Word; 
In vain they seem to follow His way, yet judgment awaits on God’s chosen day. 
“O Israel, hear, admonished now be; My people, repent, return to Me!’

The finest foods for us He will buy, and furnish us an abundant supply; 
How sweet our lives can be in the Lord, when only we heed His glorious Word. 
“O Israel, hear, admonished now be; My people, repent, return to Me!”

T. M. Moore

Where do the prophets fit with the rest of Scripture? How can I be a better student of God’s Word? Our course, Introduction to Biblical Theology, can help you gain a better approach to and understanding of the Scriptures. Watch this brief preview video, then register at The Ailbe Seminary and enroll in this free online course.

Each week’s lesson in our study of Isaiah is available as a free PDF download at the end of the week (click here). Get a copy for yourself and send the link for the download to your friends. Plan to meet weekly to study Isaiah’s important message.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).