Isaiah 24

Isaiah 24:9-12

the mirth of the land is gone. 12. In the city as left desolation, and the gate is imitated with destruction.

The subject of this prophecy seems to be the earth in general laid under the desolating judgments of God. Some refer it to the ravages of Salmanesse, and of Sonnachtrib, in Judea; others to the more extensive conquests of Nebuchadnezzar. The celebrated Vitrings forgeries, it refers to the times of the Marcaloes, perhaps it hath its fulfilment to the constant desolations which, by wars, are made in the earth; and may foretell the ruin of Antichrist.

1. The earth, either the land of Judea in particular, or the world in general, is represented in such confusion and desolation, as in its chaotic state; emptied of inhabitants, as a vessel turned upside down, v. 1. without distinction of age, sex, stature, or office, v. 2. utterly spoiled and wafted, v. 3. mourning under the judgments inflicted, fading like a flower, languishing, as one under a severe disease, v. 4. burnt up as with fire, and so desolate, that few men remain, v. 6. The proud and haughty are laid low before the heavy scourge, v. 4. The fruit of the vine is destroyed by the inclement stalkes, or the trees cut down by the ravages; and those who, there is no safety, the dead, now sigh out their inconsolable furrows, v. 7. All joyful bonds are banished, and music is forgotten amidst the dreary scene, v. 8. The things of the board of feasting are at an end, and strong drink on longer pleasures, when mingled with their tears, or become tasteless through their sickness and diseases, v. 9. The city of confusion is broken down, the houses empty, the inhabitants flare by famine or the forest, and none remaining, v. 10. Reduced to the deepest distress, their stores fall them in the siege, their joys are tied, their hopes desperate, v. 11. Desolation reigns through the city, and the defences are ruined, v. 12. If this be applied to Judea, it paints the terrible destruction made by Nebuchadnezzar, or Antinchrist; if to the fall of Antichrist, we may see the like judgments predicted, Rev. xi. 13. xviii. 2—12. It should reach us, (1.) The vanity of the creature, and the necessity of seeking a better portion, than that which is so transitory and uncursible. (2.) Death is making continually as ravages, we need be always ready. (3.) We should rejoice as if we rejoiced not, when we stand thus daily in jeopardy, of having our joy turned into mourning. (4.) If the priest joins the people in their iniquities, he will be the first and deepest in the punishment, which God threatens to inflict.

2. The cause of this judgment is sin, provoking most justly the divine wrath and indignation, v. 5. They have transgressed God’s laws, changed his ordinances and worship, in opposition to his preciprocal appointment, and broken the everlasting covenant, and therefore the cause of God terribly defended. This was fully verified in the Jews, whose disobedience to God’s laws, and unfit and ordinances of worship, brought on their ruin, and forfeited all the mercies promised in the everlasting covenant of grace. Nor less applicable is it to the Roman church, where dispensations for sin give a lucency for iniquity, and all the ordinances of Christ are corrupted, or mutilated; the eloquence themselves prevented; and so far as human power can do it, an attempt made to break the everlasting covenant of grace, and to prevent its becoming effectual to the salvation of the redeemed.

3. ¶ When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive-tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done. 14. They shall lift up their woes, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from the sea. 15. Wherefore glorify ye the LORD, in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Hiert in the sites of the sea.

Isaiah 24:13-15

In the midst of the desolations threatened, a few escape the general ruin

1. They are like the berries left on the olive-tree, after it hath been splashed or shaken; and like the gleaning grapes, one here and there, that escaped observation, when the roll were gathered for the vintage. Note, (1.) God hath a people, when iniquity is most prevalent. (2.) They are but few in any age, yet known by him, and dear to him. (3.) Whatever judgments he inflicts, they shall be hid in the day of his fierce anger.

2. A form of the mercy manifested in their deliverance will awaken their gratitude and praise, v. 14. Into whatever distant lands they may have been dispersed, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, magnified now in the destruction of their enemies. Note, The people of God will never want matter for their praise. In the days of deepest visitation, to the godly there riseth up light in the darkness.

3. They endeavour to improve their judgments, exhorting each other to glorify God in the few, or the nation, in the thirteenth pangs of sorrow, and the lowest state of abatement; acknowledging their suffering to be the just defect of their fate, and humbling themselves for them before God, in the most distant sites of the sea, whether they find. Note, (1.) They who are Vox. II.

God’s people, cannot but be zealous for his glory. (2.) When we are in the furnace of affliction, we have a peculiar call to consider our ways, and turn unto the Lord. (3.) We glorify God especially, when in our deepest distresses we trust his promises.

This may be applied to the Jewish people; among whom, in the world times, God had a chosen law; and when he turned their captivity under Cyrus, they rejoiced over their oppressors fallen, and in the places whether they had been dispersed, glorified God for his mercy remembered in the midst of Judgment. But it may also regard the faithful, under the oppression of Antichrist, preferred for God, Rev. xviii. 4. rejoicing at the fall of Rome, Rev. ii. 3. xix. 1, 2. whereof the sites of the sea, and our own particularly, will be glad, and glorify God for his righteous judgments.

16. ¶ From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous: but I said, My leaners, my leaners, wo unto me: the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously, yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously. 17. ¶ Fear, and the pit, and the snare are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. 18. And it shall come to pass, that he who Beeth from the noise of the seas, shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit, shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake. 19. The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. 20. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage, and the transgressions thereof shall be heavy upon it, and it shall fall, and not rise again. 21. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the hoft of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. 22. And they shall be gathered together; and prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited. 23. Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hofts shall reign in mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.

Isaiah 24:16-23

To what particular event, these words relate, is dubious. They may be well applied to the ruin of Babylon, and the joy of the Jews, on their return from thence; or to the conquests of the Marcaloes over the armies of Antiochus; or, which seems a more noble view of the prophecy, to the triumphs of the Sions, when Christ shall have subdued every for, and shall reign over his ancients gloriously in the new Jerusalem.

1. The joy of the redeemed in all lands is heard, giving glory to the righteous, to the Lord Jesus Christ, for the propagation of his gospel, and the subdued of the enemies of the Christian name, Rev. xix. 1—7. or saying glory to the righteous ones, who, oppressed and persecuted as they had been, now will shine as stars in the firmament for ever and ever.

2. The prophet mourns in the prospect of the evil days, which should precede the coming of Christ, v. 16. when such perfect would reign among men, and be general a departure from God prevail, that he should scarce find faith in the earth. Note, The true prophets cannot behold a wicked world, without feeling distress for their impending malice.

3. The perplexity and distress of men’s minds, Luke xxi. 25—35. at the approach of the day of Christ, are described by an elegant paronomasia. Packard, Packard, Pack; fear, the pit, the snare are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth; no place affords fastener or refuge for the future’s foul. Note, When the day of the Lord cometh, it will be too late to flee, and impossible to escape. The way to prevent our terrors, is now to fly to the arms of Jesus for pardon and grace, that then we may confidently appear before our judge.

4. The destruction of the world is represented by expressions drawn from its disolation at the deluge. It is utterly shaken in pieces, and reduced to its chaotic state of confusion, removed as a cottage, and doomed to eternal desolations, for the heavy iniquity that lies thereon, v. 18, 19. Rev. xx. 11. Note, Sin is the burden under which the world greats; unto this origin may every evil we suffer be traced, and for this is the curse upon the earth, till the day it shall be utterly confirmed.

5. As an introduction to that great day, God will punish the highs of the high ones that are on high, or the arms of that high one, of the king of Babylon; or it may be the man of sin, that exaltech himself above all that is called God, surrounded by an army of jealous, monks, and friars, his champions; and the kings of the earth, who have subjected themselves under his dominions, and make our against the Sions, to support the usurpasses of the idolatrous church of Rome, Rev. xvii. 2—14. being vanquished and subdued, they shall be shut up as prisoners

Bible Christ Rev. xx. 3. ¶ xix. 1, Rev. ¶ 16th. Lewand to me, or my home to me. xx. 12. Jer. 2000. 43, 44. 1st. xii. 1. 2nd. xii. 2. Jer. 18. 23. ¶ Rev. xx. 11. Pl. Israel. 16th. 1st. with 16th. With the gardening of prisment. Or found wasting.