Isaiah 24:10 says, The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in. Isaiah said that at this time all the city or cities throughout the country would be open to destruction because all their walls of defense would be broken down and that all the doors to every house would be shut. Matthew Henry says that this would be because there were few men left to fight possibly due to the plague mentioned in chapter twenty-four, verse six. I also believe that it means they would also be shutting out others in need of help and just looking out for themselves. We cannot allow fear of anything to stop us from reaching out to others with the gospel. Even if our numbers become few, we still have the responsibility of sharing the gospel.
Verse eleven adds, There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone. Isaiah said there would be a crying for wine in the streets and that all joy would be darkened. This could mean that the wine had somehow spoiled or I believe that there just was none left. Because of that, the mirth that the people of Jerusalem had experienced was gone. Too often today, people think they need alcoholic beverages to be happy, and when it is gone, they lose their joy. We as followers of Christ should look to Him alone for our joy, and anything else we think we must have to find happiness will one day be gone.
Verse twelve continues, In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction. Isaiah said that the city of Jerusalem would be left in desolation, and the gate would be destroyed. All the things of the world that we look to for safety and security will one day fail us. Jesus Christ is our gate to everlasting security, and we must put our faith and hope in Him alone.
Verse thirteen states, 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. This is a reference to the remnant of the people of Israel that will be left after this coming devastation. After everything is shaken, there will be a few like the olives after the tree is shaken or the grapes that are left for the gleaning. The remnant will be dispersed throughout the land. As Christians, we are part of the remnant of God’s people, and we are often few and scattered throughout the land.
Verse fourteen adds, They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, they shall cry aloud from the sea. Though few in number, this remnant will lift up their voices in praise to the majesty of God. We, as followers of Christ, have already been delivered from everlasting punishment for our sins, so no matter what happens in the world, we should be singing praises to God.
Verse fifteen continues, Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles of the sea. Isaiah said they were to glorify God even in the fires or scattered throughout the world, maybe even often exiled to one of the isles. If we are confronted with being killed for our faith or maybe being banished to some remote place, we still need to sing praises to God. It is easy to sing praises to God when things are going well, but we too often only grumble and complain when they aren’t. Our singing praises to God should never be about how things are going materially but should always be about the fact that no matter what happens in this life, He has given us everlasting life with Him if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord. We need to be joyous people, no matter what happens in this world.
Verse sixteen concludes, From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously. Isaiah said that from the uttermost parts of the world that praises to God were heard. Still, Isaiah lamented the leanness of the number of the people of God that remained, and the people of the world were still treating them treacherously. Just because God has redeemed us spiritually doesn’t mean that we will not be treated badly by the world. Often, the opposite may be true. We cannot allow this to keep us from singing praises to God if it does happen, though.
Verse seventeen says, Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. Isaiah then stated that instead of living in the peace and security that God’s people should have that they were living in dread of total ruin. We may see all the things wrong in the world today or may even lack what we need to do more than barely survive on, but we should never live in fear of the world. We have everlasting victory through our faith in Jesus Christ.
Verse eighteen adds, And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear 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. Isaiah basically said that there was no hope of escape by looking for safety in the world. Those that escaped the pit would be taken by the snare, since the whole earth would be shaken, since God’s judgment was coming. When God’s final judgment comes, there is no place that those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord will find safety, since God controls not just the earth but the universe.
Verse nineteen continues, The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. Isaiah said that the whole earth would be broken down, cleanly dissolved, and moved exceedingly. I believe this is more a reference to when Jesus Christ returns in victory, but there may have been times when God allowed natural disasters to occur that show His power over the world. Nothing in this world is ever going to keep us safe when God’s judgment comes except a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Verse twenty concludes, The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. Isaiah said because of the transgressions of mankind, that one day God was going to do away with the old earth, even though it had been declared good when He created it. It is the sins of mankind that has caused the whole earth to become corrupted. God will then restore the heavens and the earth to what they should have been all along, once He exiles Satan and all those who follow Him to the pits of hell.
Verse twenty-one states, And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. Isaiah said that when God’s judgment comes, those who has been in positions of power and prestige, those who had been sitting on high in the eyes of the world but didn’t acknowledge God would be punished for their sins. They would no longer be in power but would be sent away to everlasting punishment.
Verse twenty-two adds, And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited. Once more, Isaiah said that those who were judged and found guilty of sin who had not found forgiveness by putting their faith in Jesus Christ would be cast down into the pit. There, they will be visited by the wrath of God. Still, it will be their choice to be there. God has made the way possible to escape this coming judgment, but those who refuse to accept that way will know the wrath of God one day.
Verse twenty-three continues, Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously. Isaiah said that in that day even the moon and stars would be ashamed. When God returns in His glory, the stars, even the sun, will pale in comparison. The question is will we be going to an everlasting relationship with God or to everlasting punishment. Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord will be going to their home in heaven with Him and all others will be going to the pit, to hell, for everlasting punishment.
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