Isaiah: Trusting The Holy One Who Rules The World (XXI)

Judgment Is Surely Coming (24:1-23)

Neal Pollard

My parents played “church music” on Sunday mornings, vinyl records of Christian College choruses or quartets like The Ambassadors singing both songs we would hear at church but also some small congregations like we attended were not capable of pulling off. One of the latter was entitled, “Standing Outside.” As I recall, the lyrics included: “Judgment is surely coming, coming for you and me; We shall be judged that morning, for all eternity. Some will go into heaven, others will be denied. Will you be in that number…standing outside?”

The word judgment is not found in Isaiah 24, but the subject is definitely under consideration. He does mention “that day” (21). The Lord is said to be acting (1) in such a way that brings consequences upon unfaithfulness. People are left both to experience (9-20) and anticipate (2-8; 21-23) that judgment. This chapter contains no hope or comfort, describing a judgment for the transgressors who are unconcerned with God’s will and unprepared for God’s response. 

This Judgment Is Comprehensive

Who is the subject of divine retribution? Isaiah identifies “the earth” (18 times in the chapter), “the world” (4), and “the nations” (13), leaving us to conclude that Isaiah foresees a universal reckoning. Isaiah speaks of the extremes of humanity under the sentence of judgment, such as people and priest, slave and master, maid and mistress, buyer, seller, lender, borrower, creditor, and debtor (2). That is everyone! 

This Judgment Is Cursing

The nature of judgment involves divine wrath meted out on the unrighteous. Therefore, it is described with words like “plundered” (3), “defiled” (5), “transgressed” (5), “violated” (5), “broken” (5), “curse” (6), “scorched” (6), “desolation” (12), and “battered into ruins” (12). The earth is described in its utter brokenness (19-20) and the people gathered like prisoners (22) as both are confounded, ashamed, and punished (22-23). While there is a glimmer of hope contained even in this chapter, for the rank and file of creation it is a day of reckoning.

The Judgment Is Crushing

The response to the power of God in judgment is depicted with words like “mourns and withers” (4), “languishes” (4), “sigh” (7; “to vocally indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure,” Lexham Heb. Lex.), “suffer” (6), “outcry” (11), and similar words describing the response to God’s judgment. As God brings His power to bear against those who have made themselves His enemies, no wonder people can only respond in devastating waves of despair. Here is but one description of it: “For thus it shall be in the midst of the earth among the nations, as when an olive tree is beaten, as at the gleaning when the grape harvest is done” (13). Note throughout the chapter the impact of God’s judgment on those who stand among the accursed.

The Judgment Is Certain

Isaiah drives this point home as He focuses on God in this chapter. Given His nature, already noted in the foregoing chapters, He will make good whatever He promises. So, Isaiah says “the Lord will” (1), “the Lord has spoken” (3), and “the Lord will punish” (21). Each of the six occurrences of “Lord” here in Isaiah 24 indicate the undeterred purpose of the Creator, “the name of the Lord, the God of Israel” (15), “the Righteous One” (16) and “the Lord of hosts” (23). So, even though God is great and worthy of praise, Isaiah could not join in such songs because he knew his brethren and those around him were impenitent (16). 

The Judgment Is Cause For Celebration

Though it will only be such for a few, as the olives and grapes that are left after harvesting, God’s coming in judgment would elicit the praise, joyful song, shouts and giving of glory from some on the earth (13-16). Isaiah seems to anticipation a general day of reckoning that is all-inclusive, a fitting picture of the Bible’s description of the great and final day of God. Thus it will consummate in His ultimate, eternal reign (23). “People will rejoice to see the majesty and glory of God in action as he righteously deals with sinners. God will finally get the praise that he deserves as people exalt his name and recognize his divine power” (Smith, Gary, NAC, 426-427). Whether Matthew 25:31-46, 1 Corinthians 15:52-58, Revelation 20:11-15 or related passages, we get a similar picture of the Second Coming of Christ and the universal judgment of the world. Isaiah and his readers needed to be reminded of just who “the holy one who rules the world” is! So do we!