Isaiah 24-27

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After many chapters in pronouncing judgement upon Judah, Israel and her enemies, today's reading provides tremendous hope for the entire world - but it's in the distant future. 

It's interesting how God thinks!  Time and the expanse of time are nearly meaningless to Him. In fact, the Bible says in 2 Peter 3:8 - "But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day."  

You can easily pick up (if you're looking for it) how God sees events over thousands of years almost as if they are one single event.  Notice how God has Isaiah prophesying of soon, impending judgement on Judah, Israel, and the nations who enslave them, but at the same time provides hope to the people of Israel as He then refers to the distant future - the future millennial reign of Jesus Christ - where Israel will be the most important nation in the world as Jesus sits on the throne in Jerusalem and rules the world.  God does this over and over again throughout the book of Isaiah!

As we begin reading chapter 24, we quickly see how man's sin has not only affected humankind, but the entire earth as well!  We don't often think of how our planet (the earth) is impacted because of our sinfulness, but God explains it here - "The earth mourns and dries up, and the land wastes away and withers. Even the greatest people on earth waste away. The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted God’s instructions, violated his laws, and broken his everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse consumes the earth. Its people must pay the price for their sin." (21:4-6)  In other words, in order to punish the people, God causes crops to fail, withholds the rain, sends floods, wild fires are started by natural events like lightening, and other natural disasters take place.  God uses all of these things to "spank" His people and everyone who turns from Him. 

But, notice a reference to hope in 24:14-16.  God speaks of the future event of the millennial reign of His son, Jesus Christ, where everything will be turned around and people all over the world will praise His name!  While in one hand, God speaks in the present day providing a prophecy of world judgment due to sin, but then ends with a hope that will take place thousands of years in the future. Again, it's interesting how God sees these things as though they are one single event. That's how omniscient He is! The time-line for God's plan for mankind and the earth are to Him as one event - even though it's spread out over 7,000 years. He's sees "time", and every little detail within "time" as one simple event. One day "time" will stop for man and the earth and eternity will resume its course.

Did you see how deeply hurt Isaiah is?  He shares - "But my heart is heavy with grief. Weep for me, for I wither away. Deceit still prevails, and treachery is everywhere. Terror and traps and snares will be your lot, you people of the earth." It would be like a pastor preaching to the congregation warning signs of God's impending judgement, but no one really listens!  How deeply painful it must have been for Isaiah to watch all of this - especially since it could have been avoided.

Then, in 24:21-23, Isaiah prophecies of the millennial reign of Christ again.  Notice how he begins with the phrase "In that day..."?  This phrase occurs 30 times throughout the book of Isaiah.  Every time he shares this phrase it's as though he's saying "Ok...here's what God is going to do in the future!"  But, how do we know Isaiah is speaking of the millennial reign?  Notice what he says, "In that day the Lord will punish the gods in the heavens  and the proud rulers of the nations on earth. They will be rounded up and put in prison. They will be shut up in prison and will finally be punished. Then the glory of the moon will wane,  and the brightness of the sun will fade, for the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will rule on Mount Zion. He will rule in great glory in Jerusalem,  in the sight of all the leaders of his people."  This is exactly how the Bible speaks of the future 2nd coming of Christ where nations will gather together to fight against Israel, to destroy it.  However, Jesus will speak but simply a word and every army throughout the Valley of Megiddo will be destroyed. The slaughter will be so great that it will take 7 months to bury the dead!  But, that Bible study is for another day.

Chapter 25 opens with providing us an understanding of God's plan for the world.  Notice in 25:1 - "O Lord, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them."  God, in His omniscience, saw all of these events long before He created the world.  One might ask, "Then why would God create the world if such horrible things would take place and if he knew that most of the world would reject Him?"  If you're asking that, it's a great question, but a question only God could answer.

Again, we see Isaiah prophesying of the millennial reign of Jesus Christ!  Notice 25:6-10 - "In Jerusalem, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world. It will be a delicious banquet with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat. There he will remove the cloud of gloom, the shadow of death that hangs over the earth. He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears. He will remove forever all insults and mockery against his land and people. The Lord has spoken! In that day the people will proclaim, “This is our God! We trusted in him, and he saved us! This is the Lord, in whom we trusted. Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!” For the Lord’s hand of blessing will rest on Jerusalem."  It will be a wonderful time for the entire world!

In chapter 26 and 27, Isaiah begins each chapter with the phrase "In that day..." ...speaking of the future reign of Christ. Throughout these chapters you can read about so much!

Notice how in 26:19 God speaks of the day of the rapture - of the day when every Christian will have their body resurrected from the grave - "But those who die in the Lord will live; their bodies will rise again. Those who sleep in the earth will rise up and sing for joy! For your life-giving light will fall like dew on your people in the place of the dead!"

I also want you to take note the difference between how God punishes His own people verses those who don't acknowledge Him as their Lord. God explains the difference in style and purpose of His spankings in 27:7-9 - "Has the Lord struck Israel as he struck her enemies? Has he punished her as he punished them? No, but he exiled Israel to call her to account. She was exiled from her land  as though blown away in a storm from the east. The Lord did this to purge Israel’s wickedness, to take away all her sin."

God has a different punishment for His people, as opposed to the wicked.  God spanks His people out of love and doesn't devastate His own.  It's for their own good. It's to help purge sin from our lives.  But to those who are indifferent to God, it's utter destruction. Does God love them too?  Yes!  But only He knows what's in the heart of the wicked and what it will take to turn them around. In many cases, He knows there's simply NOTHING He can do to make them change. It's so sad!

What about you?  Are you living a lifestyle that's giving glory to God and honors Him?  Or does He need to purge your life from sin? He's given YOU the choice!