Read Leviticus 26, Isaiah 24, and Acts 9.
This devotional is about Isaiah 24.
The end of the world–specifically, how it will happen–is a topic that interests science fiction writers and scientists alike. It seems like science-fiction writers believe an alien invasion will cause the end of this planet–or at least human life on it. Scientists, however, think the world will end when a giant asteroid hits, or the sun dies, or a super-nova blasts us with radiation. All of these speculations are naturalistic. They foresee creatures that already exist (aka aliens) or astronomical phenomena as the agents of earth’s demise.
The Bible, however, is clear. God will be the agent of the earth’s destruction. Here in Isaiah 24, Scripture prophesies God’s destructive intentions for this world. Verse 1 says, “See, the Lord is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; he will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants.” Verse 2 tells us that everyone will be affected. It doesn’t matter if you are Elon Musk or poorer than a muskrat, no one will escape God’s coming judgment. Verses 3-4 reiterate and describe God’s firm intention to destroy this world and everyone in it in a singular act of judgment.
When we get to verses 5-6, we finally find out why God will do this. Verses 5-6 say, “The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt.”
So, our sin is going to cause God to destroy this world in judgment. Our sin will cause this–yours and mine individually as well as the collective wickedness of all of us. From verse 7 through verse 13, Isaiah describes in specific detail what this destructive judgment will be like.
Then, strangely, in verse 14, Isaiah wrote, “They raise their voices, they shout for joy; from the west they acclaim the Lord’s majesty.” Somehow, in the middle of all this terrifying destruction, someone is shouting “for joy” and as verse 16 put it, “…singing, ‘Glory to the Righteous One.” There are two reasons why this will happen:
- God’s punishment will be an act of righteous judgment. God does not bring death and destruction because he is into violence and mayhem. God is love and he is life. He does not revel and death and destruction, but he finds our sin revolting and destructive. When his judgment is visited on earth this way, it will be the right thing to do. Those who shout for joy and praise him feel this way because it is the right way to feel when the wicked receive what they deserve.
- God’s people will be protected from this judgment. Who are these people who shout for joy and sing praise to God in judgment? Isaiah doesn’t specify, but we know from the Scripture that they are righteous people, people who have been saved from their own sin and judgment by the saving grace of God.
After this brief respite in verses 14-16, Isaiah resumed his description of the thorough destruction of earth and its inhabitants. The passage ends with verse 23c-e saying, “…the LORD Almighty will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before its elders—with great glory.” This is the ultimate purpose of God’s judgment–to punish evil doers so that Christ can reign in a righteous kingdom.
As Christians, this is what the Lord promises to us in the future. This is what we are to live for, long for, and invest our lives in. Are you serving the Lord where you are today, giving to his work, and looking for people to share the good news of salvation with?
And, if you’re not a Christian, this is what is waiting for you, whenever God chooses to make it happen. Turn from your sin and come to Christ. He died to save you and will forgive your sins. Then you can glorify him with us when he brings judgment and establishes a righteous world.