Today’s passage: Isaiah 24
Helpful thoughts:
- This chapter depicts the time of final judgment against sin of all on the earth AND in the heavens (Fallen angels – The hosts of heaven, verse 21) and the subsequent reign of the King of Kings!
- This time of judgment will elicit praise and worship from some and cries of anguish from others. These responses coming from the few that remain alive.
- Those who will be praising God will come from the nations, east to west. This may have been taken in stark contrast to the people of Judah in Isaiah’s day who simply refused to repent and turn to God. This explains Isaiah’s response, “But I say, “I waste away, I waste away. Woe is me!”
- Verses 21-22 are a brief description of what we learn from Revelation 20.
Questions to consider:
- Why might it seem harsh or unfitting for God’s worshipers to rejoice during the final judgment of the world? Why would it seem appropriate?
- What kind of effect should this prophecy have on a people who were seeking to find hope and security in the nations and peoples that God was going to destroy? How should Judah have responded to this prophecy?
- How should we respond? Why can we rejoice and give praise to the LORD of hosts in the midst of this world? How can we look forward and say with the Apostle John, “Come Lord Jesus!”? (Revelation 22:20)