Isaiah: Chapter 24 | The Wolfe Notes

Welcome, Family! We're spending 2024 with the prophet Isaiah. While we claim no expertise, we're excited to sit with you as we both learn at the feet of Jesus. Each month, we offer a calendar that outlines daily exercises (adapted from Jenn Wilkin's Women of the Word Bible study process) to progress through Isaiah. Download  April's calendar to begin with us and witness what we uncovered in our weekly "Wolfe Note" postings.


The sun and moon are in the sky above a field of sheep. Isaiah 24:23 is quoted in text overlay.


Contents:

  1. Different Versions Noting and clarifying differences between NRSVA & NCB.
  2. Annotation My thoughts, connections, clarifications, and questions.
  3. Research God's laws, statutes, and covenant.
  4. Summary An approximately twenty word overview of the chapter.
  5. Memorize Why I chose to memorize Isaiah 24:23.
  6. Cross References Of Isaiah 24:23.
  7. Respond Based on reflections on God's character and my own.

Different Versions

I read Chapter 24 in the New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA) and the New Catholic Bible (NCB). The NRSVA is a  word-for-word translation and the NCB is a thought-for-thought translation.

Major differences I noticed (*My thoughts alone are in italics and designated with an asterisk.):
  • Verse 6.
    • Comparisons:
      • NRSVA: Therefore a curse (1) devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer (2) for their guilt; therefore the inhabitants of the earth (3) dwindles, and few people are left.
      • NCB: Therefore, a curse (1) has consumed the earth, and its inhabitants pay the penalty (2) of their guilt; as a result, the number of its inhabitants (3) dwindles, and only a few survive.
      • KJV: Therefore hath the curse (1) devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate (2 - omitted): therefore the inhabitants of the earth (3) are burned, and few men left.
    • Discrepancies:
      1. Is the curse currently devouring (NRSVA) or has it already devoured (NCB & KJV) the earth?
      2. Are the inhabitants suffering for their guilt (NRSVA & NCB) or because of the curse (KJV)?]
      3. Does the population burn (KJV), or merely dwindle (NRSVA & NCB)?
    • Clarifications
      • In Hebrew, The passage might read: "The oath that covers the earth eats it. Those who dwell upon earth are guilty and burn. Mankind remain."
      • *Currently, I interpret this verse to mean that those who dwell on earth, accepting the world's ways, are guilty and will burn. But those made in the image of God - the remnant, sons of Adam - will remain.
  • Verse 16.
    • Comparisons:
      • NRSVA: From the ends of the earth we hear songs of praise, of glory to the Righteous One. But I say, (1) I pine away, I pine away. Woe is me! For the treacherous (2) deal treacherously, the treacherous deal very treacherously.
      • NCB: From the ends of the earth we hear songs that praise the glory of the Righteous One. But I said,  (1) "I am wasting away. I am wasting away. Woe is me! for the traitors (2) continue to betray; the traitors have acted with great treachery.
      • KJV: From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, (1) My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers (2) have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.
    • Discrepancies:
      1. Is Isaiah actually wasting away (NRSVA & NCB), or is he mourning for the small amount of people who make up the remnant, the leanness (KJV)?
      2. Is it the current actions (NRSVA & NCB) of the treacherous that lament Isaiah or what has already been done (KJV)?
    • Clarifications: *My current interpretation: Though I hear praise for God from all ends of the earth, I mourn because it's not enough. Evil has had it's day and only a few remain to sing God's praise.

Annotation

Notes on my process. *Denotes my thoughts alone. ! Denotes a connection. Researched quick answers are in italics. *R Indicates a topic with more extensive notes under the research heading.
  1. Desolation of Earth (verses 1-4)
    1. Soon, God will cause great chaos for earth and its people.
    2. Everyone, no matter your station, will be equally affected.
      1. ! It is the great equalizer.
    3. It will happen because God says it will.
      1. Revelation 8:7-13 details how the earth will be laid to waste. The first two describe hail and fire mingling with blood that destroys 1/3 of the forests and all the grass and a burning mountain that is cast into the sea making 1/3 of the sea blood. (Enduring Word)
      2. For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? And his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? (See notes on Isaiah 14:27.)
    4. The earth, world, and heavens will be afflicted in the same way.
      1. ! God is greater than creation. Though earth fades, God remains. (Enduring Word)
      2. ? What's the difference between the earth, the world, and the heavens?
    5. The Reason (verse 5): We have broken laws, statues, and the everlasting covenant.
      1. ? What is the everlasting covenant?
    6. The Result (verses 6-13): A curse overtakes us that sauces suffering and numerous deaths. People cry out in desperation for joy ends and there is nothing that brings it back.
      1. Happiness turns to sorrow.
      2. Joyful noises fade.
        1. ? Mirth?
      3. What once brought joy, now leaves bitterness.
      4. A bustling city is now quiet. Everyone stays home in isolation.
        1. ? Is a specific city meant by the "City of Chaos"?
      5. Desolation is everywhere. Scarcity is rampant.
        1. ! COVID-19 came to mind for me. During that time it certainly felt like all these criteria were met.
        2. ? Desolation?
  2. Cause for Rejoicing (verses 13-16)
    1. But, JOY sparks as the remnant revels in the Lord's majesty. 
      1. ? What is the reference to beating an olive tree and gleaning grapes? Do they reference the remnant?
    2. People all around the earth, give Him glory.
      1. 🎶Did you feel the mountains tremble? Did you hear the oceans roar? When the people rose to sing of Jesus Christ the risen one.🎵 "Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble" performed by Delirious?
      2. 🎵A thousand generations falling down in worship to sing the song of ages to the Lamb🎶"Holy Forever" performed by Chris Tomlin
      3. 🎶All creatures of our God and King, lift up your voice and with us sing🎵"All Creatures of Our God and King" performed by Anthem Lights
  3. But Evil Remains (verses 16-20)
    1. But, alas, evil has already wrought its work.
    2. The future of those who dwell on earth is terror in the pit, which you cannot escape.
    3. What's real is being revealed. The illusion is crumbling. The earth will decay and will end.
  4. God Punishes Evil (verse21-22) Powers and authorities on earth and in heaven will be gathered together and punished.
  5. God Reigns (verse 23) Then, in the presence of God's elders, God will reveal His glory - a glory that outshines the moon and the sun.

Research

*Thoughts that are mine alone are marked with an asterisk and italicized.
What are the laws, statues, and everlasting covenant that we, the inhabitants of the earth, have broken.

The Defilement of the Earth

  • Defiled is the same word that describes the blood guiltiness of Numbers 35:33 and the impurities in Jeremiah 3:1-2 & 9 (Ellicott):
    • Numbers 35:33 KJV: So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of  the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.
    • Jeremiah 3:1-2 KJV: They say, if a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou has played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the Lord...thou has polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness.
    • Jeremiah 3:8-9 NCB: However that faithless sister Judah was not frightened; she too went off and played the harlot. In her eagerness to sin, she polluted the land, committing adultery with stones and pieces of wood. Despite all this, her faithless sister Judah did not return to me with sincerity of heart but only as a show of pretense, says the Lord.
  • All the sins that desecrate humanity defile the earth. (Ellicott)
  • Literally, that injustice and cruelty prevail to such an extent that the whole earth is stained with gore and covered by blood because of the guilty population. (Barnes)
  • Figuratively, that the earth is itself deceitful. It plays the hypocrite by promising to yield fruit if you follow its rules but its fruit is barren because of sin. (Gill) *Which draws me back to us taking the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We take what we want, what we think will give us power, without realizing the effect of our consequences.
    • Revelation 11:18 KJV: And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldst give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
    • Revelation 18:14 KJV: And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. 

Transgression of the Laws

  • Transgressed means to step over the line that God has established in His Word. (Enduring Word)
  • Which we are (will be?) encouraged to do by the antichrist who sets himself above the law and dispenses of God's law.  See 2 Thessalonians 2:4. (Gill)
  • Transgression is the spirit of our age: "Just do it." "Break all the rules." "Live without boundaries." (Enduring Word)

Changing of the Ordinance

Broken the Everlasting Covenant

  • The covenant God made to Noah in Genesis 9:1-16. (Enduring Word, Ellicott, and Cambridge)
    • Mankind is to be fruitful and multiply, replenish the earth. We are not to eat the blood of animals nor shed man's blood.
    • God promises that beasts and birds will fear us, entrusts them to us, and gives them to us to eat. He promises to atone for our lives. He promises that a flood will never again destroy the earth. "And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant  between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon earth."
  • The covenant God made to Abraham in Genesis 17:7, 13, 19:...to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee...(Enduring Word)
  • The covenant God made to Israel and the Priesthood (Leviticus 24:8)
  • The covenant God made to David (2 Samuel 23:5)
  • The New Covenant (Jeremiah 32:40 & Hebrews 13:20)
    • The Covenant of Grace under the gospel which lasts eternally and lies in these things which the antichrist seeks to destroy (Gill):
      • Ministration of the Word
      • Administration of Ordinances
    • Laws of conscience that are engraved in our hearts. Justice and righteousness. Inflexible and perpetual. (Cambridge and Barnes)
*Conclusions: We are confused! The whole earth is in chaos because we 1) ignore God's laws in favor of our own and doubt scripture; 2) fail to accept a common good and lose basic morality; 3) reject the one true God as our God.

Summary

We've defiled earth by accepting schemes of the lofty, so God empties it and punishes them. Then, He reigns gloriously.

Memorize

I chose to memorize Isaiah 24:23.
Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall rein in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.

Oh! To see God reigning in majesty surrounded by those who truly honor Him. To know that He is finally being recognized and worshipped for who He truly is. In spirit and truth. I can't imagine it, but I know my soul craves it.


Cross References

*Thoughts that are mine alone are marked with an asterisk and italicized.

Of Isaiah 24:23.

Then the moon shall be confounded,...
  • Matthew 24:29 KJV: Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.
  • Isaiah 13:10 KJV: For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
  • Psalm 35:4 KJV: Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
  • John 1:5 KJV: And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

...and the sun ashamed,...

  • Isaiah 60:19 KJV: The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
  • Revelation 21:23 KJV: And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
  • Genesis 2:25 KJV: And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
...when the Lord of hosts shall reign...

  • Daniel 4:3 KJV: How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.
  • Revelation 22:5 KJV: And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
  • Psalm 97:1 KJV: The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

...in mount Zion and in Jerusalem,...

  • *On heaven and earth
  • Hebrews 12:22 KJV: But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
  • Isaiah 2:2-3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of hte God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
  • Psalm 135:21 KJV: Blessed be the Lord out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.

...and before his ancients gloriously.

  • Job 38:4-7 KJV: Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, fi thou has understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
  • Daniel 7:9-28 KJV: I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire...and the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
  • Exodus 17:6 KJV: Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

*Conclusions: The moon and sun, which are often considered gods or powers of this earth, will be put to shame - both the physical and spiritual qualities attached to them - when God reigns in Heaven (Mt. Zion) and on earth (Jerusalem) - His spiritual and physical realms. The glory of His presence will radiate those who knew Him all along.

Respond

  1. God expects us to stay within His boundaries. I am prone to wander. It's easy to loose sight of Him when I'm not staying in His word, testing my actions, and carefully filtering my surroundings. I can commit to studying the Bible regularly with the expectation of learning more about Him and understanding His boundaries so I can apply them to my life. I can recommit to Him daily. I can test my actions against His laws, ordinance, and covenant. I can ask that He alerts me to any wicked way in me and that I turn back to His path (repent) when He does. (Isaiah 24:5)
  2. God receives praise from those who worship Him in Spirit and Truth. I don't praise Him enough. Sometimes it's because I think it feels fake. That maybe I'm just saying it to "show" how close to God I am. Or that the people around me won't receive it. Or I simply don't think to do it. But, doesn't that mean I'm not worshiping Him in Spirit and Truth? Isn't He absolutely worthy of all the praise, so why do I refrain? I will practice praising Him through everything in every moment from a genuine response to His love, grace, and glory not as a vain exercise. (Isaiah 24:14-16)
  3. God will reveal His glory and shatter all delusions. I am either living in the light of His glory or in the darkness of delusions present in my environment. When He reveals His glory, I will either be awed by it in terror and shame or in love and JOY depending on what I've chosen to believe. I will choose to trust what God's word says and reject anything that does not come from it.  (Isaiah 24:23)

In Closing

Father God, how I long to see Your glory. To see the disillusionment of the world shattered and shamed. Yet, I know I am in danger of walking in disillusionment now. Keep me in Your light, under your wing, be my buckler, and when I stray, please bring me back. I long to live in Your light, so please remove the darkness from me.

Learning with You,

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