Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Isaiah 24:13 - 24:23
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
The Destruction of the Mass of the Earth
v. 13. When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, as described in the first part of the chapter, there shall be as the shaking of an olive-tree, when the few olives remaining at the close of the harvest are struck down with a stick, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done, for only a small remnant, the true children of God, would be left.
v. 14. They shall lift up their voice, namely, those who are delivered in the general destruction, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, by whose glorious power they have been preserved, they shall cry aloud from the sea, from the Mediterranean, as the western body of water, the cry of the believers thus going forth toward the East and toward the West.
v. 15. Wherefore glorify ye the Lord, so the song of the redeemed reads, in the fires, in the Countries of light, in the Eastern countries, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the Isles of the sea, in the Western countries. The meaning is: "Where-ever ye be scattered, whether in the far East or in the remote West, glorify the Lord. " This urgent invitation is not issued in vain.
v. 16. From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, all the believers joining in the praise of Jehovah, even glory to the Righteous, literally, "Praise to the Just!" But I said, the prophet cried out in remembering the afflictions of the final Judgment, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! for he felt his powers wasting away as the result of the extraordinary terror taking hold upon him. The treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously. He saw perfidy and faithlessness exercised on every hand, and in the highest degree.
v. 17. Fear and the pit and the snare are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. The Hebrew text here has an alliteration by means of which the very sound of the words conveys the dreadfulness of the judgment.
v. 18. And it shall come to pass that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear, the shouting which produces terror, shall fall into the pit, forgetting all caution under the influence of a blind fear, and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit, scrambling out of its confining depth, shall be taken in the snare, all chances for escape thus being cut off; for the windows from on high are open, through which the Lord's instruments of punishment are sent down to the earth, and the foundations of the earth do shake, its very supports tottering and preparing to fall.
v. 19. The earth is utterly broken down, deep gashes appear on its surface, the earth is clean dissolved, burst open, the earth is moved exceedingly, shaken to pieces. The picture shows the earth with deep clefts, which quickly widen down to its innermost recesses, until finally the whole fabric collapses.
v. 20. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard and shall be removed like a cottage, it swings back and forth like a hammock; and the transgression thereof, which has caused this punishment to come upon the earth, shall be heavy upon it, pressing her down to the ground; and it shall fall and not rise again, the total destruction of the earth in its present form being pictured.
v. 21. And it shall come to pass in that day, at the time of the final Judgment, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high and the kings of the earth upon the earth, the angels being regarded as presiding over the kingdoms of the world and being held responsible for the manner in which matters are taken care of on earth. Cf 1Co_6:3.
v. 22. And they shall be gathered together as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, 2Pe_2:4; Jud_1:6; Rev_20:1-3; and after many days shall they be visited, for the final punishment which would then be carried out upon them.
v. 23. Then the moon shall be confounded, covering her face in shame, and the sun ashamed, shrinking back in disgrace, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, in the final great victory over all His enemies, and before His ancients gloriously, the leaders of the believers, together with the entire Church of the saints, partaking of His eternal glory in heaven, Rev_21:23; Rev_22:5.