A careful reading of Isaiah 24:1-3 is necessary for us to understand our text in verses four through six. This chapter describes the character of the judgment of God. The word “judgment” is not a pleasing word to us. Many people try to avoid it and even ignore it. Like death, judgment is inevitable and cannot be postponed. God says in Hebrews 9:27,
“And just as it is appointed for people to die once, and after this, judgment.”
Isaiah invites us to behold, to look upon the scene of God’s judgment. Right now you may be saying, “Wow, who would want to see the horrible things that will befall man in the judgment?” Yes, who would want to talk about that? But once we delve with this subject, we will really see more clearly of God’s love, grace and mercy and not His wrath. When we dig deeper into this study of judgment, we will see hope and not despair. Faith and not fear. We will see and understand that God’s covenant with His people and the rest of the world is everlasting.
God allowed him (Isaiah) to write these things about judgment not to frighten us but to let us know what will come to pass. God wants all people to prepare and be ready. He wants us to know that He’s still in control and His program for the ages will still be fulfilled no matter what and come what may.
As we study our text today, we will face questions such as: “Why does the earth mourn? Is this God’s fault? Does God hate the earth? Man has defiled the earth with his sin and great wickedness, so the earth must endure some of the righteous judgment of God also. In this sense, the most ecologically responsible thing anyone could do is to honor the Lord God, walk right with Him, and in obedience to Him!