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The Earth Will Be Punished
1The Lord is going to twist the earth out of shape and turn it into a desert. Everyone will be scattered, 2including ordinary people and priests, slaves and slave owners, buyers and sellers, lenders and borrowers, the rich and the poor. 3The earth will be stripped bare and left that way. This is what the Lord has promised.
4The earth wilts away;
its mighty leaders melt
to nothing.
5The earth is polluted
because its people
disobeyed the laws of God,
breaking their agreement
that was to last forever.
6The earth is under a curse;
its people are dying out
because of their sins.
7Grapevines have dried up:
wine is almost gone—
mournful sounds are heard
instead of joyful shouts.
8No one plays tambourines
or stringed instruments;
all noisy celebrating
has come to an end.
9They no longer sing
as they drink their wine,
and it tastes sour.
10Towns are crushed and in chaos;
houses are locked tight.
11Happy times have disappeared
from the earth,
and people shout in the streets,
“We're out of wine!”
12Cities are destroyed;
their gates are torn down.
13Nations will be stripped bare,
like olive trees or vineyards
after the harvest season.
Praise the God of Justice
14People in the west shout;
they joyfully praise
the majesty of the Lord.
15And so, everyone in the east
and those on the islands
should praise the Lord,
the God of Israel.
16From all over the world
songs of praise are heard
for the God of justice.
But I feel awful,
terribly miserable.
Can anyone be trusted?
So many are treacherous!
There's No Escape
17Terror, traps, and pits
are waiting for everyone.
18If you are terrified and run,
you will fall into a pit;
if you crawl out of the pit,
you will get caught in a trap.
The sky has split apart
like a window thrown open.
The foundations of the earth
have been shaken;
19the earth is shattered,
ripped to pieces.
20It staggers and shakes
like a drunkard
or a hut in a windstorm.
It is burdened down with sin;
the earth will fall,
never again to get up.
21On that day the Lord
will punish the powers
in the heavens
and the kings of the earth.
22He will put them in a pit
and keep them prisoner.
Then later on,
he will punish them.
23Both the moon and sun will
be embarrassed and ashamed.
The Lord All-Powerful will rule
on Mount Zion in Jerusalem,
where he will show its rulers
his wonderful glory.
Reflect
According to the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, there were 346 major natural disasters worldwide in 2015. More than 22,000 people died in these disasters and a staggering 98.6 million were affected in some way.
Natural disasters come in various forms including floods, landslides, heat waves, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Asia was hit the hardest in 2015, with 152 natural disasters. The largest number of lives were lost in the Nepal earthquake on April 25, 2015.
Isaiah tells us that the earth is under a curse and is dying because of the sins of the people.
This reality prompts me to ask myself this question: How should I live in a dying world? One way is quite practical: I should expect natural disasters and, to the extent possible, prepare for them. As Jesus’ hands and feet in this world, I’m also called to help those affected by them to the extent possible.
My other response is more spiritual: I must acknowledge that sin, including my sin, is contributing to the earth’s demise. This fact sends me again to the feet of my Savior, seeking forgiveness through his sacrifice on the cross. Like the people in verse 14, it also prompts me to praise my mighty God, who has planned an eternal home for us beyond this world as we know it.
Respond
Mighty Lord, you are holy and just. Sometimes I get overwhelmed by the disasters that happen so often in our world. Please help me to always be of comfort and aid to those affected, yet keep my eye on the eternal destination you have prepared for us. Amen.
Pam Caudill
Dr. Pamela Caudill, a Nebraska-based researcher and psychologist, writes and speaks about life transformation and spiritual growth. As the Center for Bible Engagement's Senior Researcher, Pam conducts studies on scripture engagement, church health, and life transformation. A frequent conference speaker, Pam is the author of Managing Your Family’s High Tech Habits and Better Relationships, Better Life, in addition to dozens of academic journal articles and white papers.