Single lesson
Isaiah 24: God’s Judgment on the Earth
Isaiah 24:1–23
Isaiah 24:1–23 is a prophecy of sweeping judgment on the earth. It shows ruin across society, explains the earth’s guilt, includes calls to glorify Yahweh, and ends with Yahweh reigning in glory.
Before you teach
In this passage, the earth is emptied, mourns, and shakes because its inhabitants have broken what Yahweh required. Celebration disappears from land and city. Yet voices from far away glorify Yahweh, before the prophecy closes with judgment on exalted powers and Yahweh’s reign in Jerusalem.
Explain the central teaching of Isaiah 24: God’s Judgment on the Earth, using two details from the reading. Isaiah 24 teaches that guilt brings far-reaching judgment, yet the passage ends by directing attention to Yahweh’s reign and glory.
Welcome: Isaiah 24: God’s Judgment on the Earth
5 minIntroduce “God’s Judgment on the Earth” and locate Isaiah 24:1–23. Isaiah 24 teaches that guilt brings far-reaching judgment, yet the passage ends by directing attention to Yahweh’s reign and glory. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Isaiah 24:1, Isaiah 24:12, Isaiah 24:23
Read and explain the passage
12 minThe passage opens with Yahweh making the earth empty, waste, and scattered. Isaiah lists pairs such as priest and people, servant and master, buyer and seller, to show that no social rank is exempt. The reason given for this certainty is simple: Yahweh has spoken this word.
The city is broken down, shut up, and desolate. What remains among the peoples is compared to a few olives after shaking or gleanings after harvest. Yet some lift up their voices for Yahweh’s majesty and call for people in the east and on the sea islands to glorify Yahweh’s name.
Fear, pit, and snare picture judgment that cannot be escaped. The earth breaks, trembles, and staggers under its disobedience. Yahweh punishes the high ones and the kings of the earth, gathers them like prisoners, and shuts them up. The passage ends with Yahweh of Armies reigning on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “God’s Judgment on the Earth”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Isaiah 24:1, Isaiah 24:2, Isaiah 24:3, Isaiah 24:10, Isaiah 24:12, Isaiah 24:13, Isaiah 24:14, Isaiah 24:15, Isaiah 24:17, Isaiah 24:18, Isaiah 24:19, Isaiah 24:20, Isaiah 24:21, Isaiah 24:22, Isaiah 24:23
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “How does Isaiah show that this judgment is not limited to one class of people?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. Isaiah 24 teaches that guilt brings far-reaching judgment, yet the passage ends by directing attention to Yahweh’s reign and glory. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Isaiah 24:1, Isaiah 24:2, Isaiah 24:7, Isaiah 24:8, Isaiah 24:9, Isaiah 24:11, Isaiah 24:21, Isaiah 24:22, Isaiah 24:23
Make and respond: Vision and message evidence map
12 minWork on “Isaiah 24: God’s Judgment on the Earth: Vision and message evidence map”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “God’s Judgment on the Earth” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Isaiah 24:1, Isaiah 24:12, Isaiah 24:23
Closing: return to God’s Judgment on the Earth
3 minRevisit Isaiah 24:1–23. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about God’s Judgment on the Earth and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Isaiah 24:1, Isaiah 24:12, Isaiah 24:23
Questions to explore
How does Isaiah show that this judgment is not limited to one class of people?
Use the repeated pairs in Isaiah 24:2 with the opening claim that the earth is emptied and scattered.
Isaiah 24:1, Isaiah 24:2
Which details show that normal celebration has stopped?
Look for the fading of wine, music, and joyful singing in the middle of the passage.
Isaiah 24:7, Isaiah 24:8, Isaiah 24:9, Isaiah 24:11
What is the final picture after the punishment of earthly and exalted powers?
Trace the order from punishment and imprisonment to the closing statement about Yahweh’s reign.
Isaiah 24:21, Isaiah 24:22, Isaiah 24:23
Make, think or respond
Isaiah 24: God’s Judgment on the Earth: Vision and message evidence map
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “What the passage describes”, “What is explained in the text”, “What question remains”.
- Read Isaiah 24:1–23. Use “God’s Judgment on the Earth” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Circle an explanation the passage itself provides. Leave unexplained details as questions for further reading.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Isaiah 24: God’s Judgment on the Earth connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “God’s Judgment on the Earth” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Isaiah 24:1–23. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Isaiah 24:1–23. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Isaiah 24
1 Behold, Yahweh makes the earth empty, makes it waste, turns it upside down, and scatters its inhabitants.
2 It will be as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the creditor, so with the debtor; as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest.
3 The earth will be utterly emptied and utterly laid waste; for Yahweh has spoken this word.
4 The earth mourns and fades away. The world languishes and fades away. The lofty people of the earth languish.
5 The earth also is polluted under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant.
6 Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell therein are found guilty. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left.
7 The new wine mourns. The vine languishes. All the merry-hearted sigh.
8 The mirth of tambourines ceases. The sound of those who rejoice ends. The joy of the harp ceases.
9 They will not drink wine with a song. Strong drink will be bitter to those who drink it.
10 The confused city is broken down. Every house is shut up, that no man may come in.
11 There is a crying in the streets because of the wine. All joy is darkened. The mirth of the land is gone.
12 The city is left in desolation, and the gate is struck with destruction.
13 For it will be so within the earth among the peoples, as the shaking of an olive tree, as the gleanings when the vintage is done.
14 These shall lift up their voice. They will shout for the majesty of Yahweh. They cry aloud from the sea.
15 Therefore glorify Yahweh in the east, even the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea!
16 From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs. Glory to the righteous! But I said, “I pine away! I pine away! woe is me!” The treacherous have dealt treacherously. Yes, the treacherous have dealt very treacherously.
17 Fear, the pit, and the snare are on you who inhabit the earth.
18 It will happen that he who flees from the noise of the fear will fall into the pit; and he who comes up out of the middle of the pit will be taken in the snare; for the windows on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble.
19 The earth is utterly broken. The earth is torn apart. The earth is shaken violently.
20 The earth will stagger like a drunken man, and will sway back and forth like a hammock. Its disobedience will be heavy on it, and it will fall and not rise again.
21 It will happen in that day that Yahweh will punish the army of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth on the earth.
22 They will be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and will be shut up in the prison; and after many days they will be visited.
23 Then the moon will be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for Yahweh of Armies will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem; and glory will be before his elders.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.