Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Isaiah+024

 

Chapter 24 (ESV)

4 The earth mourns and withers;
the world languishes and withers;
the highest people of the earth languish.
5 The earth lies defiled
under its inhabitants;
for they have transgressed the laws,
violated the statutes,
broken the everlasting covenant.
6 Therefore a curse devours the earth,
and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt;
therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched,
and few men are left.
7 The wine mourns,
the vine languishes,
all the merry-hearted sigh.
8 The mirth of the tambourines is stilled,
the noise of the jubilant has ceased,
the mirth of the lyre is stilled.
9 No more do they drink wine with singing;
strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.
10 The wasted city is broken down;
every house is shut up so that none can enter.
11 There is an outcry in the streets for lack of wine;
all joy has grown dark;
the gladness of the earth is banished.
12 Desolation is left in the city;
the gates are battered into ruins.
13 For thus it shall be in the midst of the earth
among the nations,
as when an olive tree is beaten,
as at the gleaning when the grape harvest is done.

 

REFLECTION:

  1. Isaiah announced that the whole world will be punished. No class of people will escape, for earth’s inhabitants have “broken the everlasting covenant”.  These verses presuppose a close connection between the earth itself, the land and its inhabitants.
  2. What problems or crises are we facing on the physical world today?
  3. As a Christian, a child of God, what do you believe is your responsibility to the earth? Ask God to teach you about your responsibility in caring for His creation.  In your cell group, bring this up and see if you can decide on one specific way to encourage one another to do in caring for the earth.

 

PRAYER:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.

 

HYMN:

Steward Of His Creation – youtu.be/Os7X0N2iOHU