Isaiah 24:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The mirth of the tambourines is stilled, the noise of the jubilant has ceased, the mirth of the lyre is stilled.

NIV: The joyful timbrels are stilled, the noise of the revelers has stopped, the joyful harp is silent.

NASB: The joy of tambourines ceases, The noise of revelers stops, The joy of the harp ceases.

CSB: The joyful tambourines have ceased. The noise of the jubilant has stopped. The joyful lyre has ceased.

NLT: The cheerful sound of tambourines is stilled; the happy cries of celebration are heard no more. The melodious chords of the harp are silent.

KJV: The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth.

NKJV: The mirth of the tambourine ceases, The noise of the jubilant ends, The joy of the harp ceases.

Because of human sin, the Lord will bring uncompromising judgment to the earth in the last days of history. Whatever specific form this judgment takes, the planet will be left a sterile husk of its former self (Isaiah 24:6).

As an example, Isaiah has said that the harvest of the new wine grapes will fail. The vines will wither and die. For the small percentage of humans left on earth, there will be no more wine to lighten the load of their suffering (Isaiah 24:7). Now Isaiah adds that without the wine, the music making will also be silenced. There will be no reason left to celebrate.

The picture Isaiah paints is deeper than people just not partying like they once did. The annual grape harvest in the ancient Near East was a time of celebration at the end of every summer. When the hard work was done and all the grapes were in, the community would gather to drink wine and sing and celebrate before moving on to the next season. The failure of the grape harvest will bring an end to those happy moments of connection and relief from the work of survival.

Even worse, this level of devastation suggests famine. If grapes are gone, it's likely other crops will be wiped out as well.

Isaiah 24:1–13 describes the Lord's judgment of all humanity during the end times. This destruction comes in response to human sinfulness. God will bring a calamity on earth that will tear the people from their homes. All will suffer equally. Everything will wither, and the few survivors will be scorched. Music, wine, and joy will end: what's left of civilization will be like the olives missed by workers at harvest.

Isaiah describes terrible judgment the Lord will bring on the earth during the final days. The Lord will twist the surface of the earth, scattering the people. All will suffer equally regardless of status, and the earth will be fully emptied. Everything will wither and languish. The Lord will do this because of human sinfulness against Him. Few will survive, and there will be no wine, music, or gladness. The only exception to this will be the singing of those who praise the Lord. Massive earthquakes will destroy the earth, and the Lord will lock up all who stood against Him before beginning His reign as king.

Chapter 24 follows the oracles of Isaiah against the nations in chapters 13–23. However, this prophecy is against the entire earth. Here, we find the description of the judgment of the Lord on all humanity during the last days. God will destroy the world in response to human sinfulness. He will ruin the face of the earth, causing people to scatter. Few will survive. Wine, music, and gladness will disappear. Earthquakes will destroy the earth. The Lord will gather the powers from heaven and earth and lock them up together before beginning His reign on earth.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).