Isaiah 24:13

But perhaps the choice of the word ‘harvest’ could show some possible hope for the future. Even when a harvest is over, a very small amount of fruit does in fact remain (see Ruth 2:7).

It is too soon to be cheerful

v14 But there are some people who raise their voices in songs of joy. Those in the west shout aloud about the *Lord’s greatness. v15 Because of the *Lord’s greatness, those in the east give honour to the *Lord. People in the islands of the sea give honour to the *Lord, the God of Israel. v16 From all over the earth we hear people who are singing songs to praise the *Lord for his goodness.

But Isaiah cries, ‘I grow weak, I grow weak! *Woe is me! v17 Terror and traps and large holes in the ground are waiting for everyone. v18 If you run because of your terror, you will fall into a hole. If you climb out of the hole, you will fall into a trap. Then extraordinary floods of rain pour down from the sky. The base of the earth shakes strongly. v19 The earth is completely broken. It splits apart. It shakes powerfully. v20 The earth swings like a drunk. It shakes like a hut in a strong wind. The guilty character of the earth’s inhabitants is like a very heavy weight. The earth cannot carry such a load. The earth falls in pieces. It can never be firm again. It can never recover.’