A Remnant "Cry Out Joyfully"

In order to harvest olives, the Israelites beat the trees with rods so that the fruit will fall.  According to God's Law, they are forbidden to go over the boughs of the trees to collect the remaining olives. Nor should they gather the leftover grapes after harvesting their vineyards.  The remnants of the harvest are to be left for the poor-"for the alien resident, for the fatherless boy and for the widow"-to glean. (Deuteronomy 24:19-21) Drawing on these well-known laws, Isaiah illustrates the comforting fact that there will be survivors of Jehovah's coming judgment:  "Thus, it will become in the midst of the land, in among the peoples, like the beating off of the olive tree, like the gleaning when the grape gathering has come to an end.  They themselves will raise their voice, they will cry out joyfully.  In the superiority of Jehovah they will certainly cry out shrilly  from the sea.  that is why in the region of light they must glorify Jehovah, in  the islands of the sea the name of Jehovah, the God of Israel.  From the extremity of the land there are melodies that we have heard:  'Decoration to the Righteous One!" -Isaiah 24:13-16a. 

Just as some fruit remains on the tree or vine after harvesting, so there will be some who are left over after Jehovah's execution of judgment-"the gleaning when the grape gathering has come to an end."  As recorded  in verse 6, the prophet has already spoken of these, saying that "very few mortal men have remained over."  Still, few as they are, there are to be survivors of the destruction  of Jerusalem and Judah, and later a remnant will return from captivity to repopulate the land.  (Isaiah 4:2, 3; 14:1-5) Though righthearted ones will experience dark seasons of trial, they can be sure that there will be deliverance and joy ahead.  The survivors will see Jehovah's prophetic word unfold  and will realize  that Isaiah has  been a true prophet of God.  They will be filled with joy as they witness the fulfillment of the restoration prophecies.  From wherever they have been scattered-be it the islands of the Mediterranean in the West, Babylon in "the region of light" (the sunrise, or the East), or any other distant place-they will praise God because they have been preserved, and they will sing "Decoration to the Righteous One!"

Next time: No Escape From Jehovah's Judgment

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, 2000