Isaiah
24:6
6 Therefore hath the curse ['alah] devoured ['akal] the earth ['erets], and they that dwell [yashab] therein are desolate ['asham]: therefore
the inhabitants [yashab] of the earth ['erets] are burned [charar], and
few [miz`ar] men ['enowsh] left [sha'ar]. KJV-Interlinear
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. ESV
These are
symbolic expressions that have real effects on humanity.
The curse is the
sinfulness of man. The sinfulness of man
includes all manner of transgressions against God, including but not the least
of which is mans indifference or disregard of truth.
This indifference
or disregard is generally hidden behind a veil of pretense or dedication to
other beliefs that have simply been invented to replace truth.
The result is
the desolation of emptiness of the human soul.
Going back to
Gen. 3:17-18, we know that it is mans sin that changed the earth to produce thorns
and thistles rather than fruit and foods.
We also know that the earth was not immediately covered in thorns, since
the world obviously does produce foods sufficient to support humanity all of
these many thousands of years.
But when man stacks
sin upon sin, indifference upon indifference, then the earth withholds its
production from time to time, even rebelling with many forms of natural catastrophes,
so that man can remember his sins and repent.
Unfortunately
most do not learn or even see the connection, and consequently do not repent.
Therefore, scorched is the word used here to describe the punishment or the
many punishments that result.
This leaves few
men.
Few men is both
symbolic in that the few, describes those who are the spiritually mature that
survive any or all catastrophes, as well as those who God preserves in order to
perpetuate His plan for future generations.
But also, when the end of the world finally arrives, then that ‘few’
term will be more literal, and there won’t be very many people left alive.
