John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 24:6

"Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are found guilty: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left." — Isaiah 24:6 (ASV)

Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth. Some translate it as perjury, but since אלה (ālāh) also signifies a “curse,” I have no doubt that here he uses it to mean a “curse,” and refers to those curses that Moses in the Law threatens against wicked men and transgressors of the Law (Leviticus 26:16; Deuteronomy 28:15). We know that the earth was cursed because of the transgression of our first parent, so that it brought forth thorns and thistles instead of fruits (Genesis 3:17, 18). The Lord mitigated this curse, so that, although men were ungrateful and unworthy, it still yielded them food. But when we do not stop sinning, and when we add sin to sin, is it not entirely just that the earth should become barren and unfruitful, so that we may perceive this curse more clearly, and that it may affect us more deeply?

And its inhabitants are made desolate. I think that אשם (āshăm) here means “to make desolate,” rather than “to forsake;” and this is apparent from the context, for which reason I have translated it “are made desolate.” But perhaps it will be considered preferable to take the copulative ו (vau) as signifying because, and then the meaning will be, “The earth accursed by God is burnt up, because its inhabitants have acted wickedly.”

Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. The word חרו (charu) may be taken metaphorically, and I prefer this view of it, which means that those whom the wrath of God has consumed are burned up, because the destruction is compared to a conflagration. When he adds, “that few will be left,” we learn from this that this prediction cannot be explained as relating to the last day of judgment, and that, on the contrary, the Prophet foretells and confirms those desolations that threatened various nations, and that he does so in order that the godly may fear, may be led to repentance, and may be prepared to endure all things.