Why does the Lord call on the nations and the earth to witness what will happen to this people?

Judah’s stubborn refusal to turn from their unfaithfulness to the Lord is now finally leading to the judgment that is coming. As the Lord announces this judgment, he calls on two witnesses to hear the announcement of the judgment. He calls on the nations and the earth to hear what will happen. In Deuteronomy, heaven and earth are also called to bear witness to the Lord’s covenant with Israel (Deuteronomy 30:19;  Deuteronomy 32:1–2).¹ The Lord of creation calls the whole of creation to bear witness to the fact that he is bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their devices, because they have not paid attention to my words, and as for my law, they have rejected it. The judgment is coming because they have rejected the covenant and have not listened to the Lord’s prophets.