Day By Day - Isaiah 13
By Tom Mitchell
Personal Thoughts:
This section of Isaiah’s prophecy details the message of God’s judgment against Israel’s neighbours. Babylon was the capital of the ancient Babylonian Empire. Its proud and accomplished history spanned from about 2,300 BC to 325 BC when it fell into insignificance after the collapse of Alexander the Great’s empire. We can see this decline as God’s judgement for Babylon’s destruction of Jerusalem.
There are 3 distinct parts of Chapter 13 and these are the 3 points that I would like us to explore and focus on today.
Point 1
'The armies of God’s wrath' (verses 1-5). Isaiah begins with the statement, “The burden against Babylon” - God's word weighed heavily upon the wicked which was a heavy burden for them to bear. The people brought together to lay Babylon to waste were called God's sanctified or appointed ones. They were called God's mighty ones, because they drew their strength from God, and were ready to use that strength for Him. They came from afar. Some commentary’s indicated that they may have even been heavenly armies.
We can relate this to our own lives. When we are under attack from the enemy we have, at our disposal, mighty spiritual heavenly forces to go into battle for us.
Point 2
'The conquest of Babylon' (verses 6-18). Here we see the terrible desolation of Babylon by the Medes and Persians. The judgement against Babylon is a part of God’s larger judgement against evil. Such prophetic judgements find fulfilment in numerous activities in history, especially in the advancement of God’s spiritual rule through the church. This will culminate with the perfect coming of Christ’s kingdom.
There is a clear warning here for us all. Isaiah makes it very clear that those who join themselves to Babylon (the world), must expect to share her plagues, Revelation 18:4.
God is giving us a very clear directive for us not to align ourselves with the world lest we too suffer the same ending as Babylon. (Just a thought to ponder on.)
Point 3
'Its final desolation' (verses 19-22). Verse 19 describes Babylon as “The glory of kingdoms” - Babylon was truly a noble city, yet it was totally destroyed. No one will dwell there. It shall be a haunt for wild beasts. Physical Babylon did not keep its greatness, it is a wasteland. Spiritual Babylon will be the same. Though nothing like its glorious past, the site of Babylon has never been void of inhabitants. A city or town of one type or another has always existed there, so this prophecy must point toward a future desolation. The fate of this proud city is proof of the truth of the Bible, and a sign of the approaching ruin of the New Testament Babylon.
Final Thoughts:
This chapter is an indication of the power and strength of the great God we serve. He allows us to journey life as we know it. He has given us a free will to live that life. However, it does come with a warning to those who choose to follow the path of sin. That warning is for sinners to flee from the wrath to come. It also encourages us as believers to expect victory over all our enemies, and those of the church of the living God.
Personal Thoughts:
This section of Isaiah’s prophecy details the message of God’s judgment against Israel’s neighbours. Babylon was the capital of the ancient Babylonian Empire. Its proud and accomplished history spanned from about 2,300 BC to 325 BC when it fell into insignificance after the collapse of Alexander the Great’s empire. We can see this decline as God’s judgement for Babylon’s destruction of Jerusalem.
There are 3 distinct parts of Chapter 13 and these are the 3 points that I would like us to explore and focus on today.
Point 1
'The armies of God’s wrath' (verses 1-5). Isaiah begins with the statement, “The burden against Babylon” - God's word weighed heavily upon the wicked which was a heavy burden for them to bear. The people brought together to lay Babylon to waste were called God's sanctified or appointed ones. They were called God's mighty ones, because they drew their strength from God, and were ready to use that strength for Him. They came from afar. Some commentary’s indicated that they may have even been heavenly armies.
We can relate this to our own lives. When we are under attack from the enemy we have, at our disposal, mighty spiritual heavenly forces to go into battle for us.
Point 2
'The conquest of Babylon' (verses 6-18). Here we see the terrible desolation of Babylon by the Medes and Persians. The judgement against Babylon is a part of God’s larger judgement against evil. Such prophetic judgements find fulfilment in numerous activities in history, especially in the advancement of God’s spiritual rule through the church. This will culminate with the perfect coming of Christ’s kingdom.
There is a clear warning here for us all. Isaiah makes it very clear that those who join themselves to Babylon (the world), must expect to share her plagues, Revelation 18:4.
God is giving us a very clear directive for us not to align ourselves with the world lest we too suffer the same ending as Babylon. (Just a thought to ponder on.)
Point 3
'Its final desolation' (verses 19-22). Verse 19 describes Babylon as “The glory of kingdoms” - Babylon was truly a noble city, yet it was totally destroyed. No one will dwell there. It shall be a haunt for wild beasts. Physical Babylon did not keep its greatness, it is a wasteland. Spiritual Babylon will be the same. Though nothing like its glorious past, the site of Babylon has never been void of inhabitants. A city or town of one type or another has always existed there, so this prophecy must point toward a future desolation. The fate of this proud city is proof of the truth of the Bible, and a sign of the approaching ruin of the New Testament Babylon.
Final Thoughts:
This chapter is an indication of the power and strength of the great God we serve. He allows us to journey life as we know it. He has given us a free will to live that life. However, it does come with a warning to those who choose to follow the path of sin. That warning is for sinners to flee from the wrath to come. It also encourages us as believers to expect victory over all our enemies, and those of the church of the living God.
Posted in Isaiah