Isaiah 13:1-14:23

Isaiah now records messages against Israel’s neighbors (Ch. 13-23).  It was common for prophets to declare God’s word against those who afflicted Israel (Jer. 46-51; Ezek. 25-32; Amos 1:1-2:3).  It is a message to Israel about her neighbors culminating in Israel’s future restoration and salvation (Ch. 24-27).  

Today’s passage is a burden against Babylon, an appropriate description of these messages as they speak of judgment on the nations.  It is the burden they will bear for resisting God’s will.   Here are a few notes on this message.

·        Isaiah made this prophecy (c.680BC) long before Babylon became the world dominating power under Nebuchadnezzar (609BC when Babylon defeated the Assyrians).  They had national significance but as Isaiah writes they are subservient to the Assyrians.  You will note in 13:11 that God punished the world.  He did this with Babylon as their kingdom was over all of Israel’s neighbors and antagonists.  But, as always happens, Babylon went beyond God’s desires and were themselves punished.

·        13:6: The day of Babylon’s punishment is the day of the Lord.  This is a common theme in all the prophets, being the day in which God exacts the justice that fits His name.  It is a day when the mightiest of the earth (Babylon had that mentality) will shake with fear.

·        13:17: The specific prediction that the Medes would be God’s tool to judge Babylon was fulfilled (539BC when Cyrus took Babylon; Dan. 5:30-31).

·        14:1-2: Note here a message of God’s faithfulness to Israel.  God used Babylon to punish His people.  But in His mercy He maintained His choice of Israel so that the time will come when they will rule over those who ruled them. Remember that God’s evaluation of the nations is connected to the one nation of His choosing.  Those who bless Abraham will be blessed; those who curse Abraham will be cursed (Gen. 12:1-3).

·        14:12-14:  Many see Lucifer as referring to Satan, the idea being that behind the king of Babylon is Satan himself.  Is this a good interpretation?  The context is of the Babylonian king being sent to the grave.  Sheol refers to the grave though it can speak of hades, the abode of the dead.  So Lucifer, whose name means day star, may be a reference to the king.  However to connect the powers of spiritual darkness with the nations and their leaders is very Biblical.  Daniel did this with his record of the prince of Persia in Dan. 10:13.  And Isaiah also indicates in 24:21 that God, in judging the nations, judges the mighty ones in heaven as well as the king on earth.  So this is a very acceptable interpretation and worth our recognizing it even in our own day.

·        14:22: Note that the prophecy is that Babylon, unlike Israel, will not have a remnant.  God’s judgment will be severe.

God cares about all the nations, not just Israel.  He will judge our nation and we should recognize His standard of judgment as we consider these passages.