Isaiah's 13th chapter (he had no idea it was chapter 13, but that's not the point) is an oracle against Babylon. Curious - Assyria has been the main player in Isaiah's world so far; Babylon would rise up later in Israel's history. But the Bible often uses Babylon as the symbol for the system of the world - cultural arrogance and self-reliance, trusting in wealth and health.
Isaiah 13:1 (HCSB) An oracle against Babylon that Isaiah son
of Amoz saw:
In this vision of judgment Isaiah saw, we read (verses 2 -
4) the gathering of an army. It's not until the last phrase of verse 4 we find
out Who's doing this: "The LORD of Hosts is mobilizing an army for war. They
are coming from a far land, from the distant horizon— the LORD and the weapons
of His wrath— to destroy the whole country." The object of YHWH's wrath is not, at this
point, the nation of Israel; it is Babylon, the whore of the world's system of
greed and violence. And none can stop His hand!
Isaiah 13:6 (HCSB) Wail! For the day of the LORD is near. It
will come like destruction from the Almighty.
What can man do when judgment comes? Isaiah 13:7-8 (HCSB) Therefore
everyone’s hands will become weak, and every man’s heart will melt. They will
be horrified; pain and agony will seize ⌊them⌋; they will be in anguish like a
woman in labor. They will look at each other, their faces flushed with fear.
And again: Isaiah 13:9 (HCSB) Look, the day of the LORD is
coming— cruel, with rage and burning anger— to make the earth a desolation and
to destroy the sinners on it.
Ah, but aren't we told by people who know Him not that God
is a gentleman Who would never do harm to anyone! Recall this from chapter 1: "If
the LORD of Hosts had not left us a few survivors, we would be like Sodom, we
would resemble Gomorrah."
Verses 10-12 describes the impact of this judgment, followed
by: Isaiah 13:13-14 (HCSB) Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the
earth will shake from its foundations at the wrath of the LORD of Hosts, on the
day of His burning anger. Like wandering gazelles and like sheep without a
shepherd, each one will turn to his own people, each one will flee to his own
land.
Verse 13 ought to cause us to think of: Hebrews 12:25-27
(HCSB) Make sure that you do not reject the One who speaks. For if they did not
escape when they rejected Him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we
turn away from Him who warns us from heaven. His voice shook the earth at that
time, but now He has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but
also heaven. This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what
can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain.
And verse 14 is shown in Isaiah 53:6 (HCSB) "We all
went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way" and cited in 2
Peter 2:25. Even those chosen by God to be redeemed are not inclined to seek
Him or follow Him until that redemption is applied.
Verses 15-18 is a graphic description of the woe that
befalls those who are sought out by the great Shepherd of our souls - they are
without the compassion of the Lord, being the objects of His wrath.
Isaiah 13:19 (HCSB) And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms,
the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be like Sodom and Gomorrah when
God overthrew them.
Here is the result: Babylon; the archetype of the lust of
the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; will be like Sodom and
Gomorrah. The last few verses of chapter 13 reinforce this.
When judgment comes, no amount of worldly power will protect
one rebel. The fool thinks his wealth (bigger barns) will satisfy his soul.
Hear and heed this refrain: None but Jesus can do helpless sinners good. Keep
your eyes focused on Him, fellow saints. He is the faithful one!
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