Chapter 14 - The World is Judged, Zion is Established.

As we turn our attention to chapter 14 of Isaiah, it would do well to recall what we learned in chapter 1: God gave this entire book to Isaiah in a vision. As the prophet uses language to communicate God's Word to His people, let us bear in mind (remember) what He told us in chapter 1. Let's look closely at the opening of this chapter.

Isaiah 14:1-2 (HCSB) For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob and will choose Israel again. He will settle them on their own land. The foreigner will join them and be united with the house of Jacob. The nations will escort Israel and bring it to its homeland. Then the house of Israel will possess them as male and female slaves in the LORD’s land. They will make captives of their captors and will rule over their oppressors.

National Israel would look at this and see the restoration of their tribes to their land, victorious over their enemies. The next section identifies Babylon as the enemy mentioned in the opening. Look at this short paragraph with gospel glasses and see the Israel of God as we are brought to our homeland. Ethnic Israel never conquered temporal nations and made slaves of them, but Christ's apostles currently sit as judges over the 12 tribes. The use of "LORD" in this passage is the personal name YHWH; YHWH's land is as Abraham saw it - a heavenly country. At the end of the age, the people of God from every nation, tribe, and tongue will escort Israel to the homeland.

There are 11 other passages in Isaiah (in chapters 31, 45, 49, 54, 60, & 61) that have similar pictures of Israel's victory, the consistent theme is God works all things to reconcile His people to Himself. This present earth cannot inherit eternity - that small parcel in the mid-east served as a picture of the heavenly country YHWH has prepared, where we will be with Him and all the saints eternally on the new earth.

Isaiah 14:3-4 (HCSB) When the LORD gives you rest from your pain, torment, and the hard labor you were forced to do, you will sing this song ⌊of contempt⌋ about the king of Babylon.

As was noted in the previous chapter, at the time of Isaiah Babylon was not yet a world power. Babylon was often used in the Bible to denote the system of the world - satisfaction in self, health, and wealth. Verses 4b - 21 describe the evil of that system and consequences of such rebellion, as God uses nation against nation, with the king of Babylon being a type of Satan (vs 12- 14).

YHWH responds. Isaiah 14:22-23 (HCSB) “I will rise up against them”—⌊this is⌋ the declaration of the LORD of Hosts—“and I will cut off from Babylon her reputation, remnant, offspring, and posterity”—⌊this is⌋ the LORD’s declaration. “I will make her a swampland and a region for screech owls, and I will sweep her away with a broom of destruction.” ⌊This is⌋ the declaration of the LORD of Hosts.

No matter what great nations of this world rise up, God is the one Who rules all things and all people. At the end of all things, He will utterly destroy Babylon - the system of the world and her people.

Isaiah 14:24-27 (HCSB) The LORD of Hosts has sworn: As I have purposed, so it will be; as I have planned it, so it will happen. I will break Assyria in My land; ...This is the plan prepared for the whole earth, and this is the hand stretched out against all the nations. The LORD of Hosts Himself has planned it; therefore, who can stand in its way? It is His hand that is outstretched, so who can turn it back?

Babylon, Assyria, and all other peoples who rage against God will be broken - and there are none who can withstand what He has planned, no one can turn it back. YHWH of Hosts has planned it and His hand is outstretched - recall His raised arm in earlier chapters? Ready to mete out judgment.

The last segment in this chapter is judgment pronounced against Philistia - their wealth has rotted and terror has overtaken them.

Isaiah 14:31-32 (HCSB) Wail, you gates! Cry out, city! Tremble with fear, all Philistia! For a cloud of dust is coming from the north, and there is no one missing from ⌊the invader’s⌋ ranks. What answer will be given to the messengers from that nation? The LORD has founded Zion, and His afflicted people find refuge in her.

People of the earth - wail and cry out, tremble with fear! When the King returns it will be to judge the nations, gather His people, and make all things new. We see in this passage Christ coming in power "from the north" (Assyria was north of Philistia) and no one is missing from YHWH's army - all His redeemed are with Him. What is the answer? YHWH has established Zion, the place of grace where His afflicted people (poor in spirit, hated by the world) find refuge.

This is the safety, the tower of refuge and strength that God's redeemed find in the person and work of the Lord Jesus, Who is the Christ. Only trust Him, let no other trust intrude. He - alone - is able to do poor sinners good.