Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"The burden against Babylon"
Text: Isaiah 13:1
THE MESSAGES OF THE LORD
The prophets of the LORD were given many messages. Some of them were messages of hope, consolation and joy. Some others were so heavy they were called “burdens”.
“The burden against Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.
‘Lift up a banner on the high mountain,
Raise your voice to them;
Wave your hand, that they may enter the gates of the nobles.
I have commanded My sanctified ones;
I have also called My mighty ones for My anger—
Those who rejoice in My exaltation.'”
Isaiah 13:1-3
1. The heavy message against Babylon.
a) This was a truly prophetic word from God.
b) The Assyrians were the super-power in those days.
c) Babylon was not a great power to be feared at all.
d) This heavy prophetic message concerns Babylon a full century
before this nation became very powerful.
2. Babylon
a) Babylon would conquer Assyria and become the dominant world power.
b) This prophecy was directed to address the Fall of Babylon.
3. What God would do
a) He would summon and raise up an army that would conquer Babylon.
b) The LORD would raise up a banner that would rally against Babylon.
c) These would be called:
i) “My sanctified ones”
ii) “My mighty ones”
iii) “Those who rejoice in My exaltation”
4. What the terms do not necessarily mean:
a) That they are pious people.
b) That they are a holy army of God.
c) The army that God would raise up would not be as murderous as the Babylonians.
d) They would be very glad that they can see to the defeat of the Babylonians
with the help of God.
i) They are “sanctified” by God in the sense that they will fulfil
what has been divinely planned.
ii) They are “mighty ones” in that the LORD would give them the might needed
to overcome the Babylonians.
iii) They will “rejoice” because they recognise the help they have from God.