Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked"
Text: Isaiah 14:5
THE BABYLONIAN SCEPTER
The Babylonian Empire was made up of many rulers. The Babylonian king was the overlord of all the other rulers. They appeared to be invincible.
“The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked,
The scepter of the rulers;
He who struck the people in wrath with a continual stroke,
He who ruled the nations in anger,
Is persecuted and no one hinders.
The whole earth is at rest and quiet;
They break forth into singing.
Indeed the cypress trees rejoice over you,
And the cedars of Lebanon,
Saying, “Since you were cut down,
No woodsman has come up against us.'”
Isaiah 14:5-8
1. The LORD’s mighty hand.
a) It would take the LORD’s might and power to destroy the Babylonian empire.
b) The “scepter” or “staff” represented the authority of the rulers.
c) But that “staff” was characterised by “wickedness”.
d) The rulers were an authority to themselves.
e) They answered to no one.
f) They can establish or abolish laws as they deemed fit.
2. An example of how the Babylonian rulers wielded their authority.
a) He can strike anyone as he wished.
b) Many strikes may be made upon an individual “as one continual stroke”.
c) He rules all nations with an irascible anger.
d) He can persecute anyone, and no one would dare to hinder him.
3. The “allies” of Babylon.
a) They were likened to “cypress trees” and “cedars of Lebanon”.
i) These nations were strong and stately.
ii) But all feared the king of Babylon.
iii) Nobody dared to oppose the king.
b) But when the LORD smote Babylon:
i) These allies rejoiced.
ii) They were glad that Babylon was taken down and destroyed.
iii) The “whole earth” is a reference to the dominion of the Babylonians.
iv) They now found the “rest” they did not have under the Babylonian king.
c) These allies declared:
i) Babylon was described as the tree that the woodsmen cut down.
ii) They rejoiced that the woodsmen were not cutting them down.
iii) The woodsmen had enough just by cutting down Babylon!