Isaiah 14:21-27

c. DESTROYED

TEXT: Isaiah 14:21-27

21

Prepare ye slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers, that they rise not up, and possess the earth, and fill the face of the world with cities.

22

And I will rise up against them, saith Jehovah of hosts, and cut off from Babylon name and remnant, and son and son's son, saith Jehovah.

23

I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, and pools, of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith Jehovah of hosts.

24

Jehovah of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely, as I have thought,. so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:

25

that I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulder.

26

This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations.

27

For Jehovah of hosts hath purposed, and who shall annul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

QUERIES

a.

Why such total eradication of Babylon?

b.

What is a besom?

c.

Why mention Assyria in the same context as Babylon?

PARAPHRASE

Let all the world prepare for the slaughter of the descendants of this wicked king and his empire. Let them be destroyed lest they rise up in rebellion against God's intentions for man's redemption and try to possess the earth and man for the kingdom of darkness. I, Jehovah, will rise against Babylon and destroy his posterity and prevent them from ever taking over the whole human race. I will make the land of the Babylonians to be taken over and possessed by wild animals and I will make it become a territory of swamps and marshes. I will sweep the nation from the face of the earth with my broom of destruction. Jehovah has taken an oath to do all this! It is His immutable purpose to do it! When He purposes to do it, it is as good as done. He says, I will break the Assyrian army when it is in My land and I will crush them utterly; I will take the Assyrian's yoke of servitude off My people. This is My plan for mankindto break the yoke of paganism and conquer the worldly powers so that man will no longer be a slave of darkness. The Lord God of hosts has declared this as His plan and who can thwart His plan? He has begun to extend His hand to accomplish His purpose and who will stop it?

COMMENTS

Isaiah 14:21-23 BABYLON DECIMATION: These verses are God's statement of the complete eradication of some of the most implacable enemies of His covenant people. Babylon was noted for its materialism, paganism and sheer wealth. It was dedicated to exploitation of weaker peoples for its own pleasure and wealth. Many weaker nations prostituted their own national sovereignty to Babylon for survival's sake as well as for indulgence's sake. Israel and Judah were two such nations. Weaker nations adopted the ways of the Babylonians, signed military and trade treaties with her and finally ended up paying extortion in the form of tribute. Babylon was used some 800 years later by the apostle John in Revelation as a symbol of Rome's materialism and spiritual harlotry. Babylon characterized all the most subtle and tempting dangers to the faithfulness of God's people. She posed such a threat that God vowed to make a clean sweep of the whole nation. He would so thoroughly mop up on Babylon (the word besom means broom) no Babylonians would be left to rule the world ever again! When God finished with Babylon (see Daniel, Chapter s 4 and 5) there was none left to claim the throne. During the reign of Darius Hystaspis (a Persian emperor) pretenders rose claiming descent from Belshazzar's grandfather Nabonidus. The pretenders were proven false and executed.

Isaiah 14:24-27 ASSYRIA'S DEMISE: Assyria and Babylon were world- engulfing empires. They were representatives of mankind in rebellion against God's rule of the earth and man. Man, in sin and rebellion, is carrying out a war against God's sovereignty. Man, by force or by persuasive falsehood, attempts to rule this terrestrial planet and its occupants. God has vowed that He will not permit this to happen. Man may rule in subservience to and in harmony with God's sovereignty but man must conform to the revealed will of God and enter into covenant relationship with Him to receive this honor of ruling with God. God's program for providing man with co-rulership would be to establish His kingdom here upon the earth (the church). When men willingly become members of His kingdom He assures them they have entered a kingdom that will be victorious over all rebellious kingdoms of man and will rule with Him. God demonstrated time after time that He has the power to deal with His enemies and did deal with them. So God defeating Babylon and Assyria (and numerous other pagan nations) literally and historically is a typical and symbolic message as well as a literal account. The typical message is that God will keep His word to defeat all His enemies and give rule to His kingdom. Actually, as Revelation portrays, the old dragon, Satan, is the leader of all of mankind's rebellion. Satan's war against God is joined and executed on the earth by godless political forces, godless materialism and sensuality and by godless religion. Through the centuries God proves again and again He and His saints will be the ultimate victors. What His saints must do is believe Him! When has history ever proven God to fail? !

QUIZ

1.

For what was Babylon noted?

2.

Why did weak nations prostitute themselves to the harlot Babylon?

3.

How does the apostle John use Babylon?

4.

To what extent did God eliminate Babylon?

5.

What did Assyria and Babylon represent in relationship to God's rule?

6.

How does their demise symbolize God's purpose for the world?