These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
- The Burden…
- Isaiah was given the BURDEN [מַשָּׂא] – a heavy weight or load – to share what he SAW…
- The FIRST of TEN burdens that Isaiah is given – Isaiah 13-23
- Also: Philistia – Moab – Syria – Egypt – Babylon [again] – Edom – Arabia – Jerusalem – and Tyre…
- Having to tell others what God had shown him – was NOT going to be easy…
- This FIRST burden was against the nation of BABYLON…
- What was amazing is they would NOT become a world power for another HUNDRED years…
- Yet God NOT only FORETOLD their RISE to power – but also the FALL!
- Judgement of God…
- God called for an ARMY from far away [ends of the earth] to come…
- They would be from many Kingdoms and nations [united under one banner]
- And when BABYLON saw them coming – they would be terrified…
- In the DAY of the Lord – God would bring DESOLATION…
- The value of a life would be worth more than GOLD [not many left alive]
- Because God would bring the MEDES who had NO mercy or pity…
- BABYLON would become like Sodom and Gomorrah [desolate]
- No one would live in the city every again – it would become the dwelling place of wild animals!
- 1st – Mercy of God… vs. 1-3
- 1st – Chosen by God… vs. 1
- The LORD will have mercy on Jacob – will still choose Israel and settle them in their own land!
- In the midst of the BURDEN against the Kingdom of BABYLON…
- The Lord stops for a moment to reconfirm His LOVE for Israel…
- Yes He used Assyria and Babylon as RODS to punish them…
- But then He would DESTROY both Assyria and Babylon…
- Because [כִּי] He would have [piel] MERCY [רָחַם] on the house of JACOB [rebellious]
- And God would CHOSE Israel again – and bring them [hiphil] back to their LAND [אֲדָמָה]!
- Hebrews 12:6 – “For whom the LORD loves He chastens.”
- Being CHOSEN by God does not mean we get an EASY life…
- In contrast – it means we do NOT get away with our SIN…
- But that PUNISHMENT is the proof that we are His children…
- And we have the HOPE that in the end we will receive MERCY!
- 2nd – Set free… vs. 1-3
- Changing places… vs. 1-2
- The strangers will be joined with them – and they will cling to the house of Jacob!
- Then people will take them and bring them to their place.
- The house of Israel will possess them for servants and maids in the land of the LORD.
- They will take them captive whose captives they were – and rule over their oppressors!
- In that day many FOREIGNERS [גָּר] would come [niphal] to join them…
- The people of Israel will take them [sequential] with them to their LAND…
- The house of Israel will make [hiphil] them CAPTIVES in the LAND of the LORD [יְהוָה]
- Those who had been CAPTIVES – will rule over their CAPTORS!
- When around FIFTY thousand jews returned to rebuild the Temple – Ezra 2:64
- Although Israel did bring SOME servants from Babylon with them – Ezra 2:65
- This is more likely ultimately pointing to the MILLENNIAL kingdom…
- When all nations will come to WORSHIP in Jerusalem – Isaiah 2:3
- The rest… vs. 3
- It shall come to pass in the day the LORD gives you rest from your sorrow.
- And from your fear and the hard bondage in which you were made to serve.
- [Sequential] it will happen in that DAY – the LORD will cause [hiphil] them to REST [נוּחַ]
- They will NO longer SUFFER – and NO longer live in FEAR…
- NO longer will they be SLAVES [bondage] – forced to serve others!
- We look at SUFFERING in life as a BAD thing – but we forget God uses it to TEACH us…
- It is NOT fun to be a SLAVE to this WORLD – to SIN – Romans 6:16
- And through CONSEQUENCES – the PUNISHMENT of God…
- We come to a place where we are set FREE – we get to REST in Jesus!
- 1st – Chosen by God… vs. 1
- 2nd – Fall of the king… vs. 4-11
- 1st – The Proverb… vs. 4-5
- That you will take up this proverb against the king of Babylon!
- How the oppressor has ceased. The golden city ceased!
- The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked. The scepter of the rulers!
- Having given a REMINDER to Israel of the Love of God – Isaiah continues his BURDEN…
- In that same DAY – when God gives REST to His people…
- [Sequential] they will take up this PROVERB [הַמָּשָׁל] against the King of BABYLON…
- His OPPRESSION has ceased – the GOLD [from דְּהַב] has been ended…
- God has BROKEN the staff of the WICKED – the ROD of the rulers [plural]!
- Nebuchadnezzar had a dream of a great statue [100 years after this prophecy]
- The HEAD was made of GOLD – representing the BABYLONIAN empire – Daniel 2:37
- There were four more empires after his [Medo-Persia – Greece – Rome – End times]
- But Nebuchadnezzar arrogantly wanted to be the ONLY kingdom…
- So he made a THIRTY meter high statue made ONLY of Gold – Daniel 3:1
- Yet his kingdom would NOT last – the ROD would be broken only FIFTY years later!
- 2nd – The Joy… vs. 6-8
- No help… vs. 6
- 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 same one who continually KILLED [מַכָּה] the people in his WRATH…
- The same one who RULED [סָרָה] the nations [גּוֹיִם] in his ANGER…
- Was now being CHASED [only here OT] – and no one came to rescue him!
- World at rest… vs. 7-8
- 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!
- The reason the NATIONS do NOT help – is because they finally had REST…
- The King of BABYLON was a TYRANT who only caused them MISERY…
- His fall inspired the WHOLE [כָּל] world to break out in PRAISE [רִנָּה]
- And like TREES who no longer have to fear the LUMBERJACK…
- With the King of BABYLON gone – there was NO one left to harm them!
- Stalin was the undisputed leader of the Soviet Union for almost THIRTY years…
- But upon his death in 1953 – he reign of terror was unmasked…
- Revealed as the mass murdered [millions] – tyrant – and wicked man that he was!
- We are going to leave a MARK on the world…
- The question is NOT what people say while we are ALIVE…
- What will they say once we are GONE – will they MOURN or REJOICE!
- 3rd – Hell below… vs. 9-11
- Excited… vs. 9
- Hell from beneath is excited about you – to meet you at your coming.
- It stirs up the dead for you. All the chief ones of the earth.
- It has raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations!
- When the King of BABYLON died – HELL [שְׁאוֹל] was excited to meet him…
- The dead were [poel] riled up – to meet the MIGHTY king of BABYLON…
- EVERY [כָּל] leader of the earth stood up from their THRONES…
- EVERY [כָּל] king [מֶלֶךְ] from the NATIONS [גוֹיִם]!
- This is NOT likely referring to Nebuchadnezzar…
- Although he was a TYRANT – he did REPENT – Daniel 4:34
- This more likely would be his grandson [Belshazzar]
- It is worth noting that Isaiah here says ALL rulers and ALL kings – are in hell…
- That does NOT mean NO ruler or king was ever saved [Nebuchadnezzar]
- But it does suggest NOT many of them make it to heaven!
- No different… vs. 10
- They all shall speak and say to you:
- Have you also become as weak as we? Have you become like us?
- EVERY [כָּל] one of keeps saying [imperfect] the same thing to the king…
- You have ALSO [גַּם] become WEAK [pual] just like us [כָמוֹנוּ]
- You have become [niphal] no different than we are!
- People think that what they are in LIFE will carry over into DEATH…
- But it does NOT matter if they are POWERFUL – WEALTHY – INFLUENTIAL…
- Hell does NOT care who someone was while they stilled walked on earth…
- Everyone is EQUAL when it comes to facing the judgement of God!
- Death… vs. 11
- Your pomp is brought down to Sheol and the sound of your stringed instruments.
- The maggot is spread under you and worms cover you!
- The FUNERAL of the KING was still over the top…
- Full of PRIDE [גָּאוֹן] with people playing STRINGED instruments…
- But it did NOT change anything – he still ended up in HELL [שְׁאוֹל]
- And his body was covered with MAGOTS and WORMS [תּוֹלָע]!
- What a powerful contrast – a ROYAL funeral [no expense spared]
- And to anyone who watched – it would seem a great man had died…
- Yet the truth is his soul was in HELL – and his body was worm food!
- Ask most people what is most important – MONEY or Jesus…
- Most are NOT going to give the right answer…
- Because they are looking to this LIFE – rather than eternal LIFE…
- But when Lazarus and the rich man died – their fates were VERY different – Luke 16:22
- And I am certain the RICH man would have given ANYTHING to be on the other side!
- 1st – The Proverb… vs. 4-5
- 3rd – Fall of Lucifer… vs. 12-21
- 1st – Fall of satan… vs. 12
- Spiritual Battle…
- After the death of the king of BABYLON…
- Isaiah appears to look deeper – at the POWER behind the KING…
- This is one of TWO passages in the Old Testament – Ezekiel 28:12
- That move beyond the earthly power – seem to give us insight into the SPIRITUAL power!
- So often in life we miss who the real ENEMY is – we look at the PEOPLE…
- But PEOPLE are just the puppets being controlled by a more devious foe – Ephesians 6:12
- The real ENEMY is the spiritual powers – the demonic influence behind the people…
- The key is to go at the one who is in control – attack the root problem!
- Lucifer…
- How you are fallen from heaven O Lucifer – son of the morning!
- How you are cut down to the ground – you who weakened the nations!
- The POWER behind the KING of Babylon – was LUCIFER…
- LUCIFER [הֵילֵל] – the words means to bring LIGHT…
- We get the name LUCIFER from the LATIN translation [lux ferre]
- But rather than bringing LIGHT – he weakened the nations…
- So he was CAST down [niphal] to the earth [אֶרֶץ]!
- There are FOUR times in the Bible we read about SATAN being CAST down…
- FIRST – when Lucifer [satan] rebelled against God in the beginning – Isaiah 14:12
- Jesus would go on to describe him as FALLING like LIGHTENING – Luke 10:18
- Where he immediately went about seeking to WEAKEN the nations [snake in the Garden]
- SECOND – middle of the tribulation he is CAST out of heaven for GOOD – Revelation 12:9
- THIRD – he is CAST into the bottomless pit for THOUSAND years – Revelation 20:3
- FOURTH – he is CAST into the LAKE of fire [eternal prison] – Revelation 20:10
- Interesting to think – that means right now SATAN has access to HEAVEN…
- As we see in the book of Job – he comes to make ACCUSATIONS against us – Job 1:6
- But after the MIDDLE of the TRIBULATION – he is thrown out!
- 2nd – Pride… vs. 13-17
- I will… vs. 13-14
- For you have said in your heart:
- I will ascend into heaven.
- I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.
- I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north.
- I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.
- I will be like the Most High!
- The fall of LUCIFER [satan] came from what was [perfect] in his HEART [five I wills]
- I will – ASCEND into heaven [dwell with God]
- I will – EXALT my throne above the STARS of God [greatest angel] – Revelation 12:
- I will – SIT on the mount of the congregation [rule over everyone]
- I will – ASCEND above the highest clouds [be above anyone]
- I will – be LIKE the Most high [be equal to God]
- PRIDE was the original sin – PRIDE was the SIN of satan!
- It would appear that when God made the ANGELS they had a choice…
- They could be HUMBLE and OBEY the command of the Lord…
- Or they could be PRIDEFUL and want MORE than what they were given…
- At least a THIRD of them chose the way of PRIDE – Revelation 12:9
- The Pit… vs. 15
- Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol – to the lowest depths of the Pit!
- YET – rather than being EXALTED to heaven…
- LUCIFER will instead be taken down to HELL [שְׁאוֹל] – specifically to the BOTTOM of the PIT!
- Satan does NOT live in HELL [ᾅδης] – he is the god of this earth – II Corinthians 4:4
- But when Jesus comes the SECOND time – Revelation 19:16
- Michael the Arch Angel will cast him into the bottomless pit – Revelation 20:3
- All because of PRIDE – not being willing to OBEY the command of God…
- PRIDE that says it knows it all – PRIDE that says it is never wrong…
- PRIDE that if we allow it – we will also keep us from HEAVEN!
- I Peter 5:5 – “God resists the proud – but gives grace to the humble.”
- Amazed… vs. 16-17
- Those who see you will gaze at you and consider you saying:
- Is this the man who made the earth tremble – who shook kingdoms.
- Who made the world as a wilderness – and destroyed its cities.
- Who did not open the house of his prisoners?
- When he is cast down – the world will see it…
- And they will [hiphil] STARE at him and understand [בִּין]
- Asking is this the man [הָאִישׁ] who caused [hiphil] the earth and kingdoms to tremble…
- Is this the man who made the world a WASTELAND [fall of man]
- And destroyed the cities – and would not let the PRISONERS [to sin] go free!
- It would appear we are NOT going to be very impressed when we meet LUCIFER…
- Rather mockingly we are going to question if he is the one who caused all the trouble…
- I must admit it is a meeting I am looking forward to…
- The day when we get to JUDGE the ANGELS – II Corinthians 6:3
- 3rd – Cast off… vs. 18-21
- Not Remembered… vs. 18-19
- All the kings of the nations. All of them sleep in glory. Everyone in his own house.
- But you are cast out of your grave like an abominable branch.
- Like the garment of those who are slain. Thrust through with a sword.
- Who go down to the stones of the pit. Like a corpse trodden underfoot!
- ALL [כָּל] of the kings over the nations have fancy graves [sleep in glory – in their own house]
- But NOT Lucifer – he would be CAST out [כְּ] like a worthless branch…
- [כְּ] – like a shirt of someone run through with a sword [useless]
- [כְּ] – like the body in an unmarked grave that people just walk over [disrespectful]!
- Never named… vs. 20-21
- You will not be joined with them in burial.
- Because you have destroyed your land and slain your people.
- The brood of evildoers shall never be named.
- Prepare slaughter for his children because of the iniquity of their fathers.
- Lest they rise up and possess the land and fill the face of the world with cities!
- Lucifer will NOT be included in an honorable burial…
- [כִּי] – because he CORRUPTED [שָׁחַת] the earth – and murdered [הָרַג] its people – John 8:44
- And those whom he caused [hiphil] to do EVIL will also NEVER [לֹא] be named…
- His children [seed] must be [imperative] prepared for the SLAUGHTER…
- So the sins of their fathers cannot rise to possess the land – fill the world with their cities!
- God never intended ANYONE to end up in the Lake of Fire…
- It was a place exclusively created for satan [Lucifer] and his angels – Matthew 25:41
- But anyone who chooses to follow him – will end up like him in outer darkness!
- 1st – Fall of satan… vs. 12
- 4th – Fall of Nations… vs. 22-32
- 1st – Fall of Babylon… vs. 22-23
- Cut off… vs. 22
- For I will rise up against them: says the LORD of hosts.
- Cut off from Babylon the name and remnant and offspring and posterity: says the LORD!
- Having detailed the FALL of the power behind the King [Lucifer]
- Isaiah shows that with his fall – so also will fall the NATIONS he inspired…
- [Sequential] the Lord of Heavens armies [צְבָאוֹת] would rise up…
- He would cut off [hiphil] their NAME – their SONS – even their NEPHEWS!
- Swept clean… vs. 23
- I will also make it a possession for the porcupine and marshes of muddy water.
- I will sweep it with the broom of destruction: says the LORD of hosts!
- God will make BABYLON a city for wild animals – Isaiah 13:20-22
- He will sweep [piel] it with a BROOM of destruction – declares [נְאֻם] the Lord of Hosts!
- Typhoons have nothing on the messes children can make…
- Every parent understands what it means to CLEAN up the mess!
- The imagery is VIVID – after the fall of satan – God is going to clean up this messy world!
- 2nd – Fall of Assyria… vs. 24-27
- Plan of God… vs. 24
- The LORD of hosts has sworn saying:
- Surely as I have thought – so it shall come to pass – and as I have purposed – so it shall stand!
- Mind you – this was all written HUNDRED years before Babylon rose to power…
- Assyria was still the undisputed POWER in the world…
- What guarantee did the Lord give that Babylon would fall – Lucifer will be defeated…
- The Lord of the armies of heaven took this OATH [niphal]
- SURELY [אִם־לֹא] as the Lord THINKS [piel] – yes [כֵּן] it HAPPENS [perfect]
- And whatever He plans [יָעַץ] – it will [imperfect] STAND!
- So the PROOF that the Lord gave – is that He said so…
- And that is all the EVIDENCE we need – because His Word is true!
- Matthew 24:35 – “Heaven and earth will pass away but My words will by no means pass away.”
- No yoke… vs. 25
- That I will break the Assyrian in My land and on My mountains tread him underfoot.
- Then his yoke shall be removed from them – and his burden removed from their shoulders!
- The PROMISE was NOT just for the fall of Babylon [200 years later]
- It was also for the more immediate relief from ASSYRIA…
- For God would CRUSH the Assyrians in HIS land on HIS mountains – Isaiah 37:36
- He would remove their YOKE and BURDEN from Israel!
- No change… vs. 26-27
- This is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth.
- And this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations.
- For the LORD of hosts has purposed and who will annul it?
- His hand is stretched out and who will turn it back?
- This is the PLAN [יָעַץ] of God for the WHOLE [כָּל] earth…
- And HIS hand that is spread out over ALL [כָּל] the nations [הַגּוֹיִם]
- Because [כִּי] – the Lord of Hosts [צְבָאוֹת] has planned it [יָעַץ] – who can STOP [hiphil] His plan…
- And since He is the one who moves His hand – who can turn Him [hiphil] away [שׁוּב]!
- We must never forget that the end is NOT in question…
- Though life can seem erratic – and often we do NOT know what is going on…
- The SOVEREIGN plan of God is always unfolding around us…
- And whatever He has planned – is for certain exactly what will take place!
- 3rd – Fall of Philistia… vs. 28-32
- The burden… vs. 28
- This is the burden which came in the year that King Ahaz died!
- In the year that King Ahaz of Judah died – Isaiah got his SECOND burden [ten in all]
- By the time Ahaz died [716 B.C.] – the northern kingdom had already fallen [722 B.C.]
- And the Assyrians empire was moving quickly to conquer the Southern Kingdom [701 B.C.]
- Do not rejoice… vs. 29-31
- Do not rejoice all you of Philistia because the rod that struck you is broken.
- Out of the serpents roots will come forth a viper – its offspring will be a fiery flying serpent.
- The firstborn of the poor will feed and the needy will lie down in safety.
- I will kill your roots with famine and it will slay your remnant.
- Wail O gate! Cry O city! All you of Philistia are dissolved.
- For smoke will come from the north and no one will be alone in his appointed times!
- Isaiah warning the people of PHILISTIA – they should NOT [jussive] rejoice…
- Because [כִּי] – of the fall of Israel – and Judah [the ROD that had struck them]
- For [כִּי] – something far WORSE was going to rise up…
- Out of the root of the VIPER [common snake] – would come a flying SERAPH [שָׂרָף]
- Although God would SHEPHERD the poor and needy [of Israel]
- He would KILL the ROOT and REMNANT of the Philistines…
- SHOUT [imperative] at the gates – CRY [imperative] in the city…
- Because God was going to bring a MIGHTY army from the north – like smoke to cover them…
- Every man [from Assyria] ready to fight the battle [not alone]!
- In the same year that King Ahaz died – Assyria attack Philistia – Amos 1:8
- And unlike the people of Israel – they would NEVER recover [no Philistines today]
- Refuge of Zion… vs. 32
- What will they answer the messengers of the nation?
- That the LORD has founded Zion and the poor of His people shall take refuge in it!
- What should we tell the MESSENGERS [מַלְאָךְ] from Philistia…
- Tell them that the Lord has BUILT [piel] the city of ZION [Jerusalem]
- And in it will the HUMBLE [עָנִי] put their TRUST!
- As we wrap up the first two BURDENS of Isaiah…
- The point is clear – we know that God is the one in control…
- There is NO king – NOT even any power behind kings [Lucifer]
- That can change – move – or undo the PLAN of God…
- Therefore – we put our TRUST in Him – we run to mount ZION…
- We humble ourselves and put our HOPE in the LORD!
- 1st – Fall of Babylon… vs. 22-23