These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
- Outline…
- Isaiah 40-48 – Comfort: for a people CAPTIVE in Babylon…
- Isaiah 49-55 – Redemption: for a people CAPTIVE to sin…
- Isaiah 56-66 – Restoration: of Israel and the world
- Comparing gods…
- Wanting to emphasize the COMPARISON between the LORD and FALSE gods…
- Isaiah gave us the TWO key gods in the pantheon [they had many] of Babylon:
- BEL – or Marduk – was their chief deity – their creator and protector [power]
- NEBO – son of Marduk – was the god of KNOWLEDGE and PROPHECY…
- But they could NOT save Babylon – and instead had to be CARRIED into CAPTIVITY with them…
- Unlike FALSE gods – the LORD is the one who carried Israel [birth to old age]
- Therefore – there was NO equal to Him – NO comparison!
- Contrasting gods…
- People POUR out GOLD and SILVER [spare no expense] to make FALSE gods…
- But wherever they put them – that is where they STAY – they CANNOT move…
- Therefore – they CANNOT answer when people cry out to them for HELP…
- In CONTRAST the TRUE God is the one who knows the END from the BEGINNING [unlike Nebo]
- And whatever He PLANS – is what He has the POWER to do [unlike Bel]
- Because there is NO other God – there is NO one like Him!
- 1st – Fall of Babylon… vs. 1–6
- 1st – Dethroned… vs. 1
- Virgin daughter…
- Come down and sit in the dust O virgin daughter of Babylon!
- Having made the CONTRAST between the LORD and FALSE gods [Bel and Nebo]
- The LORD brings the final JUDGEMENT on this proud nation…
- Who assumed they were INVINCIBLE – no nation would ever CONQUER them…
- Yet the LORD gave the command to this VIRGIN [never defeated] of Babylon [confusion]
- To come DOWN [imperative] from her throne – and SIT [imperative] in the DUST!
- When Nebuchadnezzar had his dream of the STATUE [kingdoms of men]
- The HEAD of Gold was Babylon – the GREATEST of all the kingdoms – Daniel 2:37-38
- In response the KING decided it was NOT enough to be the GREATEST…
- Babylon had to be the ONLY kingdom – so he made the STATUE from his dream…
- But he made sure it was made of ALL gold [not just the head]
- And when the musicians played – EVERYONE had to bow down before the IDOL!
- Daniel 3:5 – “Fall down and worship the gold image King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.”
- No throne…
- Sit on the ground without a throne O daughter of the Chaldeans!
- For you shall no more be called tender and delicate!
- In the DAY when the LORD judged the proud people of Chaldea [Babylon]
- He commanded them to SIT [imperative] without [אִין] a THRONE…
- Because [כִּי] they would NO longer be called SOFT [רַךְ] and DELICATE [עָנֹג]
- Their reputation as a VIRGIN [unconquered] would be RUINED!
- When Cyrus and the armies of Medo-Persia surrounded the city of Babylon…
- Belshazzar [grandson of Nebuchadnezzar] was convinced the city was impregnable [virgin]
- So he commanded that rather than DEFEND the city – there should be a PARTY…
- Therefore he brought out all of the GOLD and SILVER vessels from the Temple in Jerusalem…
- And used them to praise the gods of GOLD – SILVER – BRONZE – and STONE…
- Until the Lord sent a hand and wrote about his destruction on the WALL!
- Daniel 5:28 – “Your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
- Sadly people have NOT changed since the days of Babylon…
- Though God warns us that the JUDGEMENT is coming – they do NOT listen…
- They go on ARROGANTLY insisting on sitting on the THRONE [living their way]
- Even when the END is near – knocking at the door – they PARTY rather than REPENT…
- Right up until the moment when it is TOO late – and their lives are RUINED [dust]
- 2nd – Conquered… vs. 2-3
- Humiliated… vs. 2
- Take the millstones and grind meal.
- Remove your veil. Take off the skirt. Uncover the thigh [to] pass through the rivers!
- What followed was the complete HUMILIATION of Babylon…
- This once PROUD people were given SIX commands…
- They would be forced to TAKE [imperative] the MILLSTONE – put to WORK grinding [imperative]
- They would have to TAKE off [imperative] their VEIL [4x in OT]
- VEIL [צַמָּה] – used to mark a VIRGIN woman – Song of Songs 4:3
- And they would have to STRIP off [imperative] their flowing SKIRT [fancy clothes]
- In doing so they would EXPOSE [imperative] their LEGS…
- So they could CROSS [imperative] over the RIVER [as captives]!
- Picture the wealthiest women of the city [designer clothes]
- Being stripped of all their MONEY and POSSESSIONS – and forced into MANUAL labor!
- Ashamed… vs. 3
- Your nakedness shall be uncovered. Yes your shame will be seen.
- I will take vengeance – and I will not arbitrate with a man!
- The LORD would expose [niphal] them [naked]
- He would let their SHAME be SEEN [niphal]
- This might have been LITERAL – but was also figurative – their FALL exposed Babylon…
- Because God was bringing His VENGEANCE [נָקָם] upon them…
- And He would NOT spare ANY of them from His JUDGEMENT!
- God was SEVERE to Babylon – because they should have KNOWN…
- When Nebuchadnezzar became PRIDEFUL – God humbled him…
- He ate grass like an ANIMAL for SEVEN years – Daniel 4:32
- Yet in the end he REPENTED – and was SAVED – Daniel 4:34
- But although Belshazzar knew this – he did NOT repent!
- Daniel 5:22 – “[You] Belshazzar have not humbled your heart although you knew all this.”
- The desire of God is to give GRACE – He wants to SAVE…
- But if we KNOW that we should HUMBLE ourselves before the LORD…
- And still CHOOSE to sit on the THRONE – live our lives our way…
- Then we have CLOSED the door on the MERCY of God…
- And instead decided that we are going to learn the HARD way!
- Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction.”
- 3rd – Judged… vs. 4-6
- By the Lord… vs. 4
- Our Redeemer – the LORD of hosts is His name – the Holy One of Israel!
- The LORD wanted Babylon to know WHO did this to them…
- The one who would HUMBLE them – is the same God who REDEEMS [participle] Israel…
- His name is the LORD of the armies of heaven [צְבָאוֹת]
- He is the HOLY one [קָדוֹשׁ] – the God of Israel!
- Babylon assumed they were MIGHTIER than Israel…
- Because they had defeated them – conquered Jerusalem…
- They also assumed theirs gods were greater than the LORD…
- Because they had burned the Temple of God to the ground – II Kings 25:9
- Their sentence… vs. 5
- Sit in silence – and go into darkness – O daughter of the Chaldeans.
- For you shall no longer be called the Lady of Kingdoms!
- Because of their ARROGANT words – they would be SILENT [imperative]
- Because of their IGNORANCE – they would go in DARKNESS [imperative]
- Because of their FOOLISHNESS – they would NO longer be called the QUEEN of kingdoms!
- The world ARROGANTLY thinks that because they are blessed – they are WISE…
- They IGNORANTLY assume because they are RICH – they are RIGHT…
- But they FOOLISHLY never stop to ask the question – who gave all this to them!
- Daniel 5:23 – “You have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven… you have praised the gods of silver and gold… wood and stone – which do not see or hear or know – and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways you have not glorified.”
- Punished… vs. 6
- I was angry with My people. I have profaned My inheritance and given them into your hand!
- Babylon NEVER stopped to consider WHY Judah had fallen…
- It was NOT a matter of them being the greater KINGDOM…
- Certainly their false gods were NOT greater than the God of Israel – Isaiah 46:10
- The reason was because the LORD was ANGRY with His people…
- Therefore He is the one who treated [piel] His possession [inheritance] as COMMON [חָלַל]
- And the LORD gave [sequential] them into the hand of Babylon…
- It was meant to be a WAKE up call – and PUNISHMENT for His people!
- II Kings 24:20 – “Because of the anger of the LORD this happened in Jerusalem and Judah.”
- Bad things happening in life – are often NOT bad for us…
- They are God trying to get our ATTENTION when we are NOT listening…
- God uses CONSEQUENCES to try and HUMBLE us – Hebrews 12:6
- No Mercy… vs. 6
- You showed them no mercy. On the elderly you laid your yoke very heavily!
- BUT Babylon went TOO far – they did NOT show Israel MERCY…
- They even made the ELDERLY carry very HEAVY burdens [yoke]
- Therefore – God would also NOT show them ANY mercy!
- Matthew 7:2 – “For with what judgment you judge – you will be judged.”
- When a child REBELS – their parents have the right to PUNISH…
- And while a teacher may have permission to PUNISH – if they ABUSE…
- Those same parents will be quick to turn around and DEFEND their KIDS!
- We need to be careful being HEAVY handed with others…
- When they make mistakes – God is going to PUNISH them…
- Not because He is done with them – but to get their ATTENTION…
- But if we end up piling on the JUDGEMENT – we will be the ones in TROUBLE…
- Because God does NOT look kindly on those who attack His kids – Luke 17:2
- 1st – Dethroned… vs. 1
- 2nd – Wrath of God… vs. 7-11
- 1st– False Confidence… vs. 7-9
- Confident… vs. 7
- You said: I shall be a lady forever. So that you did not take these things to heart.
- Nor remember the latter end of them!
- Having determined the FALL and JUDGEMENT of Babylon…
- The Lord EXAMINED the reason for their lack of MERCY…
- FIRST – it was because Babylon had FALSE confidence [in the moment]
- Babylon said [sequential] that she would [imperfect] be QUEEN forever [לְעוֹלָם]
- But they NEVER let it sink into their HEART [לִבֵּךְ]
- They NEVER stopped to CONSIDER would HAPPEN in the END!
- Credit cards are VERY dangerous – because people do NOT think…
- They spend MONEY – buy things that they WANT without paying for it [at the moment]
- But the PROBLEM is the BILL always comes DUE in the END!
- The FOLLY of this world is thinking TOMORROW will be just like TODAY…
- People ASSUME that the GOOD times are going to last FOREVER…
- And NEVER stop to ask – what happens when the BILL comes due!
- II Peter 3:4 – “All things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
- Sudden destruction… vs. 8-9
- Therefore hear this now you who are given to pleasures – who dwell securely.
- Who say in your heart: I am and there is no one else besides me.
- I shall not sit as a widow – nor shall I know the loss of children.
- But these two things shall come to you in a moment – in one day:
- The loss of children and widowhood – they shall come upon you in their fullness!
- Therefore – NOW they had to LISTEN [imperative]
- These people who lived for PLEASURE [only here OT] – and dwelt in SAFETY…
- And were convinced [participle] in their HEART [לֵבָב] no one could touch them…
- They thought they would NEVER lose their HUSBAND [widow]– or their CHILDREN…
- But that is EXACTLY what would happen to Babylon [both things]
- And it would happen in a MOMENT [unexpected] – in a single DAY!
- When Jesus taught about His second coming – He reminded the people – Luke 17:26-29
- Just before the FLOOD: people were getting married – eating and drinking…
- Until the day the NOAH went into the ARK – and the FLOOD destroyed them all [in a day]
- Just before SODOM and GOMORRAH: people bought and sold – built houses…
- Until the day the LOT left the city – and the GOD destroyed them all [in a day]
- Luke 17:30 – “Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.”
- People do NOT wake up in the morning and think – this might be the LAST day…
- They are CONFIDENT that nothing BAD will happen…
- But the JUDGEMENT of God is NOT something that builds gradually…
- It is a SENTENCE that is carried out IMMEDIATELY – and with little warning…
- While the DOOR is still open – today is the day to LISTEN and be SAVED – II Corinthians 6:2
- 2nd – False hope… vs. 9-10
- Sorceries… vs. 9
- Because of the multitude of your sorceries. For the great abundance of your enchantments!
- SECOND – the people of Babylon also had FALSE hope…
- The believed in the abilities of their many SORCERERS [כֶּשֶׁף]
- Convinced the great abundance of their SPELLS [enchantments] could protect them!
- People put hope in all the WRONG places…
- They believe in the power of a CHARM – or the protection of the STATUE…
- But these things can do NOTHING to save them when the JUDGEMENT comes!
- No one sees… vs. 10
- For you have trusted in your wickedness. You have said: No one sees me.
- Your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you.
- And you have said in your heart: I am and there is no one else besides me!
- The people were CONFIDENT [בָּטַח] in spite of their WICKEDNESS [רַע]
- Because they convinced themselves NO one [אֵין] was WATCHING them [participle]
- They put their HOPE in their WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE…
- And it had really [polel] PERVERTED them [שׁוּב]
- So that they SAID [2x] – they were ALONE and NO one could touch them!
- People think they can live an EVIL life – because NO one knows…
- They have become perverted through BOOKS that say God is NOT real [evolution]
- Find others who agree with them – and CONDONE their wicked lifestyles…
- But God sees EVERYTHING we do – even every thought…
- We should NOT take his Grace and longsuffering to mean we are OK…
- He is giving time so that we can choose to REPENT – turn back to Him!
- Proverbs 15:3 – “The eyes of the LORD are in every place – beholding the evil and the good.”
- 3rd – Certain Judgement… vs. 11
- Evil…
- Therefore evil shall come upon you. You shall not know from where it arises!
- Therefore – EVIL would come [prophetic perfect] upon Babylon…
- And they would NOT be able to SEE where it ROSE from [piel]
- Because they had been BLINDED by their false CONFIDENCE and HOPE!
- The judgement of God is NOT a secret…
- Everyone KNOWS they will one day stand before Him – Romans 1:18
- But they are BLINDED by their CONFIDENCE – they think they still have time…
- And they have HOPE that just maybe the LORD is NOT watching!
- Trouble…
- And trouble shall fall upon you. You will not be able to put it off!
- And in the DAY when DISASTER [הוָֹה] came upon them…
- They would NOT be able to COVER [their sin]
- COVER [כָּפַר] – to make ATONEMENT for their EVIL!
- Those who think they can ESCAPE the judgment of God…
- Will be LEFT powerless on the day when they stand before God…
- Under the gaze of the Lord – there will be NO place to HIDE [cover]
- Only the certainty of the unavoidable WRATH that will come upon them!
- Hebrews 10:26 – “There no longer remains a sacrifice for sins – but a certain fearful expectation of judgment – and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.”
- Desolation…
- And desolation shall come upon you suddenly. Which you shall not know!
- It would happen in a MOMENT – with NO warning…
- They would NOT know [יָדַע] when the DESTRUCTION would come!
- We are living in exciting time – we are in the LAST days…
- The RAPTURE could happen at any MOMENT – any DAY – Matthew 24:44
- We do NOT want to be around for what comes afterwards [wrath of God]
- The wisdom is to NOT assume tomorrow will be like today…
- And NOT fool ourselves into thinking the Lord is NOT watching…
- Instead be READY – because today could be the DAY!
- I John 3:3 – “Everyone who has this hope… purifies himself.”
- 1st– False Confidence… vs. 7-9
- 3rd – Wrong answers… vs. 12-15
- 1st – Wrong power… vs. 12
- Stand now with your enchantments and the multitude of your sorceries.
- In which you have labored from your youth.
- Perhaps you will be able to profit. Perhaps you will prevail!
- God challenged the people of Babylon to keep doing what they had DONE [three ways]
- FIRST – they should [imperative] keep RELYING on their SPELLS [enchantments]
- Keep going back to their many SORCERERS [false religions]
- They had been doing this since their YOUTH – so why NOT keep trying…
- MAYBE [אוּלַי] it could help them – MAYBE it could give them VICTORY [sarcasm]
- Before we decide to follow the example of those around us…
- We might want to stop and ask – is what they are doing working…
- People might be good SALESMEN – and make something sound convincing…
- But if it does NOT work – then wisdom says we should look elsewhere for the ANSWER!
- 2nd – Wrong counsel… vs. 13-14
- Religion… vs. 13
- You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels.
- Let now the astrologers – the stargazers – and the monthly prognosticators.
- Stand up and save you from what shall come upon you!
- SECOND – though they were EXHAUSTED [niphal] by all the COUNSEL they had gotten…
- They should [jussive] keep looking to their WISE men to save them [hiphil]
- ASTROLOGERS – those who divide [הָבַר] the sky [שָׁמַיִם]
- STARGAZERS – those who LOOK [חֹזֶה] to the STARS [כּוֹכָב]
- PROGNOSTICATORS – those who KNOW [יָדַע] the MONTHS [חֹדֶשׁ]
- They looked up to the HEAVENS – but missed the God who created them – Isaiah 40:26
- Over TWO thousand years later – people have NOT changed…
- They still look to SKY and believe it has answers…
- They look to their SIGN [in the stars] to give them counsel [Zodiac]
- And they believe that the MONTH and YEAR they were born defines them [Chinese]
- Consumed… vs. 14
- Behold they shall be as stubble. The fire shall burn them.
- They shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame.
- It shall not be a coal to be warmed by – nor a fire to sit before!
- BEHOLD [look] – these COUNSELORS are like [כְ] chaff that will be burned…
- They CANNOT even deliver themselves [hiphil] from the power of the FIRE…
- Therefore do NOT [אִין] come and sit and be warmed before their fire…
- Do NOT come to the ones who are going to be BURNED for counsel on how to stay SAFE!
- Just as we would NOT ask the designer of the TITANIC how to build a boat…
- We should NOT ask those who are bound for the FIRE [hell]
- For the best way to be able to avoid the JUDGEMENT that is COMING!
- 3rd – Wrong friends… vs. 15
- Thus shall they be to you with whom you have labored – your merchants from your youth.
- They shall wander each one to his quarter. No one shall save you!
- THIRD – they could look to those they had KNOWN all their lives…
- People they had done business with – worked with for years…
- But in the day of JUDGEMENT they would also be NO help – they would abandon them…
- There was NO one [אִין] who could save BABYLON!
- There is NO question the JUDGEMENT is coming…
- We may NOT know the HOUR or the DAY – Mark 13:32
- But we can be sure that when it does come SUDDENLY – NO one will escape it…
- And there are countless places we could look – that CANNOT help us…
- Yet there is only ONE place we can put our TRUST – and know He NEVER let us fall!
- 1st – Wrong power… vs. 12