Today's Reading:

Isaiah 13
Isaiah 14
Isaiah 15
Isaiah 16
Isaiah 17

Chapter 14 gave a glimmer of hope after the judgment on the nations who oppressed God’s people. Israel would return from exile and even rule over their former captors (Isaiah 14:2). The people taunted the fallen Babylon, “our pomp is brought down to Sheol, the sounds of your harps. Maggots are laid as a bed for you, and worms cover you! (14:11). There would be no more Egyptian cotton sheets or fine linen pillows; instead, you get a mattress of maggots and a blanket of worms! The corpse would be a feast for decomposition. There is no honor of a mummified body, or a tomb. This echoes Jesus’ words in Mark 9:48 about the worm that does not die.

Why would God give His people such a vivid, almost humorous taunt against the fallen king of Babylon right in the middle of judgment and darkness?

We left off from reading Isaiah on day 191 with the Song of Praise after deliverance. After God punishes Israel, His wrath will fall to Assyria. There would be immediate threats to Judah (S). The prophecies in chapter 13 against Babylon were about 100 years before it actually happened. Isaiah ministered around 740-680 BC, and Judah was conquered by Babylon in 586 BC. God gave the people plenty of knowledge and plenty of time to repent before Babylon’s takeover. The Medes and Persians would later become His instruments of judgment. Cyrus the Persian, with help from the Medes, took Babylon down.

Prideful people and empires will be taken down. In Matthew 24:29, Jesus mimics this world that includes all, not just one city or people group. The people would scatter like hunted animals; Judah would be overtaken by Babylon. But Babylon would pay for what they did to Judah, and it is ALL in God’s plan! The Medes could not be bribed as they had no regard for silver.

The passage in Isaiah 14:12-15 uses the terms “Day Star” and “son of the Dawn” to refer to the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. These words also apply to the fall of Satan due to pride. The Babylonian king was a human ruler but had a spiritual power behind him. The proud want to be like God and yet wind up being worm food. Even the king’s sons would be cut off to prevent more evil from happening. God tidies up history here; there would be no remnant for Babylon. He even swears to break Assyria, the immediate threat to His people.

Isaiah continued his prophecies against Philistia (Gaza). They should not rejoice that Assyria is broken, because a worse “serpent” is coming. Moab was east of the Dead Sea, and they faced sudden night destruction. The Moabites were descendants of Lot. The cities cried out and the refugees fled weeping. Even Isaiah cried over them. When was the last time you cried over an enemy?

The fugitives from Moab fled to Zoar. Note this is the Biblical archaeology Zoar, which means “little one”! The city of Zoar is at the southeast edge of the Dead Sea, where Lot had fled during the Sodom and Gomorrah destruction. It was also the city where Lot’s incest with his daughters happened while lived in a cave (Genesis 19:30). After the birth of Moab and Ben-Ammi (Ammonites), they left the area, and the Moabite and Ammonites settled elsewhere. Now the Moabites had fled back to safety in Zoar. When you try to find temporary housing like “little Zoar,” you will fail. You must turn to true Zion and flee to Christ. The Madaba map, a floor mosaic from the 6th century AD found in a church, is the earliest known map of the Holy Land. It depicts Lebanon to Egypt and has Zoar marked on the map.

The Moabites had once sent tribute of lambs to the king of Israel (N) in 2 Kings 3:14). When Ahab died, Moab rebelled (2 Kings 3). King Mesha was a sheep breeder. The Mesha Stele, a Moabite stone, confirms this. Jehoram (Ahab’s son), with help from Jehoshaphat of Judah and the King of Edom, launched a battle against Moab. This was a mixed relationship, sometimes good and sometimes bad, between Moab, Israel, and Judah. David had even sent his family there, and they were close by for protection. Moab’s pride blocked their true repentance.

The capital of Aram (Syria) was Damascus. Aram and Israel had allied against Judah back in chapter 7, but they share the same fate of judgment. God sees every proud heart and every refugee that is hurting. His justice is perfect, yet His mercy is always reaching out, even to former enemies who turn to Him, like Ruth the Moabite.

Today's Discussion question:

Why would God give His people such a vivid, almost humorous taunt against the fallen king of Babylon right in the middle of judgment and darkness?

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