Chapter 662 of 1163

ISAIAH 13

In chapters 13–23, Isaiah announces God’s judgment on ten gentile peoples as well as on His own people in Judah and Israel. He begins with Babylon, which would one day swallow up the Assyrians, take Judah captive and then itself be defeated by the Medes and Persians (vv. 17–22). The rise and the fall of nations are in the hands of God (Dan. 4:25, 32; Acts 17:26). God can even use heathen soldiers to do His work and can call them “My sanctified ones” (v. 3). He is sovereign.

In the defeat of Babylon, Isaiah saw a picture of the final “day of the Lord” when the world will taste the judgment of God. God is long-suffering with sinners, but there comes a time when His judgment must fall. Isaiah’s message against Babylon was fulfilled, and the city and empire are no more.

In Scripture, Babylon symbolizes the world system confederated against God (Gen. 11). Like Babylon in Isaiah’s day, the world today seems so successful and invincible; but one day, the whole system will fall (Rev. 17–18). That is why God calls His people to separate themselves from it (2 Cor. 6:14–18).

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