Today Isaiah gives warnings to four nations, starting with Babylon.
1) Currently Assyria is the most powerful nation but soon the Babylonians will rule the ancient world. God is going to use Babylon to bring judgement against Judah for a set period of time, but then the Lord will restore His people to their land and judge wicked Babylon. Isaiah says that the Lord will raise up the Medes to defeat Babylon and compares the destruction to that of Sodom and Gomorrah. However, the Lord will have mercy on His people – “For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will still choose Israel, and settle them in their own land.” God is still working His plan of salvation through His people. Isaiah says when Israel is home and has rest they will sing a taunt against Babylon where Babylon is likened to Lucifer, Satan. They will sing, “Hell from beneath is excited about you, to meet you at your coming”.
2) The Lord uses the Assyrians to bring judgment against Israel but then the Lord will judge the wicked Assyrians to accomplish His purposes. “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?” See, God has the whole world in His hand and He is accomplishing His purposes, even today; and there is nothing that will stop His plans and purposes.
3) The Philistines rejoiced when the Lord humbled Israel and Judah by the hand of their enemies. However, the Lord tells them not to rejoice because a greater judgment is coming upon them. And when that judgment comes, the only place for refuge will be the Lord.
4) The Lord declares the destruction of Moab, Lot’s descendants, because “of his haughtiness and his pride and his wrath.” Pride leads many souls to ruin but there is mercy to be found for those who humble themselves. Out of mercy, the Lord is sending His Son to restore us to Him. Isaiah speaks of the coming King, Jesus Christ, who will reign in righteousness – “In mercy the throne will be established; and One will sit on it in truth, in the tabernacle of David, judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness.“
The day will come when we all will stand before the Lord and on that day all that will matter is whether or not Jesus is standing in your place as your Savior. Those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ will not be condemned because He bore our sins for us on the cross – “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (Colossians 2:13-15).
Tomorrow King Hezekiah reopens the temple in Jerusalem.Keep reading.
(2 Kings 16:19-20, 2 Chronicles 28:26-27, Isaiah 13:1-16:14)
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Chronological Bible in Layman's Terms 