Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

The Lord turns to other nations now. To warn them that just because they were being used as a tool of His judgment, it wasn’t permission to do it however they wanted to. To give heart to the Israelites that these wicked nations – who seemed so invulnerable and arrogant now – would not escape judgment themselves (and without the mercy He was showing His repentant children).

Babylon is first up. And it seemed an impossible prophesy considering their power, influence, and haughty attitude in their own power. But the Day of the Lord was coming (a near fulfillment on Babylon, and a far fulfillment yet to come – which is corroborated by many other scriptures). The Day in which Jesus would remove from the Earth the purposefully wicked – think of it like a reverse rapture. That the hardened and purposeful sinners would be removed. Judgment would come and it would come without mercy, for they had shown no mercy. They would be dashed, broken, and unable to buy themselves out of the situation. [The near fulfillment was when Babylon was conquered by the Medes – Daniel 5] This judgement would be as thorough and inescapable as the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. It would be a wasteland only fit for wild animals to dwell on – quite a judgment on one of the greatest cities in the world at that time. [Revelation 18 shows a further fulfillment is yet to come.]

Because this judgement was so sure, the mercy of the Lord toward Israel could also be counted on. Though Babylon would take them captive, they would again have a nation. They would again inhabit a place dedicated to God, and mercy would be upon them. The Lord (Jesus) would break the rod of the enemy and bring his kingdom to an end – this is a prophecy of what Jesus would do to the devil and his rule of the Earth. The Lord goes on to reveal to us the thoughts of the devil when he fell. He was jealous of God. He wasn’t content with how he was made. He wanted to be God. Dissatisfaction led him to exalt himself above his place and enter self-idolatry. He immediately lost his place, cast out with no option of return. The devil brought his heart wasteland to the Earth and has done as much damage as he could, trying to get the praises of people. But Jesus would break his power. Jesus would destroy his kingdoms. Babylon. Assyria. The Philistines (they were never a country, but a collection of city-states). Moab. Those who rejected Jesus and chose the patterns and ways of the devil would share his fate.

In mercy, the Throne of David would be established. The One, Jesus, would sit on that throne and bring true and pure judgement and hastening righteousness. The oppressors would be consumed out of the land. Now those who listen to the prophesy and hold to the Lord would be fine. Those who wait until the judgment arrived to repent would be too late. There is always a proper time to repent, and it is NEVER when the cup of wrath spills over. The Lord was warning them years and YEARS before the judgment that it was coming and that they needed to truly repent to escape. In the case of Moab, He gave them a specific timeline of three years. He is quick to give mercy to those who truly repent in their hearts. What a good God we have.

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Isaiah

Key Verse(s): Isaiah 13:4-8, 19-22; 14:12-17, 22; 15:5-8; 16:3-5, 13-15