An Oracle Against Babylon (their leader)
Isaiah 14:12 (ESV)
“How you are fallen from heaven,
O Day Star, son of Dawn!
How you are cut down to the ground,
you who laid the nations low!
Isaiah 14:16-22 (ESV)
Those who see you will stare at you
and ponder over you:
‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble,
who shook kingdoms,
who made the world like a desert
and overthrew its cities,
who did not let his prisoners go home?’
All the kings of the nations lie in glory,
each in his own tomb;
but you are cast out, away from your grave,
like a loathed branch,
clothed with the slain, those pierced by the sword,
who go down to the stones of the pit,
like a dead body trampled underfoot.
You will not be joined with them in burial,
because you have destroyed your land,
you have slain your people.
“May the offspring of evildoers
nevermore be named!
Prepare slaughter for his sons
because of the guilt of their fathers,
lest they rise and possess the earth,
and fill the face of the world with cities.”
“I will rise up against them,” declares the LORD of hosts, “and will cut off from Babylon name and remnant, descendants and posterity,” declares the LORD.
In the Bible, Babylon is a picture of all the achievement of mankind. They were historical a powerful nation and lead by corrupt and inhuman leaders. Their exploits are noted in history and their conquest graphically displayed in museums. A simply internet search will bare witness of their accounts. In the ancient world, Babylon was depicted as unconquerable and impregnable. In spiritual terms, when used in the God’s Word, Babylon is the picture of all evil. It is the hotbed of Satan’s domain. It is used in the Old Testament as a picture of the tormentors of Israel and in the New Testament of the persecutors of the Church.
In the above passage we have Isaiah’s prophecy about the King of Babylon and the city he lead. Babylon was about to take the Northern Tribes (Israel) captive. They were about to destroy, or were already destroying the rebellious peoples of God. God was using them as a tool, like a hammer, to discipline His people. But, in their journey to that end, they became proud and arrogant and undisciplined. God, in these words, is condemning them and bringing them low. Their pride had lifted them up, but God would bring them back to the ground.
The world will be amazed (both historically and, eventually, spiritually) at the destruction of Babylon. They will ask, “... is this the man you made the earth tremble.” Notice what Revelations says about her:
Revelation 18:1-3 (ESV)
The Fall of Babylon
After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. And he called out with a mighty voice,
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
She has become a dwelling place for demons,
a haunt for every unclean spirit,
a haunt for every unclean bird,
a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
For all nations have drunk
the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality,
and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her,
and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”
The lesson? Mighty men will be brought low by the power and greatness of God. Those who exalt themselves above God (even when being used by Him) will be brought low by God. The pride of mankind will bring him low. Our leaders and systems in power today might want to consider:
Proverbs 16:18 (ESV)
Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
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