Isaiah study & commentary

Isaiah 47:1-4

Isaiah predicted the fall of Babylon about 150 years before it happened.  Babylon is portrayed as a virgin daughter.  Prophets often called nations in the crosshairs of judgment virgin daughters.  The nation had never before been conquered or taken captive.  This was a new experience for Babylon to assume this humble role.  To come and sit in the dust was the low place of a servant.  Babylon was used to being served by others.  But that position was lost in a riches to rags fashion.  They would now be the like the servant girl who lifted her skirt to pass through the waters as she performed her chores.  God declared that He will take His vengeance on Babylon.

The redeemer of Israel?  That's the Lord of Host.  He's the same one who brought Babylon against them and carried them into captivity.  He's the same one who will judge Babylon and eventually bring His people home.

Isaiah 47:5-7

Babylon was once held in such a high position, looked upon by all the kingdoms as the Lady of Kingdoms.  Babylon had conquered a large area that included what was Assyria, Syria, Phoenicia, Philistia, Judah and Israel.  She was exalted but now will be a slave girl.

God used Babylon to judge his own people.   He was angry with them for turning their back on Him and ignoring His repeated calls to  return to Him.  The Jews had forsaken God and turned to worship idols.  He gave his people into the hands of Babylon but they showed no mercy.  They put a heavy burden of slavery on the elderly.  These people showed no respect to God's chosen race.  They were proud and arrogant as though their kingdom would go on forever.  Babylon did not give honor to God or consideration to God's people.

 Isaiah 47:8-11
It was the height of her arrogance for Babylon to say that there was none besides her and that she would never sit as a widow or know the loss of Children.  Babylon thought it was beyond the reach of The Living God.  In one day she would experience widowhood and loss of children.  It wouldn't happen slowly over time but in one night Cyrus the Persian would go into the city and lay siege to Babylon.  They were misled by their wisdom and knowledge.  Their trust in those things created an arrogance that gave them a false sense of security.  This disaster was to come upon them and none of the things that brought them comfort would save them. 

When Cyrus came upon them, three thousand were impaled as they fled.  The Babylonian men chose one woman from his family and strangled all the rest so as to extend their provisions and hold out against this siege.

Isaiah 47:12-15

All the spells, sorceries, stargazers and astrologers won't be able to save Babylon from what is coming.  The former things that they trusted in would be found useless.  Not only could they not deliver themselves they could do nothing to help the people.  They would be delivered to the flame and it was a flame that was more than what you would warm your hands over.  This is the all-consuming fire of the judgment of God; those against whom it falls will be as stubble.

©2018 Doug Ford