Judgment On Babylon, Assyria, And Philistia (14:1-32)
Neal Pollard
Isaiah continues his oracle against Babylon as chapter 14 begins. The first few verses contain a comforting promise of God’s compassion and restoration of His chosen people after their painful captivity in Babylon (1-3). Then, Isaiah instructs them to “take up this taunt against the king of Babylon” (4). The next 19 verses are the contents of that taunt, mocking the future world power for its foolish pride and self-reliance. The downfall of Babylon would be the cause of rejoicing for the nations (7-10). Their pride, equating themselves even with God, would be shattered by their humiliating fall (11-15). As mighty as they would become, their ruin and destruction would be greater (16-23). Similar statements about its desolation and dishonor, made in chapter 13, fill this second half of the judgment oracle on Babylon. Behind all of it is the unmistakable, omnipotent work of God (5-6).
Verses 4-21 form a masterful poem, divided into four sections. Stanza one is the relief of the nations (4-8). Stanza two is the taunts of rival kings (9-11). Stanza three is the dramatic fall of the Babylonian king (12-15). Stanza four is the surprised reaction of the nations to the unexpected ruin of this nation (16-21).
Assyria is briefly mentioned as another power which would fall. Already, Isaiah has shown Judah the folly of making an alliance with Assyria who would surely be defeated. At this time, Assyria was already dominant and defeating Judah’s neighbors. But, like their neighbor Babylon, Assyria would also fall. The focus here is not on the details of Assyria’s punishment, but instead on the assurance that God was able to do it and would do it. It was God’s plan and purpose (24). His purpose could not be thwarted (26-27; cf. Job 42:2). What God determines is going to happen, no matter how unlikely it may seem in a given moment. Assyria was a fearsome, dominant power, but God would “break” them (25).
Finally, in the year of wicked King Ahaz’s death (28), there are judgment oracles raised against three of Judah’s neighbors. The first of those, Philistia, is addressed in verses 29-32. God’s message is not to rejoice over the defeat of Assyria because they would rise again to afflict them (29). Their children would feel the pain of famine and fire (30-31). Only in Judah would their be refuge and protection. Later, when Sennacherib, king of Assyria, comes upon Judah, his emissary will brag of how all the nations around them had fallen to him (37:18-19). Ultimately, in fulfillment of verses 24-27, Assyria would be the one surprised and decimated by defeat. But this would not be an assurance for nations like Philistia. They would reap the consequences of the national sins they had sown.
These judgment oracles point to the power, the purpose, and perfect foreknowledge of God. He holds the fate of nations in His hand, and He possesses perfect holiness and justice. God never gets it wrong. His righteousness is a comfort to the faithful, but it is sheer terror to the rebellious and wicked.
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