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God Over The Nations - Isaiah 13 to 17
God Over The Nations - Isaiah 13 to 17
The Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, would confess: "the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes" (Dan. 4:17, 25, 32). Here in our reading (Isa. 13 – 17), we are introduced to a series of oracles that God through Isaiah pronounced upon the nations of Isaiah's day. In quick succession he will deal with Babylon (13 - 14:27); Philistia (14:28-32), Moab (15:1 - 16:14), Syria / Israel (17:1 - 18:7), and Egypt (19:1 - 20:6).
The difficulty for modern readers is our disconnect with the language of the prophets concerning such judgments. They used cataclysmic terms and phrases but they are not discussing the end of the cosmos or world. As I remember Jim McQuiggan writing that it is the end of THEIR world, but not of the world (source not remembered). The sun would go down upon THEIR empire, but would arise on another. Their world would become uninhabited, but the space would be taken over by other peoples and empires.
For example, in describing the end of Babylon, God says:
"For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not flash forth their light; The sun will be dark when it rises And the moon will not shed its light." (Isaiah 13:10).
We read similar language when Ezekiel speaks of the doom of Egypt:
"“And when I extinguish you, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars; I will cover the sun with a cloud And the moon will not give its light." (Ezekiel 32:7).
Concerning the king of Babylon (14:4, 22), we again encounter such lofty language such as 'falling from heaven' (12), 'raise my throne above the stars' (13), and the 'cypress trees rejoicing' over him (8). Yet, "In 14:22–23 Isaiah clearly indicates (1) that the taunt song for the king of Babylon is not to be taken literally; and (2) that it does not apply to any one individual. It is Babylon as a whole which is brought low" (J. Smith OTS). Again, because of the exalted language of this section, people have wrongly taken it to be about Satan, but it SAYS it is about the king of Babylon.
History now allows us to look back and see what Isaiah looked forward to. Babylon indeed fell and was replaced by the Medo/Persian empire around 539 B.C. just as Isaiah spoke in 13:17ff. Philistia - Syria alliance threatened the Philistines, but it was Assyria under Sennacherib in 701 b.c. that brought the Philistines (as well as Syria and Israel) to an end of power. Moab - The Moab oracle concludes with a note naming the exact time of fulfillment of the threat. Within exactly three years Moab’s “glory” would be despised (16:13f.). The prediction finds fulfillment in 715 b.c. when Sargon directed a campaign against the Arabians. To reach his destination, Sargon swept through the length of Moab from north to south murdering and plundering as he went. Syria (and Israel /Ephraim) - The prophecy was fulfilled with the fall of Damascus to the Assyrians in 732 b.c., and the destruction of Samaria by the same forces in 722 b.c.
We should learn that God is in control even when it does not appear to be so! God rules in and OVER the kingdoms of men, including our nation today. God used nations to discipline and judge other nations. Today, the people of God from ALL nations are God's holy nation (1Pet. 2:5-9). We live in different countries but are part of the same spiritual nation. We are thus to live in peace, as much as possible, wherever we live. We are to honor whatever king and / or authority (1Pet. 2:17). We are to pray for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity (1Tim. 2:1-4). Where have you placed your faith?
Hugh DeLong
