Trusting in God (Is 13)

Isaiah 13-14:23 collectively gives a prophecy against Babylon. Verses 1-22 in chapter 13 specifically concern Babylon being conquered by the Medes and Persians, while some parts of 13 look beyond this event and into the final destruction of Babylon at the end of the Great Tribulation (Rev. 17, 18).[1]


Meaning
This oracle that Isaiah saw conveys that God’s people cannot rely on other nations, but they must rely on God.[2] God will punish Israel’s enemies as her enemies deserve, so these nations will be of no help to Israel in time. In 13:2-3 God is speaking, saying that He has called His holy (consecrated) ones to carry out His wrath against Babylon. In verses 4 and 5, the Lord is painting a picture of Himself mustering an army for war. This army is His instrument to execute judgment on Babylon.

In Revelation 18, an angel shouts of how Babylon has fallen, but by the time John the Revelator had penned this prophecy in Revelation, the literal Babylon had already fallen and seen literal destruction. So, Isaiah 13:6 seems to indicate that this prophecy goes beyond the destruction of literal Babylon and on to the figurative Babylon, as spoken of in Revelation 18. This figurative Babylon represents all of God’s enemies, and in Isaiah 13:9-11, God says that He will make the land desolate and punish the world for its evil. This indicates that God’s judgment of evil is not limited to the physical borders of Babylon. Rather, His judgment will reach to all of the wicked in the world. The strophe of verses 6-8 indicates the utter terror and pain that will seize Babylon, and that “they will look aghast at each other, their faces aflame.” This may indicate those being punished will recognize the pain and terror they are feeling as a judgment of their wrongdoing, making them blush.[3]

With verse 14, the prophecy seems to focus back in on the literal Babylon of that time, saying that foreigners who are in Babylon at the time when God unleashes His anger will flee. However, everyone who is caught in Babylon at that time will be killed. The Lord may seem overly violent and merciless in this oracle, especially in verse 16 when He says Babylon’s infants will be dashed and the men’s wives will be ravished. However, we must not forget the holiness of God and His intolerance of sin. Sinners will be punished (Revelation 21:8) with God as the ultimate Judge. Here, God happens to be using the Medes to carry judgment against Babylon. God strategically uses the Medes because, as said in verse 17, they have no delight in gold. This way, the Babylonians cannot bribe their punishers to keep them from doing God’s will. This prophecy goes on to shame Babylon, saying that people will no longer dwell there, but rather animals will dwell in their strongholds and luxurious places.


Implications
An implication that has significance for people today (not just Christians, but all people) is that God will not tolerate sin. In Isaiah 21, another oracle against Babylon, Isaiah writes of how Babylon has fallen. In verse 9, we see that not only has Babylon come to destruction, but all of her gods lie shattered on the ground. This imagery shows how anything of value we may put before God (idols) is nothing compared to Him. Christians must not put trust in political leaders, money, our own strength, et cetera, lest these things held above God be shattered by God. Followers must trust in Him alone. As implied in this passage, God will not allow His fame and deity to be shared with false gods. Just as God’s people should not have trusted in Babylon or foreign nations, we should not trust in anything else but Him. His judgment reaches out to all whom he pleases it to reach out to, including our idols.

In Isaiah 13:17, we see how the Medes have no desire for silver or gold. As said above, this was a strategic move of God’s so that the Babylonians will not be able to bribe the Medes to keep them from their calling to judge Babylon. Many Christians seem to believe if there is enough money in the offering plate or the right clothes on Sunday morning that God will accept these as righteousness. On the Day of Judgment, we will not be able to bribe God with any good thing we have or deed we have done (Matthew 7:22-23) because it is only by faith in Christ we are counted as righteous (Romans 3:10-24). With this faith, we do not need to fear judgment, nor worry about bribing God.

Another implication of Isaiah 13 is that God is a just God, punishing and blessing as He sees fit. Where sin abounds, He obliterates it. It may seem strange how God uses the Medes here instead of His chosen people Israel, or some other source to carry out judgment. As said above, we know that God used the Medes specifically because they could not be bribed. God using the Medes implies that He can and will use anyone to carry out His will, and He does so however He pleases, despite if it seems odd or cruel to us (1 Corinthians 3:19). Still, in accordance with His just ways, He will keep His promises to have compassion on His chosen people, as we notice in 14:1-2. Judgment prophecies are often conditional, as we see in Isaiah 1:18-20. Here, God asks Judah to reason with Him so He can wash their sins white as snow. He says if they are obedient they can eat the good of the land, but if they refuse and rebel, they will be devoured by the sword. How embarrassing it would be for a confessing Christian to be destroyed by a non-Christian source because the Christian was not trusting in God! This is much like God using to Medes to destroy the Babylonians, because Israel’s faith was not with the right protector. If we will repent for not fully trusting in God alone, we will be spared of His wrath.

[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers Inc., 1995), 949.

[2] Life Application Study Bible: New International Version, (Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Publishers Inc.), 2005, 1098.

[3]Kenneth L. Baker and John R. Kohlenberger III, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Old Testament Abridged Edition. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Corporation, 1994), 1068.