Frameworks:
Isaiah 14: A prophecy against Babylon (2) + Philistia
v.1-2
Israel will be returned from exile to their own land
v.3-11
The nations who came against Israel [implied] will be brought
down
v.12-17
How Babylon's pride will be brought down
v.18-20
Your ruler will be swept away without a proper funeral
v.21-23
Generations will be swept away
v.24-27
This is God's decreed plan that cannot be held back
v.28-31
A prophecy against the Philistines for the benefit of Jerusalem
[Introductory
Comment: Most of this chapter is a continuation
of the word [started in the previous chapter] against Babylon,
with only the last few verses being given over to the word against
the Philistines. The prophecy against Babylon is now put in the
context of Israel being returned to their own land after the Exile
[v.1,2] which of course only happened after the fall of Babylon
at the hands of Cyrus. Once Israel are returned [v.3] they can
rejoice at Babylon's downfall [v.4-11]. Babylon's pride is confronted
[v.12-17], the cause of her fall, and its ruler will be swept
away [v.18-20], the land cleared of people so future generations
will be gone [v.21-23], all because God has decreed it [v.24],
a prophecy to act as a warning to the Assyrians in the present
[v.25], a plan that all the world will observe [v.26,27]. The
remaining verses, 28-32, warn the Philistines that they are not
immune from God's judgment which will come on them for the benefit
of Israel.]
v.1-2
Israel will be returned from exile to their own land
v.1
(The Lord will bring
Israel home) The
Lord will have compassion on Jacob;
once again he will choose Israel
and will settle them in their own land.
Foreigners will join them
and unite with the descendants of Jacob.
v.2 (The
tables will be turned) Nations
will take them
and bring them to their own place.
And
Israel will take possession of the nations
and make them male and female servants
in the Lord's land.
They will make captives of their captors
and rule over their oppressors.
v.3-11
The nations who came against Israel [implied] will be brought
down
v.3
(Israel's suffering will
be ended and Babylon brought down) On
the day the Lord gives you relief from your suffering and turmoil
and from the harsh labour forced on you,
v.4
you
will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon:
How
the oppressor has come to an end!
How his fury has ended!
v.5 (God
will deal with the nations) The
Lord has broken the rod of the wicked,
the sceptre of the rulers,
v.6 which
in anger struck down peoples
with unceasing blows,
and in fury subdued nations
with relentless aggression.
v.7 (And
peace will prevail) All
the lands are at rest and at peace;
they break into singing.
v.8 Even
the junipers and the cedars of Lebanon
gloat over you and say,
‘Now that you have been laid low,
no one comes to cut us down.'
v.9 (The
underworld will get ready to receive these nations) The
realm of the dead below is all astir
to meet you at your coming;
it rouses the spirits of the departed to greet you –
all those who were leaders in the world;
it makes them rise from their thrones –
all those who were kings over the nations.
v.10
(There will be a recognition
of nations brought down) They
will all respond,
they will say to you,
‘You also have become weak, as we are;
you have become like us.'
v.11
All
your pomp has been brought down to the grave,
along with the noise of your harps;
maggots are spread out beneath you
and worms cover you.
v.12-17
How Babylon's pride will be brought down
[Note:
Some suggest these verses apply to Satan's fall]
v.12
(You who looked so good
and were so high, will be brought down) How
you have fallen from heaven,
morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
v.13
(Your pride made you
equal to God) You
said in your heart,
‘I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.
v.14
I
will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.'
v.15
(But now you are brought
down) But
you are brought down to the realm of the dead,
to the depths of the pit.
v.16
(The world will see and
marvel) Those
who see you stare at you,
they ponder your fate:
‘Is this the man who shook the earth
and made kingdoms tremble,
v.17
the
man who made the world a wilderness,
who overthrew its cities
and would not let his captives go home?'
v.18-20
Your ruler will be swept away without a proper funeral
v.18
(Whereas dead kings have
their tombs….) All
the kings of the nations lie in state,
each in his own tomb.
v.19
(…you will be denied
a grave) But
you are cast out of your tomb
like a rejected branch;
you are covered with the slain,
with those pierced by the sword,
those who descend to the stones of the
pit.
Like a corpse trampled underfoot,
v.20
you
will not join them in burial,
for you have destroyed your land
and killed your people.
Let
the offspring of the wicked
never be mentioned again.
v.21-23
Generations will be swept away
v.21
(Even your children will
be wiped away) Prepare
a place to slaughter his children
for the sins of their ancestors;
they are not to rise to inherit the land
and cover the earth with their cities.
v.22
(You will have no survivors)
‘I will
rise up against them,'
declares the Lord Almighty.
‘I will wipe out Babylon's name and survivors,
her offspring and descendants,'
declares the Lord.
v.23
(Your land will be swept
clean) ‘I
will turn her into a place for owls
and into swampland;
I will sweep her with the broom of destruction,'
declares the Lord Almighty.
v.24-27
This is God's decreed plan that cannot be held back
v.24
(This is God's will decreed)
The Lord
Almighty has sworn,
‘Surely,
as I have planned, so it will be,
and as I have purposed, so it will happen.
v.25
(In the present Assyria
will be brought down [as an example for future Babylon]) I
will crush the Assyrian in my land;
on my mountains I will trample him down.
His yoke will be taken from my people,
and his burden removed from their shoulders.'
v.26
(God's plans cover the
whole world) This
is the plan determined for the whole world;
this is the hand stretched out over all
nations.
v.27
(No one that thwart His
plans) For
the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him?
His hand is stretched out, and who can
turn it back?
v.28-31
A prophecy against the Philistines for the benefit of Jerusalem
v.28
(This word comes in 715
BC) This
prophecy came in the year King Ahaz died:
v.29
(Philistia don't get
excited that your oppressor has fallen) Do
not rejoice, all you Philistines,
that the rod that struck you is broken;
from the root of that snake will spring up a viper,
its fruit will be a darting, venomous
serpent.
v.30
(I am coming to bring
destruction to you) The
poorest of the poor will find pasture,
and the needy will lie down in safety.
But your root I will destroy by famine;
it will slay your survivors.
v.31
(You will be attacked
from the north) Wail,
you gate! Howl, you city!
Melt away, all you Philistines!
A cloud of smoke comes from the north,
and there is not a straggler in its ranks.
v.32
(It will happen for the
benefit of Jerusalem) What
answer shall be given to the envoys of that nation?
‘The Lord has established Zion,
and in her his afflicted people will find
refuge.'
CONTINUE
TO CHAPTER 15