Bible Study                                     Notes 2000

Text: Isaiah 13-14                                                                                           1 February 2000

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS CONCERNING

THE JUDGMENT OF ASSYRIA   (Isaiah 14:24-27)

1.   The Assyrian threat will be removed completely   Isa. 14:25

2.   The Lord Himself will see to it that the Assyrian threat will be

      no more   Isa. 14:24, 26-27

      a)   “The Lord of Hosts has sworn”   Isa. 14:24

      b)   Appreciating the power of purpose where God is concerned    Isa. 14:24, 26-27

         “Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass

                   And as I have purposed, so it shall stand”   Isa. 14:24

THE INSTRUMENT OF JUDGMENT - THE BABYLONIANS

However, the Babylonians themselves will be judged for their sins (again, the sin of arrogance   Isa. 14)

JUDGMENT AGAINST THE BABYLONIANS

1.   “The Day of the Lord” will be visited upon the Babylonians   

      Isa. 13:6-16

      a)   It will be a day of destruction    Isa. 13:6

      b)   It will be a day of great wrath    Isa. 13:9

      c)   It will be a day of punishment   Isa. 13:11

      d)   It will be permanent judgment   Isa. 13:19-22

2.   The Instrument Used Against the Babylonians - The Medes   (Medo-Persia)

      “I will stir up the Medes against them…”   Isa. 13:17

3.   The Defeat of the Babylonians - Final/Permanent   Isa. 14:22-23

      “I will rise up against them, says the Lord of Host and cut off from Babylon the name and the remnant”   Isa. 14:22

THE HUMILIATING PUNISHMENT OF THE BABYLONIANS

1.   “Death - the Leveller”

a)   “How the oppressor has ceased… the golden city ceased”    Isa. 17:4

b)   “Broken… the scepter of the rulers”     Isa. 17:5

c)   “He who struck the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he who ruled the nations in wrath is persecuted”    Isa. 17:6

d)   “Hell from beneath is excited about you, to meet you at your coming..."   Isa. 17:9

e)   “Your pomp is brought down to Sheol (the grave)”    Isa. 17:11

2.   The arrogance of man … “I will be like The Most High”  

      Isa. 14:14

      a)   “I will ascend into heaven”   Isa. 14:13

      b)   “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God”   Isa. 14:13

      c)   “I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the

                   farthest sides of the north”   Isa. 14:13

      d)   “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds”   Isa. 14:13

      e)   “I will be like The Most High”   Isa. 14:14

3.   God’s Response to the pride/arrogance of the Babylonians

      a)   “You shall be brought down to Sheol (the grave), to the lowest depths of the pit”   Isa. 14:15

      b)   “Those who see you will gaze at you, and consider you, saying,‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook the kingdoms, who made the world as wilderness, and destroyed its cities…?’”   Isa. 14:16-17

THE WONDER OF THE NATURE OF PROPHECY

1.   The Accuracy of the Predictive Element

      a)   This prophecy concerning Babylon was made when Assyria was still at its peak of power

      b)   Babylon was not a power in any sense of the word at this time of prophecy

      c)   Neither were “the Medes” - they came after the Babylonians.

      2.   The nature of God’s Word

      a)   The word of God reflect His thoughts   Isa. 14:24

      b)   Whatever He has determined, it will come to pass;

            Whatever He has purposed, it will stand   Isa. 14:24

GOD’S MERCY APPRECIATED EVEN MORE

With Reference to Israel:-

1.   “The Lord will have mercy on Jacob”                    Isa. 14:1

2.   “And will still choose Israel”                                   Isa. 14:1

3.   “And settle them in the land”                                   Isa. 14:1

4.   "The strangers will (also) be joined to them and they will cling to Jacob…”   Isa. 14:1

5.   "The people (Gentiles) will take them (Children of Israel) and bring them to their place (homeland), and the house of Israel will possess them for servants and maids in the land of the Lord”     Isa. 14:2