Babylon Will be Punished

Isaiah 13:1–16
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This passage starts off expressing Isaiah’s “burden of Babylon” (v. 1). The prophet was carrying a heavy weight because of the solemn nature of his message. He was announcing judgments that would involve the destruction of many cities and the slaughter of thousands of people. No wonder he felt burdened. The army referred to in these verses is clearly God’s because He said He summoned His warriors to carry out His wrath against Babylon; that is, they would do His bidding (vv. 2-5). This army was a great multitude of entire nations. Coming for war they would assemble from faraway lands, though Isaiah was writing about the military strife in his day, a similar mustering of vast armies will occur just before the millennial kingdom (Rev. 16:12-16).

The “Day of the Lord” refers to the time of the Lord’s judgment on this wicked world and deliverance of His people (vv. 6-13). In Isaiah’s day that judgment was coming because of the tremendous political turmoil of the next several decades that would culminate with the fall of Babylon to the Assyrians. That political turmoil was similar to the judgment which will come on the whole world just before God establishes His millennial kingdom on the earth.

The people attacked would be utterly powerless to stop the invasion. They would be like antelope and sheep, defenseless creatures that are easy prey for hunters (vv. 14-16). People within the Assyrian Empire from other countries would try to escape the coming destruction (they will flee to their native lands). Terrible things would happen, including death by the sword (v. 15), infanticide, plundering, and rape (v. 16). The destruction would be unrelenting in that the invaders would not be dissuaded by money and they will have no mercy on babies (v. 16).

Application

This passage says that God uses the wrath of men against each other to bring about His purposes. I need to praise Him for what he is doing and not fret about the things I think He should be doing.