Judgment against Babylon and Philistia

ISAIAH CHAPTER 14

In his anger, the Lord will have mercy on the descendants of Jacob and Israel will be his special people once more, says Isaiah. He will bring them back to settle in their own land, as well as people from different nations to join them. Those who captured Israel will be captured and Israel will rule over its enemies.

In that wonderful day when the Lord gives his people rest from sorrows and fear, slavery and chains, they will taunt Babylon and tell them that their insolence is ended. In the "place of the dead", there will be excitement over the people's arrival and world leaders and kings long dead will be there to see them.

How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning, says Isaiah. You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. For you thought you would ascend to heaven and preside on the mountains of the gods far away in the north and be like the Most High. But instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead. Isaiah goes on to describe this fallen shining star as a corpse trampled underfoot and dumped into a mass grave and no son would succeed him as king or conquer land or rebuild cities. It is said that the lord would rise against him and his children and make the land desolate.

Further, Isaiah says the Lord swore an oath to break the Assyrians and trample them on the mountains. And to the Philistines, Isaiah says that the Lord recognized King Ahaz had died and warns them his son would be even worse than the father. He tells the Philistine cities to weep in fear, for they will be destroyed.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: A prominent theme in Isaiah is that non-Israelites would join the returning Israelites and God's would bless his faithful people. The term "shining star, son of the morning" could refer to kings of Assyria and Babylon. The "fallen one" could be 1. Satan because here the person referred to is too powerful to be any human king. 2. Nebuchadnezzar or Sunnacherib, both kings with supreme power. or 3. both Satan and a great human king. Common to all viewpoints is the fact that pride willfully opposes God and will result in his judgment.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Don't make the mistake of being too proud to depend on God. We are vulnerable to the same mistakes in our time, that the people of Isaiah's time were making. It is also important to remember that even though God' wrath turned on many, his wrath did not include the faithful people of the world. In fact, God welcomed back non-Israelites to Israel. So it goes to show that God's love is not limited to just one people. He loves the whole world. He loves you today, every minute of your life. Pray to him and remain faithful.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Pray for Gabe.
Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother who faces another round of chemotherapy and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother-in-law is being taken to Oklahoma to live with an aunt who will care for her.
Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.
Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and for her sister Wanda’s soul which went to heaven.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and for the doctors who have difficulty diagnosing his other symptoms.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.
Pray for another friend named Carolyn whose faith remains strong, but is lost and confused about where and how to spend her elder years.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.