God's plan to destroy Babylon

ISAIAH      CHAPTER 47

God sent the people the message that Babylon will sit in the dust and her days of glory will end. He refers to Babylon as a woman who will never again be tender and delicate. He tells her to take off her veil and strip off her robe and expose herself to public view. So she shall be naked and burdened with shame and the Lord will take vengeance against her and will not negotiate.

The Redeemer whose name is Lord Almighty is the Holy One of Israel!

He tells Babylonia, to sit in darkness and silence and never again be known as a queen of kingdoms. The Lord let his people fall into her hands and she showed them no mercy. She forced the elderly to carry heavy burdens and thought she would reign forever. God calls Babylon a pleasure-crazy kingdom who thinks she is not accountable to anyone. Who thinks she will never be a widow or lose her children. But God says those two things will come upon her in a moment, despite all her witchcraft and magic.

Babylon, says the Lord, felt secure in her wickedness and it caused her to turn away from God. Now a catastrophe would arise quickly.  And she can call out the demon hordes she worshipped all through the years, and ask them to help her strike terror in the hearts of her people. But they will be as useless as dried grass burning in a fire. Babylon will get no help from them at all. All Babylon's friends will slip away and disappear, unable to help.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Isaiah predicted the fall of Babylon 150  years before it happened. God used Babylon to punish the sinful people; he would use Medo-Persia to destroy Babylon and free his people.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Babylon believed in the pursuit of power and pleasure and in its' own greatness. Nebuchadnezzar as its' king regarded himself as a God. Can you see these power trips taking place in many countries today? Yes, because our society is addicted to power and pleasure. Ask yourself how you can be more responsible with your talents and possessions God has given you. How can you use them to honor God?

The people of Babylon used astrologers and stargazers for advice. How sad. We know that we must rely on God for help because he alone has proven his power. Go to God for your answers. He has a proven record in creation and history. Don't be misled by those who say they have mystical powers. They are tricksters.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:



HEALTH: Pray for Gabe.


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 a form of MS.


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 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.