The Book Of Isaiah. Day 206, The Fall Of Babylon, Part One

In Chapter 27 the Lord foretells the fall of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. In Isaiah's day it was under Assyrian domination; Assyria was the nation everyone feared. Assyria would conquer the northern kingdom of Israel but it would not conquer the southern kingdom of Judah, for Babylon would rise from the ashes and overthrow Assyria, and it would conquer Judah at a point when the idolatry there became as rampant as it had been in the northern kingdom.

Isaiah's people could scarcely imagine being conquered by Babylon, since it didn't look likely to rise again, much less conquer them and take them captive. But the Lord foretells the fall of Babylon so that, when the people are in captivity there, they can look back at His promises and know that the exile of their nation is not permanent. This prophecy is to give them hope. The nation that conquers Babylon will give them permission to go free. 

We need words of hope to trust in when hard times come. The Lord has included many beautiful promises of help, comfort, peace, and provision so you and I can look to them and trust His word when in troubled times so we don't give up hope.

"Go down, sit in the dust, Virgin Daughter Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne, queen city of the Babylonians. No more will you be called tender or delicate." (Isaiah 47:1) Usually when the Bible refers to a nation or city as a "Virgin Daughter" it means it has never been invaded or plundered before. The old kingdom of Babylon was subjugated by Assyria but the Neo-Babylonian Empire was only used to conquering---not being conquered. The new empire had never been invaded.

The Lord depicts the empire as a spoiled and delicate young woman, living in luxury, not used to performing manual labor. "Take millstones and grind flour; take off your veil. Lift up your skirts, bare your legs, and wade through the streams. Your nakedness will be exposed and your shame uncovered. I will take vengeance; I will spare no one." (Isaiah 47:2-3) This paints the scene of being taken captive and forcibly marched to another land, just as the Babylonians took the people of Judah captive and marched them to a foreign land.

This prophecy is certain to come to pass because it is being spoken by the One who is in control of all things. "Our Redeemer---the Lord Almighty is His name---is the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 47:4) 

"Sit in silence, go into darkness, queen city of the Babylonians; no more will you be called queen of kingdoms." (Isaiah 47:5) Babylon was at the height of its glory during the era when it took the people of Judah captive. Its people had a great deal of national pride and a great deal of complacency that they would never be overcome again. But their boasts will be silenced. Their reputation as the most beautiful and powerful nation will fade out into darkness. 

This chapter is quite lengthy regarding the fall of Babylon and it will take us several days to study it. We will learn that, although the Lord used Babylon as an instrument of discipline for His people, the Babylonians went far and above anything He wanted them to do. They used this opportunity to be cruel and inhumane to the Lord's people, and for that they will pay a price.