Bible Studies

MAKING SENSE OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH Lesson 5356

by Henry Jaegers
10/28/23
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MAKING SENSE OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH

Lesson 53-56

 bY hENRY jAEGERS

ISAIAH CHAPTER 14

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Out of the Darkness: A word of Hope

 For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house

of Israel shall possess them in the land of the Lord for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over And it shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve, That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! (Isaiah 14: 1-4)

Once again, as He did in Chapters 9 and 11, during a time of gross darkness, God offers a word of hope to the faithful remnant. Although it is not a prophecy concerning the coming Messiah, It is a word from God with the intent of encouraging them. Its purpose is to produce steadfastness in them, giving them the confidence that they are in God’s hands. Consider what God is telling them.

 For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land.

In this verse, I see a word of preparation and a word of preservation. You may be asking, where did he come up with that?

First, he is announcing beforehand, that they will surely be taken into captivity. By doing so, he is preparing them by announcing its surety. In other words, they will not be surprised when it comes. By forewarning them, he is forearming them.

I recall, the words of God to faithful Israel as they were about to enter into Babylonian captivity. In Jeremiah chapter 29, he told them, that when they arrived in Babylon, they were to do two things. First, they were to accept this captivity as from the Lord. And when they arrived, they were to raise families and build houses.

Next, they were to seek the peace of their enemies while they were there. What a wonderful message to God’s people, when they were to enter into less-than-desirable circumstances, This certainly is an example of Lights shining in the darkness.”So in this sense, he was preparing them for something that He purposed to take place.

Then, by telling them this, He is promising that He will keep them strong while they are there, And before long their sorrow would be turned into Joy.

That is the word of hope contained in this word of promise.

Next Consider these words of promise:

and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house

of Israel shall possess them in the land of the Lord for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over And it shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve.

In these verses, we note, that as Israel leaves to enter into their land, they will take others with them who were not of Israel. It says, that they will cleave to them, That means that they will be willing captives. they will also be Israel's servants, those who once made Israel their captives will now become Israel's captives. again, the principle of reaping what they sow shall come into force. the “captors, will now become the captives, and they will do so willingly.

In our next study, we shall give further consideration to this final judgment upon Babylon. 

ISAIAH CHAPTER 14

Lesson 54

A Proverb concerning Babylon’s fall

The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us.  Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.  All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?  Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. (Isaiah 14: 5-11)

As we view this proverb, we notice that it contains two parts. In verses 5 through 8, there is a message from above. It is a message from God announcing her destruction and the response of the earth over it

Then in verses 9 through 11, we see a response from those previously destroyed as they await her final destruction, joining them in Hell.

Now, let’s consider them more carefully to discover what is happening.

Now let’s consider the statement found in verses 5-8.

The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the scepter of the rulers.

There is no need to fear oppression from these rulers. God has come to the defense of His people and neutralized the authority by which they once ruled. It is the Lord, not the Medes who decides the extent of their destruction. God may use the Medes as his instrument of destruction, but it is God who determines the boundaries of their intentions. It is the living God who is in control.

He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger is persecuted, and none hindereth.

Now we are told, that as He smote the nations in anger, he shall likewise suffer the same. While they ruled and smote without restraint they  shall now be smitten likewise and none shall come to his defense. Once again we see the “Divine Law of retribution being exercised toward the enemies of God. What they have reaped, they shall also sow.  (Galatians 6: 7,8)

Finally in this first announcement are these words.

 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us.

These are the words spoken from above. They begin with God’s announcement of their destruction, and the whole earth is at rest, and nature joins in with her response of rejoicing. In other words, even nature will be excited and will respond by bringing forth abundance for which she was formerly distracted, due to the ravishing produced by wars.

But there is another voice that we hear coming from the abode of the dead. Consider:

 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.  All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?  Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.

These verses raise some questions that we must explain. It is the subject that we refer to as Hell. Notice the opening words:” Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming:

At once, we note that it is a real place that contains something that is sensory. From this place, a response is given concerning Babylon's arrival. We can not dismiss the reality of such a place because we have it mentioned here by God  Himself as He declares her judgment

But first, let us try to define what Hell is. It comes from the Hebrew word “Sheol” and the Greek word “Hades.” Simply defined it means “The Grave.” For those who disregarded the reality of God, It s merely a place where dead bodies are deposited, and after time when they are decomposed, they exist no longer, except maybe in their memories. That is why a man told D. L. Moody that he believed that “Death ended all”

But there are two other definitions that we must recognize. It is “Where the dead go” That may include both their bodies and their souls. Then there is another definition which defines “Hell{ as the place of departed souls. That means there is a consciousness that exists at the time they are there.

That is basically the “Old Testament concept. At this point, I cannot tell you what the overall idea that the old testament Jews believed. I think that those who walked closely with God believed in a presence with God after death, but I cannot tell you the extent of their understanding.

In the verse under consideration, it appears that Hell is a place where there is conscious awareness.

In the New Testament, Jesus expands on the meaning of Hell as  being totally separated from God, where no change can take place. Then we open the door to many imaginary ideas that are not confirmed by scripture, and I will not go there.

For now, God tells us that there are other rulers like Babylon, who are there, and they seem to express surprise that the “Great Babylon will shortly join them in that place. No matter what high opinion Babylon may have had of her own strength and importance, Hell awaits her arrival to join the others

As we approach this next section an illustration is given of someone like Babylon, who was once greater in esteem, and how he fell also.

ISAIAH CHAPTER 14

Lesson 55

Continuing the Proverb

 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;  That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? (Isaiah 14: 12-17)

This is a very familiar passage that most teachers and preachers like to use in describing the fall of Satan. And although this is true, there is something else to consider. Why is this passage found in this particular place in the book of Isaiah? This question is not always asked, and it is important to consider why it is here. It has a direct relationship to what is being prophesied to Babylon.

I  think it is being used as an illustration of one person, like Babylon who exhibited the same characteristics, and the response of those inhabiting Hell, have said the same thing to Satan.

 If you notice the similarities, then you will begin to see why this passage is here. From that, we may conclude how the message applies.

Notice the details.

First, notice the exalted position Satan once held, and consider also the exalted place that Babylon had.

Notice the pride that brought about Satan’s destruction. Then consider the exalted opinion Babylon had of itself. She was God’s servant at first but forgot who was really in control, and she thought it was her.

Next, consider the description of his fall, and that pertaining to Babylon. Finally, consider the response of Hell's inhabitants, as they appear to express surprise that he will join them there despite his former exalted position in  Heaven. Notice also the destruction left behind as is true of Babylon.

So with this explanation, we see how easy it is to take isolated passages to prove a point without examing the circumstances or reasons for their being there

The underlying message is that Babylon has before her an example of one greater than she, who experienced the same thing when he failed to realize that there was only one God, and he controls the outcome of our lives.  In our next study, we will conclude with this proverb about Babylon.


 

ISAIAH CHAPTER 14

Lesson 56

Babylon Has Fallen

 All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.  Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.  For I will rise up against them, saith the Lord of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the Lord.  I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the Lord of hosts.(Isaiah 14: 18-23)

Once again, consider how this prophesy appears to have happened already, but tiis is repeated again 100 years later during the times of Jeremiah. Notice the similarities found in Jeremiah chapter 50.

 For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain.  And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the Lord. Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls;  Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert. Because of the wrath of the Lord it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues. (Jeremiah50: 9-13)

And as we consider that area today, it remains Barren and without habitation.

Then there is “Mystery Babylon’.