Why, Lord why do you judge us with a nation more wicked than our own? The LORD is now going to answer.
First of all he says there will be a time when the LORD will bring judgment upon Babylon for their many sins.
“Though it delays, wait for it, since it will certainly come and not be late” (v. 3).
It sounds like a puzzle twist. It “delays” but won’t be late. What He is is saying is that will be slow in coming but it will not be late in coming in the timing of God.
Then the rest of the chapter is a litany of sins. And then with some strange interjections.
“Look, his ego is inflated; he is without integrity. But the righteous one will live by his faith” (v. 4).
The LORD here is contrasting the ego that is all about self and meeting the desires of self with no fear of God compared to the righteous who walk in the fear of God and live by faith in him even at the cost of self.
More than that, he is saying that God will judge Babylon and it will fall. Consider for a moment that the world considered Babylon unconquerable. It had it all.
There were multiple layers of walls that were 25 thick and very high. There was a river that went through the city that gave it unending water. They could literally live self-sufficiently because the water and the land provided their own food. Who could conquer it?
In the known world at the time, no military might was deemed capable. That’s why Belshazzar in Daniel 5 was so arrogant about throwing a drunken fest when the Mede and Persian militaries were on their doorstep or not far away.
But the righteous live by faith. While Nebuchadnezzar had no fear of God and continued in evil, the righteous believed in time (70 years later) God would bring judgment to Babylon. Therefore the righteous live in righteousness because they believe God. But Nebuchadnezzar will be judged for his many cruelties (v. 5-8):
indeed, wine betrays him;
he is arrogant and never at rest.
Because he is as greedy as the grave
and like death is never satisfied,
he gathers to himself all the nations
and takes captive all the peoples.
“Will not all of them taunt him with ridicule and scorn, saying,
“‘Woe to him who piles up stolen goods
and makes himself wealthy by extortion!
How long must this go on?’
Will not your creditors suddenly arise?
Will they not wake up and make you tremble?
Then you will become their prey.
Because you have plundered many nations,
the peoples who are left will plunder you.
For you have shed human blood;
you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.
And then there’s another unexpected interjection. God is saying that as he Babylon has done evil in the world, that evil will one day come back on them. Then it says,
“Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and founds a town with injustice! Is it not from the LORD of Hosts the people labor only to fuel the fire and countries exhaust themselves for nothing? For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD’s glory, as the waters cover the sea” (v. 12-14).
Wait. What? The last part seems more fitting in a psalm. Why is it here in the context of the wicked reaping what they sow, getting judgment from the peoples they have conquered, and that their labors are in vain because they will be destroyed?
But the LORD says His way and His Word would take priority. He said Babylon would be judged and would fall and it did. In a moment.
The LORD’s ways would fill the earth. Knowledge of him, like after the Israelite exodus would go throughout the earth.
This would begin in this context with the fall of Babylon. But then it it would be further established in Messiah. And it will come to pass in our day and beyond as the world comes to know more and more about the goodness of God. One day the knowledge of Him will fill every corner of the world.
The chapter continues that it is ridiculous that they take inanimate objects and believe they are gods.
“Look! It may be plated with gold and silver, yet there is not breath in it at all” (v. 19).
Then it says this:
“But the LORD is in His holy temple, let everyone on earth be silent in His presence” (v. 20).
The LORD Almighty is real. He is above all power and authority. He is not a brick or a stone or a piece of wood and clay. He is God Almighty and is worthy of worship. His ways will prevail on the earth. Evil may come but only for a season. God will have the last say. Therefore we would do well to tremble in His Presence.
