It’s a chapter first and foremost a prophecy of judgment against Babylon. Babylon was not yet the world power that it would be, but there would be a day when God would judge it for its evil. Secondly, there is language here that leads us to believe that this is a foreshadowing of another Judgment Day – the Day of the Lord. The “day of the Lord” is used 26x in Scripture for different seasons of God’s judgment, but there will one day be an ultimate judgment.
First we have the historical Babylon that sacked Judah and Jerusalem and carried them off to be captives for 70 years. There’s definite judgment for them and that’s initially what this chapter is about.
Then there’s the figurative Babylon that is representative of all that is evil. Similar to what we might say when someone describes someone as a “hitler” or a nation as “nazis.” Babylon in similar fashion had become symbolic for evil. In fact in Revelation (Rev 17 and 18) we clearly read this description of the great Babylon that the judge of all the earth will vanquish.
But God has spoken and has said enough to Babylon and its evil practices and harlotries. He is going to raise up the Medes (v. 17) to bring judgment against them. And it’s going to be bad.
There are cosmic descriptions such as “The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light” (Is 13:10). This seems to be more descriptive somewhat similar to “it feels like the stars are falling on our heads.” It’s a poetic description of very great and terrible distress.
11 I will punish the world for its evil,
the wicked for their sins.
I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty
and will humble the pride of the ruthless.
12 I will make people scarcer than pure gold,
more rare than the gold of Ophir.
13 Therefore I will make the heavens tremble;
and the earth will shake from its place
at the wrath of the Lord Almighty,
in the day of his burning anger.
Again, this is Ok so far. It’s descriptive of a very severe judgment against evil. But then there’s this:
14 Like a hunted gazelle,
like sheep without a shepherd,
they will all return to their own people,
they will flee to their native land.
15 Whoever is captured will be thrust through;
all who are caught will fall by the sword.
16 Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes;
their houses will be looted and their wives violated.
Then we are back to judgment against literal Babylon and we have the hard part–the children will be dashed against the rocks and the houses looted and the women raped. This is a description of the Medes.
17 See, I will stir up against them the Medes,
who do not care for silver
and have no delight in gold.
18 Their bows will strike down the young men;
they will have no mercy on infants,
nor will they look with compassion on children.
The Medes are a violent and yet principled people. They refuse to be bought out no matter how Babylon might try. At the same time, they are merciless to humanity–striking down infants and children alike and raping women. This unfortunately seems to be the characteristic of almost every time nations go at war–in fact, just read the reports from the war that is happening today in Ukraine. It is war and unfortunately, things don’t change even with the Geneva convention.
Babylon will one day be restored, Isaiah foresees. It says Babylon was the pride of the people and the Jewel of the Kingdoms. Thought to be unconquerable, it would be conquered. And after its destruction, it would no longer be built. Scripture says it will be a place of the desert and jackals. To this day ancient Babylon still remains a place of ruins.
Some thoughts:
1) Babylon is a type of the judgment of the Lord. Not in specifics but the judgment of the Lord will accomplish its purposes in punishment of evil. This chapter is about the judgment on the kingdom of Babylon in its time, but we read about “Babylon” will ultimately be demolished in the day of judgment and the heavenly Jerusalem will prevail. In this it’s talking about sin and evil will ultimately be judged and righteousness and justice in God will prevail.
2) Does God condone the murder of babies and rape? Because he was the one who sent these armies against Babylon? Not in the slightest. In fact, rape was the death penalty in the Old Testament, and I think even for us it should be punished to the max extent of the law whatever a nation allows. It’s not a small issue.
But they raped and killed children? Yes. And that is ALWAYS a consequence in every war. Name a war where the women didn’t get raped and the children didn’t get killed. It’s sad but a consequence of war is always death and evil.
3) Why then would God allow more evil to combat and judge evil? Good question. I don’t know the answer to this. I just know that when evil persists, he has to bring judgment, otherwise he would not be a good God. What he uses to bring judgment against a nation is often another nation. Sad, but true.
4) So is all war against a nation judgment? Not at all. There are nations that have done nothing to deserve war against them and yet they are attacked on all sides. In fact it says, Israel will always be attacked. War oftentimes is simply power plays, greed, and more from leaders.
5) Is there mercy from God? There can be. There must be repentance and we throw ourselves on the mercy of God collectively. Although sometimes the line has been crossed so far for so long so many times that he does indeed bring judgment. But here’s a reality. Judgment for sin is real. It’s not safe to dive deeper into sin and even condone it. We must repent and throw ourselves on the mercy of God. We are in dark times and I believe it’s only going to get darker.
