Theme: We are signs
and symbols…an oak of righteousness a planting of the Lord to display his splendor. (Isaiah 8:18; 61:3b)
Last week I sought
to give us the bigger picture of God’s plan and purpose. We saw the symbol of God’s hand being used as an instrument
of judgment, but also an instrument of grace. Isaiah 41:8-10 God’s righteous right hand
upholds us.
We saw that the
first burden (warning of coming judgment) that Isaiah had to deliver was against Babylon.
Babylon:
- Remember, Babylon is the symbol of
the world system man has built in defiance of God. Today we will see that the prince of that world system is Lucifer, or the
devil himself.
- Isaiah writing 70 BC
As we begin looking
at Isaiah 14 as a continuation of the oracle concerning Babylon,
I think I need just to give us a little synopsis of history. So I’m just going to “babble on” about Babylon for a little…
- Babylon was the nation that God used
as his instrument to bring judgment against Judah
for their sin.
- Isaiah warned that the kingdom of Judah
would be taken into captivity by Babylon. Among other of Isaiah’s
prophecies about this time of captivity, Isaiah 5:13 speaks about it.
“Therefore my people will go into exile because of their lack of understanding…” Isaiah is writing this
first part of his prophecies around 701 B.C. and this captivity does not take place until 586B.C - more than 100 years after
Isaiah prophecies. What God purposes and plans can not be thwarted.(Isaiah 14:24-27).
- Jeremiah prophesied that Judah’s
captivity would last for 70 years. Then Babylon would be judged
and the Jews permitted to go home (Jeremiah 25:1-14).
- So, the capture of Babylon by Darius
the Mede in 539 BC would be good news to the Jews because it would mean the end of their exile. They would return to Jerusalem.
The picture in Isaiah
14:1-23 is where we see that prophecy. Isaiah 14:1, “The LORD will have compassion on Jacob; once again he will choose
Israel and will settle them in their own
land. Aliens will join them and unite with the house of Jacob.” God has promised to preserve a remnant of his chosen
people so that He could fulfill the promise of a Savior, Jesus, through the line of Judah. And in this verse we see the prophecy that includes you and me. It’s
the phrase that is a common thread through the book of Isaiah – “the nations.” God would also make a way
for the Gentiles to enter the kingdom of God.
So that you and I could hear and receive the gospel of grace!
What is my response to his sovereignty concerning his purpose and plan? A heart full of thanksgiving! How about
you?
After that wonderful
promise of deliverance for his people, Isaiah goes onto relate the great fall of the King of Babylon because of his pride.
This is what happened to Belshazzar when Darius the Mede captured Babylon
in 539 BC. If you want to read the story, look at Daniel 5 later on. It is really neat to see God’s word validate itself!
Isaiah 14:5- 11
- pictures the arrival of this fallen king in sheol, the world of the dead.
- Read verse 5-8: Expresses a people full of joy at the overthrow of this mighty monarch. Even the trees
will shout! What a poetic way to express great joy!
- In verses 9-11 we see the king’s arrival in sheol, where other kings mock his wealth, power,
and glory. In verse 9, it appears they stand in tribute to him, but it is all in mockery. As Warren Weirsbe says, “Death
is the great leveler.”
- Then in verse 12 we begin to see not only the pride filled fall of the King Belshazzar, but the picture
of Satan’s fall from heaven
Satan:
- his desire “to be like the Most High God.”
- Isaiah sees not only the fall of this great king, but the final defeat of Satan, ”the prince
of this world.” (John 12:31, 16:11)
- Satan is the one who seeks to motivate the kings of the nations. This is seen clearly in Ephesians
2:1-2
- In Daniel 10:20, it indicates that Satan assigns “princes”
or fallen angels to influence leaders of various nations to act contrary to God’s will.
- Let’s read verse 12-15. Who Isaiah is referring to is identified in Verse 12 –the morning
star. In the Latin translation this Hebrew phrase is translated “Lucifer.”
A morning stars does not shine for long, but is out-shined by the sun. Satan’s grasp at being “the” star
would not last long! He will be defeated once and for all in the end times. Today we stand in God’s grace, with God’s
armor, to gain the victory over Satan. Jesus is identified as “the bright and morning star in Revelation 22:16, so it is clear hear that Satan tries to imitate Jesus.
- His strategy ( imitate Jesus) is revealed to us in Isaiah 14:14.
And look at a confirmation in the New Testament in II Corinthians11:14, “…Satan himself masquerades as an angel
of light.” And it is his pride that brings him down.
- Look at the s “I wills” in verses 12-14.
What a great
contrast to the attitude of Christ Jesus who was exalted to the highest heavens and is the one we worship today! Phillipians
2:5-11. In fact this should be our attitude…Philippians 2:5,12-16. We should be shining stars in our world,as we hold
out the word of life. What word of life are you holding out in the world God has placed you in?
- Isaiah 14:15 gives the final judgment on Satan.
He will one day be humiliated and defeated. He will be cast out of heaven (Revelation 12). His final destination will be hell
(Revelation 20:10).
Whether this refers
to the literal king of Babylon who will within a 100 years fall to his destruction, because of his pride, or if this refers
to Satan will be finally destroyed, the truth echoes in our hearts and mind from Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before the fall.”
Jesus shows us His
way. Satan tried to put his will above God’s will. He tried not just be like God, but be God.
It is my heart’s
desire to listen to and follow Jesus. How about you?
Keepsake
Truth
Proverbs 16:18
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit
before the fall.”
Do you desire to listen to and follow Jesus?
