Isaiah 14

When a time of discipline and even destruction has been decreed by God against His own people, it may seem that there would be no hope for a blessed future beyond the days of correction and distress. Here Isaiah speaks of a day beyond the coming troubles. There is a further day when God will once again show favor to Isreal, a day when Babylon, the Assyrians, and the Philistines will face the wrath of God against them.

The opening focus of the chapter speaks of a new day of blessing for Israel. In that day we are told that sojourners will join them and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob. This is such joyful news for weary spirits who have been brought low. It is devastating to think of God’s rejection of His people, and the way that they are publicly exposed and ashamed as their neighboring enemies witness the rejection of Israel by Jehovah, her God. To think that there would yet be a better day when all that would be turned around, a day when foreigners would not run from association with Israel and would not ridicule Israel in her distress, but when they would instead desire to be considered to be in close association with Israel and Jehovah – that is such a wondrous turn around, that it would give great hope to the faithful.

The blessing of Israel is associated with the destruction of her enemies. They will be brought very low. Words of death and images of the world of the grave are their lot. Suddenly we sense that these enemies are far beyond the nations of Babylon or other earthly foes. Now it appears that there are demonic adversaries who would usurp the place of the most high God in the heavens, only to be brought down to the lowest grave. Satan desired to have the place of highest honor, but his end is the pit of everlasting destruction.

This should give some hope to the people of God. Yes there is a horrible day of God’s correction ahead, but beyond that day there is a better day involving the display of God’s remarkable favor for His adopted children. They will be restored to a far better awareness of His love. The good news of God’s faithfulness is bigger than we realize. Just as the leaders of the enemy nations naturally suggest a higher adversary who is here the demonic prince of the north, and the danger for Assyria or Babylon points to the troubles that other ungodly nations will face, the blessing for Zion seems to larger than life, incorporating the sojourner and all who find refuge in Zion’s God.

We must always keep our hearts and minds settled with the facts of God’s eternal goodness to His elect. His anger lasts a moment, His grace a whole lifetime. Sorrow does come, but their is joy in the morning. The wicked and the righteous can face the unflinching correction of God whenever He pleases, but there is a way out of this frightening wrath. For God will show us love based on His perfect love of His own beloved. God’s intention to bless us is so full and rich. In all of this, Jesus Christ leads the way. He faced the unflinching justice of His Father on the cross, and was victorious over the grave, over the nations, and over the devil for our sake. He will stay near and will direct us in paths of righteousness for His own name sake.