Isaiah 21

The world that we live in is vast, and the universe beyond causes us to wonder. Even within our own small area of life in one town within one nation there is much that is happening that simply escapes our notice. Concerning the movement of time, we live for a brief period, and our understanding of the affairs of other centuries is very small. We pick up small pieces of information and consider. We make our preliminary conclusions, but it should be obvious that we have nothing close to exhaustive knowledge.

There is a God who is aware of every place and every time in the fullest detail. His knowledge is far beyond second-hand awareness. He does not learn through investigation. He knows as the One who decrees. He is the God of Israel, but He speaks through His prophet to the nations of Babylon, Edom, and Arabia. He has a word for their future, but beyond His word is the person of One who rules.

First Isaiah speaks of Babylon. He begins by calling them "the wilderness of the sea," probably a reference to the fact that they referred to their southern region as "the Land of the Sea." Later in the prophecy, the name "Babylon" is mentioned, so that there is no doubt about what land is spoken of in these verses. Yet we normally think of Babylon as the conquering power that defeated the Assyrians and then Jerusalem and Judah. Here the prophecy seems to say that they will be greatly distressed by an approaching army, and will be defeated by the Assyrians. Before they defeated the Assyrians, they were first overtaken by them. They would later rise against them and have their day of glory for a season until the next ruling empire would eventually conquer them after their short time of supremacy.

Isaiah speaks of the vision of Babylon's destruction as one that brought him anguish, made him bowed down, dismayed, and appalled. At the end of this section after announcing the coming of armies through the eyes of a watchman, and then pronouncing the fall of Babylon, Isaiah speaks again of the source of his prophecy. This comes from the Lord of hosts, who is the God of Israel.

Briefer words of coming difficulties are given to Edom and to Arabia. The word regarding Arabia seems to be one of clear and very imminent destruction, while the message regarding Edom is somehow hidden in just a few words of both morning and then night, with an instruction to come back again if you want to inquire. The chapter concludes with another reminder that these sure words come from the Lord God of Israel, who has spoken.

In the vast array of lands near and far and the river of centuries that come and go, is there anyone who really knows? In the coming and going of nations and empires through wars and rumors of wars, is there anyone who truly understands? As lives are turned in very unexpected directions like fallen leaves washed away by sudden violent storms, is there anyone who rules, who decrees, who ordains, and who accomplishes his purposes? It is the God of Israel. He is the Lord of armies. The watchman may see the sand of the deserts raised up to the skies through the galloping of horses coming through the wilderness. He can sound the alarm, and call warriors to oil their shields in the sudden panic of the most unwelcome evidence of impending doom. The Lord God is not surprised. He knows. He understands. He has decreed. He shall accomplish all His holy will.

It is this great God of Israel who was willing to humble Himself for our sake. He came as a servant for our salvation. He was obedient even to the point of death on the cross, because this was what was necessary for the eternal glory of the Father and for the good of the ones who were loved by Him before the foundation of the world. Kingdoms will rise and fall. In the centuries after Isaiah, Babylon will become the very symbol of the impressive powers of this world. Yet she was conquered once in a way that we barely remember, and she will be conquered again in the years beyond Isaiah. But the kingdom of heaven, and heaven's King, will last forever and ever. When all appears to be lost, the faithful gospel watchman is able to take the sure word of truth and announce the morningstar. The first glimpse of resurrection has come. The full day will soon arrive. No earthly power can stop the Lord of the Day. Believe in the coming victory of God with all your heart this day, and live by the faith that the Lord, the God of Israel supplies through His sure word.