DAY 276

PICK YOUR ALLY CAREFULLY

Isaiah 13, 14, 15 & 16 and Ephesians 5:1-16

As a relatively small nation, Judah was constantly tempted to look to alliances with larger nations. Babylon, Assyria, Philistia, and Moab—all are dealt with by God through Isaiah in this prophecy—the net message is the same in every case: salvation is in the Lord alone.

Looking at chapters 13 and 14 there is a hinge in 14:1-2. 1 For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land, and sojourners will join them and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob. 2And the peoples will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them in the LORD's land as male and female slaves. They will take captive those who were their captors, and rule over those who oppressed them.

The oracle in chapter 13 is for Israel’s ears—Babylon cannot hear it. We know that after Isaiah’s death Babylon replaced Assyria as the world power. Babylon is no stranger to the world stage, its history reaches back to the tower of Babel. The story of Babylon is the story of all powers that seek to oppose God. Many scholars believe that Babylon’s fall, while historical, is not as portrayed by Isaiah—what Isaiah portrays is a cosmic collapse of the world system that defies God. The point is that the only security nations and people can have is when they align themselves with the God who rules Zion. The same principle holds true today…for the saints will reign with the Messiah who Isaiah has already foretold is the one who will come set all right…in the end you and I do need to choose whose side we are on.