Rsbc
Sunday Night
April 21, 2002
The Book of Isaiah
Sermon # 74
Subject- “God’s Humiliation of Babylon”
Text- ISAIAH 47-1-15
Intro: To be humiliated by someone is very taxing to the flesh. But can you imagine to be brought to public humiliation by GOD is very humiliating to say the least. This is what this chapter is about.
It is about two nations, the nation of Babylon, and the ancient nation of Israel. We shall see in this text a number of things that GOD specifically declares to them and the reason he is doing what he is doing.
This is righteous retribution. We see this once again in the book of Revelation when GOD humiliates her again...
Revelation 18:1-8
I... “ THE LORD’S CALL TO HER...1-3
In these three verses we have the dirge of the downfall of Babylon, she is pictured as a royal lady, who is dethroned, led in captivity over streams of waters. She is seen a woman who is taken to a far country.
1st. This is not a call to a better way of life, rather a severe way of life.
2nd. This is a call to utter nakedness...
3rd. This is a call to come from the throne to the very ground...
4th. This is call where she shall be totally revealed as to what she really is.
This is going to be the work of Cyrus King of Persian Empire that GOD will use to bring down this virgin daughter. You may ask why is she called a virgin, Gill says it is because she had never be conquered by any man or nation or King.
Rest assure tonight that there is coming a day when GOD shall raise up out of his throne of GLORY and will inflict his righteous judgment upon men and nations again. The final day of judgement will come again. Not one person shall escape who knows not the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Page # 2
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
This my friends is known as the vengeance of the LORD. The LORD said through the Prophet Moses...
Deuteronomy 32:35 To me [belongeth] vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in [due] time: for the day of their calamity [is] at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
The LORD JESUS SHALL COME TO TAKE UP THIS ROLE...
2 Thessalonians 1:7‑10 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
II... “ISAIAH’S PROFOUND STATEMENT”... VS 4
What a promise in the midst of this prophecy of vengeance hope for the people of GOD. Even though they don’t deserve it the LORD promises deliverance. He did delivery them by his mighty hand.
We too can lay claim to deliverance...
1. Christ gave himself that he might deliver us...
Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
2. Peter instructs concerning deliverance...
2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
3. Paul deals with all three tenses of deliverance..
Page # 3
2 Corinthians 1:10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver [us];
III... “ THE LORD’S EXPLANATION OF WHAT HE IS DOING TO THEM: VS 5-15
The Lord does not owe any man, any nation, any King an explanation of why he is doing something. He has chosen in these verses to reveal to Babylon what he is doing and why he is doing it. This is his sovereign right to do so.
1st. They are no allowed to speak..vs 5 “ sit thou in silence”
There is an interesting reference to this verse...listen as I read it..
1 Samuel 2:9‑10 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. 10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
2nd. The reason for his judgement...
a. He was wroth with his people...vs 6
b. You showed them no mercy..vs 6
c. Because of your pride..vs 7
d. She did not take her actions seriously..vs 7
e. She thought of herself as indestructible..vs 8
3rd. What he said he would do...
a. Sudden destruction...vs 9
Proverbs 24:22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
b. Suddenly the lose of children..vs 9
This of course is not literal children but rather her subservient nations who she thought of as children...This is also promise to Babylon in the book of Revelation
Revelation 2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
Page # 4
c. The depth of her sins...
a. Her trust of witch craft and all that goes with it.. Vs 10-11
b. Call upon your gods so to speak now to see if they will deliver..vs 12-13
1 Kings 18:27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he [is] a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, [or] peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
c. They will serve no purpose..vs 14-15