The LORD’s restoration of Israel after their judgement.Israel was currently under the oppressive rule of neighboring nations, but God promises them that the tables will eventually turn. (vv.1-2)
The LORD delivers all nations under Babylon oppression by sending his own army to attack and triumph over the Babylonians.The tables turned on them even though they had become an unstoppable force. Their pride led them to pursue equality with God, but Isaiah exposes that they are actually equal with Satan, who will indeed be completely overthrown. (vv.3-23)
The LORD’s judgement against Assyria (the army that was used by the Lord to judge Israel, see Isaiah 10), in which Isaiah emphasizes God’s sovereign purpose and plan concerning them, which was to use Assyria to judge Israel and Judah, then to judge Assyria, and then to judge all the earth). (vv.24-27)
The death of Philistia (Israel’s swarm enemy)and the rebirth of Zion as a refuge for the poor and powerless. The centuries of back and forth between the Philistines and the Israelites will finally be concluded. (vv.28-32)
Read Isaiah 14:1-2 - The LORD’s restoration of Israel after their judgement
In the midst of harsh and painful judgement, the LORD will have mercy on Israel because they are his chosen people whom he will still give the land he promised.
The Hebrew Word used here for “still” is od, which means ongoing, continuation, or repetitive. Thus Isaiah opens this chapter with a reminder to Israel that although the Lord was presently judging them, he would never forsake his people. The LORD’s promise therefore still stands, and God’s love is ongoing, continuous, and repetitive! Hallelujah!
God’s plan to reconcile all nations to himself still stands and is affirmed when Isaiah states that other nations will voluntarily give their nations to Israel to take possession of, yet in addition it is also said that those nations that once enslaved Israel will soon become its servants. Therefore God promises Israel while they suffer that one day the tables will turn, and they will soon rule over those who now rule over them.
How can those who suffer today be reminded of God’s ongoing, continuous, and repetitive love even when they may not feel that God loves them?
Read Isaiah 14:3-23 - The LORD delivers all nations out from under Babylon oppression by sending his own army to attack and triumph over the Babylonians.
The present kingdom that holds Israel in hard bondage is named as Babylon in this case (see Praying for Deliverance 11). And the LORD promises to give rest to Israel from their physical, spiritual, and psychological sorrows and fears that Israel and Judah had accumulated as a result of that bondage. Not only does Isaiah prophesy with complete confidence that Israel will overcome its oppressors, he even gives them a testimony of praise in advance; a proverb of victory and power (spoken in the present tense) to speak over their present harsh reality (vv.5-21).
In this proverb of victory and power, Isaiah proclaims:
Yahweh has broken the staff of wicked rulers in unceasing wrath. Staff being the Hebrew word “mattah”, which can mean a staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe, or a nation.
The LORD's anger silences the earth to give it rest.
Nature takes glory in the fall of Babylon and proclaims victory over them also.
Hell is so excited to swallow up Babylon that those in hell come out to welcome them in, just as the people of a city come out to welcome a royal person.
Babylon who was once powerful has now been made weak and all the nations they oppressed now rule over them.
Even Babylon’s musical instruments of celebration have been covered in the stench death.
Babylon is Satan, and just like Satan tried to exult himself as equal with God and was thrown down from heaven, so Babylon has been cut down from their past glory and pride. Lucifer is also a reference to Istar, the Babylonian god known as the Morning Star.
Babylon tried to ascend to the highest heaven to be equal to The Most High (See Genesis 11:1-9), but now just like Satan they are in the lowest part of hell. While Israel went from groaning to glory, Babylon went from glory to groaning. What a mighty God we serve!
Even the memory of Babylon is dishonored as their corpses are not properly buried because of all the lives that they have sent to the grave. And unlike Israel, there is no remnant of Babylonians (historical Babylon) left behind to later rise up and reclaim their power.
Babylon is left desolate, overgrown, and crawling with rodents who pollute the waters as the LORD of hosts sweeps destruction over the land. This in contrast to Exodus 15:22-26, when the LORD purified bitter water for Israel to drink in the wilderness of Marah after they had been delivered from Egypt. The LORD turned the wilderness of Marah into an oasis for Israel because of their humility, but he also turned the Golden City of Babylon into a wilderness because of their pride.
All these proclamations were made while Israel was under Babylonian oppression. What circumstance are you facing that you can claim victory over today?
Read Isaiah 14:24-27 - The LORD’s judgement against Assyria
God’s purpose is emphasized by Isaiah as he proclaims the judgement of Assyria. The LORD says he has surely swarn a purpose that shall come to pass. This may be because the Assyrians were the nation that the LORD used to judge Israel (see Isaiah 10). But within that prophecy is another one; “Woe to Assyria” (Isaiah :5-7). So we see that the Lord’s (already stated) purpose for judgement against Assyria is again emphasized by Isaiah.
Assyria will likewise receive dishonorable deaths with no burials, just as Babylon, because of their harsh subjugation of Israel and other neighboring nations. But they will not be the last, as we find a clue that the whole earth will eventually be judged (v.26).
When it is hard to accept reality or find hope in difficulty, these rhetorical questions, “For the LORD of hosts has planned it, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, who will turn it back?” (v.27), are good questions to ask yourself to help you shift your perspective.
Read Isaiah 14:28-32 - The death of Philistia and the birth of Zion
In the days of Samuel and Saul the Philistines seemed to be too much for God’s people, but in the days of David, Solomon, and Jehoshaphat the Philistines were clearly no match for God's people. Eventually Israel lost some ground when Jehoram allowed the Philistines to invade Judah, but king Uzziah later overtook the Philistines and reclaimed the land. Yet when king Uzziah died, king Ahaz reigned and lost the Southern region of Judah again to the Philistines, and this time the Philistines became established in that part of the land.
The staff(that is “mattah”, which can mean a staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe, or a nation)of David (who represents the children of Israel)and Uzziah(the last king to defeat the Philistines)is broken by the Philistian advancement. When this happens all the land of Philistia rejoiced and proudly took the land from their Isrealite rulers. (see 2 Chronicles 28)
But in Isaiah 14:29, the LORD warns Philistia not to rejoice too soon because the same staffthat was broken will eventually produce a remnant that will finally defeat the Philistines, Israel's most formidable enemy.
In this case, Israel’s present reality under Philistian attack was a reality of suffering, yet the word of the LORD declared that their children would rule over the ones who were attacking them. Hallelujah!
Out of the pain at the hands of Philistines another rhetorical question is asked to conclude this 14th chapter of Isaiah ,”What will one answer the messengers of the nation?” Isaiah knew that, just like us, Israel wanted to know the end of the story while they were in the middle of it, so his answer to his own question was a statement that they already knew. He told them, “The LORD has founded Zion, and the needy among his people will find refuge in her.”(v.32) And by making this statement in the present moment of suffering, Isaiah proclaims victory over that very reality.
The Holy Spirit empowered Isaiah to see the victory even in the middle of a defeat, how has God empowered you to do this?
You are welcomed to pray this prayer with me:
Faithful God,
I praise you for your wisdom, because even when I do not understand my experiences you still have a plan to work things together for my good. Help me to trust in you in the midst of my difficulties, and give me faith in your plan of deliverance. I rest under the shadow of your sovereignty and allow your word to speak peace over my life today. Nobody knows my trouble completely but you, so help me to find comfort in knowing that you know exactly how I feel. I worship you because I know that you are mighty to save and you have shown it countless times, but I also cry out to you because you respond to the pain of your people. Heal the wounds of the land of your people from all the ills that face us today, so that our response will be to walk with you wholeheartedly. In Jesus’ name. Amen!