Isaiah 13:1

Isaiah 13:1 says, The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.  Isaiah then began to speak of his vision for Babylon.  He had been speaking of visions about Israel, and now he began to speak about other nations.  Babylon was not even a great power at that time.  Isaiah said it was the burden of Babylon that he saw, because since they would not put their faith in God, His word would be a burden to them.  God’s word not only applies to those who are His people, but to all people everywhere.  To those who do accept God’s word, it is a blessing, and to those who don’t it is a burden.

Verse two adds, Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.  Isaiah was saying that the people of Babylon would exalt themselves I believe, and they would feel that they were indestructible. Babylon was filled with nice houses for their nobility, and they felt this was a sign of their power over everyone else.  There are people in the world today who believe that their wealth makes them superior to other people and above the need for God, but as Babylon was being warned then, it never will.

Verse three continues, I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness.  Isaiah said God called them sanctified ones, or people who were going to be set aside for a particular task, and that would be setting His people free from captivity.  Cyrus was to fulfill this prophesy, and in Isaiah 45:1 he is referred to as God’s anointed one, though he wasn’t an Israelite.  Of course, we know that Jesus Christ is the only true anointed One through whom we can be saved, but Cyrus was to be anointed or set apart from the world to be used to temporarily deliver the people of Israel from bondage. They, Cyrus and the Persians, might never even acknowledge that God had been using them to bring about His purpose.  God can still use the unsaved today to bring about His will here in the world. 

Verse four states, The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle.  Isaiah said these troops who were coming to defeat the people of Babylon were a great multitude.  God will always have those who are capable of defeating evil forces in the world and may work through them, even if they aren’t Christians.  Still, even if He does work through them, their victory will only be temporary if they do not put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Earthly kingdoms come and go, some more powerful and less evil than others, but all but the kingdom of God will one day pass away.

Verse five adds, They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.  Those who were going to defeat Babylon were said to come from a far country and were to be victorious because God was with them to bring about His purpose.  Assyrian lay between Babylon and Persia, so the people of Babylon likely took very little notice of Persia.  God can use people from anywhere to bring about His purpose in the world, but it is only through Jesus Christ that He can bring about His ultimate victory.