Isaiah 13:12 says, I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Isaiah said that God had declared that He would make mankind more precious than gold. Matthew Henry says this refers to there being so few people left that there wouldn’t be anyone to mine the gold. When God’s final judgment comes, there will be no one left to be concerned about material things of the earth. Those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ will be called home to heaven and those who haven’t will be sent away to everlasting punishment, which is why we as Christians should value sharing the gospel with people above the riches of this word.
Verse thirteen adds, Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger. Though this may refer to earthquakes in that day that would shake up the people of Babylon, I believe that since it says the earth will move out of its place that it refers more to the second coming of Christ, when those who have refused to accept God’s gift of salvation will feel His wrath. It will still be the choice of each individual which they experience, everlasting peace with God by accepting the gracious gift of salvation or everlasting or punishment because they refused to accept God’s gracious gift of salvation. God will always show His wrath against sin, and if someone refuses to accept His gift of pardon from that sin, they will have to pay the penalty.
Verse fourteen continues, And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land. The great army that had come against the people of Israel may have been like a roaring lion, but they will become as a deer that is chased or a sheep that no one fears or wants. They will all then return to their own land. As followers of Christ, this does not say that like the people of Israel would make them afraid, but that God would, and He will always be the source of our power. Our enemies may not fear us but that they had better fear the wrath of God, no matter how powerful they may think they are.
Verse fifteen states, Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword. Isaiah said that those who had come to wage war against Israel who did not flee but were still there to be found would die by the sword. Some enemies of God may remain more defiant to Him, but when judgment comes, they could be said to have died on their own sword.
Verse sixteen adds, Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished. These were common practices that were carried out by the victors of war in that day, and it is still the way some countries treat women and children today if they are victorious in battle over them, but it is not something that we as Christians should ever do. Women and children should not be killed without mercy just because they were a part of a nation that opposes Christianity.
Verse seventeen continues, Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it. Isaiah said that the Medes would be stirred up against the Babylonians. God can work through those who don’t believe in Him to defeat others who don’t believe in Him, but His plan is always to call everyone to repentance and forgiveness by accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord.
Verse eighteen says, Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eyes shall not spare children. Isaiah said that the Medes would not even have pity on pregnant women and children but would kill them as they had killed the young men of Babylon. There are many wars going on today where there is no concern about killing women and children. As a matter of fact, it seems many times this may be done to dishearten those of a country that another country is fighting against.
Verse nineteen adds, And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. Isaiah said that Babylon for all its glory would be reduced to the same state as Sodom and Gomorrah had been, and they had been totally destroyed. Though not all kingdoms that glory in their own power and defy God today may be destroyed in our lifetime, when God’s judgment day does come, their glory will be reduced to nothing but everlasting punishment.
Verse twenty continues, It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. Isaiah said that Babylon would never again be a country. Those nations that oppose God and His people today will never be inhabited again when the end of time comes, no matter how powerful they may be.
Verse twenty-one states, But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.
Verse twenty-two adds, And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged. The land that had been the kingdom of Babylon would become a land of wild creatures. No matter how powerful or beautiful a country may think it is, when God’s judgment comes, it will not stand.
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