Isaiah 15:1

Isaiah 15:1 says, The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence;  Moab was a small country that was very fruitful, bordering on the people of the tribe of  Reuben.  The next few verses speak of its ruin, though it wouldn’t be totally destroyed at this time, because there is another prophesy about its destruction in Jeremiah 48, when this was accomplished by Nebuchadnezzar.  This prophesy would be fulfilled within three years. Those who deny or defy God may be defeated at times in the world, but they will not be totally defeated until the return of Jesus Christ. 

Verse two adds, He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep: Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba: on all their heads shall be baldness, and every beard cut off.  Isaiah said there would be great mourning in Moab. Their idols could not save them, so they would be reduced to mourning for all that they lost.  Idols will never save anyone today, and those who put their faith in them will one day be reduced to mourning forever because they will face everlasting suffering.  This is why it is so important that we reach out to the lost people of the world with the gospel today.  

Verse three adds, In their streets they shall gird themselves with sackcloth: on the tops of their houses, and in their streets, every one shall howl, weeping abundantly.  Isaiah continues to speak about the great mourning that would occur in Moab.  Matthew Henry points out that Isaiah did not go to Moab to proclaim this prophesy but proclaimed it to the people of Israel so that they could see that he was a prophet and that they could see that God’s word would come to pass.  We today need to do more than just share with other Christians about the punishment that is coming to those who don’t put their faith in Jesus Christ.  We need to proclaim the gospel to the unsaved people of the world so that they can repent before it is too late.

Verse four states, And Heshbon shall cry, and Elealeh: their voice shall be heard even unto Jahaz: therefore the armed soldiers of Moab shall cry out; his life shall be grievous unto him.  Isaiah said that the soldiers of Moab would cry out because their life would become grievous to them.  Those who are fighting against God today, even if they are part of a strong army, will one day cry out in grief when they find themselves defeated forever by the power of God.

Verse five adds, My heart shall cry out for Moab; his fugitives shall flee unto Zoar, an heifer of three years old: for by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping shall they go it up; for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry of destruction.  Isaiah said his heart would cry out to Moab.  We need to feel a great sadness for those who refuse to accept Christ and never rejoice in their destruction if it comes.

Isaiah 14:21

Isaiah 14:21 says, Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.  God said that the children of Belshazzar would be destroyed by the Medes and Persians.  They would never rise up again to possess the land or build cities in it.  We might think it cruel for the children to be killed because of the actions of their parents, but physical death is never the important thing.  One’s relationship with God is, and if there were those who did believe in Him, they went to a better home.  This is why we must at least do our best to lead our children to Jesus Christ.

Verse twenty-two adds, For I will rise up against them, saith the Lord of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the Lord.  God said that He was going to completely destroy Babylon because of their wickedness.  Those who fight against God today, or who even just refuse to accept His gift of salvation, will one day be completely cut off from the kingdom of God. 

Verse twenty-three continues, I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the Lord of hosts.  The land that the Babylonians possessed was to become a land filled only with the birds of the air, according to Matthew Henry.  When God’s judgment day comes, everything that people may have possessed in the world will no longer belong to them, no matter how they may have come to possess them.    

Verse twenty-four states, The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:  God stated that whatever He thought or proposed would come to pass.  The main thing that we need to understand is that God is the Creator and Sustainer of all and when God proposed a plan of salvation for fallen mankind, He brought it to pass through Jesus Christ.  This plan was in place from the beginning, since He gave people the free will to fail to be obedient to Him.

Verse twenty-five adds, That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.  At this point, God was speaking of destroying the Assyrians, but the broader implication is that He will destroy all His enemies when His final judgment comes.  There is no enemy that can stand against Him. 

Verse twenty-six continues. This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations.  God here states that He is in control, not only of Assyria, but of the earth.  God delivered the people of Israel physically many times, but He has delivered each individual through all the ages but once, and that is by sending His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty of sin for all.  Of course, we have to put our faith in Him for the gift of salvation to apply to us. 

Verse twenty-seven concludes, For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?  God asked who was going to defeat what God had proposed, and the answer is no one.  We may not accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, but that does not defeat His having died for our sins.

Verse twenty-eight says, In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden.  This destruction of the Philistines was to begin when King Ahaz died, and Hezekiah replaced him.  A bad king was replaced by a good one.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we must then make Him Lord of our life, replacing whatever had ruled our life before, because we were ruled by sinfulness before . 

Verse twenty-nine adds, Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.  The people of Israel were to rejoice because the power of the Philistines over them that had occurred when Uzziah died, or abdicated, was about to be broken.  Uzziah had been like a serpent to the Philistines, and one of his descendants was now going to sting them once again.  As followers of Christ, He has already removed the sting of death from us, but one day those who do not put their faith in will feel the sting of everlasting punishment. 

Verse thirty continues, And the firstborn of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety: and I will kill thy root with famine, and he shall slay thy remnant.  Isaiah said God was going to give the people of Israel plenty once more and that the Philistines would be left in famine.  If we have put our faith in Jesus Christ, and are obedient to Him, we will be spiritually filled, which is what will ultimately matter, and those who don’t will go away to everlasting punishment.  They will be starving spiritually.

Verse thirty-one says, Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, art dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none shall be alone in his appointed times.  Isaiah said that the Philistines would be left howling at the gate, while the Israelites would be enjoying peace.  One day, when God’s judgment comes, those who have rejected Jesus Christ will be left with wailing and gnashing of teeth in everlasting destruction, unable to enter the gates of heaven.

Verse thirty-two adds, What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the Lord hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.  When Israel was restored to power, other nations were going to take notice and ask how this had come about. The people of Israel were to tell them because God had founded Zion, and they were once again trusting in Him.  When people ask us why we are spiritually successful today, no matter our physical state, we must tell them that it is because we are a part of God’s kingdom and we put our faith in Him to deliver us from all our enemies, even death itself. 

Isaiah 14:11

Isaiah 14:11 says, Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.  All the pomp that these rulers had enjoyed in life will become nothing, and they would be sent away to everlasting punishment.  Hell is just as real as heaven, and everyone will end up in one or the other, which is why it is so important that we reach people with the gospel of Christ.

Verse twelve adds, How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!  Lucifer, who was one of the angels, had rebelled against God and he and those who had joined him in the rebellion had been cast out of heaven.  Now, he was in the world and was allowed to try to turn people away from God, which is resulting in the weakening of the nations.  Any nation that follows Lucifer, or Satan, will be weakened spiritually and this will eventually lead to their destruction, no matter how strong they may think they are.   

Verse thirteen continues, For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:  Lucifer had thought that he would make himself as powerful as God, if not more so.  Pride led him to this conclusion and action.  If we do not acknowledge God as the One Who alone is worthy of being over everything and begin to act out of the belief that what we think is just as true as what God’s word says, we will let our pride lead us to an ultimate destruction.

Verse fourteen concludes, I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.  This verse just continues to speak about Lucifer's pride leading him to thinking he could be like God.  Any time we put our will above God’s will, we are attempting to be as powerful as He is.  

Verse fifteen states, Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.  Lucifer, or Satan, would in the end of time, at the judgment of God, be reduced from the glories of heaven and his limited power on earth to the pits of hell.  If we refuse to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord and follow the ways of the world instead, we will one day be sent to the pits of hell instead of going to the joys of heaven.  The choice is always up to each individual, because Satan doesn’t have the power to force us to do anything and God will not force us to. 

Verse sixteen adds, They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;  Though this may have referred to the king of Babylon’s great fall, I believe it ultimately refers to Lucifer himself.  Those that see Lucifer at this time will be amazed at his fall.  He may have been able to tempt everyone to follow him, but now he will be seen for what he really is, which is powerless before God.  People will ask if he had been able to make the earth tremble and to shake kingdoms, which God can and did do.  I personally believe those who are looking on Lucifer and asking about what happened to his power will be those who are in the pits of hell with him, since those in heaven will have no reason to look on him anymore but will be focused on the glory of God instead. 

Verse seventeen continues, That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?  Lucifer, who had thought he could be like God, will be asked if he had the power to make the world like a wilderness and destroy the cities thereof and to open the house of his prisoners. Though through the actions that Lucifer, or Satan, takes he may be able to cause destruction in the world, he cannot destroy the world.  He also cannot free those held captive by sin from the prison of sin, nor would he want to.  He wants as many people to join him in hell as he can influence to do so. 

Verse eighteen says, All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house.  This verse would seem to indicate that at least at this point in time this referred to the king of Babylon, but as I have stated, I believe that it ultimately refers to Lucifer.  It states that all the other kings lie in glory in the world still, while the king of Babylon has been fallen to the depths of hell.  This may be the case, but people will not see him there, which I believe means that the ultimate fulfillment will be when Lucifer is cast into hell when God’s judgment day comes. Of course, only those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ will rest in peace at that time. 

Verse nineteen adds, But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet.  This verse seems to refer to the fall of Belshazzar, who would find no glory in death, but since the passage started by referencing Lucifer, I still believe this will ultimately apply to him.  He will find no glory in death, nor will anyone who follows him instead of following God. 

Verse twenty continues, Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.  Belshazzar, nor Lucifer himself, will be joined in burial with those who have lived faithfully for God.  These are the only two choices anyone ever has, not that the burial is important, but our relationship at the time of our death is. 

Isaiah 14:4

Isaiah 14:4 says, That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!  Isaiah said that there was to be a proverb taken against the king of Babylon asking how had the oppressor been stopped and the once golden city as it had called itself ceased to be.  The kingdom of Babylon was almost universal at the time, and it also stood in opposition to God.  Even though there are several nations today who feel indestructible and stand against God, one day they will be cast down.  We are not to rejoice in their destruction though but are to reach out to them with the gospel of God’s love.  God does not rejoice in the destruction of unsaved people, no matter how evil they may be, and neither should we as Christians. 

Verse five adds, The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.  This is already an accomplished fact spiritually, ever since Jesus Christ died for the sins of all mankind and rose again in victory over sin.  All we have to do is accept His gift of salvation. 

Verse six continues, He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth.  Isaiah said that the one who had been so cruel to the people was now persecuted and there was no one to stop this from happening.  This had not been done to correct any action by those who were oppressed, but simply for the pleasure of the king of Babylon.  Some rulers today still take pleasure in elevating themselves by punishing all those who oppose them, but their day of judgment is coming.  It may not happen in this lifetime, but it is assured by God to happen.

Verse seven states, The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.  During this time, after the fall of the tyrant king of Babylon the whole world would be at peace.  This has not happened often in history, but when the great tyrant of the earth, Satan, falls, those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ will have peace forever.  Of course, even in the turmoil of life today, if we are Christians, we should always be at peace spiritually. 

Verse eight adds, Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us.  Isaiah said even the trees would rejoice.  During a time without war, the trees would not be continually damaged or destroyed.  War affects everything that it touches and not just people.  When we get to our heavenly home, everything will be as God first created it, at which time He pronounced it good. 

Verse nine continues, Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.  I believe this is a reference to the second coming of Jesus Christ, at which time those who were faithful to Him will rise from the dead to meet Him in His kingdom.  Though it could refer to those who are spiritually dead coming to Him in this lifetime, I believe it refers to the coming spiritual kingdom of God, when all will truly be at peace. 

Verse ten concludes, All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?  I believe this applies to those who had defied God and considered themselves great in the world.  When they fell or died, the people around them would ask if they were no more powerful than the average person.  There are some rulers today who believe themselves to be more powerful than God, but one day when God’s judgment comes, they will find themselves just like all other sinners who never accepted the gift of salvation.  Even Satan himself will be asked this question by those that he led astray and who had put their faith in his lies.    

Isaiah 14:1

Isaiah 14:1 says, For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.  Isaiah said that one day God would restore the people of Israel to a nation that was His nation and that strangers would be joined with them.  I believe this means that the people of Israel, who were God’s people because of their covenant relationship with Him would again enter into that covenant relationship with Him.  They were not His people because they were better than anyone else by their own merit, but because of that covenant relationship with Him, which is why they often were defeated when they failed to live up to that covenant relationship.  Had they been morally superior to others by their own merit, they never would have been defeated.  This promise was ultimately fulfilled through the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and His salvation gift was to all people and not just the Jews. 

Verse two adds, And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the Lord for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.  Isaiah said when the people of Israel were returned to their land by being obedient to their covenant relationship with Him that they would rule over those who had oppressed them.  This was ultimately and forever fulfilled when Jesus Christ died for the sins of all men, and I don’t believe it has to do with an earthly kingdom but a heavenly one.  This prophesy may have been temporarily fulfilled when the people of Israel returned from Babylon, but it was not permanently fulfilled until Jesus Christ came to bring the new covenant between man and God, since no one else was able to live up to the old one. 

Verse three continues, And it shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve,  I believe the day that the Lord will do this refers to God’s judgment Day, when we will have rest from our sorrows and fear and the hard bondage that sin had brought to us. 

Isaiah 13:12

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.

Isaiah 13:6

Isaiah 13:6 says, Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.  The people of Babylon were told to howl, because the day of the Lord was at hand, and it would bring great destruction from God.  This was a temporary destruction of an evil nation, but when the final day of the Lord comes when He returns to claim His people, all those who have never accepted Him as Savior and Lord will be sent away to howl in everlasting pain and suffering. 

Verse seven adds, Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt:  Isaiah said that these once mighty and proud people of Babylon would then faint, and their hearts would melt in fear.  They would no longer be full of self-pride, and all those who have worked so proudfully against God and His people will one day faint in fear, realizing how powerless they really are.

Verse eight continues, And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.  Isaiah continued to speak about how afraid the people of Babylon would be in the coming day of the Lord that would be carried out by Persia, and people who are standing proudly against God today will cower in fear in the coming day of the Lord, when Jesus Christ returns to judge all who have stood against Him.  

Verse nine states, Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.  This may have applied to the people of Babylon, but it also applies even more so the coming day of the Lord when Jesus Christ returns.  Those who have felt so powerful while denying God will face His wrath because they refused to turn from their sin by accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Everyone has the choice of either accepting God’s gift of salvation and having everlasting life with Him or of rejecting it and being sent away to everlasting punishment one day. 

Verse ten adds, For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.  Isaiah said at the day of the Lord that all light would be removed from the world.  Matthew Henry says that this means everything would be hidden by dark clouds in that day, but I believe this can only apply to the second coming of Christ, Who is the everlasting Light.  I say this because Isaiah tells us that the sun, stars and moon would not send out light, not that they would just not be seen. 

Verse eleven continues, And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.  I believe this refers to the second coming because it doesn’t say Babylon, which may have been punished at that time, but that the wicked of the world would be punished and have their arrogance to cease.