God Rules Over The World (Isaiah 13)

• Isa 1-5 is God's lament of his people: "Ah, sinful nation" (Isa 1:4).
• Isa 6-12 is God's preservation of a remnant through grace: "Your guilt is taken away" (Isa 6:7).
• Isa 13-27 is God's judgment and grace for the world: "We have a strong city" (Isa 26:1).

God is no local tribal deity, but the Judge and Savior ruling over all the world. God's purpose is moving history forward for the benefit of his people. Isaiah reveals the sovereign ways of God with the nations, beginning with Babylon (Isa 13).

Isaiah foretells Babylon's destruction (Isa 13:1-5)

Isaiah announces God's oracle/prophecy/message against proud Babylon (Isa 13:1,2,19), which was regarded as the epitome of religion and culture, symbolizing ungodly nations. God himself would consecrate/summon an army as his instrument of severe judgment (Isa 13:3-5).

What happens on that day? (Isa 13:6-22)

The day of God's judgment on Babylon is described as "destruction from the Almighty" (Isa 13:6), "a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger" (Isa 13:9), when God "will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins" (Isa 13:11). Here are a few descriptions of that dreadful day:

• "all hands will go limp" (Isa 13:7)
• "every heart will melt with fear" (Isa 13:7)
• "terror...pain and anguish will grip them" (Isa 13:8)
• people will be "scarcer than pure gold" (Isa 13:12)
• "whoever is captured will be thrust through" (Isa 13:15)
• "their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be looted and their wives violated" (Isa 13:16), etc.

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