Isaiah 21:1-10

Today’s reading again shows something of the cost of Isaiah’s ministry (3,4). John Henry Jowett said: ”Preaching that costs nothing accomplishes nothing.”

Great nations (and empires) will topple (9; see also chapters 13, 14): However powerful and dominant a country or empire may be, it is only for a time. Ultimately, all people will come before God’s bar of judgment and will be seen in true perspective. They will look small then. Isaiah, in this prophecy, ‘sees’ an ”invader” sweeping down on Babylon like ”whirlwinds” from a ”land of terror” (1). This probably refers to the Persian invader , because the Persian army contained troops from ”Elam” and ”Media” (2). Furthermore, it was the Persians who finally brought to an end all the ”groaning” that Babylon had caused – especially the ”groaning” of the Jewish exiles, who were held in captivity in Babylon for seventy years. At the ”sight” of the invasion of Babylon, Isaiah is overwhelmed (3-5). It is what he has longed for, but it is still frightful to behold. He calls to the Babylonian military to stop feasting and prepare for battle (5). It’s like they don’t know what is about to hit them. In Isaiah’s vision, the Lord tells him to ”post a lookout” (6-10), probably on the walls of Jerusalem, to watch for anyone coming with news from Babylon. Finally, the lookout sees the approach of a ”man in a chariot” whodelivers the news that ”Babylon has fallen”.  Great cities will fall (9): The fall of Babylon is picked up again as a theme in Revelation 18, where Babylon symbolises the entire world system. I have to say that on ‘9/11’ words came into my mind from Rev.18:10: ” ‘ Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!’ ” It’s not that I thought that those Biblical words were fulfilled on that day; it was more a recognition that all that this world prizes and values and admires can fall to the ground so quickly and easily, because we build on sand and not rock.

False religion will be shown to be false (9): The Babylonians thought that they were successful because of their gods. Their religion fired and fuelled them. They strode across the world believing that they and their deities were unstoppable. Eventually God pricked their religious balloon, and they had nothing but empty air. Ultimately God will show to everyone the illusory nature of the things they trust in.

God’s suffering people will be delivered (10): The ”threshing” speaks of judgment. Here, inspired by the Holy Spirit, Isaiah looks ahead to the Jewish exile in Babylon, which took place more than a century after Isaiah saw this vision. That exile would indeed be God’s judgment on His own disobedient people. But although they would be ”threshed” they would not be utterly destroyed. Not so with Babylon, however, who would fall never to rise again. These words must surely have comforted the exiles in Babylon many years later.

”Because of this news I’m doubled up in pain, writhing in pain like a woman having a baby…’ The Message. It is true that ministry without a price tag is ineffective. One of the costs of authentic ministry is that of standing on the ”watchtower” and looking to and for the Lord (6, 7 and 11, 12). It is an enormous privilege to do so, but also a huge responsibility. The church needs leaders who will ‘pray the price!’

Prayer: Thank you Lord Jesus that you have moved me out of a house built on sand and placed my feet firmly on the rock.