Destruction for Babylon
Day 317, Tuesday, June 24
Isaiah Chapter 13 – 14:27
It was Babylon that exiled God’s people from Judah and Jerusalem, so it is the Babylonians who are the target of much of Isaiah’s prophetic message.
Notice that his prophesies do not treat God’s people as innocent victims—their disobedience to God led to their own downfall. In Isaiah’s thought, both the Jews and the Babylonians have contributed to the disaster of deportation. It’s not a matter of one side being in the wrong and the other in the right. Instead, both have done wrong in the eyes of God.
We can easily fall into the trap of considering all situations to be black and white with clear good guys and bad guys, but reality is more complex than that.
Later Babylon itself will fall to the Persians, fulfilling God’s prophecy against it.
Beginning in 14:22, Isaiah writes: “I will rise up against them,” declares the Lord Almighty. “I will wipe out Babylon’s name and survivors, her offspring and descendants,” declares the Lord.
“I will turn her into a place for owls and into swampland; I will sweep her with the broom of destruction,” declares the Lord Almighty.
While both Judah and Babylon have sinned, neither can change the outcome God has in mind: “This is the plan determined for the whole world; this is the hand stretched out over all nations. For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?”

Tuesday meditation

Proverbs 31:13-19
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.
She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

Prayer focus
God, save us from destruction. Let us not turn our backs on you and become your enemies.

-Rev. Mark Fleming