Sermon Tone Analysis

Isaiah 14:16-32

So remember, last week we were looking at the prophecy of Jacob restoration.

Now we know this line of thought is two fold, there is the immediate application of their return after the captivity by Babylon, but there is also the idea of the future where God will save His people at the end of days.

Remember, we have talked about that God’s promise to save a remnant on that day.

So we have a couple lines of thought happening here..

We know that God loves Israel, He will never abandon them, but will have compassion on them again.

Now remember the last section last week, verses 11-15 talks about the haughty king.

Some take the meaning to refer to Satan, but many others believe it refers to Nebuchadnezzar, who was arrogant, built a giant statue to himself and called for the world to fall down and worship Him.

But even that great king was humbled by God.

Listen to Daniel as he shares God’s warning to him...

And at the end of His time....

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So you see better what is happening and the two accounts seem to support each other.

So lets look at verse 16

The man who shook kingdoms, who made the earth tremble because of His might, He has fallen… some perhaps cannot believe it....

There is a saying … oh how the mighty have fallen.....Verse 17 next..

The king made Jerusalem a deserted, desert place.

he could have treated those in his power better, but he was unmerciful...

He was a ruthless tyrant, but in the grave he will no longer have any power.

Lets move on...

Verses 18-19 Isa 14:18-19

Another sign of haw far the king has fallen is how humiliated they are in death.

While the former kings of Israel and even other kings lie in their tomb and are buried in their rightful place of honor....Not this king.

he is shamefully treated.

I thought of Benhagzi, how the people there took the ambassadors body and drug it through the streets.

This king is treated shamefully

No honor, no proper chamber fit for a king he is finally just buried like a pauper, like some loathsome branch that is cut off.

Like men slain in battle and buried there in the field along the path.. this is his fate, he is simply buried… no frills, no glory or remembrance.

Now we get a better sense of how the mighty have fallen.

Verse 20-21 Isa 14:20-21

You know the greatest fear of every solider was that their bodies be left in the fields for the animals to devour after their life has ended.

And ot be rejected by people, his own people and family do not even care of his final state.

You know, many people would defend their king or family after being killed in battle, but not this king.

His selfish action, have caused his nation to be destroyed, torn down and the people called..

The king, and even his children will not be remembered anymore.They are whipped out and their family will never come back to power.

The people of Babylon just wanted to live in peace and enjoy their lives, but the king in his lust for power, evil desires has destroyed it all and now there is no hope of the lands restoration.

Babylon will remain destroyed

Verses 22-23 Isa 14:22-23

So the Lord will act against them.

3 times in this passage, the Lord is seen as the the focus of what is being communicated.

I will rise up against them, I will cut them off forever and I will sweep them away with the broom of my destruction.

What we see here is that God declares that his plan is secure.

He will destroy Babylon, her reputation and her people, not just the king.

He will leave the city a desolate, only fit for the animals.

Sometimes we look at this and it seems harsh, but understand God is righteous God and He will punish the unrighteous.

Now verses 24-27 Isa 14:24-27

Here we see that God adds an addendum about Assyria here at the end of the Babylon message.

Now one might ask why, why would we see this here?

Well, ultimately they are connected, what happens to one will happen to another.

Assyria was the first to threaten Judah, so God will strike them down.

Now look at what God says through the prophet Isaiah.

God’s holiness guarantees all this would happen.

So as you open verse 24, it is made clear that God will do this, be sure to not doubt it.

God’s plans are what he has purposed and what he has purposed

Verse 25 says I will break the Assyrian in my land.

Who owns the world and all that is in it, God.

It is His land and especially when you think about Israel and the city of Jerusalem.

He will shatter those forces.

God will also break the yoke they have placed on the people, after conquering Israel, the northern 10 tribes..

They placed a heavy burden of tax on the defeated Israelites.

God will break that yoke as well.

Verses 26 -27, These verses relate the principles again that God promised in verses 24 and 25.

God is the one who makes plans and what He has purposed and set in place will without a doubt come to pass.

No other thing will happen in this world.

When you look at these type of thoughts, you have to make the decisions as well.

You either believe God or not....

You say God will do it or he will not...

When people, even those who say they are beleivers reject God’s plans and try to raise themselves up as the ruler of their lives, you know what happens, you are trying to be God.

Attempting to take God’s place and rule your own life sets oneself open for Judgement.

One scholar said their fate is clear, the wrath of God, humiliation and the maggots of the grave await them.

Now lets look at verse 28-32

This prophetic message has come to the people during the time of the Kings death, so we know when it was,,

And here God tells the one who has struck his people not to rejoice, for his life will not be long, the rod that struck them will be put to death.

The death of Ahaz, as looked at in Scripture is a date about 715 bc.

This is because of the time of Hezekiah’s rise to the throne.

The death of the Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser III brought some hope of relief form future Assyrian aggression, but God tells them not to rejoice over that King death, listen, the king was only a root, other growth will follow and oppression will rise again.

And while the poor and needy will have peace, those deadly rulers of Asyriaia, well God will take care of all the descendatns of the kings.

While the Assyrian army will defeat city after city and the people f Philista will feel fear and gloom

And instead of trying to join with Phisitian ( they want Israel who they have hated in the past to join them, say yes to their messengers) Their effort in battle will not help and they cannot hope to stop the Assyrian army, But know that God has set His people in place and he will be their refudge.

God will always take care of His people.