Isaiah 14

Mercy on Jacob

Isa 14:1 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.

Israel had been punished by God and taken captive by Babylon, but at the end of this 70 year captivity, Israel would be in their own land; God had not forgotten His covenant with them.

Dan 9:2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
Dan 9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
Dan 9:4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

God kept his promise through Ezra and Nehemiah.

And the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.

Gentiles would be coming to receive of the covenant. This would especially be true after Jesus came with the new covenant.

Isa 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
Isa 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
Isa 60:3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

Isa 14:2 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.

All will be servants under the new covenant, they would no longer be enemies. They would be under the apostles.

Mark 10:42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
Mark 10:43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
Mark 10:44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Out of Bondage

Isa 14:3 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.

Again, a near fulfillment for those coming out of bondage in Babylon and a future fulfillment for those escaping the Babylon, symbolizing the world under satan's control. Every one of us in Christ Jesus came out of bondage into new liberty in the Lord.

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

Isa 14:4 That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!

Singing a proverb, in a wide sense, it is as we sing the hymn, "up from the grave he arose". victory in Jesus from satan and death. The golden city would be no more and in the future the ruler of this world, the devil will be no more.

The literary form of this passage is important. "Its form is really that of the funeral dirge, with the characteristic limping rhythm of a Hebrew lament, so plaintive and yet ominous to the sensitive ear . . . There is a considerable element of irony, so that the whole song becomes a taunt in the guise of a lament." (Grogan)

Isa 14:5 The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.
Isa 14:6 He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth.

The Lord is greater than any enemy we may have. We shall trust in him. Remember, that Israel was taken captive because God whistled for the the Babylonians to come for them. Why would a loving God cause persecution for his people? Under the law, if they rebelled and broke his commandments , they were under a curse and a punishment. Those in Christ are no longer under the law, where every trespass was judged. We are in Christ under grace, and we do not willingly sin. If God would allow judgment for his covenant people, how much more would he bring judgment on the wicked, proud and idolatrous nations?

Isa 14:7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.

Isa 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Isa 14:8 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.

Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Evil is felt throughout God's creation; how much more the salvation of the LORD?

Babylon's King in Hell

Isa 14:9 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.

Hell is moved to meet the king of Babylon at his coming. Not only the king but all the chief leaders of the nations; they who were filled with the power of the devil, shall go to the devils punishment. Does not God set up authorities, for his purposes, often as judgment to a wicked people? Yes, but rulers who do evil shall go to the devil's hell. Babylon was sent to judge Israel, but an evil ruler God will judge.

Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Rom 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Rom 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
Rom 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Rom 13:5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
Rom 13:6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
Rom 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, was judged but repented. His son sinned and his life and nation were destroyed.

Dan 5:2 Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.

Dan 5:5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
Dan 5:6 Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.

This king was judged to hell.

Isa 14:10 All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?

In hell all the kings shall mock him.

Isa 14:11 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.

His glory and self indulgence at the banquet, using the holy vessels of the LORD, with music and entertainment are now in corruption in the grave. Hell is beyond the grave, a place of eternal torment.

Mark 9:43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Mark 9:44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

The kings of the world, shall not escape the judgment of God. If they be evil and do not repent they are cast into hell. The King of the world, satan shall also be cast into the lake of fire, with the beast and the false prophet of Revelation.

The Four Falls of Lucifer

Isa 14:12 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!

In context we are still talking about the king of Babylon, a type of satan, but it can be applied to the devil as well, Lucifer. Fallen, kicked out of heaven, sort of like Adam and Eve were kicked out of Eden. O Lucifer, bringing light, son of the morning. The king of Babylon did the work of Lucifer, and both were at times used by God who is supreme, to judge a people.

There are four falls, of Lucifer and this verse refers to the fourth fall.

The first fall was from a sacred position in heaven to the earth, something that happened before the fall of Adam and Eve.

Ezek 28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
Ezek 28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Ezek 28:16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.

Jesus referred to this fall:

Luke 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

The second fall, satan will fall from having access to heaven.

Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

The third fall, he will be cast in the bottomless pit during the millennium and released at the end, to deceive many.

Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Finally, the fourth fall, the devil, Lucifer, will be cast into the lake of fire, to be tormented forever.

Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

I Will

Isa 14:13 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:

The king of Babylon is a type of satan, the king of the world or the coming antichrist beast. Lucifer is the devil.

I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

In the temple, which is what the beast will do, filled with the devil, in the end times.

2 Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2 Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Isa 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

This was the fall of Lucifer, exalting himself as God.

Isa 14:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Isa 14:16 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;

Satan was not a man, but the false christ was a man.

Isa 14:17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

When the king of literal Babylon fell, his weakness was exposed and others were amazed that he once had so much power, and so many feared him. The same will happen when the king of spiritual Babylon falls. People will see him for what he really is and be amazed at how much power he actually had.(Guzik)

These supernatural evil men were given demonic power.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Babylon Bittern

Isa 14:18 All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house.

All the other kings live in self glory. in comfort and in luxory, but not the king of Babylon at his time of destruction.

Isa 14:19 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.

He will not even have a decent burial, even as for a common man. His body will lay exposed to desecration and decay. Contrast this to the body of our Lord Jesus.

Psa 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

No corruption for Jesus, instead he is brought back to life by the power of God and is at the right hand of God. Here is the difference between the servants of Lucifer...death and corruption; and the redeemed of the Lord Jesus Christ: life more abundant and eternal life.

Isa 14:20 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.

The king of Babylon will not have a decent burial, but he will join them in hell.

Isa 14:9 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.
Isa 14:10 All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?

God will punish evildoers and the children of evil doers: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.

Deu 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

Deu 7:10 And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.

Isa 14:21 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.
Isa 14:22 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.

The Babylonian dynasty shall end with Belshazzar; his descendants will not continue as he was. God does ordain the destruction of evil nations; soldiers in battle do the will of God. America, repent and return to your protection. No nation will survive that is evil and that seeks after idols and false other gods.

Isa 14:23 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 will be desolate with pools of water. Some translate the word bittern as a porcupine, but bittern also refers to a type of Heron, which would be more suited to the pools. This is interesting to me, knowing that the herons are shy and prefer to be alone near the pools. So Babylon would be uninhabited. Picture busy New York City or Los Angeles, with no buildings and a quiet place for herons.

Isa 14:24 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:

Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Amen, and it is our desire to be in favor with the LORD, to do His will and walk in His ways.

Psa 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Stretched Out Hand

Isa 14:25 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.

2 Ki 19:32 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.
2 Ki 19:33 By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD.
2 Ki 19:34 For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
2 Ki 19:35 And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

Isa 14:26 This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations.
Isa 14:27 For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

The arm of deliverance.

Exo 6:6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:

Psa 136:10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.

When the LORD stretches out his hand, we better be seeking His favor.

Prov 1:22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
Prov 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
Prov 1:24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
Prov 1:25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
Prov 1:26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
Prov 1:27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
Prov 1:28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

Prov 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
Prov 1:30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
Prov 1:31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

The LORD shall defend Zion

Isa 14:28 In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden.
Isa 14:29 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.

God is warning the Philistines to not take pleasure in Israel and Judah's weakness. The Philistines were often at war with them and because God was judging them, they should not take advantage.

Isa 14:30 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.
Isa 14:31 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.

God will also judge the Philistines according to his covenant with Abraham.

Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Some see this as a prophecy for modern day Palestine, who are seeking to destroy modern day Israel. The covenant still stands. They may destroy some of the power of Israel, who they call the devil. But, out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent. This could refer to missiles, aircraft, or weapons of war, which with God's help could destroy all who oppose His covenant people.

Isa 14:32 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 nations send ambassadors to give ultimatums or to make alliances; remember that it was the LORD who made you his people, the people of Mt. Zion, even the poor of his people, shall trust in Him.

Isa 31:1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!
Isa 31:2 Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.
Isa 31:3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.
Isa 31:4 For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.
Isa 31:5 As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.

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