Isa 14:1-2 | KingComments | STEP | The subject of the previous chapter is continued and explained. Now the reason is given for the judgment on the heathen ruler described in the previous chapter. That reason is that the LORD will have compassion on Jacob, the twelve tribes, and fulfill His choice of Israel, the twelve tribes. The judgment on the nations will show His people that He is on their side. The pre-fulfillment at the time of Zerubbabel only applies to the two tribes realm. The full fulfillment in the future applies to the twelve tribes of Israel. At the time of Zerubbabel Judah remains under the authority of the nations. In the future Israel will have authority over the nations ( ). Four aspects can be distinguished in this context: 1. Judgment on Israel: The heathen ruler has been used by the LORD to discipline His people because His people have become willful and rebellious. 2. Judgment on the nations: The arrogance and excessive cruelty of the nations in their actions compel Him to bring His judgment on these nations when they have accomplished their task of discipling Israel. 3. Blessing on Israel: The promises made to the fathers must be fulfilled. This means that a restoration of Israel must take place. 4. Blessing on the nations: When the restoration of Israel has taken place, this restored Israel will be the instrument through which God will bless the nations. Just as the fall of Babylon means a partial blessing for Judah – after all, Cyrus gives them permission to return to the land of the fathers ( ) – so the judgment of the Lord Jesus on Babylon in the end time will result in full blessing for the whole people. When the song of praise is sung because of the fall of Babylon ( ), the wedding of the Lamb will be celebrated immediately afterward ( ). Immediately after the wedding, Christ returns to earth ( ) to sit on His throne in Jerusalem and govern His people, and the earth, in blessing. In summary, shows in a fourfold manner the plans of blessing the LORD has devised for Israel: 1. He has compassion on them and 2. makes His choice come true; 3. He settles them in their own land given to them by Him; and 4. when strangers see the blessing thereof, they will want to be part of that blessed people. These strangers live among the Israelites and, like once people like Rahab and Ruth, will voluntarily join the house of Jacob.

‏ Isaiah 14:1-2

The LORD Has Compassion on Jacob

The subject of the previous chapter is continued and explained. Now the reason is given for the judgment on the heathen ruler described in the previous chapter. That reason is that the LORD will have compassion on Jacob, the twelve tribes, and fulfill His choice of Israel, the twelve tribes. The judgment on the nations will show His people that He is on their side.

The pre-fulfillment at the time of Zerubbabel only applies to the two tribes realm. The full fulfillment in the future applies to the twelve tribes of Israel. At the time of Zerubbabel Judah remains under the authority of the nations. In the future Israel will have authority over the nations (Isa 14:2).

Four aspects can be distinguished in this context:

1. Judgment on Israel: The heathen ruler has been used by the LORD to discipline His people because His people have become willful and rebellious.

2. Judgment on the nations: The arrogance and excessive cruelty of the nations in their actions compel Him to bring His judgment on these nations when they have accomplished their task of discipling Israel.

3. Blessing on Israel: The promises made to the fathers must be fulfilled. This means that a restoration of Israel must take place.

4. Blessing on the nations: When the restoration of Israel has taken place, this restored Israel will be the instrument through which God will bless the nations.

Just as the fall of Babylon means a partial blessing for Judah – after all, Cyrus gives them permission to return to the land of the fathers (Ezra 1:1-3) – so the judgment of the Lord Jesus on Babylon in the end time will result in full blessing for the whole people. When the song of praise is sung because of the fall of Babylon (Rev 19:1-6), the wedding of the Lamb will be celebrated immediately afterward (Rev 19:7-9). Immediately after the wedding, Christ returns to earth (Rev 19:11) to sit on His throne in Jerusalem and govern His people, and the earth, in blessing.

In summary, Isa 14:1 shows in a fourfold manner the plans of blessing the LORD has devised for Israel:

1. He has compassion on them and

2. makes His choice come true;

3. He settles them in their own land given to them by Him; and

4. when strangers see the blessing thereof, they will want to be part of that blessed people. These strangers live among the Israelites and, like once people like Rahab and Ruth, will voluntarily join the house of Jacob.

The Tables Have Turned

God will, in order to carry out His purpose toward His people, use the nations to bring His people to their dwelling place (Isa 14:2). It is clear that what is said here did not happen in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, when a small remnant from Babylon returns to Jerusalem. That is a partial return, where the returned remnant remains under the power of the nations (Ezra 9:9; Neh 9:36).

The restoration that takes place in the end time, takes place in two steps. First we have the return of the two tribes who now 2,000 years ago rejected Christ and will go through the great tribulation. The two tribes will be restored after the discipline by the king of the North and by the appearance of Christ. Then the lost ten tribes (Deu 28:25 ; Deu 32:26) will return to the land of Israel and be restored (Eze 37:21). The nations will do everything to bring these ten tribes back to the land of Israel in a brief time.

We see that whoever remains of the former oppressors after God’s judgment on them will become “male servants and female servants” of the Israelites. The tables are turned. The oppressed are now the rulers and those who have ruled are now the prisoners (cf. 2Thes 1:6-7).

The joy over the fall of the harsh regime is great. Also great is the mockery that comes over the once mighty king of Babylon (Isa 14:3-4). In the past we recognize this king in the person of Belshazzar (Dan 5:1), but prophetically we see in him the future ruler of Europe, referred to as the beast of the sea (Rev 13:1) and the little horn of Daniel 7 (Dan 7:8 ; 20 ; 24). We must well distinguish this person, referred to here as the oppressor because of his part in the persecution of the faithful remnant, from the antichrist, the wicked king of Israel, the beast coming up out of the earth (Rev 13:11).

Isaiah incites the singing of a mocking song, keeping alive the memory of the downfall of the king of Babylon. This mock song (Isa 14:4) consists of four stanzas:

1. on earth: relief (Isa 14:4-8);

2. in the realm of the dead (Sheol): amazement (Isa 14:9-11);

3. in heaven: the ejection of satan, the power behind Babylon (Isa 14:12-15);

4. on earth: judgment (Isa 14:16-21).

This reversal of affairs is due to the LORD (Isa 14:5). He has worked it, for He has “broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of rulers”. The reason is that this disciplinary staff has not kept its measure and has constantly stricken and persecuted (Isa 14:6). He has gone beyond the LORD’s will in his wrath and desire for destruction and has become a scourge to the nations. When his yoke is broken, the earth is at rest and there is joy everywhere; the cheers burst forth (Isa 14:7).

Even the trees breathe as it were relieved (Isa 14:8). The Babylonians had cut down large areas of forest of Lebanon, because they could use the wood for anything. Now they lie down felled themselves, powerless to climb Lebanon and cut trees.