Isa 14:4 | KingComments | STEP | God will, in order to carry out His purpose toward His people, use the nations to bring His people to their dwelling place ( ). 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 ( ; ). 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 ( ) will return to the land of Israel and be restored ( ). 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. ). 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 ( ). In the past we recognize this king in the person of Belshazzar ( ), but prophetically we see in him the future ruler of Europe, referred to as the beast of the sea ( ) and the little horn of Daniel 7 ( ). 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 ( ). Isaiah incites the singing of a mocking song, keeping alive the memory of the downfall of the king of Babylon. This mock song ( ) consists of four stanzas: 1. on earth: relief ( ); 2. in the realm of the dead (Sheol): amazement ( ); 3. in heaven: the ejection of satan, the power behind Babylon ( ); 4. on earth: judgment ( ). This reversal of affairs is due to the LORD ( ). 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 ( ). 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 ( ). Even the trees breathe as it were relieved ( ). 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.

‏ Isaiah 14:4

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.