Are You Caught Up in The Pursuit of Power and Pleasure?

The Sins of the Oppressor 

⁵Sit in darkness and silence, O Babylon; never again will you be called “The Queen of Kingdoms.” ⁶For I was angry with my people Israel and began to punish them a little by letting them fall into your hands, O Babylon. But you showed them no mercy. You have made even the old folks carry heavy burdens. ⁷You thought your reign would never end, Queen Kingdom of the world. You didn’t care a whit about my people or think about the fate of those who do them harm.

⁸O pleasure-mad kingdom, living at ease, bragging as the greatest in the world—listen to the sentence of my court upon your sins. You say, “I alone am God! I’ll never be a widow; I’ll never lose my children.” ⁹Well, those two things shall come upon you in one moment, in full measure in one day: widowhood and the loss of your children, despite all your witchcraft and magic.^[1] (Isaiah47:6–8)

 The Sins of the Oppressor: Wicked Acts That Provoked God

The oppressors of God’s people were to be judged because of their terrible sins, in particular their cruelty toward God’s people. Historically, Babylon, as the capital of a worldwide empire, was the center of the world, the focus of the world’s attention. But it was the small nation of Israel and her people that were the focus of God’s eye. Within Israel, there were a small number of people who truly trusted and loved the Lord, who obeyed His commandments, and lived righteously. Thus, God was working behind the scenes through world events to save His people from the persecutions and bondages of this world. But in this present point, God spelled out even more sins of the oppressor, sins that explain exactly why Babylon was to be destroyed.  

a. Cruelty to God’s People. The first sin of the oppressor was the mistreatment of God’s people, and the cruel abuse inflicted upon them (v. 6). Some generations before, the Lord had actually raised up and worked through Babylon to execute judgment against the savage Assyrians and other wicked nations of the earth. Then, due to Israel’s terrible sins, God used Babylon as His agent to execute judgment against His own people. Israel’s sins had aroused His anger; therefore, the Lord had used Babylon as the rod of His discipline. Through disciplining His people, the Lord sought to stir them to return to Him (Is. 42:23–25; 43:22–28; La. 2:2; also see Is. 9:8–10:34 to compare how God uses nations to discipline His people). But Babylon failed to respect the basic human rights of other people. They showed no mercy to Israel, God’s very own inheritance whom He had chosen to be His people. Even the elderly were forced to do slave labor and grueling work. These actions exposed the vilest traits of human nature as revealed in the Babylonian’s vicious, merciless spirits and coldhearted cruelty. This was the first sin for which the oppressor was to be condemned.

V  “Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Ro. 3:15–18).

V  “For their feet run to evil and make haste to shed blood” (Pr. 1:16).

V  “For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away unless they cause some to fall” (Pr. 4:16).

V  “A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief” (Pr. 6:18). “Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths” (Is. 59:7).

V  “Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand” (Mi. 2:1). 

b. Boasting & Misplacing their Security: Failing to think about God & the consequences of sin. Boasting in their prosperity and power and placing their security in the things of the world was the second sin of the Babylonian oppressor. The leaders and people of the great empire thought they would continue forever, that their nation would always be the queen, the superpower of the world. No thought was ever given to another nation’s rising and becoming more powerful than Babylon. No thought was ever given to the only living and true God nor to the consequences of their own immoral, unrighteous, and malicious treatment of others. For this reason, the hand of God’s judgment was to fall upon Babylon. Note that this sin of boasting and misplacing security will be a trait in the New Babylon. It will arise in the last days of human history and will be one of the reasons why the New Babylon will be destroyed by God (Re. 18:7; Re. 18:1–24).

V  “And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” (Lu. 12:19–20).

V  “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Co. 10:12).

V  “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Ti. 6:17).

V  “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (Js. 4:6).

V  “For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth” (Ps. 10:3).

V  “They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him” (Ps. 49:6–7).

V  “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Pr. 27:1).

V  “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered” (Pr. 28:26).

V  “They have belied the Lord, and said, it is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine” (Je. 5:12).

V  “Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain, saith the Lord; which say, who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations?” (Je. 21:13).

V  “Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men” (Ho. 10:13). 

c. Fleshly, Carnal Pleasure: Living carelessly, immorally. The oppressor’s third sin was living a fleshly, carnal life (v. 8a). The Babylonians were a people given over to self-gratification, living carefree and careless lives. They were pleasure-loving people filled with a spirit of selfishness, indulgence, license, partying, and immorality. Little or no thought was given to the fact that they were becoming a reckless and undisciplined society. Satisfying their fleshly cravings and carnal appetites was the full focus of their lives. The Babylonians rarely thought about a future life with the only living and true God. Centuries of worshipping false gods that “allowed” them to indulge in their most lustful desires had hardened their hearts against the Lord. Consequently, the hand of God’s judgment was to fall upon this oppressor of His people, Babylon.

V  “And that [seed] which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection” (Lu. 8:14).

V  “And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God” (Lu. 12:19–21).

V  “(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)” (Ph. 3:18–19).

V  “But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth” (1 Ti. 5:6).

V  “And [they] shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the daytime. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: a heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children” (2 Pe. 2:13–14).

V  “He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich” (Pr. 21:17).

V  “For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags” (Pr. 23:21).

V  “Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant” (Is. 56:12). 

d. Pride, Self-Sufficiency, & Self-Exaltation (Humanism): Exalting self (man) as supreme, self-deification. An attitude of pride, self-sufficiency, self-exaltation, and self-deification was the fourth sin of the oppressor. The Babylonians had a firm belief in humanism or self-deification, that “I am, and there is none beside me” (v. 8). They felt that no one was superior to them, not even God. They even exalted themselves as the supreme society among the human race. And they rested secure in this fact, boasting among the nations that they were the greatest among the people and empires of the world. Not surprisingly, they felt that their armies were undefeatable, that their nation would never suffer like the widow nor ever lose so many children (soldiers) that another nation could conquer them. Feeling that they controlled their own lives and destiny, they deified themselves. They regarded themselves as the supreme or greatest race on earth. This humanistic spirit—puffed up pride, self-sufficiency, self-exaltation, and self-deification—was the fifth sin that was to doom the oppressor.

V  “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased, and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted” (Mt. 23:12).

V  “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (Js. 4:6).

V  “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world” (1 Jn. 2:15–16).

V  “The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined” (Ps. 10:2).

V  “Therefore, pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment” (Ps. 73:6).

V  “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren” (Pr. 6:16–19).

V  “When pride cometh, then cometh shame” (Pr. 11:2).

V  “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Pr. 16:18).

V  “A high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin” (Pr. 21:4).

V  “He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife” (Pr. 28:25).

V  “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit” (Pr. 29:23).

V  “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: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit” (Is. 14:13–15).

V  “Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God: Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee: With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures: By thy great wisdom and by thy traffic hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches: Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God; Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness. They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas” (Eze. 28:2–8).

V  “Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord” (Ob. 1:4).^[2] 

Are You Caught Up in The Pursuit of Power and Pleasure? 

Our society is addicted to pleasure and power, but these can quickly vanish. Look at your own life and ask yourself how you can be more responsible with the talents and possessions God has given you. How can you use your life for God’s honor rather than your own? Remember, God is not opposed to wealth, riches, and worldly honor, what God is opposed to is the pursuit of the world’s riches for the sake of it itself. Your time, talent, and treasure are meant to be a blessing to you; however, primarily, your life is to bless others. Our blessings or worldly wealth is to be enjoyed within the confines of responsible moral behavior; it is not a license to willfully sin. We cannot take a penny with us beyond this life. Thus, start laying up your treasure in heaven through be a blessing to others.^[3]  

---

^[1] Taylor, Kenneth Nathaniel. 1997. The Living Bible, Paraphrased. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.

^[2] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 2005. Isaiah: Chapters 36–66. Vol. II. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

^[3] Life Application Bible Notes. 2007. Tyndale.

Any Oppressor of God’s People Will Ultimately be Defeated.

“O Babylon, the unconquered, come sit in the dust; for your days of glory, pomp, and honor are ended. O daughter of Chaldea, never again will you be the lovely princess, tender and delicate. ²Take heavy millstones and grind the corn; remove your veil;^a strip off your robe; expose yourself to public view. ³You shall be in nakedness and shame. I will take vengeance upon you and will not repent.”

⁴So speaks our Redeemer, who will save Israel from Babylon’s mighty power; the Lord Almighty is his name, the Holy One of Israel.

⁵Sit in darkness and silence, O Babylon; never again will you be called “The Queen of Kingdoms.” ⁶For I was angry with my people Israel and began to punish them a little by letting them fall into your hands, O Babylon. But you showed them no mercy. You have made even the old folks carry heavy burdens. ⁷You thought your reign would never end, Queen Kingdom of the world. You didn’t care a whit about my people or think about the fate of those who do them harm.

⁸O pleasure-mad kingdom, living at ease, bragging as the greatest in the world—listen to the sentence of my court upon your sins. You say, “I alone am God! I’ll never be a widow; I’ll never lose my children.” ⁹Well, those two things shall come upon you in one moment, in full measure in one day: widowhood and the loss of your children, despite all your witchcraft and magic.

¹⁰You felt secure in all your wickedness. “No one sees me,” you said. Your “wisdom” and “knowledge” have caused you to turn away from me and claim that you yourself are Jehovah. ¹¹That is why disaster shall overtake you suddenly—so suddenly that you won’t know where it comes from. And there will be no atonement then to cleanse away your sins.

¹²Call out the demon hordes you’ve worshiped all these years. Call on them to help you strike deep terror into many hearts again. ¹³You have advisors by the ton—your astrologers and stargazers, who try to tell you what the future holds. ¹⁴But they are as useless as dried grass burning in the fire. They cannot even deliver themselves! You’ll get no help from them at all. Theirs is no fire to sit beside to make you warm! ¹⁵And all your friends of childhood days shall slip away and disappear, unable to help.^[1] (Isaiah47:1-15)

 Set Free by God’s Judgment of the Oppressor, Babylon:

A Warning to All Who Oppress Others, 47:1–15

(47:1–15) Introduction: Throughout the world, people are being oppressed. Oppressive behavior is a common problem, one that exists within many families as well as in businesses, organizations, religions, and governments of this world. Oppression can exist even between two people when one person is overbearing or too demanding. Husbands and wives can be oppressive when they dominate each other. Children can be oppressive when they are too demanding of their parents or abusive toward other children. Governments can be oppressive by passing preferential laws that discriminate among various classes or races of citizens. Leaders can be oppressive by abusing dictatorial powers. Much of the suffering throughout the world is due to the oppressive and greedy behavior of governments and leaders against their own people, of one race against another, one social class against another, and one religion against another.

In the ancient world, the Babylonians were one of the most oppressive people ever to come on the scene of world history. They were ambitious people who set their sights on building a worldwide empire. An attempt was made to make Babylon the mightiest and most glorious capital of the world. But in pursuing this ambition for world power, the Babylonians became a vicious and ruthless people, tyrannizing and conquering one nation after another. After defeating a people, the Babylonians enslaved and then deported the entire population to other nations. Their purpose in this was to break the population’s allegiance to their own nation by forcing them to become citizens of other nations. But loyalty to any nation other than Babylon was not tolerated. The world was to become a Babylonian world. Every nation was to be subjected under the rule and law of Babylon. To achieve its ends, all forms of cruelty and savagery were used against the people of other nations. Individuals either subjected themselves under the thumb of Babylon or else faced harsh punishment or even death.

Because of Babylon’s vicious tyranny, in particular their mistreatment of God’s people, God pronounced judgment upon the cruel oppressor. However, this prophecy was pronounced more than 150 years before the hand of God’s judgment would fall. God was determined to set His people free. Through the destruction of Babylon, they would be set free to return to the promised land. This is Set Free by God’s Judgment of the Oppressor, Babylon: A Warning to All Who Oppress Others, 47:1–15.  

1.      The Defeat of the Oppressor: A Picture of God’s Vengeance (Vv. 1–5).

2.      The sins of the oppressor: wicked acts that provoked God (vv. 6–8).

3.      The sudden, catastrophic end of the oppressor (vv. 9–11).

4.      The powerlessness of false religion—the world of the occult—to deliver the oppressor (vv. 12–15). 

The Defeat of the Oppressor: A Picture of God’s Vengeance 

“O Babylon, the unconquered, come sit in the dust; for your days of glory, pomp, and honor are ended. O daughter of Chaldea, never again will you be the lovely princess, tender and delicate. ²Take heavy millstones and grind the corn; remove your veil;^a strip off your robe; expose yourself to public view. ³You shall be in nakedness and shame. I will take vengeance upon you and will not repent.”

⁴So speaks our Redeemer, who will save Israel from Babylon’s mighty power; the Lord Almighty is his name, the Holy One of Israel. 

⁵Sit in darkness and silence, O Babylon; never again will you be called “The Queen of Kingdoms.” ^[2] (Isaiah47:1–5) 

Any oppressor of God’s people will ultimately be defeated. For that reason, Babylon, the cruel persecutors of God’s people in Biblical times, was doomed to fall. Remember that Babylon was the capital of a worldwide empire, probably the greatest empire to rule over the nations of ancient history. But Babylon had been a ruthless, bloodthirsty master as she conquered and ruled over the nations of the earth. Thus Isaiah predicted that Babylon would face the hand of God’s judgment. Babylon would be humiliated and conquered (vv. 1–3a). Although the conqueror is not named here, Isaiah did identify Persia elsewhere as the conqueror (44:28; 45:1–13). And history has proven the fulfillment of the prophecy, for Persia conquered Babylon in 539 b.c. Note that Babylon is referred to as a virgin daughter, a tender, delicate nation, which simply means that she was a young nation; she had never been sexually conquered, never raped by other nations up until that time. However, Isaiah was predicting that God would work through Persia to conquer or rape the nation of Babylon. In the vast world empire, the brutal persecutors of God’s people would sit in the dust. The acclaimed nation of Babylon would be dethroned, losing all her authority and honor throughout the world. The once legendary capital would be conquered and utterly humiliated. No longer would the Babylonian citizens be pampered, living lives of luxury and pleasure and possessing most of the wealth of the world. The oppressors themselves would now be enslaved and led into captivity. They would face the severe hardships of slaves, being forced to do the most menial and difficult tasks within society. Instead of using animals to turn the heavy millstones for grinding flour, the conquering nation would force the Babylonian people to do the work of the animals. Furthermore, the enslaved women would no longer be able to show concern for beautiful clothes or modesty. Rather, they would be treated as slaves, forced to lift up their skirts and bare their legs. They would be forced to expose themselves and be at the disposal of the conquerors. In other words, the Babylonian women would reap the same mistreatment that their own husbands and fathers had forced upon female citizens of other nations. They would be abused, raped, and shamed.

Note that the fall of Babylon was guaranteed by the Lord Himself (vv. 3b–5). He would personally take vengeance and execute his justice against Babylon. And all citizens of the cruel, oppressive nation would feel the weight of His hand against them. No citizen would be spared. Judgment is non-negotiable. It is a surety for two reasons: first, the Lord has determined to rescue His people. He is the Redeemer; therefore He is bound to deliver all who trust and follow Him. Moreover, He is the Lord of hosts, the Lord Almighty. He has the power to rule and control all beings and events throughout the universe. He is also the Holy One of Israel, the God who has a covenant relationship with His people, caring for and looking after them, demanding that they live holy and righteous lives. Due to this relationship, God is bound to rescue His people from their adversaries. His very Name—Our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts, the Holy One of Israel—shows that He will deliver His people from their oppressors.

Second, God’s purpose is to execute justice against any who represses or tyrannizes His people. The oppressor will be cast into darkness and removed forever. Hence, no longer would Babylon be the leader, the queen of nations and kingdoms. 

Thought 1. One of the most despised behaviors in the eyes of God is that of mistreating or oppressing other people. Why? Because God loves and cares for every human being. He hates and despises our sins, but He loves us, and He expects us to love our neighbors. For this reason, He will not tolerate the mistreatment or oppression of others. All forms of oppression and mistreatment are despised by God:

Ø  degrading or ignoring people

Ø  crushing or beating them down

Ø  disheartening or causing distress for them

Ø  harassing or hounding them

Ø  persecuting them sexually, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually

Ø  tormenting or torturing them

Ø  enslaving or trampling them under foot

No matter how we mistreat people, God despises it and He will hold us accountable. His hand of judgment will fall upon us, and He will repay with vengeance accordingly. Listen to God’s Holy Word: 

V  “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess” (Mt. 23:25).

V  “But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation, and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile” (Ro. 2:8–9).

V  “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Ro. 12:19).

V  “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Co. 6:9–10).

V  “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Ga. 5:19–21).

V  “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience” (Ep. 5:6).

V  “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Th. 1:7–9).

V  “To me, belongeth vengeance, and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste” (De. 32:35).

V  “O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, show thyself” (Ps. 94:1).

V  “He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor” (Pr. 14:31).

V  “If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they” (Ecc. 5:8).

V  “And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes, and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them” (Eze. 25:17).

V  “And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard” (Mi. 5:15).

V  “God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies” (Na. 1:2).^[3]

---

^a 47:2  remove your veil. In ancient Babylonia (and in many Eastern lands today) only harlots were permitted to go without veils.

^[1] Taylor, Kenneth Nathaniel. 1997. The Living Bible, Paraphrased. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.

^a 47:2  remove your veil. In ancient Babylonia (and in many Eastern lands today) only harlots were permitted to go without veils.

^[2] Taylor, Kenneth Nathaniel. 1997. The Living Bible, Paraphrased. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.

^[3] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 2005. Isaiah: Chapters 36–66. Vol. II. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

Remember God’s Works Down Through History: He Has Proven He Is God.

God issued both a strong appeal and a strong warning to all idolaters. They must immediately take three steps to become acceptable to Him and to escape His coming judgment. 

These three steps are clearly marked by Scripture:

⁸“Don’t forget this, O guilty ones. ⁹And don’t forget the many times I clearly told you what was going to happen in the future. For I am God—I only—and there is no other like me ¹⁰who can tell you what is going to happen. All I say will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish. ¹¹I will call that swift bird of prey from the east—that man Cyrus from far away. And he will come and do my bidding. I have said I would do it and I will. ¹²Listen to me, you stubborn, evil men! ¹³For I am offering you my deliverance; not in the distant future, but right now! I am ready to save you, and I will restore Jerusalem and Israel, who is my glory.^[1] (Isaiah 46:8–13) 

The Strong Appeal of God to Idolaters (All False Worshippers) 

A.                Remember The Powerlessness of Your Idols.

Idolaters must remember that they are sinners, transgressors, and rebels before God. Note that God Himself is still speaking. It is God who calls idolaters “rebels”—a most serious charge. During Isaiah’s day, most of the people in the world were worshipping idols, including most of the Israelites. Practically every Israelite professed to believe in the Lord. To their own minds they were worshipping the Lord, but what they were really worshipping was their own idea of who God is. They rejected God’s righteousness and His holy commandments, choosing instead to live immoral and wicked lives. 

The false worship practiced by their neighbors appealed to the Israelites. These religions allowed people to live as they wanted, fulfilling their fleshly desires for more and more…

·         possessions and wealth

·         pleasure and recreation

·         power and honor 

Most of the Jews followed a religion that mixed the worship of God with the worship of idols. They accepted only part of God’s revelation of Himself, rejecting His righteousness and His demand for them to live righteously. As a result, their religion became eclectic, a mixture of truth and error. Although they considered themselves to be followers of the Lord, they had become idolaters. Rejecting God’s full revelation of Himself, they became rebels. 

Again, it was the Lord Himself making this harsh but accurate charge against those who professed to worship Him. Idolaters must remember this and prove themselves mature men and women by turning away from idolatry. They must not act like children, who are too young to know the truth. They must take responsibility for their behavior. They are transgressors who are rebelling against the only living and true God. 

B.                 Remember God’s Works Down Through History: He Has Proven He Is God.

1)      He has revealed the truth to man and foretold important future events even of the end time: His purpose & plan will come to pass. Idolaters must remember God’s works down through history, for His former works prove that He is the Lord, the only living and true God (vv. 9–11). Time and again, the Lord has demonstrated that He alone is God. He has demonstrated His existence and power throughout history, beginning with Creation. He demonstrated His power in the great flood of Noah’s day, in the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian slavery, in the giving of the law on Mount Sinai, and in the choosing of Abraham to be the father of several great nations, but especially in the promised seed, which was fulfilled in Christ and in those who believe and follow Him. These are just a few of the marvelous works of God that idolators must remember, for God’s mighty works prove His existence and power. 

2)      He will raise up a bird of prey—a world leader (Cyrus)—to fulfill His purpose: He will execute judgment upon idolaters & free His people (a picture of Christ’s work). From the beginning of human history, God has revealed the truth to man and foretold important future events, even those that will take place at the end of the world. Many of the events have already taken place, giving further evidence that God alone is the Lord, the only living and true God. His purpose and plan for His people, those who truly believe and follow Him, will come to pass. As Isaiah stood there proclaiming this prophecy to his audience, God gave him insight into the future. Isaiah predicted that the Lord would raise up a “bird of prey”—a world leader—from the east to fulfill His purpose (v. 11). This was a direct reference to King Cyrus of Persia (41:2–3, 25). God would raise up Cyrus for two very specific purposes: to execute the Lord’s judgment on idolaters and to free His people from the Babylonian captivity (13:17–14:2). To give full assurance, God gave a double guarantee that these two events would take place:

Ø  “I have spoken.… I will also bring it to pass.”

Ø  “I have purposed it; I will also do it.”

C.                Listen To the Lord. Idolaters Must Listen to The Lord (Vv. 12–13). Three Compelling Reasons Are Given Why They Must Listen:

1)      Because you are stubborn, & unrighteous. Idolaters are stubborn, and they are far from righteousness. Although they profess to know the Lord, they are actually worshipping idols, the creation of their thoughts, and the figment of their imaginations. They are not living lives of righteousness by obeying the commandments of God. Instead of treating people justly, they are lying, stealing, cheating, and falsely accusing. Instead of living moral and pure lives, they are forsaking the natural use of sex and committing all kinds of illicit behavior, including fornication, adultery, and homosexuality. God warns idolators, and they must listen, for they have become stubborn, hard-hearted, and far from righteousness. 

V  “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Ro. 1:18–32).

V  “But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law” (Ro. 2:10–18).

V  “And then shall that Wicked [the antichrist] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Th. 2:8–12).

V  “But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (He. 3:13).

V  “And [they] shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the daytime. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children” (2 Pe. 2:13–14).

V  “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (1 Jn. 3:4).

V  “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Ge. 6:5).

V  “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts” (Ps. 10:4).

V  “Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Ps. 53:3).

V  “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Is. 64:6). 

2)      Because God is bringing His righteousness near: It is right at hand. Idolaters must listen because God is bringing His righteousness near, right next to them, right at their hand. Because righteousness will be so close, the idolater will be without excuse if he continues to reject God. This was a clear prediction of God’s power to set the Jews free from their captivity in Babylon. But it was also a prediction that pointed forward to God’s gift of the Messiah, the Savior of the world. The Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, would embody the very righteousness of God Himself. Christ would demonstrate God’s righteousness before the entire world. And the world would be without excuse if they rejected Christ, the very image of God’s righteousness. 

V  “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Ro. 3:21–26).

V  “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Co. 5:21).

V  “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (He. 4:15).

V  “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens” (He. 7:25–26).

V  “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Ph. 3:8–10).

V  “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pe. 1:18–19).

V  “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Pe. 2:22–24).

V  “Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows” (Ps. 45:7).

V  “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth” (Je. 23:5). 

3)      Because God is ready to save Zion & to give His glory to Israel (all genuine believers). The idolater must listen because God is ready to save Zion and give His glory to Israel. This is a clear prediction of God’s coming salvation. All who truly believed the Lord would be rescued, set free from the coming Babylonian captivity. When the event actually happened, not many truly believed the Lord or still placed their hope in the promised land. Most—the vast majority—stayed behind in Babylon. They had become comfortable, prosperous, and wrapped up in the world of unbelievers. And as this prophecy indicates, many had become devoted to the idolatrous worship of the world.

But God warned the idolaters: the Lord’s salvation was at hand. He was ready to bring the oppression and captivity of His people to an end. The great day of salvation and the glorification of His people was approaching. Thus, the idolaters stood forewarned: they will miss out on God’s wonderful salvation and the coming glory promised to true believers and worshippers of the Lord. This is a strong warning to all idolaters and unbelievers of every generation. God’s Holy Word declares that the climactic day of God’s salvation, the deliverance of His people from the bondages of this earth, is coming. Soon the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, will return to earth to close the pages of human history. In that day, a most wonderful event will take place: all righteous believers will be glorified. 

V  “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Mt. 13:43).

V  “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified togetherd” (Ro. 8:16–17).

V  “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Ph. 3:20–21).

V  “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:4).

V  “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed” (1 Pe. 5:1).

V  “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb” (Re. 7:9–10).

V  “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever” (Re. 22:5).

V  “Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name” (Ps. 91:14).

V  “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Da. 12:3).^[2]

---

^[1] Taylor, Kenneth Nathaniel. 1997. The Living Bible, Paraphrased. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.

^[2] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 2005. Isaiah: Chapters 36–66. Vol. II. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.