the enemies without are emboldened and justified by Israel's rebellion against the LORD. (50:7)
II. Warning to those in the region: Babylon will be scattered; Israel will be regathered, 50:8-20
Those who heed God's Word will hasten to flee from the impending destruction of Babylon (50:8; cp. Luk 21:20,21; Rev 18:4).
Babylon, in it's final form, will be attacked, not by a single northern nation (50:3), but by an assembly of nations (50:9), whose weapons always hit their mark (perhaps a preview of modern "smart bombs").
The cause Babylon's destruction:
The LORD's wrath: they destroyed the Lord's heritage (50:11-13).
This wrath is upon all nations, allied with Babylon (their "mother") in the destruction of Judah.
The LORD's vengeance: they will be treated as they treated Israel (50:14-16).
The LORD will scatter them as they scattered His people, and punish them as Assyria had already been punished for the same crime, at the hand of Babylon (50:17,18).
The LORD will regather Israel (50:19,20):
in those days... in that time...- Israel will be free from iniquity,
when they look to their Redeemer, at His return in the Day of the LORD, at the end of the age (Zech 12:10; 13:1).
III. Instruction to the Medes from Israel's Redeemer: Waste Babylon for her excess zeal in oppressing Israel, 50:21-34
Go up against the land...(50:21-23) - cp. Isa 13:17-20
... against the land of Merathaim {lit., "doubly rebellious"} -
This name is descriptive of character, rather than designating a geographic location.
The Lord had used Babylon as His 'hammer' to punish Israel and surrounding nations (50:23). But Babylon had been over-zealous, in destroying His Temple and in exalting themselves above Him (cp. 50:28,29; Isa 47:10). Therefore, He had commissioned another nation {the Medes} as His 'battle-axe' to destroy the unruly 'hammer' (Jer 51:11,20-24; Isa 14:4-6).
The destruction of the pride and power, of historic Babylon, foreshadows the final destruction of the system of Gentile world dominion, whose ultimate head (ie., Satan indwelling the Antichrist) exalts himself beyond measure. 2The 2:3,4; Isa 14:12-15; Rev 13:4-8
... against the inhabitants of Pekod {lit., "visitation" or "punishment"}...
Pekod was a region of Assyria with Nineveh as its capital, which was occupied by Babylon prior to the fall of Jerusalem. The judgment of Babylon would include its territories.
However, the meaning of the name, declaring that judgment is due, will certainly be applicable to Babylon in its final form.
I have laid a snare... thou wast not aware (50:24)
The Medes took Babylon while its rulers partied. Confident in the security of their fortifications, the king and his princes praised their false gods and defiled the name of the LORD (Dan 5:1-5). As Daniel explained, the handwriting on the wall declared that the LORD was about to judge them for their blasphemous excesses (Dan 5:17-28; cp. Isa 47:5-11; Zech 1:15). Meanwhile, the Medes had diverted the Euphrates River which flowed beneath the walls of the city. Once the channel was dry they had easy access to the heart of the city, and rapidly took control (Dan 5:30,31). The success of the Medes' invasion is foretold in 50:25-32.
The name of Babylon's last king, Bel-Shazzar, means "Bel, protect the king." But Bel, like all other false gods, could not stand before the LORD (cp. Jer 50:2; 51:44).
Israel's Redeemer deals with those who oppress His people. (50:33,34)
IV. Description of Babylon's overthrow, and its reason: For Israel hath not been forsaken of his God, 50:35- 51:5
The overwhelming defeat of Babylon, by means of...
a sword upon her people, princes.... (50:35-37)
her wise men would become liars {ie., devoid of truth} and they shall dote {ie., become foolish}...
her mighty men would be dismayed {ie., shattered, broken}.
her army and its weapons would be weak ('as women') and ineffective against her enemies.
her treasures would be robbed by the invaders.
a drought upon her waters (50:38) - perhaps a reference to the diversion of the river,
by which the Medes gained entrance into the city.
a complete destruction, like that of Sodom and Gomorrah (50:39,40).
The original city remains in ruins to this day. Portions have been rebuilt as historic monuments, but not for human habitation.
However, more complete destruction may await fulfillment in the latter days.
an irresistable enemy (50:41)-
cruel and powerful (50:41,42)
causing the cruel and powerful of Babylon to cringe in fear (50:43)
an irrefutable purpose (50:44-46)-
Nothing and no one can overturn the counsel of the LORD against Babylon.
a destroying wind (51:1-4)- as Babylon had once been to Israel (4:11-13)
The faithfulness of the LORD to Israel (51:5)...
Though their land was filled with 'sin' {ie., trespass, or, reward for trespass} against Him, He remained faithful to them.
Though He allowed severe punishment to befall them, He had not forsaken them.
V. Futility of Babylon's resources, the sufficiency of Israel's Portion, 51:6-19
Those who believe God's Word will heed His warning to escape the judgment which will fall upon Babylon. The first application is to the fall of Babylon, at the hands of the Medes and Persians. However, as the references above indicate, the warning echoes down through the centuries, with foreshadowings of the fall of Babylon the Great, in the Day of the LORD.
The insanity of the nations who partake of Babylon's errors (51:7; Rev 17:1-4; 18:3)
Babylon's fall is certain (51:8; Rev 14:8; 18:2) in spite of futile measures to prevent collapse...
international attempts to heal her ills (51:9)- Even God's people cannot change the godless world.
Instead, their job is to proclaim the work of God in judgment and for salvation (51:10).
military preparations against invasion (51:11,12); cp. Rev 19:19
misplaced confidence in populism (51:13a) -
In the near view, 'many waters' might refer to the river which flowed through the city of Babylon.
However, in Rev 17:15, the waters are identified as the "peoples... multitudes... nations, and tongues," upon which the system called 'mystery Babylon' sits.
misplaced confidence in materialism: trade and wealth (51:13b)-
"abundant in treasures... thine end is come... the measure {the limit} of thy covetousness..." (cp. Rev 18:9-19).
misplaced confidence in false spirituality: false gods (51:14-18)-
"They are vanity {emptiness, nothing}, the work of errors {delusions}" (Psa 115:4-8).
No man-made power, whether spiritual or technological, can thwart the purposes of the LORD {the One who Is, and was, and ever more shall be}, who created all things by His Word. He is...
The God of Israel is the living God, the Creator of all things.
From Him, Israel sprouted, as the 'rod of His inheritance.'
He will deal with Israel's enemies.
VI. Vengeance upon Babylon, by the LORD's battle axe, 51:20-58
Although Babylon had been used of the LORD (as His 'hammer,' 50:23), in judging other nations,
the LORD would now judge them, destroying their exalted position and power by means of His 'battle axe,' the Medo-Persian empire (51:11,20-25).
Their judgment would be complete.
Not a stone would be salvaged (51:26), regardless of how high or strong they built their wall (51:53). The wall of Babylon was 300 feet tall, 90 feet wide at its top, and sixty miles in circumferance. It boasted huge brazen gates and hundreds of towers for defense. Yet, all of their preparations would prove futile, whether they labored to lift rock for the walls, or at the smelter's fires to build gates of brass (51:58). Their drunken feast would be terminated in the sleep of death (51:38-40; Dan 5:1-6,30-31), when the Medes suddenly swarmed in, surprising the defenders, filling the passage ways of the city, taking the city from all sides, before word of the invasion could reach the commanders (51:30-32).
Sheshach {another name for Babylon} would be taken by surprise, and get what she deserved (51:37-45; Jer 25:26,27).
The Lord will avenge His people and His city (51:35-36,46-58)
VII. The Time and Certainty of the Prophecy, 51:59-64
This prophecy was given in the fourth year of Zedekiah (51:59), seven years before the fall of Jerusalem.
The occasion was Zedekiah's journey to Babylon, perhaps to reconfirm his allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar.
The messenger was Seraiah, the son of Neriah (and therefore, a brother of Baruch, 45:1), a prince who accompanied the king on his journey.
His instructions were to read the prophecy against Babylon (ie., ch. 50-51), and then cast it into the Euphrates River (51:61-64).
The Word of God is sure...
though read by a 'quiet prince,' without fanfare or forceful oration.
though swallowed up and forgotten in the overflowing flood of the Times of the Gentiles.
The sudden sinking of the scroll illustrates the sudden and complete fulfillment of God's Word regarding the final fall of Babylon (cp. Rev 18:21-24).