God's Tools for Judgment May Shock You

It's one thing to talk about the judgment of God coming upon His people. Its an entirely different manner when that judgment comes in the form of the worst kingdom imaginable. 

Isaiah 13 opens with shocking language from God concerning the tool in His hand of judgment against Israel, the pagan idolatrous nation of Babylon.

Isaiah 13:1–3 (ESV) The oracle concerning Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw. 2 On a bare hill raise a signal; cry aloud to them; wave the hand for them to enter the gates of the nobles. 3 I myself have commanded my consecrated ones, and have summoned my mighty men to execute my anger, my proudly exulting ones.

Notice the word, "consecrated". The word is "qadash" in Hebrew which refers to set apart or "holy." It's used in Genesis 2:3 to refer to the Sabbath day as "holy." It refers to the firstborn of Israel in Exodus 13:2. All throughout the Law it refers to objects and people set apart for God's purposes. And here Isaiah uses that term to illustrate Babylon!

Wow. 

This kind of shatters what you imagine when you think of holiness, doesn't it? Holiness is a designation, not a moral improvement. Yes, moral improvement may result, but it is not the definition of holiness. Holiness happens when we are used by God. And sometimes to be used for God, He has to use other things to chisel away the things that do not glorify Him in us.

Isaiah 13:5 (ESV) They come from a distant land, from the end of the heavens, the LORD and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.

Isaiah wants to be clear. God is doing this. He will use one nation to punish His own people. Later in the chapter, Isaiah tells what sin the Lord is dealing with specifically. As usual, downfalls begin with pride.

Isaiah 13:11 (ESV) I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.

Then, suddenly in verse 17, the chapter lists another tool in God's arsenal. One that can barely be considered a relevant threat at this time. 

Isaiah 13:17 (ESV) Behold, I am stirring up the Medes against them, who have no regard for silver and do not delight in gold.

Isaiah 13:19 (ESV) And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the splendor and pomp of the Chaldeans, will be like Sodom and Gomorrah when God overthrew them.

It would take a few decades, but the Medes would bring destruction on Babylon. Just as Babylon was His holy tool to judge Judah, the Medes will be His tool to judge Babylon. Even more, the destruction of Babylon will be complete and forever. 

Isaiah 13:20–21 (ESV) It will never be inhabited or lived in for all generations; no Arab will pitch his tent there; no shepherds will make their flocks lie down there. 21 But wild animals will lie down there, and their houses will be full of howling creatures; there ostriches will dwell, and there wild goats will dance.

For sure, the spirit of Babylon is alive and well and often described toward the end of the New Testament. But the nation is long gone and the area is indeed an uninhabited wasteland today. 

Here's the key difference between God's judgment of His own people and His judgment of outsiders. When God judges His people it is to purify and restore them to righteous living. When God judges outsiders it is to wipe them out. 

Isaiah 13 makes one thing clear. God is in total control of the nations. He rules even those foreign and godless leaders and nations that we think are "getting away" with sin and wickedness. He will, in concern for the character of those who bear His name, use the pagans to make His children pure. He will do this because we are made to reflect Him.