The Judge of Judgment

Isaiah 47 is a declaration of war against Babylon. The very agent God used to humble His people through exile in order to discipline them is now also the nation God will judge for their abominations. The Lord God is the judge of the judgment. 

Isaiah 47:1 (ESV) Come down and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans! For you shall no more be called tender and delicate.

God calls on Babylon to sit in the dust, off the throne it once resided. Though Babylon looked formidable, it was ultimately under the authority of the Lord. How does God judge this once proud nation? By exposing them to the world.

Isaiah 47:2–3 (ESV) Take the millstones and grind flour, put off your veil, strip off your robe, uncover your legs, pass through the rivers. 3 Your nakedness shall be uncovered, and your disgrace shall be seen. I will take vengeance, and I will spare no one.

Then Isaiah declares who is God. 

Isaiah 47:4 (ESV) Our Redeemer—the LORD of hosts is his name— is the Holy One of Israel.

It's amazing to think of God as Redeemer here. For Israel had been judged and sent away. But God brings them back. Again and again, this action takes place from the Lord for His people. They stray but He comes and gets them. Even in earth-shattering events wherein they lose their land and rights and freedom, God is drawing them back to Himself. 

Isaiah 47:6–7 (ESV) I was angry with my people; I profaned my heritage; I gave them into your hand; you showed them no mercy; on the aged you made your yoke exceedingly heavy. 7 You said, “I shall be mistress forever,” so that you did not lay these things to heart or remember their end.

God lets them know they were a tool in His hand. What Babylon did, God allowed. But they went to far. And God takes special notice of their treatment of the aged. In spite of the glory of Babylon, they were simply a vessel of God's judgment. And the Lord is the judge of them. 

Notice the pomp of Babylon that generated because of their success which God allowed:

Isaiah 47:10 (ESV) You felt secure in your wickedness; you said, “No one sees me”; your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, and you said in your heart, “I am, and there is no one besides me.”

Babylon's judgment will be the judgment of the nations. The superpowers of our world can fall into the same trap as these ancient people - thinking their wickedness is hidden and their wisdom and knowledge will keep them. But God says (as Romans 1 concurs) that man's wisdom and knowledge become an idol that leads to pride and ultimately demise. 

The pride of Babylon's power led them to incantations and astrology. God condemns them for this.

Isaiah 47:12–13 (ESV) Stand fast in your enchantments and your many sorceries, with which you have labored from your youth; perhaps you may be able to succeed; perhaps you may inspire terror. 13 You are wearied with your many counsels; let them stand forth and save you, those who divide the heavens, who gaze at the stars, who at the new moons make known what shall come upon you.

Amazing to see how history roadmaps the demise of a great civilization. This story has played out before. Just as ancient Babylon did so too history finds many nations that took the road to destruction. They despise the elderly, they hide their sins, and they boast of their knowledge as God tears them down. Then they turn to sorceries and drug use - finally deteriorating to a shell of their former glory. Do we not see these same realities in our world as America seems so proud of herself but teeters now on the brink of self-induced collapse? 

Have we forgotten the judge of the judgment?

I pray we will awake and return to Him. Lord, bring us back.