Isaiah 14

Isaiah 14:1

14:1, 2 The LORD in His mercy will restore Israel to their own land. Gentile nations will assist in the return and live peacefully with God’s people. Israel’s former overlords will be her servants. Jacob and the house of Israel represent the Jews in captivity in Babylon. The Lord’s choosing them means His delivering them from the country of captivity and settling them back in their own land. Those strangers who clung to the house of Jacob are the proselytes from Babylon. The people that bring them to their place would consist of the favorable backing of Cyrus and others who helped the Jews in their return. 14:3-11 Free from persecution and hard bondage, Israel will sing a taunt song against the king of Babylon. The LORD has broken his power and ended his tyranny. Now the earth rejoiceseven the forests, which will no longer be denuded by his armies. Peace at last! Sheol’s inhabitants are there to greet him, delighted that he too has been stripped of power. The pomp and pageantry of Babylon’s king has passed away. The palace music is ended. He sleeps on a sheet of maggots, and is covered by a blanket of worms. 14:12-17 As the taunt song continues, the theme seems to expand from the fall of the king of Babylon to the fall of the one who energized him, Satan (Lucifer) himself. Ryrie writes that this is “evidently a reference to Satan, because of Christ’s similar description (Luk_10:18) and because of the inappropriateness of the expressions of Isa_14:13-14 on the lips of any but Satan (cf. 1Ti_3:6).” Because this Day Star, son of the morning, proudly asserted his will above the will of God, he was cast out of heaven. Verses 13, 14 record the notorious “I will’s” of Satan in his defiance of God. Eventually he will be consigned to Sheol, an object of astonishment. The denizens of Sheol will marvel that one who exercised such power has been brought so low. 14:18-21 Returning to the king of Babylon, the song mentions that while most kings lie in magnificent tombs, he is denied a decent burial. He will have no monument, and the royal line (his children) will be cut off. 14:22, 23 The city of Babylon will be depopulated and swept clean by the broom of God.

Isaiah 14:24

2. Judgment on Assyria (14:24-27)The subject now switches to the destruction of the Assyrian, which had dominion over Babylon at this time. The armies of Assyria will be crushed on the mountains of Israel. The complete fulfillment of this prophecy will be in the Tribulation period when the king of the North is defeated as he attempts to sweep down over Immanuel’s land.

Isaiah 14:28

3. Judgment on Philistia (14:28-32)14:28-31 Philistia should not rejoice in the death of Ahaz, the grandson (here called rod) of Uzziah, who had struck the Philistines (2Ch_26:6-7). Another descendant, Hezekiah, would attack them like a viper and a fiery flying serpent (see 2Ki_18:8). Then God’s poor and needy would be safe, but the Lord would visit the Philistines with famine and slay the survivors. The invading Assyrians would come from the North like a cloud of smoke. However, God’s people would be safe in Jerusalem. 14:32 If any Gentile couriers ask what is going on, they will be told that the LORD is fulfilling His promises to Zion, and protecting the inhabitants of Jerusalem.