Even superpowers will be destroyed. Isaiah explains that Babylon will be brought to its knees.
Isaiah 46: The Idols of Babylon and the One True God
1 Bel bows down; Nebo stoops; their idols are on beasts and livestock; these things you carry are borne as burdens on weary beasts.
2 They stoop; they bow down together; they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity.
3 "Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb;
4 even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.
5 "To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike?
6 Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship!
7 They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries to it, it does not answer or save him from his trouble.
8 "Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors,
9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me,
10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,'
11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.
12 "Listen to me, you stubborn of heart, you who are far from righteousness:
13 I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off, and my salvation will not delay; I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory."
Isaiah 47: The Humiliation of Babylon
1 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.
2 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.
4 Our Redeemer---the LORD of hosts is his name--- is the Holy One of Israel.
5 Sit in silence, and go into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans; for you shall no more be called the mistress of kingdoms.
6 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.
8 Now therefore hear this, you lover of pleasures, who sit securely, who say in your heart, "I am, and there is no one besides me; I shall not sit as a widow or know the loss of children":
9 These two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day; the loss of children and widowhood shall come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the great power of your enchantments.
10 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."
11 But evil shall come upon you, which you will not know how to charm away; disaster shall fall upon you, for which you will not be able to atone; and ruin shall come upon you suddenly, of which you know nothing.
12 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.
14 Behold, they are like stubble; the fire consumes them; they cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame. No coal for warming oneself is this, no fire to sit before!
15 Such to you are those with whom you have labored, who have done business with you from your youth; they wander about, each in his own direction; there is no one to save you.
Things to think about…
Isaiah 46 is a wonderful declaration that the Lord has the care of His people in mind. Isaiah mentions the gods of Babylon, Bel and Nebo. They cannot be supported, vs 1, 2; they also will go into captivity. They cannot be saved. Why? Because the house of Jacob and Israel the Lord will carry and save, vss 3, 4. Isaiah says idols, no matter how expensive to make with gold and silver, vs 5, are not God, there is none like Him, vs 6. His counsel stands. He knows the beginning and the end. God calls the animals to His purpose as well as a human instrument to do His pre purposed will, Isa 46:11. The Lord does this to save Israel for no other purpose aside from His glory, vs 13. Why would anyone then go against the Lord’s will. Surely it is futile to do so and yet people do it every day. Blind, stupid, ignorant fools. There are no other descriptors that suffice. Anyone who fights against the Lord is unsound in both mind and heart.
Hezekiah had shown everything to the Babylonian envoys in Isa 39. As such Babylon would come and carry all the wealth of Judah away. But here in Isa 47 we see Babylon will be uncovered, her nakedness will be exposed, Isa 47:2,3. Why? Because the Lord is the God of Israel, vs 4. Therefore Babylon will no longer be exalted, vs 5. We know that ancient Babylon os a type for the Babylon that will come at the end of the age. This new Babylon will be a corrupt world system that will rule over the end times nations. It will control the flow of wealth, but we know its wealth and the financial system will crumble within an hour, Rev 18: 10, 17. Isaiah says of this ancient Babylon that “These two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day; the loss of children and widowhood shall come upon you in full measure”, Isa 47:9. When the Persians overtook Babylon it was in a night. Daniel prophesied it to be the case with the writing on the wall, Dan 5:10-19. Ruin came upon them, vs11, though they looked to the stars for guidance, vs 14, no one would do business with them, there is none to save, vs 15. Ancient Babylon still sits lonely and abandoned even today. It is a perpetual sign of what the end times Babylon, the world system will be like after it also is judged. It will be swallowed up forever. Christ’s kingdom is the One that although it came in weakness at Christ’s first coming, it will be established in power at His second coming.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
For Cell Groups.
Reading was from Isaiah 35 Title “The best of returns”
1. Israel is described in this chapter as a land that will blossom abundantly, vss 1, 2 and will be a place where there are streams in the desert and will be well watered, vss 6,7. Israel is a dry land at present. Discuss when and how is this abundance is going to occur?
2. Isaiah speaks of the “Way of Holiness”, Isa 35:8 and the unclean will not pass over it. What does Isiah mean here?
3. Isaiah speaks of a time when the ransomed of the Lord shall return, Isa 35:9, 10. The ancient Jews knew what return was by their return from slavery in Egypt. But this would be a different return. What return is meant here? See also Rom 11:26.
4. Pray for each other, our church and the prayer points.
Prayer Points
1. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
2. New families as they settle into church.
4. Church finances to meet our expenses and to put a roof over our café.
5. Our City and Country – Pray for revival over our city and the leadership of our country even through these challenging times.
6. Position:- Youth and Young Adults Coordinator. Recharge started back last week.
7. Sunday’s message “There’s a comforting thought” – Isa 40 – Jay.
Praise Points.
1. Praise the Lord for all the kids going to Sunday School. Thankyou Maddison.
2. More new folk joining CBC – Praise God.
3. First Café roof drawings have been completed.
3. Great start to Kids@church.
4. Unity, peace and grace at CBC.
5. Visitors over the holiday period.
Announcements
1. Members meeting Sunday 28th Feb after the morning service.
2. Seeking Youth and Young Adults Coordinator – 2 days per week.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
