The oracle concerning fBabylon which gIsaiah the son of Amoz saw.
2 On a bare hill hraise a signal; cry aloud to them; wave the hand for ithem 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.1
4 The sound jof a tumult is on the mountains as of a great multitude! The sound of an uproar of kingdoms, of nations gathering together!
LOkThe RD of hosts is mustering a host for battle.
5 lThey come from a distant land, from the end of the heavens, the LORD and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.2
6 mWail, for nthe day of the LORD is near; as destruction from the Almighty3 it will come!
7 Therefore all hands will be feeble, and every human heart owill melt.
8 They will be dismayed: ppangs and agony will seize them; qthey will be in anguish like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at one another;
their faces will be aflame.
9 Behold, nthe day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger,
to make the land a desolation and rto destroy its sinners from it.
10 sFor the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light;
tthe sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light.
11 I will punish uthe world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity;
I will vput an end to the pomp of the arrogant, wand lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.
12 I will make xpeople more rare than fine gold, and mankind than the ygold of Ophir.
13 Therefore zI will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place,
at the wrath of the LORD of hosts in the day of his fierce anger.
14 And like a hunted gazelle, or like sheep with none to gather them,
aeach will turn to his own people, and each will flee to his own land.
15 Whoever is found will be thrust through, and whoever is caught will fall by the sword.
16 bTheir infants will be dashed in pieces before their eyes; their houses will be plundered and their wives ravished.
17 Behold, cI am stirring up the Medes against them, who have no regard for silver
and do not delight in gold.
18 dTheir bows will slaughter4 the young men; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; their eyes will not pity children.
19 And Babylon, ethe glory of kingdoms, the splendor and pomp of the Chaldeans,
will be flike Sodom and Gomorrah when God overthrew them.
20 gIt will never be inhabited or lived in for all generations; no hArab will pitch his tent there; no ishepherds will make their flocks lie down there.
21 But jwild animals will lie down there, and their houses will be full of howling creatures; there kostriches5 will dwell,
and there wild goats will dance.
22 Hyenas6 will cry in its towers, and ljackals in mthe pleasant palaces;
its time is close at hand and its days will not be prolonged.
Things to think about…
In Isaiah 13 Babylon’s fall is prophesied. Babylon would destroy Jerusalem, but a time was coming when Babylon would also be destroyed and be under the judging hand of the Lord. This occurred in 539BC by the Medo-Persian empire, Isa 13:17. This would ultimately bring about the restoration of Jerusalem under king Cyrus who Isaiah would go on to prophecy about in Isa 44, 45.
While this is a prophesy regarding the fall of Babylon, Isa 13:9ff there seems to be a more global response. Isaiah refers to the “Day of the Lord”. The stars, sun and moon are mentioned, vs 10 as well as judgement coming upon the whole world vs 11. We know in Rev 19 there is also a judgement on the global system and Babylon is represented as the city where there are abominations committed that will be judged. This chapter alludes to that final judgment which is more than regional but global.
The final judgement will be so horrific that the will be very few members of humanity left as is described in Isa 13:12. The end of days on the earth will see humanity disregarded, vss 13-15 where even babies and women will be afforded no mercy, vs 16.
In Isa 13:17-22 we go back to the picture of ancient Babylon. Babylon was never to be inhabited again. Saddam Hussein rebuilt the city in 1987. But was removed from power by the Americans in the Iraq war 2003. Babylon continues to remain vacant testifying to Isaiah’s words, vss 19-22.
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.
Cell groups on break.
Prayer Points
1. Our Lord’s blessing over this year’s programs and outreach.
2. Victorian parliament discussing gay conversion therapy, antichristian bill next month.
3. America. Pray for truth, grace and peace. Especially the next day or so.
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. The 2 positions:- Youth and Young Adults Coordinator and Children’s Coordinator we are recruiting for in 2021.
Praise Points.
1. Able to stream with the lockdown. Thanks Rin
2. First Café roof drawings have been completed.
3. All those who served in 2020 – Especially Dan Anderson, Helen and Steve Hawkins , Angelo, Rod and muso’s, Murray Aitchison, Yuki and many, many others. Thankyou. The elders and their families have been a great support to me this last year.
4. Unity, peace and grace at CBC.
5. Visitors over the holiday period.
Announcements
1. Must wear a mask to church and during church service this Sunday morning.
2. Combined church prayer meeting. Beacon Baptist Sun 31stJan 5pm Beacon Baptist Church, Brassall.
3. Please consider signing the petition to continue prayer in Qld parliament so that we stem the tide of influences that are currently overtaking the Victorian Parliament. Petition link here - https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/.../petition-details...
4. Seeking Youth and Young Adults Coordinator – 2 days per week as well as a Children’s ministry Coordinator – 1 day per week.
5. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
