Isaiah 21 pronounces condemnation of Babylon, Edom, and Arabia. While the LORD used Babylon to carry out His judgment against Israel, the time was coming for Babylon to be judged. They were never righteous, and the time was coming for their destruction. They worshiped idols, and took the idols of the nations they conquered to Babylon, where they were added to the collection. Yet, when the time came, all the idols would be broken, because the one, true God is not an idol.
Isaiah returns to Jerusalem as his focus in Isaiah 22. He pronounces judgment against the city and its people, because instead of turning to the LORD for their deliverance and protection, they turned to their own means. This is such a vital reminder to us: We are not to put our own wisdom and plans above the LORD’s. We are most certainly called to do what we can do in life, and the LORD will do what we can’t, but before we do anything, we are to call on the LORD for His instruction. Isaiah, also called out one individual, Shebna, the palace administrator, for special judgment. While God judges His people as a group in this chapter, He also calls one who led the people astray to personal accountability. Each of us is responsible to the LORD for our actions as well.
Isaiah 23 condemns Tyre and Sidon. Both were economic centers known for their immorality. The LORD tells them they will be destroyed, and then rebuilt and then destroyed again. When any nation, community, or person determines to reject the LORD and His ways, the end is destruction. We see this time and time again as we read through Isaiah. The LORD is a just and holy God, who does not respond well to being ignored, mocked, or actively rebelled against.
As we return to Mark 13, let’s focus on one statement in it. When Jesus and the disciples were leaving the Temple one of them said, “Look, Teacher! What wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” Jesus answer is powerful: “Do you see all these great buildings? Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” Jesus made that statement in about 30 AD. Forty years later, exactly what Jesus predicted happened. The Romans destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem, but they didn’t stop with destroying it. They took every stone of the Temple and threw it over the side of the Temple Mount. I saw a portion of the pile of “stones” that was thrown over the side during my recent trip to Israel. They were huge cut stones, and they were nothing more than a pile of rubble. Think of the significance of what Jesus did: Forty years before the event happened, He described in detail what was going to happen. He was no less than a great prophet. He foresaw the future exactly as it would be. This adds so much credibility to our belief He is the Messiah, God’s anointed, and our Savior and Lord. I can’t tell you the profound impact seeing that pile of stones had on me. I have always believed Jesus is the Son of God, and the Savior of sinners like me. But as I stood and looked at those stones, I realized the historicity of the man who is my Savior and yours–I pray. As we read these accounts, we are reading reliable testimonies from those who were there, or those who interviewed those who were there. While it will always take faith to believe Jesus is the Son of God, the evidence for His being who He said He was is significant!