14 Who Is Behind All The Chaos In The World?

"Shining morning star, how you have fallen from the heavens! You destroyer of nations, you have been cut down to the ground." Isaiah 14:12

Main Idea: This chapter deals with the fall of "the king of " with soaring language that depicts Satan's fall, the great evil behind every evil throne.

1. The Power behind the evil thrones of the world. • Verse 12-15 goes beyond what we would expect regarding a human dictator.

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O , son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!” Isaiah 14:12 (KJV)

• The Latin word "Lucifer" means "light-bearer." • His ambition is relentless. He wants to be like God. • Verses 13-14, five "I will statements."

"So behind any human "King of Babylon" we must see the 'puppet master' Satan, who invisibly dominates world history by controlling the tyrants who do his bidding." —Andrew Davis

“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4

“In which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—" Ephesians 2:2

2. The Power above every throne. • The tone of Isaiah 14 is an unbridled celebration because of the victory of God's people through His redemptive love and sovereign power.

“That struck the peoples in wrath with unceasing blows, that ruled the nations in anger with unrelenting persecution.” Isaiah 14:6

“The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of rulers,” Isaiah 14:5

“But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.” Isaiah 14:15

“This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations.” Isaiah 14:26

3. God's Sovereign Plan: The Eternal Joy of His People

“For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?” Isaiah 14:27

• God will is God's people in their land and ruling over their oppressors in power. “For the LORD will have compassion on and will again choose , and will set them in their own land, and sojourners will join them and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob. And the peoples will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them in the LORD'S land as male and female slaves. They will take captive those who were their captors, and rule over those who oppressed them.” Isaiah 14:1-2

“And if you are Christ's, then you are 's offspring, heirs according to promise.” Galatians 3:29

• No tyrant is strong than death.

“For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’” Acts 17:28

• The evil one will not escape God's final judgment.

“And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Revelation 20:10

Questions for Further Reflection:

1. How does the evil one, Satan, act through evil leaders who do his bidding? 2. After reading Isaiah 14, read . What are the similarities between the passages?

Notes adapted from “Exalting in Isaiah, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary” by Andrew M. Davis, Ph.D.