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9/10/00 b) Daniel himself was given a pagan name identified with their god, Isiah 46-48 Belteshazzar. Dan. 1:7 c) The posture describes one of false The prophet Isaiah now deals with the punishment gods who are tottering, of Babylon for her idolatry, her pride and how * The prophet has already said that these very gods will not help the people of Judah. every knee is going to bow . Is. 45:23 This is the recurring subject of the book but and a 2) The second god is Nebo or Nabu, was the major focus of the second division of Isaiah, which son of Bel, which means “the revealer or is evident from chapter forty to the present one. speaker”, the god of writing, equivalent to the Hebrew word “Nabi”, meaning Some say that the Babylonian captivity taught the prophet. vs. 1a nation of Israel regarding idolatry but if you a) He served the same function as did examine the book of Ezra and Nehemiah, you will Hermes for the Greeks or Mercury for see that they were guilty of idolatry after the the Romans. Acts 14:12 captivity. b) He also was thought to be the bearer of the tablets of destiny of the gods”. 46:1-4 The ironic comparison between the c) The temple of Nebo stood at gods of Babylon and the Eternal God. Borshippa and the temple of Bel was at Babylon. 46:1-2 The Babylonian gods had to be d) Again the name of this god was used carried. for the kings, such as Nabopolassar, 1) The name of one of the gods of Babylon Nebuchadnezzar, Nabonidus. was Bel, who was equivalent to the 3) The indictment is that these two gods are Canaanite god Baal. vs. 1a lifeless and have to be carried about by a) Bel or Belus also called Marduk beast of burden from place to place, as means “lord” and often was used in they pull them on carts, becoming a compounds as in king’s names, such burden to the beast. vs. 1b-d as Belshazzar. 4) They could useless to the Babylonians. 3 4

a) The two could not deliver the 46:5 The personal question to His people. Babylonians from their burden. 1) To whom will you liken Me. b) The two gods could not deliver them * What will you make Me look like? from Babylon or the Babylonians 2) To what will you make Me equal to? from their captivity by Cyrus. vs. 2 * Who is My competitor. * Jer. 48:7; 49:3 3) To whom will you compare Me? * Who is Twin? 46:3-4 The Eternal God had carried Israel and would continue to do so. 46:6 Their dedicated labor is described. 1) The people are not stingy with their 46:3 God had carried His people. wealth to make gods. 1) God calls for the ear of the house of Israel 2) They weigh the gold and hire a goldsmith and the remnant. to make a god. a) The Northern kingdom was the house 3) They then prostrate themselves and in of Israel. irony say, “Yes and they worship”, b) The remnant was the few that would revealing once again the foolishness of it. return and were the true Israel. 46:7 Their devotion to their gods is 2) They had been carried from birth, even as declared. in the womb. Ex. 19:4; Deut. 32:11 1) “They bear it on the shoulder, they carry their god, meaning that their gods are 46:4 God would carry them throughout less than they. their lives. 2) “And set it in its place, and it stands”, 1) God would carry them to their old age meaning that their gods are present only 2) He made them and bore responsibility of in one place at a time. to bear them. 3) “From its place it shall not move.”, their 3) He would deliver them, through Cyrus gods can not go anywhere without from Babylon. Is. 40:25; 45:1-7 human help. 4) “Though one cries out to it, yet it cannot 46:5-7 The lack of comparison between the answer.”, their gods can not gods of Babylon and the Eternal God. communicate with them.

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5) “Nor save him out of his trouble.”, their 1) Declaring the end from the beginning, for gods are powerless to help them. He lives in an eternal present, outside the * They are powerless to hear, to speak time domain of man. vs. 10a; Is. 41:22 and they can not save! 2) Declaring things not yet done and His . counsel stands doing His pleasure, being 46:8-11 The unique ability of the Eternal in control of all things. vs. 10b-c God to foretell the future. 3) Deciding weather He uses beast of man for His purposes and plans and then bring 46:8 They were to remember their past in it to pass, revealing that He is God. vs. view of their present state. 11 1) God calls for them to show themselves as * Certainly this can apply to Assyria, men, meaning courageous, while being Cyrus, etc. cowards, unable to think like their gods. 2) God tells them to recall to their mind, 46:12-13 The promise of the Eternal God for identifying them as transgressors, being Israel’s future. in present rebellion to Him. 46:12 God addresses them again by their 46:9 They were to remember their past in present spiritual condition. view of the person of God. 1) Those who are stubborn-hearted or hard- 1) The former things of old, what God had hearted are called to listen, done, how He had done them! demonstrating the patience and steadfast 2) The fact that He was God “Elohim”, and love. vs. 12a there was no other, therefore idols were a 2) Those who were far from righteousness, mistake. living a life-style that was unloving and 3) The truth that He was God and there was godless towards their fellowman. vs. 12b none like Him, He is the only One! Is. 40:26-30 46:13 God would in spite of them bring in His righteousness. 46:10-11 They were to remember God’s unique 1) Jehovah would bring it to them in the ability to tell the future. near future. vs. 13a 7 8

2) Jehovah would bring salvation in Zion. 3) The judgment could not be averted. vs. 13b-c 3) Jehovah would do it for Israel, His glory. 47:4 The character of Jehovah in contrast. vs. 13d 1) He is Israel’s Redeemer. * Is. 40:15-17; 44;26-28 2) He is the Lord of hosts, the captain of the armies of heaven, that is His name. 47:1-7 The humiliation of Babylon. 3) He is the Holy One of Israel. * All three declare that He is on the 47:1 Babylon’s abasement. throne and reigning over all the affairs 1) She is dethroned from her exalted state of of man! power to that of a servant. 2)A virgin protected and admired, not 47:5 The sentence of Jehovah. conquered but soon to be a despised 1) She is to sit in silence in her abasement in slave girl. darkness. 3) She would no longer be called or live in 2) She would no longer be called “The Lady opulence and comfort by the phrase of Kingdoms.” “tender and delicate”. Is. 13 * Some ascribe this prophecy to 47:6-7 The cruelty of Babylon to Israel. Sennacherib rather than Cyrus but the 1) God had punished His people by giving context fits Cyrus better. them over to Babylon. vs. 6a-c 2) She showed no mercy on the elderly. vs. 47:2 Babylon’s servitude. 6d-e 1) She would work hard and degraded not 3) She boasted that she would be a lady honored, having her veil removed. forever, not considering her actions and 2) She would have to travel on foot and the future consequences. vs. 7 cross the rivers as a fugitive, shamed bearing her leg. 47:8-11 The prideful overconfidence of Babylon. 47:3 Babylon shamed. 1) Her nakedness would be uncovered. 47:8 The self-worship of Babylon. 2) God would do this. 9 10

1) They trusted in their life of leisure, 3) Their judgment will be sudden, pleasure and their own safety, so they inescapable and certain not conquered were commanded to hear. through Cyrus vs. 11 2) They thought in their hearts that they were the only important ones. 47:12-15 The power of the occult are 3) They thought they would never become a powerless. widow or know the loss of children. 47:12-13 God taunts Babylon regarding her 47:9 The coming judgment declared. prognosticators. 1) Two things would come upon them 1) She is called to stand with her suddenly by the phrase, “in a moment enchantments and sorceries which she and one day” has know form her youth. vs. 12a-b 2) The loss of children and widowhood. 2) She will perhaps be able to profit against 3) These would come upon them in their God’s prophecy and ever prevail. vs. 12c fullness, due to their sorceries and 3) She was wearied by the multitude of her abundance of enchantments. counsels of astrologers, stargazers and a) Nebuchadnezzar consulted them for monthly prognosticators, nevertheless his dream. Dan. 2:2, 10 she was to see if they could save her b) Revelation shows us that she never from the judgment to come. vs. 13 changer with her sorceries. Rev. 17- 18 47:14-15 The uselessness of her counselors. 1) They shall be as stubble in the fire unable 47:10-11 Their mistake. to deliver them. vs. 15a-e 1) They trusted in their wickedness, 2) They will be no comfort to them. vs. 15f- believing no one saw it, but God did. vs. g 10a-c * What a contrast to the people of God. 2) Their wisdom and knowledge warped Is. 40:1 their perception about themselves, their hears being absorbed with themselves. 48:1-11 The reproof of Israel by God. vs. 10d-g; Is. 14:13-14; 30:1 11 12

48:1-2 The religious facade of Israel through 1) They had heard and seen new and hidden pride. things from God. vs. 6 1) They were hear, the house of Jacob, * Jesus declared the Kingdom parables, rebellious rather than being Israel, things kept secret from the beginning. governed by God. vs. 1a-c Matt.. 13 2) They swear by God’s name. vs. 1d-e 2) They could not say that they knew them 3) They mention the God of Israel. vs. 1f already. vs. 7 4) But they do all this not in truth or in 3) Their treacherous attitude and rebellion righteousness. vs. 1g was know by God all along, it was no 5) They call themselves after the holy city. surprise. vs. 8 vs. 2a 6) The lean on the God of Israel when 48:9-11 The mercy of God towards Israel. convenient, the Captain of the armies of 1) For His own name sake He would delay heaven. vs. 2b-c His anger. vs. 9a 2) For His praise He would hold it back, so 48:3-5I The brash rebellion against God. that they not be cut off. vs. 9b 1) God declared future things and brought 3) God had refined them in discipline not so them to pass. vs. 3 much by a testing to bringing about 2) God did this know they were unbelieving. purity as silver, for they would of never vs. 4 made it. vs. 10 a) They were obstinate, hard-hearted. 4) God is self-existing, self-determining and b) Their neck was as iron unable to be acts for His own sake. vs. 11 led. a) Not allowing his name to be profaned. c) Their brow bronze, under certain b) Not giving His glory to another. judgment. 3) God prophesied so that they would not 48:12-19 The benefits Israel forfeited. attribute the credit to their false gods and idols. vs. 5 48:12-16 God summends the people to listen. 1) The call once again is for His called to 48:6-8 Their judgment was according to the listen, for He is the Eternal One, the First measure of light they had received. and the Last. vs. 12 13 14

2) The One is also the Creator of earth and 2) They were to proclaim it to all, that the heaven. vs. 13 redemption was certain form Babylon. 3) The assembly was to proclaim the defeat vs. 20d-g of Babylon through Cyrus. vs. 14 * This is the last time Babylon is 4) The Lord would be working through mentioned in Isaiah! Cyrus. vs. 15 3) The ultimate Babylon to stand will be 5) The prophet tells the people to come near utterly destroyed and god’s people in the for he had not spoken in secret but the Great-Tribulation are to flee from it also. Spirit of the Lord had sent him. vs. 16, Is. Rev. 18:4 6 48:21 The provisions of God for the new 48:17-19 God’s lamentation over His people. exodus. 1) God declares Himself as their Redeemer, 1) God provide water and guidance in the the Holy One of Israel, the Lord their first exodus. God. vs. 17a-c 2) God would do so again in the second 2) God is the One who taught them to profit, exodus. in His word and led them in the way they should go. vs, 17d-e 48:22 The nature of the life of the wicked. 3) God’s heart is grieved for their 1) The wicked have no peace, in terms of the disobedience, “Oh, that you had heeded soundness of their lives and tranquility. My commandments?’ vs. 18a-b 2) The peace “shalom” speaks of an entire 4) God reveals that they forfeited peace, wholesome abundance that is aliened and righteousness. vs 18c-d related to a person’s relationship to God. 5) God would of multiplied them instead of Phi; 4:6-7 being cut off or destroyed. vs, 19

48:20-22 The promise of deliverance.

48:20 The command to go out of Babylon. 1) They were to do it with joy. vs. 20a-c