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2 Kings 16:19-20; 2 Chronicles 28:26-27; Isaiah 13:1-16:14<\/strong><\/span> HALF-WAY<\/strong> \u2013 Big news! We cross the halfway threshold in our Chronological Bible readings today! Whoo-hoo! Yep, June 30th marks the end of our first 6 months of readings and July 1st marks the beginning of our final 6 months of readings. Congratulations!<\/span><\/p>\n If by chance you\u2019ve stopped reading the Chronological Bible at some point this past six months, how about starting back up with us again as we embark on our final six months? We\u2019d love to have you on the journey with us once again! Let\u2019s go!<\/span><\/p>\n In Isaiah chapter 13 we are beginning a new section of the book.\u00a0 Chapters 1 through 12 were primarily chapters of judgment against the southern kingdom of Judah, as well as some mentions of the northern kingdom of Israel.\u00a0 Chapter 13 begins 11 chapters of judgment on other nations, beginning with Babylon.\u00a0 At this time in history (early 700\u2019s B.C.) Babylon was still part of the Assyrian empire.\u00a0 So this oracle from Isaiah was incredible in that it spoke of Babylon\u2019s destruction even before Babylon became a world power!\u00a0 Babylon brought about the downfall of Judah and Jerusalem later between the years of 605 and 586 B.C.\u00a0 \u00a0But then Babylon would be conquered by Cyrus the Persian in 539 B.C.\u00a0 Below is a map of the Babylonian empire from the late 7th \/ early 6th centuries B.C.\u00a0 You\u2019ll note in this map below that the actual city of Babylon is located in modern day Iraq, about 90 kilometers south of Baghdad. <\/span><\/p>\n An interesting commentary I read on chapter 14 verses 12 through 15 is that some think Isaiah is giving a description of the fall of Satan from heaven in these verses.\u00a0 However, most commentaries seem to say contextually that these verses are about the king of Babylon.\u00a0 I do see how some could think that these 4 verses could apply to the fall of Satan \u2013 \u201c\u201dHow you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. For you said to yourself, `I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God\u2019s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.\u2019 But instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead, down to its lowest depths.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Below is an engraving titled \u201cSatan Falls\u201d by the artist Gustave Dore:<\/span><\/p>\n In Isaiah we will read many prophecies against cities and kingdoms. I realize these can be tough to read in some ways.\u00a0 As you read these prophecies, consider why these prophecies were written. Why were these prophecies proclaimed by Isaiah?\u00a0 \u00a0Bible.org\u2019s excellent commentary on this section of the book of Isaiah titled \u201cThe Burdens Upon the Nations\u201d <\/strong>is worth spending a few minutes reading <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Today we read in Isaiah chapter 15 a message against Moab, or the Moabites!\u00a0 Now, the big question for each of us is how many sermons in your life have you ever heard that touch on the Moabites??\u00a0 I recall I heard a sermon years ago about the Moabites from <\/span>Numbers 22 through 25<\/span>, where the Moabites were first fearful of Israel (Num. 22) because of their size, and they realized they could not defeat them in open warfare.\u00a0 So, they tried to get Balaam to curse the Israelites (Num 23 & 24), but Balaam wouldn\u2019t do it because God was giving him messages of blessings upon the Israelites!\u00a0 So, finally the Moabites decide to simply seduce the Israelites (Num 25) into worshiping their gods and this strategy worked!\u00a0 To the point where God ended up killing 24,000 Israelites with a plague (Num 25:9) because of their disobedience!\u00a0 A very bright map that shows where Moab is located in comparison to Judah and Israel is below:<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong> Today\u2019s readings reminded me of Sidewalk Prophets \u201cYou Love Me Anyway:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \n
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