Even superpowers will be destroyed. Isaiah explains that Babylon will be brought to its knees. But the elderly will be saved as they trust in Him.
Isaiah 46: The Idols of Babylon and the One True God
1 Bel bows down; Nebo stoops; their idols are on beasts and livestock; these things you carry are borne as burdens on weary beasts.
2 They stoop; they bow down together; they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity.
3 "Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb;
4 even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.
5 "To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike?
6 Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship!
7 They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries to it, it does not answer or save him from his trouble.
8 "Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors,
9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me,
10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,'
11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.
12 "Listen to me, you stubborn of heart, you who are far from righteousness:
13 I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off, and my salvation will not delay; I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory."
Isaiah 47: The Humiliation of Babylon
1 Come down and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans! For you shall no more be called tender and delicate.
2 Take the millstones and grind flour, put off your veil, strip off your robe, uncover your legs, pass through the rivers.
3 Your nakedness shall be uncovered, and your disgrace shall be seen. I will take vengeance, and I will spare no one.
4 Our Redeemer---the LORD of hosts is his name--- is the Holy One of Israel.
5 Sit in silence, and go into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans; for you shall no more be called the mistress of kingdoms.
6 I was angry with my people; I profaned my heritage; I gave them into your hand; you showed them no mercy; on the aged you made your yoke exceedingly heavy.
7 You said, "I shall be mistress forever," so that you did not lay these things to heart or remember their end.
8 Now therefore hear this, you lover of pleasures, who sit securely, who say in your heart, "I am, and there is no one besides me; I shall not sit as a widow or know the loss of children":
9 These two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day; the loss of children and widowhood shall come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the great power of your enchantments.
10 You felt secure in your wickedness, you said, "No one sees me"; your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, and you said in your heart, "I am, and there is no one besides me."
11 But evil shall come upon you, which you will not know how to charm away; disaster shall fall upon you, for which you will not be able to atone; and ruin shall come upon you suddenly, of which you know nothing.
12 Stand fast in your enchantments and your many sorceries, with which you have labored from your youth; perhaps you may be able to succeed; perhaps you may inspire terror.
13 You are wearied with your many counsels; let them stand forth and save you, those who divide the heavens, who gaze at the stars, who at the new moons make known what shall come upon you.
14 Behold, they are like stubble; the fire consumes them; they cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame. No coal for warming oneself is this, no fire to sit before!
15 Such to you are those with whom you have labored, who have done business with you from your youth; they wander about, each in his own direction; there is no one to save you.
Things to think about…
1. Isaiah 46 is a wonderful declaration that the Lord has the care of His people in mind. Isaiah mentions the gods of Babylon, Bel and Nebo. They cannot be supported, vss 1, 2; they also will go into captivity. They cannot save and they cannot be saved. Why? Because the house of Jacob and Israel alone will the Lord will carry and save, vss 3, 4. Isaiah says idols, no matter how expensive to make with gold and silver, vs 5, are not God, there is none like Him, vs 6. His counsel stands. He knows the beginning and the end.
2. God calls the animals to His purpose as well as a human instrument to do His pre purposed will, Isa 46:11. The Lord does this to save Israel for no other purpose aside from His glory, vs 13. Why would anyone then go against the Lord’s will. Surely it is futile to do so and yet people take this path every day. Blind, stupid, ignorant fools. There are no other descriptors that suffice. Anyone who fights against the Lord is unsound in both mind and heart.
3. Hezekiah had shown everything to the Babylonian envoys in Isa 39. As such Babylon would come and carry all the wealth of Judah away. But here in Isa 47 we see Babylon will also be uncovered. Her nakedness will be exposed, Isa 47:2,3. Why? Because the Lord is the God of Israel, vs 4. Therefore Babylon will no longer be exalted, vs 5. We know that ancient Babylon is a type for the Babylon that will come at the end of the age. This new Babylon will be a corrupt world system that will rule over the end times nations. It will control the flow of wealth. We know however that this wealth and financial system will crumble within an hour, Rev 18: 10, 17.
4. Isaiah says of this of ancient Babylon, that “These two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day; the loss of children and widowhood shall come upon you in full measure”, Isa 47:9. When the Persians overtook Babylon it was in a night. Daniel prophesied it to be the case with the writing on the wall, Dan 5:10-19. Ruin came upon them in a moment, vs11, though they looked to the stars for guidance, vs 14, no one would do business with them, there were none to save, vs 15. Ancient Babylon still sits lonely and abandoned even today. It is a perpetual sign of what the end times Babylon, the world system will be like after it also is judged. It will be swallowed up forever. Christ’s kingdom is the One that although it came in weakness at Christ’s first coming, it will be established in power at His second coming.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Life groups Wednesdays. Ric Benson group will be on break for the next 2 weeks of holidays.
Pastor Jay has started the young adult’s life group after Sunday mornings café time. On break over the holiday period.
Prayer Points
1. Pray for all the new people and contacts over Easter. Some people had never been to church. Pray for them that they continue to see Christ.
2. Conflict in Israel and Ukraine.
3. Those who are travelling over Easter and holiday period. Many people have already lost lives on Qld roads this year.
4. Those who are considering baptism.
5. Church finances to cover all expenses.
6. Pray for of Kids@Church, Life groups and church community days.
7. Mathys has a prayer time at church on Monday afternoons. He would be happy for you to join him and to send prayer requests.
8. That we be bold in our witnessing for Christ. Pray for a heart to see those around you to be saved. Pray for the blessing over the new pastoral care and hosting program.
9. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Wonderful time of reflection over good Friday and a real spirit of celebration at our Easter Sunday service
2. Praise the Lord for plenty of visitors Easter Sunday.
3. Continue to pray for Tad to gain strength at home. Good to see him at church yesterday. Continue to pray for Glenys as she now has a splint to gain full use in her left arm. Any encouragement you can give will be greatly appreciated.
4. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. All Life Groups Wednesday on holidays for 2 weeks.
2. Kids@Church on break over the school holidays.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
4. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for April...
Q. 19. Do you have a soul as well as a body? A. Yes; I have a soul that can never die.
