Latest / Journey Elgin / Journey Through Scripture- Ezekiel 29-30, Isaiah 13-14, 21, 33-35 & Dan 5
Transcript
- Phillip Thomas: It's good to see you today. My name is Philip Thomas, Pastor of Journey here in Elgin, Texas, and we're continuing our journey through Scripture. whether you're listening to this on in the morning or in the evening, I hope that you've been able to follow along. You can, of course, ⁓ go back and and ⁓ go all the way back to the beginning. We have all of the ⁓ Journey through Scripture S episodes ⁓ all the way back to Genesis chapter one. And remember, we're going through in a chronological order, so therefore I we skip around a little bit. This is going to be a section where we skip around ⁓ quite often. ⁓ but ⁓ we're we're getting close to the end of the the period of exile. and what this passage is going to talk about is ⁓ how God is ⁓ he he's talking about Egypt. He's he's said that Egypt would would be punished. Well, Babylon is gonna do that. ⁓ but then Babylon is also going to be ⁓ held account to account, ⁓ even though God used them to hold Israel to account, right? But ⁓ but ultimately everyone is going to be held account for their own ⁓ misdeeds. And so we have kind of prophecy about that. And then we're gonna end with ⁓ kind of the ⁓ the end of the Babylonian Empire, ⁓ and which is gonna you know, begin to transition us to the next phase where Persia is going to take control and the people are going to begin to start going back ⁓ fairly soon ⁓ back to Jerusalem. but it's so we're gonna read ⁓ it from Ezekiel ⁓ twenty-nine and thirty today, ⁓ kind of starting in chapter ⁓ verse seventeen of Ezekiel twenty-nine, but twenty-nine and thirty of Ezekiel, and then we have just a Couple little verses from Second Kings twenty five and Jeremiah fifty two. Those are very short. That's kind of a transitions us. And then we have Isaiah thirteen and fourteen, Isaiah twenty-one, and then Isaiah thirty three through thirty five. And then we're going to end with ⁓ I'm gonna go ahead and do Daniel chapter five. Okay. These are not real long, ⁓ so we'll move through ⁓ some of this pretty quickly. But ⁓ so starting in Ezekiel chapter twenty-nine, ⁓ verses seventeen through twenty-one, ⁓ it it's talking about how ⁓ Babylon ⁓ will ⁓ go and and plunder Egypt. So Babylon, you know, came and and they ⁓ took over all of Jerusalem. Well that wasn't the only area. They their kingdom was expanding. They went to Tyre ⁓ and ⁓ and actually kind of were thwarted there. ⁓ but then they ended up going to Egypt and ⁓ it says ⁓ son of man Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, caused his army to labor strenuously against Tyre, and every head was made bald, and every shoulder rubbed raw. Now again, I I I mean I there's there's some questions we all have whenever we're gonna go and meet meet the Lord and you know that we would like answered. I just am really uncomfortable with how baldness is always associated with something negative ⁓ here in the old testament. I can't do anything about that and ⁓ unless I spent lots of money. And it would be very awkward if like next episode I showed up with a full head of hair. You would probably know that something had happened. But ⁓ but anyway, that's a constant reminder of of the difficulty that people face. So Babylon had gone bald trying to take Tyre, so that means it didn't go too well for them. ⁓ and ⁓ they they couldn't get that done. And ⁓ it continues says I have given them the land of Egypt for his labor because they work for me, says the Lord God. So so he was going to use Babylon to also bring Egypt to account. ⁓ in ⁓ chapter thirty, ⁓ it talks about Egypt and how her Egypt and her allies will fall. ⁓ Starting in verse ten, thus says the Lord God, I will ⁓ I will also make a multitude of Egypt to cease. By the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, he and his people with him, the most terrible of nations, shall be brought to destroy the land. They shall draw their swords against Egypt, shall fill the land with the slain, I will make the rivers dry. And then in verse nineteen it says, Thus I will execute judgments on Egypt. Then they shall know that I am the Lord. Again, these judgments are not just random things. These countries have been evil, they have done evil, they have ⁓ participated in worship of obviously pagan gods, but not only that, they have done evil to Israel. ⁓ and so God is holding them to account. We may not like that. We may think that God should have just overlooked all of that. Well he doesn't. He he is a God who makes who who brings justice who who holds all of us to account. ⁓ which is why it's so important we understand who Jesus is and what Jesus has done, that that we can have forgiveness, that he is a God of mercy. ⁓ but there there there is going to be a holding to account ⁓ for all of us. then ⁓ kind of a a transition, second Kings twenty five, twenty seven through thirty. talk about Jehoachin. Remember he or Jehoakin. He was the king ⁓ of Jerusalem when the exile first happened and they took him back to Babylon. He'd been imprisoned, and it says in the thirty seventh year of the captivity of Jehoakin, twenty seventh day of the month, ⁓ evil Marduk, who is is now the new king of Babylon, ⁓ began to re to reign. He released the king Jehoakin, king of Judah from prison. He spoke kindly to him, gave him more prominent seat than those of the kings who were with him in Babylon. So Jehoakan changed from his prison garments and ate bread regularly before the king all the days of his life. As for his provisions, there was a regular ration given to him by the king, a portion for each day all the days of his life. So it's it's kind of a an interesting little encouraging ⁓ note here that that the king of Judah, who had been there, is is actually treated well by this at ⁓ by the end of the exile. ⁓ that God It it shows that God was working in this. ⁓ Jeremiah chapter fifty two, verses thirty one through forty-four is basically the exact same ⁓ thing. And then that gets us to Isaiah thirteen and fourteen, ⁓ where now Isaiah is ⁓ has some proclamations against Babylon that they will be ⁓ held to a to account. It says in chapter thirteen, ⁓ starting in verse four, the middle of verse four ⁓ A tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together. The Lord of hosts musters the army for battle. They come from a far country from the end of heaven the Lord and his weapons of indignation to destroy the whole land. In verse eleven, I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I will halt the arrogance of the proud, I will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible, I will make a mortal ⁓ make a mortal more rare than fine gold, a man. more than golden wedge of O fear, therefore I will shake the heavens and the earth will move out of her place. Right. So these are things that all of us see in the world today, right? We see evil, we see ⁓ wickedness, ⁓ we see arrogance, ⁓ we see haughtiness, ⁓ and God is will eventually hold to account those nations and individuals who who live that way. And ⁓ and we need to strive to live a better way and to share the mess the life changing message to people who are living this way, right? So that they may may turn ⁓ before it's too late, before that judgment ⁓ comes to them. ⁓ verse seventeen s says, Behold, I will sir stir up the meads against them who will not regard silver. And as for gold, they will not delight in it, and their bows will dash the young men to pieces, and they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb, their eye will not spare children. And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans' pride, will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. So it's not going to look too good for Babylon. ⁓ verse ⁓ chapter fourteen talks about having ⁓ mercy on Israel, mercy on Jacob, for the Lord will have mercy on Jacob. And will still choose Israel and settle them in their own land. The strangers will be joined with them, and they will cling to the house of Jacob. So even though the house of Jacob and Israel is going through a difficult time, they will be restored, and there will be though others with them who remain faithful to God. It continues, it talks about the fall of Babylon there in chapter 14. You can ⁓ continue to read about that. And ⁓ and then as we ⁓ continue ⁓ chapter fourteen, interesting ⁓ verse twelve, ⁓ we have ⁓ Lucifer, which ⁓ Lucifer is kind of re referred to as the day star, ⁓ the shining one. obviously there's a connection with with Satan. ⁓ whether it's s revealing talking specifically to Satan, ⁓ we're not real sure here, but it is very instructive ⁓ on kind of ⁓ you know, a relationship with God and how evil works, says ⁓ verse twelve, ⁓ how are you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning? How are you cut down to the ground, you who weaken the nations? For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt ⁓ my throne above the stars of God, I will also sit on the mount of congregation, on the farthest side of the north, I will send above the heights of the clouds. I will be like the most high. Yet you should shall be brought down to Sheol to the lowest depths of the pit. So it's it's interesting. He says, You shall be brought down to Sheol, I will ascend above the house, I will be like the most high. What this is this is the root of all sinfulness, the the root of all the things that that separate us from God is that ⁓ that we desire to be like God. ⁓ and this is a a reminder that we are not God. And ⁓ and God will eventually ⁓ put us in our place if we strive to be like him. ⁓ you continue on, verse ⁓ chapter twenty one ⁓ talks about the fall of Babylon even more, also ⁓ proclamation against Edom, which remember Edom was ⁓ close with ⁓ with Israel, ⁓ but but yet they helped Babylon in the destruction ⁓ and conquering of Jerusalem. ⁓ you see ⁓ Chapter thirty three is a prayer in deep distress. is the kind of the title of that. ⁓ that's chapter thirty-three through thirty-five of Isaiah. ⁓ it says, Woe to you who plunder, though you have not been plundered, and you who deal treacherously, though they have not dealt treacherily with you. When you cease plundering, you will be plundered. That's referring to Babylon. They were called the plunderer. verse chapter f ⁓ verse fourteen, excuse me. The sinners in Zion are afraid, fearfulness has seized the hypocrites, who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire, who shall dwell with the everlasting burning burnings? He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who who despises the gain of oppression, who gestures with his hands, refusing the bribes, who stops his ears from hearing bloodshed and shuts his eyes from seeing evil, he will dwell on high, his place of defense will be the fortress of rocks, bread will be given to him, his water will be sure. So again, talking about how Babylon was doing all of those things and and how it is important for us to refrain from doing those and we will ⁓ experience God's defense and God bringing back the people. ⁓ chapter thirty four ⁓ kind of talks about God's judgment on the nations. It says, For the indignation of the Lord is against all nations. So, you know, all of those who had rebelled against God. ⁓ God was going to hold to account. ⁓ you continue on it it starts to talk about Edom and proclaiming judgment on Edom. This is really interesting to me in ch verse fourteen. The wild beast of the desert shall also meet with the jackals and the wild goat shall bleat to its companion. Also the night creature shall rest there and find for herself a place of rest. The arrow snake shall make her nest and lay eggs and hatch and gather them under her shadow. There also shall be hawks gathered be gathered, every one with her mate. Okay, this is just kind of poetic prose language to dis describe ⁓ a a judgment scene. ⁓ the it says also the night creature shall rest there. The night creature was that was actually a reference ⁓ many people think to a the demon Lilith. ⁓ that was a demon who it was ⁓ believed preyed on ⁓ ⁓ mothers and children, kind of a vampireish type ⁓ demon, ⁓ and would kill kill men ⁓ who were alone. It was it's a very terrifying image. And so what what the Isaiah is saying ⁓ is ⁓ th that will be dwelling with with Edom, right? Not not literally. This is using ⁓ symbolic and poetic language But imagine how terrifying that was if if a if a demon and one that they would be familiar with. This was kind of a cultural thing, ⁓ that that demon would be ⁓ unleashed ⁓ upon the people. kind of ugh just a little creepy. ⁓ chapter thirty five, ⁓ the talks about the future glory of Zion. Again, how how ⁓ the people will be brought back. says the wilderness and wasteland shall be glad for them and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose, ⁓ even with joy and singing, the glory of Lebanon shall be given, they shall see the glory of the Lord, the excellency of our God. Say to those who are fearful, fearful hearted, be strong, do not fear. Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you. Alright, so that God Trying to get make sure the people do not give in to fear. Remember now it's been years that they have been in exile. Many people had never known what it was like to be in Jerusalem or see what the old temple was like. ⁓ and so now they are having to choose to put their faith in God anyway. All right. I want to close with reading I encourage you to read Daniel chapter five. ⁓ this is kind of ⁓ the fall of Babylon. So there's ⁓ a king Belshazzar, who isn't technically the king, he's he's kind of acting king, ⁓ because the main king c kind of neglected being the right ⁓ a good king over Babylon, which is why w they ended up ⁓ faltering. But he's acting as king. So so he is in that role and ⁓ he decides to have a big party. and it says Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels from ⁓ which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem. ⁓ and then they basically ⁓ it says the king and his lord, his wives and concubines drank from them. They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. So remember, whenever the temple was destroyed, all of the stuff was taken back. Well he breaks that stuff out and uses it in debaucherous ways, right? Basically mocking ⁓ God. And ⁓ and then all of a sudden there was a ⁓ a hand that began to write on the wall and he couldn't he didn't know what it meant and he ⁓ this would disturb me as well. He was disturbed by this. So he he wanted someone to come ⁓ to interpret and that he would reward them and ⁓ one of the queen ⁓ knew knew of Daniel and said, Hey, there's this guy Daniel, he's done stuff like this before. ⁓ you know, you may ask him, so Daniel comes ⁓ and ⁓ the king, you know ⁓ it says, Hey, I want you to be able to interpret this, and Daniel says, Well I can. and so the king said, Well you will be rewarded. Then in verse seventeen, Daniel answered and said, Let your gifts be for yourself and give your rewards to another, yet I will read the writing to you to the king and make known to him the interpretation. O King, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom in majesty, glory, and honor, and because of the majesty he gave him, all peoples, nations language trembled in fear before him. So he's talking about Nebuchadnezzar when Babylon was strong. Whomever he wished he executed, whomever he wished he kept alive, whomever he wished he set up, whomever he wished he put down. But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his heart his kingly throne and took his glory from him. Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like beasts, his dwelling was with the wild donkeys, they fed him like grass, with like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till he knew that the most high God rules the kingdom of men and appoints over it whomever he chooses. So he lost his mind at the end, and ⁓ and ⁓ it was because he had become prideful and hard hearted. ⁓ but you, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart. Although you knew all of this and have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. Right? And then he says you sit here mock God by using the temple wares ⁓ for debaucherous purposes. And so then he says, and this is what the inscription says this is the interpretation of each word verse twenty six. God has numbered your kingdom and finished it. You have been weighed in the balances and found wanting. You have been weighed and measured, right? You you have been found wanting. That comes from this passage. Your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians. All right. So he tells him some pretty pretty bad news and then very soon after that the Persians do overtake and destroy Babylon. So that that's gonna we're gonna stop there for today. and we're going to to Be in Isaiah chapter forty through forty-five. This is kind of an interesting tone shift for Isaiah. He is going to be very positive, ⁓ reminding the people of what is to come. And so I I I think if if you're feeling down or overwhelmed or discouraged, ⁓ read Isaiah forty through forty-five. It'll be good for you. So I hope that you read that and we will see you. Thanks for joining us.