The Day of the Lord Comes (Isaiah 13)

Isaiah 13 is a very disturbing vision of what would come to pass when the Persians destroyed Babylon.  It was a picture of the final judgment.  It was written down to disturb us.  Some of us may have been first disturbed by it when we came to faith — switching allegiances when we heard that we are citizens of the new Babylon that will suffer the same end.  Some of us may be disturbed because it reminds us of what our sins deserve.  And we should be disturbed because of the great injustices done by the Persians against the Babylonians.  These same things can be said about the cross.  For example, it is the ultimate injustice.  But then again, God was acting in the cross for our good and for justice.  After all, it is why Scripture can say, “God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins…”  What the Persians did to the Babylonians and what people in our time and place do to one another in violence should disturb us.  They should disturb us so much that we go and share the good news for those who believe urgently because the day of the Lord comes — it is close at hand.

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