“And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms,

The beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride,

Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.” vs19

First, God did overthrow Sodom and Gomorrah. He destroyed her for her pride, and Babylon will face the same destruction in eternal fire. The wrath of God is coming, and we must escape by faith. Run to Christ for forgiveness and power. He will surely give it. He will subdue our sins.

Babylon also pictures the captivity of God’s elect, which shall be broken. Our deliverance is from Christ, and it is sudden. The Medes liberated Israel in a night, just like the gospel comes to us with power to liberate us from sin! ““Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, Who will not regard silver; And as for gold, they will not delight in it. Also 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 [vs17-18].” Likewise, soon, sinners will be punished, and we’ll rejoice in heaven because of it [Rev 19:1-3]. Oh, brothers and sisters, live for that day.

Secondly, God’s gracious to give us power over sin [vs1-2].

“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. Then people will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them for servants and maids in the land of the Lord; they will take them captive whose captives they were, and rule over their oppressors.”

Unbelief was a task master, wearying us with lies, until truth came with conquering power and set us free. Guilt left us, and so did fear and shame: We were enabled to serve God. This is the promise of the gospel: You will not be sin’s captive. Forgiveness liberates the mind, and the Spirit frees the body, empowering the new man to serve God. In this service, we find peace. He is a JOY GIVER, and He is gracious.

Believe, and you will be established. “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God...Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be upheld; believe in His prophets, and you will succeed [2 Chron 20:15, 20].” He saves by faith, which is trusting Him for the merit and the power to do His will.

Thirdly, the proud will be destroyed. vs11

“Your pomp is brought down to Sheol,

And the sound of your stringed instruments;

The maggot is spread under you,

And worms cover you.”

God’s grace will run out one day, and those who’ve despised it will perish. They are too strong and think themselves too much to need God’s mercy. They are worse than the devils, because they reject salvation, and it will haunt them forever. The greatest misery, besides the eternal flame, is knowing that you didn’t have to be in hell! You chose to dishonor God.

What is sin but rejecting Goodness for filth, shame, and judgment! “Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due [Rom 1:27].” It is turning from the Living Water to the sewer and turning our back on God’s love. It is unjust, unholy, and unprofitable! It’s pleasure is only for a season.

Let us bless and adore God for the conviction of sin, for giving us shame, godly fear, and causing us to see the WRONGNESS of our ways! He humbles us, lest we be destroyed with the world. He causes us to obtain His mercy, rejecting short lived pleasure for His grace. He gives us the lasting hope in Christ, and He gives us greater pleasure than the proud can ever imagine. Bless God for deliverance by calling upon His name, proclaiming it, and walking humbly!