Introduction: This prophecy against Babylon wobbles first one way then another!
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.
The beginning of this prophecy brings disgrace for the city which has considered herself as a choice bride dressed for marriage but foreseen to become a common worker stripped of her imagined royal bridal robes, naked and disgraced!
4 Our Redeemer—the LORD of hosts is his name— is the Holy One of Israel. – Now Israel speaks proudly to Babylon and the Chaldeans of the tables being turned against those who have lorded it over Israel. The Almighty God, Israel’s Redeemer is about to act!
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”:
The author now quotes God, who, as Israel’s Redeemer, has become the spokesman of the prophecy! He tells them (the Chaldeans) that they were sent at His command to punish Israel for her unfaithfulness, but they had taken the liberty to go beyond what God had permitted. God’s accusation is, “you showed them no mercy; on the aged you made your yoke exceedingly heavy. You said, “I shall be mistress forever,” and because of that they now will be submitted to Justice! The punishment follows…..
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.
Proverbs 11: 21 – Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
Prayer: Please help me to be humble and obedient all day every day!