Advent and Babylon
by Pastor Matt Bishop
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Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. Because of this, all hands will go limp, every heart will melt with fear (Isaiah 13:6,7).
The comfort and serenity of Isaiah 11 and 12 give way to an oracle about the destruction of Babylon. There is no way to gloss over this text or provide a happy ending while you take a little inspiration for the day ahead or reflect on the day that has just been in your daily LCANZ devotion. This text vividly unpacks the full horrors of war. A little like the way the Ukraine war has coloured the previously black-and-white images of WWII and the destruction therein. Vivid. Razed. Anguished.
Babylon had been the region’s principal aggressor circa 612–540 BCE. It had dispatched the Assyrians, carried off the Judeans and taken it up to the Egyptians. Land lay desolate. Cities and infrastructure were levelled.
But aggression has a price. So does unfaithfulness. Hence, Babylon did not last forever, despite its power. The armies of God mustered. As verse four, closely translated from Hebrew, puts it, they were full of ‘Ones who rejoice in God’s sovereignty’. And at the Lord’s bidding, the oracle was fulfilled: ‘I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless’ (verse 11).
In this Advent season, we can’t get away from the imperfections of the world and its brutal terror. But the message of Scripture in world history tells us that war and terror do not have the final say. Jesus declared in Jerusalem during the week he was to die:
At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near (Luke 21:27,28).
Even as we sit uncomfortably today, we know the Redeemer is near and will have the final say.
Lord God, this world brings us much sadness. We long for your day. We repent of the ways we are like Babylon to the people around us. Keep forgiving our contributions to instability and sadness. In Christ, the Redeemer, restore and grow us in faithfulness to serve your world with wisdom and peace until you return. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Matt Bishop serves the congregation and primary school at St Paul Lutheran Church Blair Athol and is chair of the LCANZ General Pastors Conference. He is married to Melissa, delights in his three young adult daughters, and enjoys caring for his five chickens and five budgerigars. He says he would like to spend more time at Venus Bay on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula fishing for King George Whiting, but he loves being both a pastor (mostly) and sharing the gospel with everyone God puts in his path (always).
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