Jan 31, 2019
Humanity seems to be hardwired to rejoice at the fall of an enemy. We take a perverse pleasure in seeing someone we dislike get what we believe to be their just desserts. Whether we call it revenge, payback, retribution or comeuppance – it all means the same thing. And in Isaiah 14:28-32, God has a word for the nations, warning them about celebrating over the apparent fall of Judah too quickly. He specifically addresses the Philistines, the perennial enemies of the people of God, letting them know that their day of judgment was coming as well. So, while they might see the fall of Judah as good news worth celebrating, they needed to know that God was going to pay them back for the roles they had played in opposing the people of God and, in some cases, leading them away from God. While the book of Isaiah is primarily a message of God to His chosen people, it contains prophetic pronouncements concerning humanity as a whole. Even the land of Philistia would one day experience the judgment of God, because He rules and reigns over all.