Isaías 14

1 Porque el SEÑOR tendrá piedad de Jacob, y todavía escogerá a Israel; y les hará reposar en su tierra; y a ellos se unirán extranjeros, y se allegarán a la familia de Jacob.

2 Y los tomarán los pueblos, y los traerán a su lugar; y la casa de Israel los poseerá por siervos y criadas en la tierra del SEÑOR; y cautivarán a los que los cautivaron, y señorearán a los que los oprimieron.

3 Y será que en el día que el SEÑOR te diera reposo de tu trabajo, y de tu temor, y de la dura servidumbre en que te hicieron servir,

4 entonces levantarás esta parábola sobre el rey de Babilonia, y dirás: ¡Cómo cesó el opresor, cómo cesó la ciudad codiciosa del oro!

5 Quebrantó el SEÑOR el bastón de los impíos, el cetro de los señores;

6 que con ira hería los pueblos de llaga perpetua, el cual se enseñoreaba de los gentiles con furor; al perseguido no defendió.

7 Descansó, sosegó toda la tierra, cantaron alabanzas.

8 Aun las hayas se regocijaron a causa de ti, y los cedros del Líbano, diciendo : Desde que tú pereciste, no ha subido cortador contra nosotros.

9 El infierno abajo se espantó de ti; te despertó muertos que en tu venida saliesen a recibirte, hizo levantar de sus tronos a todos los príncipes de la tierra, a todos los reyes de los gentiles.

10 Todos ellos darán voces, y te dirán: ¿Tú también enfermaste como nosotros, y como nosotros fuiste?

11 Se depositó en el sepulcro tu soberbia, y el sonido de tus vihuelas; gusanos serán tu cama, y gusanos te cubrirán.

12 ¡Cómo caíste del cielo, oh Lucifer, hijo de la mañana! Cortado fuiste por tierra, el que echabas suerte sobre los gentiles.

13 Tú que decías en tu corazón: Subiré al cielo, en lo alto junto a las estrellas de Dios ensalzaré mi trono, y en el monte del testimonio me sentaré, y en los lados del aquilón;

14 Sobre las alturas de las nubes subiré, y seré semejante al Altísimo.

15 Mas tú derribado eres en el sepulcro, a los lados del abismo.

16 Se han de inclinar hacia ti los que te vieren y te considerarán, diciendo : ¿Es éste aquel varón que hacía temblar la tierra, que trastornaba los reinos.

17 Que puso el mundo como un desierto? ¿Que asoló sus ciudades? ¿Que a sus presos nunca abrió la cárcel?

18 Todos los reyes de los gentiles, todos ellos yacen con honra cada uno en su casa.

19 Mas tú echado eres de tu sepulcro como tronco abominable; como vestido de muertos pasados a cuchillo, que descendieron al fondo de la sepultura; como cuerpo muerto hollado.

20 No serás contado con ellos en la sepultura; porque tú destruiste tu tierra, mataste a tu pueblo. No será para siempre la simiente de los malignos.

21 Aparejad sus hijos para el matadero por la maldad de sus padres; no se levanten, ni posean la tierra, ni llenen la faz del mundo de ciudades.

22 Porque yo me levantaré sobre ellos, dice el SEÑOR de los ejércitos, y raeré de Babilonia el nombre y las reliquias, hijo y nieto, dice el SEÑOR.

23 Y la pondré en posesión de erizos, y en lagunas de aguas; y la barreré con escobas de destrucción, dice el SEÑOR de los ejércitos.

24 El SEÑOR de los ejércitos juró, diciendo, se hará de la manera que lo he pensado, y será confirmado como lo he determinado;

25 quebrantaré al asirio en mi tierra, y en mis montes lo hollaré; y su yugo será apartado de ellos, y su carga será quitada de su hombro.

26 Este es el consejo que está acordado sobre toda la tierra; y ésta es aquella mano extendida sobre todos los gentiles.

27 Porque el SEÑOR de los ejércitos lo ha determinado, ¿y quién lo invalidará? Y aquella su mano extendida, ¿quién la hará tornar?

28 En el año que murió el rey Acaz fue esta carga:

29 no te alegres tú, toda Filistea, por haberse quebrado la vara del que te hería. Porque de la raíz de la culebra saldrá basilisco, y su fruto, serpiente voladora.

30 Y los primogénitos de los pobres serán apacentados, y los menesterosos se acostarán seguramente; y haré morir de hambre tu raíz, y tus reliquias matará.

31 Aúlla, oh puerta, clama, oh ciudad; desleída Filistea toda tú, porque humo vendrá del aquilón; no quedará uno solo en sus asambleas.

32 ¿Y qué se responderá a los mensajeros de los gentiles? Que el SEÑOR fundó a Sion, y que en ella tendrán confianza los afligidos de su pueblo.

Isaías 14 Commentary

Chapter 14

The destruction of Babylon, and the death of its proud monarch. (1-23) Assurance of the destruction of Assyria. (24-27) The destruction of the Philistines. (28-32)

Verses 1-23 The whole plan of Divine Providence is arranged with a view to the good of the people of God. A settlement in the land of promise is of God's mercy. Let the church receive those whom God receives. God's people, wherever their lot is cast, should endeavour to recommend religion by a right and winning conversation. Those that would not be reconciled to them, should be humbled by them. This may be applied to the success of the gospel, when those were brought to obey it who had opposed it. God himself undertakes to work a blessed change. They shall have rest from their sorrow and fear, the sense of their present burdens, and the dread of worse. Babylon abounded in riches. The king of Babylon having the absolute command of so much wealth, by the help of it ruled the nations. This refers especially to the people of the Jews; and it filled up the measure of the king of Babylon's sins. Tyrants sacrifice their true interest to their lusts and passions. It is gracious ambition to covet to be like the Most Holy, for he has said, Be ye holy, for I am holy; but it is sinful ambition to aim to be like the Most High, for he has said, He who exalts himself shall be abased. The devil thus drew our first parents to sin. Utter ruin should be brought upon him. Those that will not cease to sin, God will make to cease. He should be slain, and go down to the grave; this is the common fate of tyrants. True glory, that is, true grace, will go up with the soul to heaven, but vain pomp will go down with the body to the grave; there is an end of it. To be denied burial, if for righteousness' sake, may be rejoiced in, ( Matthew 5:12 ) . But if the just punishment of sin, it denotes that impenitent sinners shall rise to everlasting shame and contempt. Many triumphs should be in his fall. God will reckon with those that disturb the peace of mankind. The receiving the king of Babylon into the regions of the dead, shows there is a world of spirits, to which the souls of men remove at death. And that souls have converse with each other, though we have none with them; and that death and hell will be death and hell indeed, to all who fall unholy, from the height of this world's pomps, and the fulness of its pleasures. Learn from all this, that the seed of evil-doers shall never be renowned. The royal city is to be ruined and forsaken. Thus the utter destruction of the New Testament Babylon is illustrated, ( Revelation 18:2 ) . When a people will not be made clean with the besom of reformation, what can they expect but to be swept off the face of the earth with the besom of destruction?

Verses 24-27 Let those that make themselves a yoke and a burden to God's people, see what they are to expect. Let those that are the called according to God's purpose, comfort themselves, that whatever God has purposed, it shall stand. The Lord of hosts has purposed to break the Assyrian's yoke; his hand is stretched out to execute this purpose; who has power to turn it back? By such dispensations of providence, the Almighty shows in the most convincing manner, that sin is hateful in his sight.

Verses 28-32 Assurance is given of the destruction of the Philistines and their power, by famine and war. Hezekiah would be more terrible to them than Uzziah had been. Instead of rejoicing, there would be lamentation, for the whole land would be ruined. Such destruction will come upon the proud and rebellious, but the Lord founded Zion for a refuge to poor sinners, who flee from the wrath to come, and trust in his mercy through Christ Jesus. Let us tell all around of our comforts and security, and exhort them to seek the same refuge and salvation.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 14

This chapter contains prophecies of the restoration of the Jews, of the fall of the king of Babylon, and the destruction of the Assyrian empire, and of the ruin of Palestine. The moving cause of the restoration of the Jews, and their settlement in their own land, is the distinguishing mercy of God towards them; the accomplishment of it, proselytes joined unto them; the means, people of other nations, who should bring them into it, and whom they should possess and rule over; and the consequence of it, rest from sorrow, fear, and hard bondage, Isa 14:1-3 upon which they are introduced as taking up a proverb, or a triumphant song, concerning the king of Babylon, wondering at his fall, and ascribing it to the Lord, Isa 14:4,5 representing the inhabitants of the earth, and great men of it, as at peace, and rest, and rejoicing, who before were continually disturbed, and smitten by him, Isa 14:6-8 introducing the dead, and those in hell, meeting him, and welcoming him into their regions, with taunts and jeers; upbraiding him with his weakness, shame, and disgrace he was come into; putting him in mind of his former pomp and splendour, pride, arrogance, and haughtiness, Isa 14:9-15 spectators are brought in, as amazed at the low, mean, and despicable condition he was brought into, considering what he had done in the world, in kingdoms and cities, but was now denied a burial, when other kings lay in their pompous sepulchres, Isa 14:16-20 and then it is foretold that that whole royal family should be cut off, and Babylon, the metropolis of his kingdom, should be utterly destroyed, Isa 14:21-23 all which was settled and fixed by the purpose of God, which could not be made void, Isa 14:24-27 and next follows a prophecy of the destruction of Palestine; the date of the prophecy is given Isa 14:28 the inhabitants of Palestine are bid not to rejoice at the death of one of the kings of Judah, since another should arise, who would be fatal to them, Isa 14:29 and while the Jews would be in safety, they would be destroyed by famine and war, Isa 14:30,31 from all which it would appear, and it might be told the messengers of the nations, or any inquiring persons, that Zion is of the Lord's founding, and under his care and protection, and that his people have great reason and encouragement to trust in him, Isa 14:32.