上帝對祂的國家有至高無上的主權；同樣的，祂對所有的國家也有至高無上的主權。地上沒有一個棄公義就邪惡的國家、種族，能妄想逃避上帝的審判。現在以賽亞把他銳利的詞鋒轉向外邦國家，因為他們苦待上帝的百姓，阻撓上帝的計劃，終將在上帝忿怒的熔爐裡燒毀殆盡！巴比倫面對的是被瑪代人統治的慘澹未來（後來這事果真在主前五三九年發生），而摩押諸城則必遭覆亡（發生在主前七○一年），顯然，行事邪惡的君王與國家是不能與公義聖潔的上帝相合的！

        看到「別人」罪有應得真是件大快人心的事，比方說，你前面那輛超速的車突然拋錨，或知道那個討人厭的鄰居帳目被查，或獲悉一個貪官陷身牢獄。
        且慢！你一想到自己的缺點和不完全的時候，幸災樂禍的心情就要削減幾分，在上帝的預言裡，包括好的不好的，也就是對各國的責難和稱許，讓你能以此為殷鑑！像巴比倫、摩押等國早已不存在的事實成為一個警告：上帝已經言明對他們的屢犯不改將加以懲罰，這可不是隨口說說就算了！
        想想一位忽略上帝話語而遭遇困境的朋友，從這個例子中你學到什麼，才能使你不那麼難過？

        今天的預言是明天的新聞！
        以賽亞對巴比倫預言的要領是：巴比倫要取代亞述的政權（14：25）；瑪代則要征服巴比倫（13：17）；然後巴比倫從這個地上永遠消失（13：19-22）！根據歷史記載：巴比倫戰勝亞述是在主前六○七年，亡於波斯則在主前五三八年。今天巴比倫的遺址正如預言所說──首都附近方圓數英哩內，全是一片廢墟。

知識使偉人謙卑，使凡人震驚，使小人驕傲。

English

        God is sovereign over His nation; He is also sovereign over the nations. No empire or tribe on earth is exempt from the judgment of God when wickedness replaces righteousness. Isaiah now turns his verbal missiles upon the Gentile nations, which will melt away before the furnace of God's wrath for their opposition to His people and plan. Babylon is faced with the gloomy prospect of being dominated by the Medes (it happened in 539 B.C.). The cities of Moab can look forward to being sacked (it happened in 701 B.C.). Clearly, wicked kings and kingdoms are no match for the justice and holiness of God.

        There's something deliciously satisfying about seeing "the other guy" get his just deserts. About watching die speeding car ahead of you get pulled over. About learning that your obnoxious next-door neighbor is being audited. About reading of a corrupt politician landing in jail.
        But wait! Smugness in the face of another's calamity diminishes when you remember your own shortcomings and imperfections. God in His Word has included the bad with the good, the condemnation of nations as well as their commendation, that you might profit from their example. The fact that nations such as Babylon and Moab no longer exist should warn you that when God promises punishment for persistent sin, it is no idle threat.
        Think of a recent calamity that has befallen someone you know because of his or her inattention to God's Word. How can you save yourself some grief by learning from that example?

        Tomorrow's Headlines Prophesied Today
        The gist of Isaiah's prophecy regarding Babylon is this: Babylon would supersede Assyria (14:25); Media would supersede Babylon (13:17); and Babylon would disappear forever (13:19-22). Historically, Babylon conquered Assyria in 607 B.C. and fell to the Medo-Persian armies in 538 B.C. Today all that remains of Babylon are several square miles of its ruined capital—exactly as predicted.

Knowledge humbles the great man, astonishes the common man, puffs up the little man.