1. The Lord judges Babylon (1-16)

Ch13-23 deals with God's judgment on the nations of the world. God is the Sovereign judge. He used Babylon to judge Israel. But now he judges Babylon, the contemporary super power nation because of her wickedness, arrogance, haughty pride, ruthlessness and her ignorance of God. The Lord himself summons his army, Medes from faraway land. God's judgment will be sudden, cruel, aghast, fearful, painful like a woman in labor and thorough. There will be few habitants. They will be like sheep without a shepherd. Infants will be destroyed. Women will be looted. God's judgment against Babylon preludes his worldwide final judgment against sinners for their wickedness.

2. Her time is at hand (17-22)

God chose Medes who had no mercy. Babylon will be ruined like Sodom and Gomorrah. It will become a desert. Only jackals, owls, wild goats, hyenas will dwell there. Her time is near. God is Sovereign over history. He judges all who are proud against the Almighty God. He is righteous in his judgment.