Isaiah had a very troubling vision about Babylon which he calls the Desert by the Sea. God would use Elam and Media to bring judgment against Babylon. These nations would sweep through Babylon like a whirlwind. Babylon would be taken completely by surprise (5; see Daniel 5). She would be betrayed and looted. Isaiah did not rejoice at the downfall of his people's future captors (6b). The violence and the horror he saw racked his body with pain. his heart faltered. The vision terrified him. Nevertheless, Isaiah saw himself as a watchman who had to speak what he heard from the LORD Almighty even when it frightened him.

Then someone from Seir called on Isaiah to predict when Edom's suffering would end. Isaiah could only vaguely answer that both morning and night would come and told him to ask again later. Isaiah would not go beyond what God told him to speak.

Isaiah continued by pronouncing judgment against the Dedanites. They would become refugees, fleeing sword and battle. Finally, the LORD said that Kedar would also come to an end with very few survivors within a year. The LORD had spoken, and this would all surely come to pass. We can confidently stand on God's word.


Application: Father, your word is true. Help us to believe your word as it is. Help us to courageously speak your word, to not add or take away from it.
One Word: Stand on God's word alone.