13:5 - "Weapons of His indignation" - how cool is that phrase? God is indignant because the people He created have fallen so far. They seek to serve themselves and worship themselves, while ignoring and rejecting the God who has give them everything. God uses the kingdoms of the world as His weapons of righteousness.
13:9 - "Day of the Lord" - The day of the Lord is a nightmare for the wicked, and a future-hope and comfort for the God-fearers.
13:11 - This reminded me of Hebrews 12:29, which says that God is a consuming fire. He is just and He will make all things right in the end.
13:20 - The most powerful cities and kingdoms in the world that reigned during this time, no longer exist. We don't even know where most of them really were. Where are the hanging gardens of Babylon now? Such is the power of man.
14:2 - Isiah prophecies that the people of Israel will actually become the slave masters of the people who have oppressed them. This must have been positive news for God's people, but it seems a little heartbreaking to me. God's people are going to fall into treating others like the nations around them treated them, and this is not how you bring peace to the world. This is how you maintain the cycle of violence and oppression. Whenever God's people take on the characteristics of the world, they start to pull away from God.
14:12 and 14 - When you set yourself up high on a mountain or arrogance, you only have one way to go...down. The king tried to make himself into a god among men (Reminds me of the original sin - Adam and Eve wanted to be like God). This was absolutely offensive to God and it led to the king's destruction. We all need to understand the folly of self-worship.
14:23 - The once great and powerful kingdoms that put terror int he hearts of the people around them, are now ruled by hedgehogs. They were swept away before the power and wrath of God. We must never forget that this is how powerful God is. He makes the strength of men - weakness. He makes the wisdom of men - folly.
14:31-32 - This reminds me of Hebrews chapter 12. Thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we do not approach a holy mountain of fire, smoke, lightning and wrath. Through his cleansing blood we are able to approach the throne of God...we are able to approach Zion, the kingdom of perfection and peace.
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