Isaiah 13  The next revelation that Isaiah receives is devastating.  "The Lord of hosts is mustering the army for battle."  He calls them His "mighty warriors" who will "execute [His] anger".  The day of reckoning approached Judah and Isaiah speaks this warning.. 

"Wail, for the day of the Lord is near!

It will come as destruction from the Almighty!

Therefore all hands will fall limp,

                                                    And every man's heart will melt. 

And they will be terrified,

Pains and anguish will take hold of them,

They will writhe like a woman in labor,

They will look at one another in astonishment,

Their faces aflame. 

Behold the day of the Lord is coming, 

Cruel, with fury and burning anger, 

To make the land a desolation;

And He will exterminate its sinners from it.

For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not flash their light;

The sun will be dark when it rises,

and the moon will not shed its light.

Thus I will punish the world for its evil,

and the wicked for their iniquity;

I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud,

and abase the haughtiness of the ruthless." (v6-11)

This warning goes beyond the future of Judah.  Yes, Judah will fall to Babylon.  Yes, Babylon will fall to the Medes.  Punishment for sin will fall on both these nations.. and on every nation that fails to turn to God in repentance.  Every nation and every individual person.. unless they have trusted in salvation through Jesus Christ, who alone can rescue us from the wrath to come.  

There is an appointed time that God has allotted for us to heed His Word, pay attention to His warnings, and turn away from sin.  We have every opportunity now, to receive His mercy, for He is "forgiving God" ( Psalm 99:8)  

Adonai, You are King. You sit on Your throne, high above all peoples and nations.  You are great and fearsome.  You have established "fairness, justice, and righteousness" and we have failed to obey..  We exalt You, bowing before You with fear and trembling.  Let the world shake.. truly recognizing You alone are God and You will punish the nations for its evil and the wicked for their sins.  Only by Your grace are we saved, through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Father, send more workers into the harvest fields, that many more sinners would receive the salvation that comes only through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who came to seek and save the lost.  Thank You for moving in hearts and lives today. Thank You for being a God of Truth and Justice and Mercy.  We praise Your name. Lead us in Your paths today we pray, amen.