Isaiah 13:4-8 - Wail, for the day of the Lord is near

13:4,5

As is often the case with the prophets, very vivid language is used to describe the coming destruction. There is no mere cold statement of fact, but a dramatic representation of what is going to happen. God is communicating with the heart as well as the mind (though in the Bible “heart” usually includes our will and mind as well as emotions). Similarly, dramatic or pictorial language is used to describe salvation. There is a lesson here for us in preaching and teaching. Preaching is not just giving the facts, we need to communicate with the heart as well. Obviously, there are dangers in this as well, for we need to make sure that we communicate Biblical truth, and not vain ideas, but we need to do so with heart.

Elsewhere, similar language to here is used to describe nations coming against Israel. The “evil empire” of Babylon will be destroyed. Israel would be destroyed, but she would rise again. Babylon will be defeated forever.

13:6-8

“The day of the Lord” is generally not a temporal thing, but more an event. For a time it seems that evil is triumphing, that evil men are getting their way. This will only be so for a time. There will then come a time when the Lord restores justice, and that will include judgement upon evil. During the time when evil seems to triumph the enemy can seem so powerful, as though nothing could stop them. So it would have seemed with the Babylonian army in the day of their power. But when God’s judgement comes they will be as nothing at all. They will be utterly defeated.