14:14,15
These two verses contrast the lofty thoughts of the king of Babylon compared with the end result. Babylon thought she was all powerful, thought she was like God (the Most High is a term used to describe God). But the end result was that she was brought down to the pit, to the realm of the dead. We can apply this to the whole of humanity. We act as though we are god, as though we can determine what is right and wrong, as if we can control everything. But a little thought show the utter nonsense that this is, for we all die, we all ultimately come to nothing.
14:16,17
The world looks on Babylon’s downfall with amazement. They knew how mighty she once seemed, how all-dominant she once was. Once she deported large segments of the population she conquered, as she did with the Israelites, and refused to let them return to their homelands. But now she had come to nothing.
14:18-21
Earthly rulers are usually buried in honour, given a “state funeral” or some such recognition, but the ruler of Babylon would die in total ignominy. Hitler ruled with fear for several years, but at the end he was utterly despised. The ruler of Babylon would not be named with the other kings. The judgement would even be passed on to his sons, to make sure that such evil never rose again.
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