Proper 11
Our Savior Newsletter 7/16
VBS Registration and Times
Please remember to spread the word about Our Savior VBS on August 11-13, from 9-12! Check the website for all the information about it and the registration information.
Outreach Committee Forming
We are forming an outreach committee, if you are interested in being involved speak to Pastor Helwig or Outreach councilman Scott Klein.
Bible Studies On Pause, Resuming in September
Bible studies are on pause, except Men’s Bible study has been meeting on Saturdays at 10am! (with the exception of this upcoming Saturday.)
Isaiah 13 Weekly Study
Prophecies Against the NationsA Prophecy Against Babylon
13 The oracle about Babylon, which Isaiah son of Amoz saw.
2 Raise a banner on a bare hill!Shout to them.Signal to them to enter the gates of the nobles.3 I have given a command to my consecrated warriors.I have called my elite warriors to carry out my anger—those who rejoice in my triumph.4 The noise of a horde is heard on the mountains,like the noise of many people, like the uproar of the kingdoms of the nations who are massing together!The Lord of Armies is mustering an army for war.5 They come from a faraway country,from the ends of the heavens.The Lord and the weapons of his wrathcome to destroy the whole land.6 Wail, for the Day of the Lord is near.It will come like destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore all hands will hang limp,and every heart will melt.8 They will be terrified.Pain will overcome them.They will be in pain like a woman in labor.They will look at each other in shock.Their faces are flushed.
9 Look, the Day of the Lord is coming,a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger,a day to make the land desolate,a day to destroy its sinners there.10 For the stars of the sky and its constellations will not give their light.The sun will be darkened as it rises,and the moon will give no light.
11 I will punish the world for its evil,and the wicked for their guilt.I will put an end to the arrogance of the insolent,and I will humble the pride of the ruthless.12 I will make people rarer than fine gold,and mankind scarcer than the gold of Ophir.13 Therefore, I will make the heavens tremble,and the earth will be shaken off its foundationat the wrath of the Lord of Armies,in the day of his fierce anger.
14 Like a hunted gazelle,like sheep without a shepherd,each of them will turn to his own people,and everyone will flee to his own land.15 Everyone who is caught will be run through.Everyone who is captured will fall by the sword.16 Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes.Their houses will be looted, and their wives will be raped.
17 See, I will stir up against them the Medes,who have no use for silver,who do not delight even in gold.18 Their bows will strike down the young,and they will have no pity on newborn infants.]There will be no compassion in their eyes for children.
19 Babylon is the glory of kingdoms,the beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride,but it will be just like the day when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.20 It will never be inhabited again,nor will anyone live in it from generation to generation.No Arab will pitch his tent there.No shepherd will rest his flocks there.21 Instead, wild animals from the desert will rest there.The houses will be full of wild dogs. Ostriches will nest there,and wild goats will frolic.22 Hyenas will howl in its fortresses,and jackals in the luxurious palaces.Its time is near,and its days will not be prolonged.
Pastor’s Comment
Isaiah 13 contains what many scholars call an “Oracle against the Nations.” God delivers a warning of judgment against Babylon in this case. Although God was using Babylon as his instrument of judgement against Judah, they would not escape judgment themselves. The language Isaiah uses about a future day of God’s wrath appears in other Old Testament prophets and in the New Testament, for example in 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Romans 2:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, and 2 Peter 3. Babylon’s fall is due to its pride (vs 11). Babylon’s wickedness and ultimate destruction is used in the Bible as an example for all human pride and its result, especially in Revelation 14-16. God’s wrath against the arrogance and pride of mankind serves as a powerful reminder for Christians as well. Our righteous and holy God must punish wickedness. By the love God has for mankind we are delivered from this just judgment by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ in our place!
Luther’s Comment
VS 22, From this passage we can derive what we learn about political affairs from tragedies, namely, that the outcomes of the most exalted affairs are tragic. Great dominions bring great injuries. Although kingdoms and dominions are God’s good institution and creation, nevertheless human stupidity cannot make advantageous use of them. It is too limited to be able to manage the best affairs well. It is better, therefore, for everyone to live content with his own lot and not go after high stations. For to whom important matters are entrusted, to him much difficulty and trouble is also added. God, however, gives in order that He Himself be praised and the neighbor be provided for. But human folly turns everything into abuse and its own advantage. This is the cause of destruction and devastation. Kingdoms are governed well not by the rank and file but by capable and suitable persons and magistrates, no doubt by those who rely on God alone and always pray for His help. But rulers should not be uprooted except by outsiders and this only by God’s order. This is what we learn about political affairs from this passage.