What the Bible says about Nebuchadnezzar Appointed to Punish
(From Forerunner Commentary)

Isaiah 2:6-22 Isaiah 2 provides us with a detailed overview of the immorality that existed in Judah a few years before they fell to the Babylonian armies of Nebuchadnezzar. Isaiah reports what he witnessed the people being involved in, and he also foresaw the conclusion if no repentance occurred. It was a time not far different from what we observe in America today. God is illustrating in His own picturesque way that pride (loftiness and haughtiness), emanating from within man and triggering his conduct, is heavily involved in human life—perhaps it is even the basis and foundation of all sin. He mentions the accumulation of wealth in the form of treasures, silver, gold, chariots, and horses. He speaks of manufacturing (the works of their own hands) and of religion (creating idols). He portrays things of sturdy power (oaks of Bashan) and things of grace and beauty (cedars of Lebanon). He mentions military power (high towers and fortified walls), large nations (high mountains) and small nations (hills that are lifted up), and commerce (beautiful sloops). John W. Ritenbaugh Living By Faith and Human Pride Related Topics: Haughtiness | Judah's Captivity | Judah's Idolatry | Judah's Immorality | Living by Faith and Human Pride | Loftiness | Nebuchadnezzar | Nebuchadnezzar Appointed to Punish | Pride as Father of all Sin | Pride as Foundation of All Sin

Isaiah 45:3-7 God raised Cyrus up to do His bidding to prove to him and all the world who is the true God! God went before Cyrus (verse 2), paving the way for his victories and policies so that His will and His plan would move forward. We should be able to look back at history and see how God worked to bring all the necessary elements into place for His purpose to be fulfilled. After God used Nebuchadnezzar to punish His people, He raised Cyrus to deliver them from their captivity in Babylon and return them to their land. For the real Christ to be born in Bethlehem as the prophecy states, Jews had to be living in Judea. He also inspired Cyrus to institute his conciliatory policy toward foreign religions so that a Temple could be built to which His Son could come. And among other points, Jerusalem had to be rebuilt so Jesus could die outside the city for our sins. No other "god" can do these things! Only the Most High God, the Almighty Sovereign of the universe can work out events over such long periods of time. He can take sinful men who have never even desired a relationship with Him and cause them to do His will and bring about His purpose. God is in control. Light, darkness, peace, or calamity—none of these things happen without His permission. "I, the LORD, do all these things," He says. Richard T. Ritenbaugh Cyrus: God's Anointed Related Topics: Cyrus | Cyrus as God's Anointed | God is in Control | God's Manipulation of Events | God's Sovereignty | Nebuchadnezzar | Nebuchadnezzar Appointed to Punish

Lamentations 2:1-9 Jeremiah is the likely author of Lamentations, writing after reflecting on the devastation of Jerusalem following the invasion of Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army. A number of prophets, Jeremiah being the most obvious, had thoroughly warned the Jews for many years. God even raised up a righteous king, Josiah, to provide godly governmental and religious leadership, but it was to no avail because the people were not truly repentant and sincere in any changes they made. The changes were only on the surface, not reaching their hearts, so idolatry—especially—continued to rage unabated. The chapter continues with more of the same, leaving no doubt at all that God was directly responsible for His reaction to their sins. Jerusalem's devastation did not merely happen randomly in the course of history. God was directly involved. He brought on the horrific fear and pain. It was His warnings through the prophets that were ignored because they did not fear the Lord and did not truly believe that they were answerable to Him. John W. Ritenbaugh Fully Accepting God's Sovereignty (Part One) Related Topics: Fully Accepting God's Sovereignty | God's Manipulation of Events | God's Sovereignty over the Nations | Jeremiah | Jerusalem's Demise | Jerusalem's Destruction | Josiah | Lamentations, Book of | Nebuchadnezzar Appointed to Punish

 

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