Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022
This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened." Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT.
Bible Readings: Isaiah 18-22
Background:
Isaiah turns his attention to Egypt, Cush, and then Babylon - the focus of all false religion in the world, which will one day be destroyed by the coming kingdom of Christ.
Daily Devotional: Fallen Is Babylon
Its story begins in Genesis 11, when some men built a Tower that was supposed to reach to heaven. Throughout the Bible, Babylon both literally and figuratively represented the world system - political, religious, and military - that stands in opposition to God. God said scatter and fill the earth. At Babel, they said unite to reach to heaven. God said worship me alone. Babylon was a place where the worship of many gods was encouraged. In fact, as we saw recently, in the reading in Isaiah 14, the description of the ruler of Babylon carried hints of the pride and fall of Satan himself. Babylon represents everything that is wrong in this world, everything that stands in rebellion against God.
And Isaiah 21:9 says something that is repeated in the apocalyptic predictions of Revelation.
We live in Babylon today. Many Americans have considered our nation to be a modern-day Jerusalem, a city of God. Those days have passed and we must admit that we are in a pagan land, a plan of sin, perversion, and of resistance to God's authority over our lives.
But we must not fear or despair, our God is in control. God brought Babylon to its knees once before and will bring it down again one day. We serve a Risen Savior! A Victorious Lord. Our God wins. When we look at this world it appears that sin is winning that righteousness is perishing from the earth. It is an illusion. Sin's victory is nothing more than a mirage in the desert.
Jesus Christ is Lord. This world and its rebellion are doomed. Never cower before sin, because sin is destined to fall before the glory of God. Babylon will fall.
And Isaiah 21:9 says something that is repeated in the apocalyptic predictions of Revelation.
Fallen, fallen is Babylon.When the time is right, God will bring it all crashing down. Here in Isaiah the reference is a little more immediate. God was preparing judgment on the wicked nation that would bring so much pain and suffering on his people Israel. In Revelation 18:2, the reference is to our worldly system which stands in rebellion against God - a religious system that does not recognize Jesus Christ as Lord, a political system that does not recognize him as king.
We live in Babylon today. Many Americans have considered our nation to be a modern-day Jerusalem, a city of God. Those days have passed and we must admit that we are in a pagan land, a plan of sin, perversion, and of resistance to God's authority over our lives.
But we must not fear or despair, our God is in control. God brought Babylon to its knees once before and will bring it down again one day. We serve a Risen Savior! A Victorious Lord. Our God wins. When we look at this world it appears that sin is winning that righteousness is perishing from the earth. It is an illusion. Sin's victory is nothing more than a mirage in the desert.
Jesus Christ is Lord. This world and its rebellion are doomed. Never cower before sin, because sin is destined to fall before the glory of God. Babylon will fall.
Father, it is good to serve a sovereign and victorious God.
Consider God's Word:
Are you careful to see that your life is shaped by Jesus and his word, not by the Babylon world system?
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