What does Isaiah 13:9 mean?
The "day of the Lord" has come. In Old Testament prophecy, this phrase carries enormous weight. It usually indicates a time of great terror and suffering as God unleashes His wrath against human sinfulness (Ezekiel 30:3; Joel 1:15; Obadiah 1:15). In this case, the day of the Lord has come for the proud nation of Babylon (Isaiah 13:1).This judgment coming for Babylon is described using a Hebrew word, often translated as "cruel," which carries the idea of something fierce and ruthless. This is also tied to God's holy anger. This is an uncomfortable description, and one of the only times in Scripture where the Lord's own actions are designated that way. Modern language often associates cruelty with sadism: a deliberate attempt to cause pain. However, the main meaning is the opposite of mercy: this is an unchanging, unrelenting, absolute form of judgment. This is even more terrifying because it is always just. It is always in proportion to human sinfulness. It delivers the fierce punishment our sin deserves for violating the commands of the Lord, as well as worshiping false versions of His divine nature. When human beings are cruel, we forget our own limitations and imperfections—God has no such flaws, so what might be "cruel" for mankind is the result of holy anger when applied by God.
In this case, the wrath of God has assembled armies from multiple nations that He will use to make the land of Babylon a wasteland (Isaiah 13:3–5). He is preparing to destroy all the sinners in the land, leaving nothing behind (Isaiah 13:6).
Isaiah 13:1–22 contains Isaiah's prophecy from the Lord. This is against the dominant power of Babylon, which would arise after the defeat of the Assyrians. The Lord will assemble and consecrate an international army to attack and obliterate the powerful city-state of Babylon. The people will tremble in fear as the Lord executes His judgment out of His great wrath toward the arrogant and ruthless Babylonians. The population will be slaughtered without mercy and the land left desolate. When it's over, only wild animals will walk the streets of the once-splendid city.
Chapter 13 begins a new section in the book of Isaiah, which focuses on prophecies against other nations besides Israel. It begins by describing the Lord's destruction of the city-state of Babylon. This will come after it has become a dominating power in the world. The Lord will assemble a multi-nation army to attack the city and leave the land completely desolate. All who flee will be hunted and killed. The Medes will slaughter even pregnant women and children without mercy. When it is all over, only wild animals will occupy the once luxurious center of human achievement and sophistication.
