Isaiah 21:3-5

Verse 3-4 “Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it. My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.”

Isaiah was filled with pain in his inward parts that was so extreme he compared it to the pains of childbirth. He was literally doubled over and fell down (probably to his knees) at hearing the terribleness of what was going to happen. His heart was beating rapidly and he was seized with fear. What had started out as a pleasant night had now become a nightmare for him. Israel was still in captivity in Babylon when Persia conquered it, so this was going to affect Isaiah’s people as well as the Babylonians. He did not know what the consequences would be for his people. If we were to truly understand what awaits America, we too would be overwhelmed with intense pain and fear. What awaits America is going to be very, very bad.

Verse 5 “Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink; arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.”

Babylon was partying at the time of her invasion. While they had watchtowers, they were so sure of their position in the world, and the safety of their geographic location compared to other nations, that they did not worry very much about keeping watch on the home front. Does this sound familiar? It is certainly an accurate description of America. Our country is consumed with consumerism and love their enjoyments in life. Our culture is obsessed with watching celebrities party, while the rest of the world is suffering. We think that we are untouchable by virtue of our geographic location, although people are starting to wise up to the fact that technology has now made that idea obsolete.

The princes were told that they should be watching for treachery and getting their shields ready for battle, but instead they were arrogantly thinking they could not be overrun, so were busy engaging in more frivolous pursuits. Our politicians and leaders seem to spend more time having love affairs behind their spouses backs than worrying about our country. Our military is peace keeping in other countries while our country is housing multitudes of foreign troops which could overwhelm and conquer us at any time if so ordered. While this attitude and behavior may have fit ancient Babylon, it certainly does not sound like modern day Iraq. They have war going on in their streets daily, so for those who believe that Babylon is still ancient Babylon or modern day Iraq, these verses would not bear that out.