Oracle 6: The Wilderness of the Sea (Babylon, North) Religious Overthrow (Isaiah 21:1-10)

If the first five oracles emphasized God’s ultimate plans with messages to the nations around Judah, the second set of oracles are much less positive. Also directed at the nations around Judah, the cities are more cryptically addressed. While they still relate to problems contemporary to Isaiah’s day, they are even more abstract and thematic… applicable to every age.

This first Oracle, addressed towards Babylon, continues the message of how foolish it is to turn to worldly powers for security. The emphasis here, though, is the terror that comes from turning to our own solutions. Going our own way, ignoring God’s offer of help, is a scary place to be!