14:1 God destroyed Babylon to rescue and restore the remnant of his people (i.e., those who remained faithful to him). His patience with his rebellious people followed several steps: (1) Because his chosen people rebelled and sinned against him, God had to use others, even heathen nations, to punish them. (2) But these nations were themselves wicked, and God punished them as well. (3) Because God promised to bless Israel, and God does not break promises, he will restore Israel. (4) God will make Israel an essential ingredient in his work of blessing the Gentile nations.
14:1 A prominent theme in Isaiah is that non-Israelites would join the returning Israelites (56:6, 7; 60:10; 61:5). God’s intention was that through his faithful people all the world would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). Through the family of David, the whole world could be saved by Christ. God’s Word must be available to all people groups in their own languages. We must not limit God’s love to our own people. God loves the whole world. We must support and help those missions that are reaching out to people who haven’t heard the Good News of salvation.
14:4-11 These verses could have both present and future significance in reference to Babylon. The historical city and empire would be permanently destroyed. Babylon has also been used as a picture of all those who oppose God. Thus, in the end times, all who oppose God will be destroyed, and all evil will be removed from the earth forever.
14:5, 6 Power fades quickly. God permitted Babylon to have temporary power for a purpose—to punish his wayward people. When the purpose ended, so did the power. Beware of placing confidence in human power because one day it will fade, no matter how strong it appears now.
14:12 “O Lucifer, son of the morning” could be names used to worship the kings of Assyria and Babylon. More likely, it means that they will fade like the morning star when the sun rises.
14:12-14 There are several interpretations for the fallen one in these verses. (1) He is Satan, because the person here is too powerful to be any human king. Although Satan may fit verses 12-14, he does not fit well with the rest of the chapter. (2) This could be Sennacherib or Nebuchadnezzar, kings with supreme power. Their people looked upon them as gods. These kings wanted to rule the world. (3) This could refer to both Satan and a great human king, possibly Nebuchadnezzar, because Babylon is pictured as the seat of evil in Revelation 17–18. Pride was Satan’s sin as well as Babylon’s. Common to all three viewpoints is the truth that pride willfully opposes God and will result in judgment. Israel made the mistake of being too proud to depend on God, and we are vulnerable to that same mistake.
14:24-27 This prophecy came true as Isaiah predicted (see 2 Kings 19 and Isaiah 37:21-38).
14:28-31 Isaiah received this message from the Lord in 715 B.C., the year that King Ahaz of Judah died. “Palestina” refers to the land of the Philistines. “Him that smote thee” (14:29) was not Ahaz but Shalmaneser V or Sargon of Assyria. The “smoke” from the north (14:31) refers to the soldiers of Sargon of Assyria.