The Medes: God's Judgment on Babylon's Arrogance

Isaiah 13:17 announces Elohim's instrument of judgment: "Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them." The Medes represented a terror that Babylon's wealth could not purchase. Sir E. Strachey observed that the Medes cared not for gold, but for blood—even the blood of boys and infants. When Cyrus addressed his army, he declared: "I well know that you have not accompanied me in this expedition with a view of acquiring wealth" (Xenophon, Cyrop. V).

Prof. G. A. Smith captured the theological weight: resourceful, luxurious Babylon had subsidized kings and bought over enemies through money. Yet the foe whom Elohim sent was impervious to bribery. From their pure highlands came a simple people whose banner was a leathern apron, whose goal was not booty but power and mastery. They came not to rob but to displace.

Verse 19-22 fulfills this prophecy: "Babylon shall be as when Elohim overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah." This judgment extends beyond historical Babylon. If we hand over Adonai's altar—whether mental or ecclesiastical—to wrong custodians or devote it to forbidden purposes, nature itself re-enters in judgment. Wild beasts inhabit desolate palaces; dragons cry in pleasant houses. Beware arrogancy, pride, worldliness, self-sufficiency. When we betray divine trusts, re-entry becomes inevitable.