Babylon’s Idols
Bel and Nebo, once paraded as mighty Babylonian deities, are pictured crouching helplessly as their images become loads for weary beasts. In deliberate contrast, the LORD calls the house of Jacob to listen to the one who has carried them from the womb and promises to keep bearing, sustaining, delivering, and rescuing them all the way into old age.
B1el crouches; Nebo cowers. 2The gods cower; they crouch together, 3“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, 4Even to your old age, I will be the same,
The LORD asks to whom He could possibly be likened, then exposes the absurdity of idol-making: people lavish gold, hire craftsmen, fashion a god, and bow before what they themselves must lift and set in place. Once positioned, the idol cannot move or respond, and even when someone cries out to it, it cannot save from trouble.
5To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? 6They pour out their bags of gold 7They lift it to their shoulder
The transgressors are urged to remember and stand firm in mind, because the LORD alone is God and there is none like Him. He proves this by declaring the end from the beginning and summoning from the east the one who will accomplish His counsel, showing that what He has purposed He will certainly bring to pass.
8Remember this and be brave; 9Remember what happened long ago, 10I declare the end from the beginning, 11I summon a bird of prey from the east,
The stubborn and far-from-righteous are told to listen because God is bringing His righteousness near and His salvation will not delay. Zion and Israel will soon become the place where His saving beauty and glory are publicly displayed.
12Listen to Me, you stubborn people, 13I am bringing My righteousness near;