Wed.’s Devo - The Fall of Babylon

Read: Zechariah 10:1-11:17; Revelation 18:1-24; Psalm 146:1-10; Proverbs 30:33
God wanted his people to ask him for rain and prosperity instead of asking all the false gods and idols they had. Since there was no spiritual shepherd that could lead them, they chose to go to fortune tellers and diviners. God was more angry with the spiritual leaders who were leading the people down the road of idolatry than he was the people.
God told of a time when he would redeem his people and bring them back to their roots and bless them once again. They would have to go through many trials to get to this place in God, but they would one day.
God told Zechariah to pasture the flocked that was marked for slaughter. These were the ones being oppressed the most. They represented the two shepherd’s rods: Favor and Union. He got rid of the three shepherds which were leading the people wrongly. These three represented the prophet, priest and king. But, the people he was sent to help and relieve of pain hated him in return just as the people Jesus was sent to restore favor and unity hated him. Jesus was the prophet, priest, and king sent to save his people but they rejected him and chose Rome to be their king (John 19:15). Zechariah broke the two staffs revoking his covenant just as Jesus rejected the Jewish race when they rejected him as their king. They paid Zechariah 30 pieces of silver which was the price of Jesus’ blood. God promised to send them a shepherd who would not care for them and treat them horribly speaking of the Anti-Christ.
In Revelation, Babylon is a type of Sodom. Even in Sodom was the righteous family of Lot’s. They were able to escape just before the city was destroyed. There will be a remnant of God’s people who will have to flee the city of Babylon just before it is destroyed. How interesting that the list of Babylon’s cargo and merchandise includes the bodies and souls of men. The earth will weep and mourn the fall of Babylon but they should weep and mourn their own end.
Lord, with great expectation we look to you as our Lord and King!