Knowing that Babylon's days are numbered, we now learn that the remnant (survivors) of Israel will be restored-- They will get their land and possessions back. (v. 1-2)
Then, from v 3 to v 22, God teaches the people a taunt for the king of Babylon. Taunt? Like making fun of? Hmmm. So I looked up the word taunt... According to Google, it means a remark made in order to anger, wound, or provoke someone. So God is teaching His people to anger,wound or provoke someone? Is that right? Hmmm. So I looked up Isa 14:4 (the verse in question) in multiple translations... "you will taunt the king... they will make fun of the king... you will jeer at the king... take up this taunt.... this satire...etc"
So there's no getting around it. Once Israel recovers, it says, they will taunt the king of Babylon with this song. The whole song is about how the king tried to exalt himself and that God has brought him down low; his past victims will say "you've become as weak as us!" (v 10) and that his kingdom will be destroyed.
God isn't just some super nice person who blesses people and brings good fortune or something. He gets jealous, and he is protective. He's not dumb and won't be manipulated. And He reminds people who's boss, sometimes with an attitude or a sense of humor even. (My favorite examples of this in another post.)
Here, the king of Babylon has established himself as a god. The king made his people worship him and everything was all about him. Wrong. God is showing him, and Israel, and us, that everything is about Him, and He does this by humbling the king and letting the king get taunted.
Psalm 2!
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