The Broom of Destruction

This warning calls us back to the pages of Isaiah: “Hear this now, you who are given to pleasures, who dwell securely, who say in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow, nor shall I know the loss of children’; but these two things shall come to you” (47:8, 9). Yet which hearts are not convicted by such stirring words? The citizens of spiritual Babylon, who share in her rampant wickedness.

This similarly describes the cities of the plain that were destroyed by fire: “This was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy” (Ezekiel 16:49).

It seems our everyday habits—our work and entertainment—play a role in the development of our moral character. Our moral condition can even be depraved by the violation of God’s health laws, which is mentioned here among the many factors that led to the destruction of Sodom.

In today’s verse, we also see revealed the arrogant belief that God’s judgment will not touch a sinner. Babylon says, “No one sees me” (Isaiah 47:10), as if all her injustices will go on forever. The Bible says, “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Ecclesiastes 8:11).

Yet the assurance is given, “I will sweep [Babylon] with the broom of destruction” (Isaiah 14:23). God desires to cleanse the wickedness from the world today, but He delays because He is not willing that anyone should perish. Thus, He is willing to sweep your heart with the broom of salvation to get rid of the cobwebs of sin in your life. Will you let Him?

O God, thank you for your promise to bring an end to sin. Bring an end to the sin in my heart.

For Further Study: Isaiah 58:6–8; James 5:3; Proverbs 16:8

Key Bible Texts

How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. (Revelation 18:7 KJV)