And he will send his messengers with the loud blast of the trumpet, and with a great voice they will gather his beloved chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other!”
Yahweh has stirred up a spirit of hostility in the king of the Medes because Yahweh’s plan is to destroy Babylon. This is Yahweh’s revenge for destroying his temple. “Sharpen the arrows; fill up your quivers!
For listen, I am stirring up trouble out of the north against Babylon, and raising up a coalition of mighty nations to attack her. They will take up battle positions against her and conquer her. Their arrows are like a skilled soldier who kills and never returns empty-handed.
He will lift up a banner to signal the distant nations; he whistles for them to come from the ends of the earth. Look! Here they come, running swiftly and speedily!
Look! Here comes Yahweh with his mighty power and glory! He comes in his awesome splendor with thick clouds! Consumed with anger, his lips are filled with fury, and his words are a devouring fire!
For Yahweh has turned his anger toward the nations and his fury against all their armies. He has doomed them to destruction and will annihilate them all.
Now, all of you gather around and listen. Which of the gods has foretold these things? I, Yahweh, love this man, and he will carry out my purpose against Babylon. He will be my ‘arm of might’ against the Babylonians!
When you feast your eyes on this, your heart will leap for joy and be revived; your body will flourish and sprout like grass. The mighty power of Yahweh will be revealed, resting on his servants, but his fury will be shown to his enemies!
Listen! I hear my beloved people crying out in despair throughout the land: “Is Yahweh no longer in Zion? Is her King not dwelling within her?” “So why have they provoked me to anger with their carved images and with their foreign, phony gods?”