God’s Judgment Against Babylon

This meditation is based on a passage for September 12, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: Revelation 18:1-8

Reflection and Question: The notes for this passage in the New Revised Standard Version are full of references to the prophets Jeremiah, Isaiah and Ezekiel, connecting this judgment of God with the long gone sins of Israel and Judah. Likewise, Babylon is clearly a stand-in for the empire of John’s time, so that he graphically depicts God’s judgment against Rome’s sin. And modern interpreters of this passage have seen parallels with various modern powers, including the U.S.A. The most important thing for me is that it is about God’s judgment, not ours. When this is about God’s judgment, what does it mean for us?

Prayer: All Powerful God, we can see ourselves as those who have “grown rich from the power of her luxury.” And we hear Your call to come out so that we “do not take part in her sins.” Save us from sin and remember Your mercy, we pray. Amen.