Drunk and Drowning: History in His Story. Isaiah #11

Drunk and Drowning in the Waters of Babylon: A Remnant

Inspired by | Isaiah 47: 5-8 | Isaiah 40-59 |Ezra 1:1-4 | Psalm 137 | Revelations 17 -18 | More Historical sources below |

My name is Eleazar, son of Yosef, who loved Adonai with all his heart. I am a father, a husband- and though I live in the land of Babylon, far from the land promised to our ancestors- I am a son of Israel. It has been 142 years since the prophet Isaiah was murdered, but his words echo in my heart daily. They are like a lamp in this land of deep shadows, where Babylon’s splendor blinds us to the truth of God.

As I look upon her, Babylon is a queen among nations, a city of intoxicating beauty. Her streets pulse with life—golden markets, rich perfumes, and music that enchants the soul. “Come drink my wine” She says, “Come sing my songs” she bids, and lures all with her captiving ways; “Do you not want to share in my wealth and my beauty?”

To live in Babylon is to constantly feel her pull. She promises comfort, pleasure, and riches, and throws whispers on the wind that “you need not look anywhere else to be satisfied”.

But I have seen what Babylon’s embrace costs.

The Fight of Faith in Babylon

I sit with my wife, Miriam, and our two children, Nathan and Avigail, in our modest home. Every Sabbath, we light the candle and open the scroll, reading from the law of Moses and the words of the prophets. I cling to the old words as the world around us mocks quietly. My Babylonian neighbors nod politely, but I see their disdain. They see us as strange and backward, our faith an ancient relic in their dazzling, modern city.

And it is not just them. Even among my own people, I see hearts turning away. Some of my friends who once worshiped the Lord have fallen in love with another: Babylon. They celebrate her festivals, wear her silks, and sing her songs. Their hands are busy in her affairs, and their hearts grow numb to the God of Israel. Babylon does not persecute us with fire or sword. No, her seduction is far more dangerous.

I am not immune, I feel the struggle within myself. Sometimes I long for her empty comforts. But Isaiah’s words cry out from the depths of my heart:

“A voice says, ‘Cry out.’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ All people are like grass, and all their beauty is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

As I draw near to God, the words bring a peace to my heart, and I know that His promises will come.

A Call to Return

One day, news of Cyrus, the king of Persia, spreads like fire through the Jewish community. He has conquered Babylon. At first, there is uncertainty and fear, but then we hear the unthinkable: Cyrus has declared that we may return to Jerusalem. He has commanded the rebuilding of the Temple of the Lord! The words of Isaiah leap to my lips:

“This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him… ‘I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness: I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free, but not for a price or reward,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

My heart burns with joy. The words of God are coming true before my very eyes. This is the moment we have read about, prayed for, longed for! I am awestruck as I see God’s goodness unfolding.

But not everyone shares my excitement.

The Remnant Returns

I gather with other families to prepare for the journey. My wife is eager, her hands trembling as she packs. Nathan beams at the thought of seeing the land of our ancestors, but Avigail hesitates. “What will Jerusalem be like, Father?” she asks. I do not know how to answer. I only know we must go.

Some, however, will not leave. My neighbor Danel shrugs when I ask him to join us. “Why return to a ruined land when Babylon is our home now?” he says. I see the sadness in his wife’s eyes, but she says nothing. They have grown comfortable here, the vision of God’s greater purpose suffocated by Babylon’s riches.

When the day comes, we are but a remnant, a fraction of our people. We weep as we leave. Some cry for joy, others for sorrow. As I look back at the city’s towering ziggurats, I feel a pang of loss, but Isaiah’s words strengthen me as I hold them in my heart:

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”

The Struggle to Choose the Right Kingdom

The road is long and hard. At night, I sit with Nathan by the fire and tell him the stories of our people. I remind him of Jerusalem’s beauty and the faithfulness of our God. I tell him Isaiah’s words about the suffering servant and the promise of redemption. As I look at the stars above, surrounded by my family, knowing that we are living in the fulfillment of a prophetic promise- Isaiah’s words reveal even greater promises to come.

At that moment a song of praise rises up within me, the words fill the night air as one young man (who I had seen earlier walking with Zerubbabel) joins me with his lyre.

Among the ashes, among the tears

Hold close the Living Word, Today 

For in shattered dreams, and deepest fears

Our God will have the final Say

As the singing builds with all of us now lifting our hands to God, my heart feels fulled to the brim. But with it comes a reminder that things will not be easy. We have chosen the way of Adonai, and on this earth the pleasures of Babylon will lure and her teeth will bite.

As we near Jerusalem, I wonder what will become of us. Yet of one thing I am certain: That even in the ruins, I have and I will see the hand of God. He is faithful, and His promises never fail.

After all, am I not living in one of them right now ? As we sing beneath the stars that are too many to count.

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Extra-biblical sources:

Babylon’s Opulence and Culture:

• Heroditus, Histories (Book I, Chapters 178-183)

• The Cyrus Cylinder (6th Century BCE) -confirms the accuracy of Ezra 1:1-4

The Exile

• Babylonian Chronicles (clay tablets documenting Nebuchadnezzar’s conquests)

• The Murashu Tablets (Business Records from the Persian Period) - Documents from Nippur show the intgration of Jewish exiles into Babylonian society, with many adopting Babylonian names and roles, illustrating the allure and assmiliation pressures described

The Journey Back to Jerusalem

• Jospephus, Antiquities of the Jews (Book XI, Chapter 1) - Adds additional historical context to the Biblical narrative of Cyrus’ proclamation and the return of the exiles.