TREASURES FROM GOD'S WORD, Week of December 29, 2025 to January 4, 2026, The enemies of God's people do not go unpunished, Prepared Speech.

TREASURES FROM GOD'S WORD, December 29, 2025 - January 4, 2026, The enemies of God's people do not go unpunished, Prepared Speech.

The enemies of God's people will not go unpunished (10 mins.)

Throughout Bible history, Jehovah has repeatedly demonstrated that he is a just God. Although he sometimes allows enemy nations or proud people to have temporal power, he never leaves pride, cruelty, or opposition to true worship unpunished. The prophecies recorded in the book of Isaiah help us to see this principle clearly.

Today we will examine three compelling examples that confirm this truth. These accounts not only strengthen our faith in the Bible as God's inspired Word, but also assure us that Jehovah always fulfills his promises at the exact time he has determined.

The magnificent city of Babylon would be left in ruins forever.

Babylon was one of the most impressive cities of the ancient world. Its walls, temples, and palaces reflected power, wealth, and grandeur. From a human perspective, it seemed inconceivable that such a city could ever disappear.

However, Jehovah inspired Isaiah—many years before Babylon reached its height—to prophesy not only its fall but also its permanent desolation. Although the city fell to the Medes and Persians in 539 B.C.E., its complete ruin did not occur immediately. Centuries passed before it was entirely uninhabited.

LET'S READ ISAIAH 14:22-23

“‘I will rise up against them,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘I will blot out from Babylon her name, her remnant, her descendants, and her posterity,’ declares the Lord. 23 ‘I will make porcupines take possession of her and turn her into a swamp, and I will sweep her with the broom of destruction,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Today, biblical commentators and archaeologists agree on something surprising: Babylon is nothing but a collection of ruins. As has been said, it has been “for centuries the scene of widespread desolation, a heap of ruins.” No one in Isaiah’s time could have accurately predicted such an outcome.

This precise fulfillment strengthens our confidence in texts such as 2 Timothy 3:16, which affirms that all Scripture is inspired by God. If Jehovah accurately fulfilled such detailed prophecies of the past, can we not fully trust that he will also fulfill those yet to come?

Furthermore, Babylon serves as a stark example of how human pride leads to ruin. Its rulers failed to acknowledge Jehovah, claimed glory for themselves, and oppressed his people. The outcome was inevitable.

The Assyrian would be crushed in the land of Jehovah

In Isaiah's time, the most immediate threat to God's people was not Babylon, but Assyria. This cruel empire had already destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel and caused great devastation in Judah. ​​From a human perspective, it seemed unstoppable.

Jehovah, on occasion, allowed Assyria to act as an instrument of discipline against his people. However, that did not mean that he approved of its arrogance, its violence, or its disregard for true worship.

LET'S READ ISAIAH 14:24, 25

“The Lord Almighty has sworn: ‘As I have purposed, so it shall be, and as I have decided, so it shall stand. 25I will crush the Assyrian in my land and trample him down on my mountains. His yoke will be removed from my people, and his burden from their shoulders.’”

Isaiah records a powerful declaration from Jehovah in which God swears that he will break the Assyrian in his own land and remove his yoke from the shoulders of his people. This prophecy was fulfilled when the Assyrian threat was suddenly eliminated, demonstrating that the power of nations is limited when Jehovah chooses to act.

This story teaches us a balanced lesson:

Jehovah may use difficult circumstances to correct his people, but he never tolerates pride or excessive cruelty. When a nation oversteps its bounds and becomes arrogant, he intervenes.

For us today, this example reminds us that no opposition against God's people is permanent, no matter how strong it may seem at the time.

The glory of Moab would be dishonored by Jehovah

Moab was for centuries a persistent enemy of Israel. It was proud of its strength, its position, and its national identity. However, Jehovah precisely announced the time of its humiliation.

LET'S READ ISAIAH 16:13, 14

“These are the words that Jehovah had previously spoken concerning Moab. 14And now Jehovah says: ‘Within three years—years like those of a hired worker—the glory of Moab will be dishonored amid many disturbances of every kind, and those who remain will be very few and insignificant.’”

This prophecy sets a clear timeframe: “Within three years… the glory of Moab will be dishonored.” And so it happened. In the eighth century BCE, Moab suffered a period of intense hardship under Assyrian pressure. Many of its cities were deserted, and its power crumbled.

Historical and archaeological records confirm this decline. Moabite kings paid tribute to Assyrian rulers such as Tiglath-pileser III, Sennacherib, Esarhaddon, and Ashurbanipal. Over time, Moab completely disappeared as a people. Today, only a few ruins and scant traces remain of what was once a powerful nation.

This example shows us that human glory is fleeting. When a nation or an individual becomes proud and opposes Jehovah, their downfall is certain, even if it is not immediate.

Illustration

The images of Babylon shown in our activity guide serve as a reminder of the city's grandeur and fall. The first image depicts the imposing walls and grand gateway of the ancient city, a testament to its wealth and power. In contrast, the second image shows the desolation and destruction that have befallen the city, reminding us that God does not forget those who oppose him.

Conclusion

The examples of Babylon, Assyria, and Moab confirm an immutable truth: the enemies of God's people do not go unpunished.

Perhaps judgment will not come immediately, but Jehovah never forgets, never loses control, and never fails to keep his word. These fulfilled prophecies strengthen our faith and give us the assurance that future promises will also be fulfilled exactly as God has determined.

Therefore, even as we witness a proud, violent world that opposes divine principles, we can remain calm and confident. Jehovah is still the Supreme Sovereign. He defends his people, humbles pride, and sanctifies his name.

May these accounts motivate us to remain loyal and humble, with the full assurance that serving Jehovah is never in vain.