Isaiah 13:4
4 The noise [qowl] of a
multitude [hamown] in the mountains, [har] like as [damuwth] of a
great [rab] people; [`am] a tumultuous [sha'own]
noise [qowl] of the kingdoms [mamlakah] of nations [gowy] gathered
together: ['acaph] the LORD [Yahovah] of hosts [tsaba'] mustereth
[paqad] the host [tsaba'] of the battle. [milchamah] KJV-Interlinear
4 A sound of tumult on the
mountains, Like that of many people! A sound of the uproar of kingdoms, Of
nations gathered together! The Lord of hosts is mustering the army for battle. NASB
Mustering, is the key
word in this verse, ‘paqad,’ meaning to charge, to care for, to appoint, to
commit, look, make, and here God is making all of the preparations, all of the
arrangements, all of the particulars, all of the logistics, all of the plans
that will lead these armies, hosts, to their last and final battle.
Noise, ‘qowl,’ is the
unidentified collective sound that comes from far off, from a huge assembly of
people and equipment, not particularly from the same group but from many large
groups. The sounds echoing from far off, through the hills and mountains.
You cannot determine
their source or their position or even their direction, but the noise is a loud
clear cacophony of activity, and certain.
This noise is from the
assembly and activity of many nations, assembling, gathering together for only
one purpose, which is war.
The Lord mustering,
means that Jesus Christ controls history.
It is by mans and Satan's
design and intent to destroy creation, but it is Gods design to allow mans and Satan’s
decisions to be made freely, but to control the outcome by allowing those
decisions to come together at a time and place of Gods choosing, and for the
benefit of good, not evil.
The mustering, the
noise, all of the elements of the intentions of society, are certain.
