The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Isaiah 14:13-14,
"You [king of Babylon] said in your heart,
'I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.'"
As Isaiah continues his prophecy against the king of Babylon, he points to the arrogance, the pride and the obsession for control that consumes the man. It is possible that the king is singled out as a representative of the people of Babylon as a whole, or at least it's leaders who must have shared this arrogance, pride and obsession for control over all others. Here he is called out on what his heart declares.
Many see an allusion to Satan in these verses, and if not, it certainly fits well. Notice each of the four boasts begin with "I will...". The universe is to revolve around this self absorbed man! Like a crescendo of overwhelming and presumptuous arrogance the king is quoted as saying in his heart, "I will make myself like the Most High."
I can't help but think of the humility of the Son of God as a contrast to this depravity, "[Christ Jesus] Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:6-8.
"You [king of Babylon] said in your heart,
'I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.'"
As Isaiah continues his prophecy against the king of Babylon, he points to the arrogance, the pride and the obsession for control that consumes the man. It is possible that the king is singled out as a representative of the people of Babylon as a whole, or at least it's leaders who must have shared this arrogance, pride and obsession for control over all others. Here he is called out on what his heart declares.
Many see an allusion to Satan in these verses, and if not, it certainly fits well. Notice each of the four boasts begin with "I will...". The universe is to revolve around this self absorbed man! Like a crescendo of overwhelming and presumptuous arrogance the king is quoted as saying in his heart, "I will make myself like the Most High."
I can't help but think of the humility of the Son of God as a contrast to this depravity, "[Christ Jesus] Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:6-8.
On a side note, I can't help but think of the arrogance we see today in our politics, news and social medias, sports and entertainment industries, academia, the cabal of oligarchs in our world today with billions that are attempting to remake the world after themselves and control every aspect of our lives. As they lay claim to be able to control weather, determine the level of the oceans, decide our genders, deliver us all from all illness, disease and infirmity... I wonder what God thinks about all that?
Our founders were incredible people with massive insight, knowledge (particularly of the human condition) and understanding, and I think, directed by God himself! How laughable is it when a college student creates a social media application or a computer operating system, makes billions, and now thinks he is qualified to undo, to replace all our founding fathers created: the greatest nation this world has ever seen! The arrogance of that could choke a horse!!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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