Isaiah 14
COMMENTARY:
:3 “I have commanded My sanctified ones; I have also called My mighty ones for My anger – Those who rejoice in My exaltation.” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982). קדשׁ qdš to be holy, removed from common use, subject to special treatment, -BDB
Devotion: Sometimes when the way is rough and the discipline we feel as children of God is apparent in our lives we question how God can use the wicked or unrighteous people to punish us. God uses various means to punish sin, and will judge those nations who are arrogant against His covenant people. These messages against nine sinful Gentile nations or cities around Judah were probably not written for them to read. The messages were probably to be read by God’s covenant people to show that God actually will judge Israel’s enemies. (John A. Martin, “Isaiah,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1058.)
Wicked nations and individuals are used by God to teach His children tough lessons when they are disobedient. The issue we need to be reminded of is that God does not forget their sins or wickedness. While it may appear that the enemies of God are prospering, He does not forget or excuse them.
Isaiah refers to them as sanctified ones in verse 3 and literally that is what they are, set apart to accomplish the work of God for a set time. God is not mocked and His justice will be meted out to all people justly.
CHALLENGE: When it appears that the unrighteous are overcoming the saints remember that God knows what He is doing even when we do not! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
: 7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. (2605 “whole” [kole] means all, totality, everything, entirety, completely, or of every kind.)
DEVOTION: When I repair things they are not totality repaired. I try but that is not my gift. I make things work the best I can but I have an older son who can put things back together and they work right. I can look at something that needs to be done and try to figure how to do it and then start and it is going in the wrong direction. I can’t even read instructions that come with some things right.
God looks at HIS creation and said that it was GOOD. In fact, one time HE stated that it was VERY GOOD. God doesn’t make any junk is a statement that was made by one evangelist that I know. When God makes something it is right. God created the world. God created the angels. God created man. All three are distinct creations that God created.
When Satan fell one part of HIS creation fell. When Adam and Eve fell into sin two more parts of creation were ruined by that sin.
Here we find that there is going to be a time in the future when a remnant of God’s people is going to break forth into singing. HE is going restore HIS creation to the point that it will rejoice with man. The trees are going to sing.
Remember Christ stating on Palm Sunday that if the people didn’t cry out in praise the rocks would. Creation is waiting for the day of its restoration. It is coming. It will be a time of rejoicing like the world has never seen before.
It is necessary for our to practice praising the LORD now before we have to learn something new when HE returns. No true believer should live his life with a long face. There should be joy in his heart that manifests itself on the face of all believers.
CHALLENGE: Look in the mirror and see if you have informed your face that it should manifest joy in serving Jesus. No Christian should look like they have sucked sour lemons!!!
: 13 “For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north;” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982). [lebab /lay·bawb/] translated miscellaneously nine times. 1 inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding. 1A inner part, midst.James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Woodside Bible Fellowship, 1995.)
DEVOTION: Pride and arrogance can manifest itself in many ways. Here the king of Babylon is exalting himself to a position of deity. While this was a common issue for royalty in the ancient times it never the less positioned himself as better than everyone else. This pride became evident as he reflected in his heart. Perhaps no one else could see the pride and position he had for himself but God could and did. God challenges the king and us when we become lifted up within ourselves and consider our self as better than others. The Scriptures remind us that “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Pr. 16:18) As the king learned, God knows the thoughts of our heart!
CHALLENGE: We need to be careful what we think in our hearts as God sees there as clearly as man sees the outward. Remember what the Proverbs states, “A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor.” (29:23) (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
: 24 The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand. (3289 “purposed” [ya’ats] means to advise, consult, give counsel, devise, plan, or determine.)
DEVOTION: There are three verses in this chapter that use “purposed” in relation to the LORD of hosts – this verse, 26, and 27.
The LORD has determined the fates of Babylon, Assyria, and the Philistines. HE has stretched out HIS arm to complete HIS promise. Who can stop HIS arm from performing its task??? HE thinks about what HE is going to do and performs it.
Part of the section dealing with the nation of Babylon calls the king, Lucifer. Is this talking only about a king of Babylon or the power behind the actions of the king?
Many scholars feel this is stating the reason for the fall of Satan. He was a created angel before the foundation of the world. He fell because of pride. He thought he could be equal with God. The king of Babylon had the same thoughts.
Many people today think they have the power to rule without God. They think that they are a god unto themselves. Nebuchadnezzar thought that he should be worshiped. He set up a golden image that he commanded all the people in Babylon to worship. At the sound of the musical instruments all were to fall down and worship or they would be thrown into the fiery furnace.
Well three men didn’t bow down. He gave them a second chance and they still wouldn’t fall down and worship the image. They were thrown into the furnace but when the king looked in there were four men walking around in the furnace. It was a miracle of God. The true God of the universe wanted him to know that HE even controlled the flames around the three men. Did he learn his lesson? The answer is no!!! God had to speak to him a second time and then he learned his lesson.
Some follow a religion that teaches that the God of the Bible is not the true God. One day they will face this God that they thought did not exist. Lucifer had to face HIM. He lost!!
Remember that the LORD is long-suffering but HE will judge in the future regarding those who have lived for themselves instead of for HIM. The only standard HE will use is their relationship with Christ. All those who have no relationship with HIM will spend eternity in the lake of fire with the devil and his angels.
CHALLENGE: We need to get into our thick skulls that God is working HIS plan in our world and we just have to follow HIS lead.
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