Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Tuesday Thought -- July 29, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit.” (Isaiah 14:12-15)

There are times when prophecy has a dual meaning and this seems to be one of those times. It’s stated message is about Babylon and is a word from God to say that Babylon is not being used to discipline the people of Israel because Babylon is so righteous and so much in God’s favor. Rather, Babylon is just a tool that God is using in His work to bring the people of Israel to repentance and when Babylon’s part of that work is finished, then Babylon will be finished, too. God will bring judgment on Babylon. That judgment will come because of Babylon’s arrogance, even exalting itself above God Himself.

The hidden meaning in this prophecy may well be about an older and deeper battle. It may well be about the battle between God and Satan that has raged from before the creation of the world. Satan tried to exalt himself above God. He wanted the throne for himself. God allowed the rebellion, but ultimately God brought the rebellion in heaven to its end and Satan was cast down to the earth. He still rages – for now – but the time will come when the battle will be completely over and Satan will be ushered into the pit for eternity. His arrogance cost him heaven and will cost him earth, too.

Arrogance never wins in the end. It always leads to a great fall.

Our hope cannot be in our own will and power and abilities. It can only be in humble submission to the One who is great, the One who is worthy of all praise and submission.

Humility before God leads to His pleasure and to our reward. Arrogance leads only to destruction.

His, by Grace,


Steve

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