Monday 03 September 2007
"The haughtiness of people shall be humbled, and the pride of everyone shall be brought low; and the Lord alone will be exalted on that day". (v.17)
Background
The first 39 chapters of this Old Testament book are attributedto Isaiah of Jerusalem, who lived in the city in the second half ofthe eighth century BC. There is a colourful account of his call toprophesy in
In today's passage, we see the prophet in judgemental mode. Earlierin the chapter, he has introduced a note of hope, that "in days tocome" Jerusalem will be a place of pilgrimage for all nations, anda centre of peacemaking. But he goes on to pronounce judgement onthe people whose wealth has made them arrogant, and whose religiouslife has been influenced by practices which take them away fromtheir God.
The prophet introduces ideas of a day of judgement, and gives sternwarnings about what will happen to people who are filled with asense of their own importance. God will teach them humility, hesays.
In vivid language, he lists some lofty things - trees, mountains,ships - to illustrate the heights from which people will be broughtdown by God.
To Ponder
If you were Isaiah speaking to the world today,how would you encourage people to be humble before God?
"Pride goes before a fall." Can you illustratethat statement from your own experience or from the contemporaryworld? Do you see God in action in such situations?