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August 1 THE HUMBLE AND THE PROUD Read Isaiah 13-15. “I will halt the arrogance of the proud, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a mortal more rare than fine gold” (Is. 13:11-12). Assyria was the dominant world power in Isaiah’s time. Yet here we see the prophet foretelling that the Medes would overthrow the Babylonians a hundred years before it happened even though the Assyrians were the dominating people during his lifetime. Verses 13:1 to 14:27 declare in great detail that Babylon shall supersede Assyrian (14:25); Media shall supersede Babylon (13:17); and Babylon shall pass away forever (13:19-22 and 14:22-23). The report of the fulfillment of this is in 2 Kings chapter 25. Of special interest is the return of the Jewish captives in chapter 14 verses 1-4. “For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will still choose Israel, and settle them in their own land ... they will take them captive whose captives they were, and rule over their oppressors. It shall come to pass in the day the LORD gives you rest from your sorrow, and from your fear and the hard bondage in which you were made to serve.” Within one year after Babylon fell, Cyrus the Medo-Persian King, issued the decree for the return of the Jews to their homeland (Ezra 1:1)! God did what He said He would. His chosen people returned to the Promised Land. The humble captives were set free while the proud captors were cast down never to rise again. The ultimate intention of these prophetic words will only be fulfilled at the second coming of the Lord Jesus! The first coming overcomes Satan and sin while the second coming brings the final judgment of the Devil and all who were not humbled by the Cross of Christ. Right in the middle of this “burden of Babylon” passage there is a description of the final fall of Lucifer (14:12-21)! Lucifer whose evil influence causes men to sin is ultimately destined for destruction. "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). Satan is the epitome of the proud and is brought down to the pit, while Christ is the ultimate example of humility and is exalted to the very throne of God! Christian, stop praying for humility. Humble yourself! When God has to do it, it is humiliating. He will not have self-pride in His children! “All of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1Pet. 5:6-7). The humble are much more precious to God than much fine gold is to men! Prayer: “Lord, I humble myself before the Cross and Your might hand. Amen.” Evening Reading: 2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21 Romans 15:1-22 Psalms 25:1-15 Proverbs 20:13-15 |
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