Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Isaiah 2:12-14 For the Lord of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up--and it shall be brought low; against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up; and against all the oaks of Bashan; against all the lofty mountains, and against all the uplifted hills.
TREES
Different places in this world are known for their natural treasures. The Grand Canyon is the jewel of Arizona. Yellowstone is the pride of Wyoming. The coastal nation of Lebanon was known for its stately cedar trees. Bashan, a nation east of the Jordan River, was known for its great oaks. These impressive trees, a symbol of the strength and pride of these nations, will be brought low on the Day of the LORD.
High mountains and lofty hills have always attracted and impressed human beings. For us the view is a reminder of the hand of our Creator. For others, mountains and hills were the place to build an altar to an idol. Even the mountains and hills around Jerusalem were used for this purpose (1 Kings 3:2-3, 11:7).
It is a scary thought. It's scary because we know that we have sinned. We have gloried in ourselves and not given glory to the LORD. We have trusted in and relied upon ourselves (and our things) before the LORD. We deserve to feel the terror of standing in our sins before the Judge.
But though we have sinned and fallen short of God's glory, another tree was once employed on a hill outside the city gates to make atonement with God for our sins. We need not fear the Day when the Cedars of Lebanon and the Oaks of Bashan and the mountains and hills brought low. We need not fear the Day of the LORD of Hosts, because of the One who: ". . . committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth; who when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might life for righteousness, by whose stripes you were healed" (1 Peter 2:22-24 NKJV).
