Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Isaiah 2:12, 15-16 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 every high tower, and against every fortified all; against all the ships of Tarshish, and against all the beautiful craft.
TRUST NOT IN TOWERS
In Isaiah's day, King Uzziah built towers for defense (2 Chronicles 26:9-10) as did his son after him (2 Chronicles 27:3-4). When the remnant of believers returned from the Babylonian Captivity they would rebuild and fortify the walls around Jerusalem. They built these towers and walls for defense. There was nothing wrong with these towers and fortified walls-- except when the people counted on them as their defense and not the LORD of Hosts.
The Ships of Tarshish were large trade ships. They brought necessities and luxuries to Judah. These were blessings from the hand of a gracious God-- until they became more important than the LORD. For the more people have, the less they tend to think about the LORD and His Promises. All these things, the pride of nature, human defense and ingenuity, would be brought low on the Day of the LORD of Hosts.
This is a scary thought. It's scary because we know that we have sinned. We deserve to feel the terror of standing before the Judge in our sins.
Yet we need not fear the fate of other men who take pride in themselves and their accomplishments. We glory in the accomplishment of another Man, the God-Man, Jesus Christ. We recognize the gifts and abilities that God has given us, but know that they cannot be used to earn heaven. Instead, we join the Apostle Paul in praying (Galatians 6:14, NKJV): "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."
