READING: Isaiah 13-17
Included in today’s reading is Isaiah 14:12-15, one passage that many Christian scholars believe refers to the fall of Satan from heaven. Many other Christian scholars, though, argue otherwise — that this text refers to the king of Babylon, and any reference to the fall of Satan is oblique at best. The latter argue that the text is directed to the king of Babylon, and reading Satan into the text is probably going beyond what the author intended; the former argue that the language seems to suggest a being more potent than a human being:
"How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit.” (Isa 14:12-15)
I certainly understand those who argue that the language implies someone more than a human being, but the flip side of this argument might be even more powerful. If these words apply only to a human being under the influence of Satan, they reveal just how far any of us can go in our own pride. Which of us doesn’t know someone who made himself God, who determined to raise up his own throne even metaphorically above the stars of God? All of us knows somebody — in fact, we might be that somebody — who acted as if he were God, rising to his own throne in rebellion against God at some level. We may not use the exact language of Isaiah 14, but our hearts echo the sentiment of this chapter. Most of us prefer reigning on the throne rather than serving without recognition and acclaim.
Instead of our seeing only Satan’s fall in Isaiah 14, may God help us to see in this story our own potential pride issues.
ACTION STEPS:
- Spend some time today studying whether Isaiah 14 refers to the fall of Satan. Learn as you do your devotions.
- Regardless of your landing point in this issue, the text does warn us about pride. Ask God to make you humble today.
PRAYER: “God, I’m afraid of praising myself this way — so please keep me humble. Remind that only one God can reign on the throne.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Isaiah 18-22
